Here is an actual real-life experience. About four or five years ago, I opened a savings account with one of the major Thai banks. The process was simple. I was not asked for much documentation at the time. I had also previously held an account with them, which I had closed a few years earlier, so they still had a profile for me and some of my old information in their system. As a result, opening the new account was straightforward. However, this was before many of the newer banking requirements for foreign account holders came into effect. About 12–18 months ago, I decided to open a second savings account with them so I could keep some money separately while having the both accounts linked. During the account-opening process, they asked me to provide evidence of my overseas address. They initially asked for a driver’s licence. I explained that I did not have one. They then said they might be able to accept an overseas bank statement instead, but they had to contact Head Office to obtain an higher level approval for that. Fortunately, I had a suitable bank statement, and after making those enquiries, they accepted it. I specifically asked why I was required to provide this documentation when I was already an existing customer with accounts that had been there for a long time. They explained that these were new requirements applying to all new foreigner account openings, regardless of whether the applicant was already an existing customer. I managed to complete the process, and being an existing customer probably made things easier. Someone walking in off the street with no existing relationship with the bank could potentially have found the process more difficult. That is my actual experience. It is not speculation or fiction. I went through the process myself. Anyone claiming that these requirements do not exist or that the process is completely different is simply making an assertion without a factual basis.
