Hi, 

I'm looking to open a Thai Bank Account and I wonder which Bank you currently experience as the most easiest/hassle free to sign up to? (Reading old threads I understand that some Banks that previously was positive to farang customers - arent anymore, and that's why I started a new thread). 

 

I have the following: 

 

Tourist Visa

Rental Contract + Utilities Bill

Passport

Bank Statement from my homecountry stating current funds and a written note of being a customer of no problematic history

 

All help are greatly welcome ???? ! Thanks 

 

I would say Bangkok Bank. I used this branch when I opened my first accounts:
https://www.google.co.th/maps/@12.9246794,100.8734418,3a,83.9y,320.31h,92.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syAbnekGmxfRb90PG3MPoLA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
(#2 road near the Marine Plaza Hotel)
I opened my first account there with a 30 Day stamp in my passport, a Certificate of Residence and a thousand baht deposit.

And make sure you ask for a SAVINGS account and not a "Chequing" account and don't bother asking for a credit card.
(If you ask for a chequing account, they will want a Non-Immigrant visa and a work permit and when they see you only have a tourist visa they'll just say "no".)

Make sure you have more than a week remaining on your visa.
I'd get a Certificate of Residency from Immigration as well (but you could try using the rental agreement and utility bills first). Worse comes to worse and they ask for the Certificate you can go to Immigration with your rental agreement and utility bills and get the Certificate. Used to cost 300 baht and take 20 minutes but that may have changed in the last year or so since I got my last one.

No need to show them anything from your home country bank.

Note - they probably won't give you internet banking while on a Tourist visa (but you can ask - after they set up the Savings account).

They will give you an passbook and an ATM (debit) card but they are on the UnionPay network so it may or may not work in other countries.
Also ask for the wire transfer information. They should give you a slip of paper with the bank address, SWIFT code and account number so you can wire money directly to your account in the future.

Bangkok Bank now offers MasterCard debit cards in addition to Union Pay. Just ask for the MasterCard.  It’s more widely accepted than Union Pay.

Bangkok Bank, K-Bank, Krung Sri, in that order. I also have TMB, but I would not open a new account there. 

26 minutes ago, ThaiBob said:

Bangkok Bank, K-Bank, Krung Sri, in that order. I also have TMB, but I would not open a new account there. 

Why do you not recommend opening an account with TMB? What's wrong with TMB?

 

All info below current as of 1 week ago:

 

K-Bank is impossible, even if you currently have an account with them. They want a work permit.

 

Bangkok Bank wanted something similar or owning your own condo but maybe others had some luck somewhere else at another branch. They told me no on a tourist visa.

 

Krungsri is the one if you have an existing account with another bank and can get 6 months statements printed from that other bank. Otherwise need a 1 year rental contract and need to go to immigration to get some letter signed by them.

50 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

Why do you not recommend opening an account with TMB? What's wrong with TMB?

 

All info below current as of 1 week ago:

 

K-Bank is impossible, even if you currently have an account with them. They want a work permit.

 

Bangkok Bank wanted something similar or owning your own condo but maybe others had some luck somewhere else at another branch. They told me no on a tourist visa.

 

Krungsri is the one if you have an existing account with another bank and can get 6 months statements printed from that other bank. Otherwise need a 1 year rental contract and need to go to immigration to get some letter signed by them.

I am an American, TMB will not open new accounts here in Pattaya if you show an American passport, even though I have two existing with them. 

Excellent, I will try with Bangkok Bank. 

 

Hopefully my Tourist Visa is sufficient. 

OP, it sometimes help to bring along a Thai person who is an account holder with the bank, sort of an introduction. Also enquire about accident insurance, Lots of Thai banks sell insurance "to their account holders" and the staff get a commission, if they think they are up for some commission an account gets magically opened.

The one most convenient to you - don't listen to all the doom and gloom...

Kasikorn bank in the central festival shopping mall.

Super helpful.

1 hour ago, aldriglikvid said:

Excellent, I will try with Bangkok Bank. 

 

Hopefully my Tourist Visa is sufficient. 

Let us all know if you can open up one at Bangkok Bank because I definitely couldn't last week.

5 minutes ago, krabi local said:

Kasikorn bank in the central festival shopping mall.

Super helpful.

Lol really? You opened up an account at Kbank on a tourist visa at Central Festival??? They told me that I can't, same as when I tried at BKK and I'm a current Kbank customer!! What's the name of the staff who was "super helpful" and let you open up one with a tourist visa?

Opened one at BKK Retirement but at first they were reluctant 

and they got tired of hearing why? Why? ......Savings accounts 

1 hour ago, DJ54 said:

Opened one at BKK Retirement but at first they were reluctant 

and they got tired of hearing why? Why? ......Savings accounts 

Where is "BKK Retirement" bank in Pattaya? Never heard of that bank before. Is it a new bank? So "BKK Retirement" bank allowed you to open a savings account with a tourist visa like what the OP asked?

In my experience there are no hard and fast rules. Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn are the 2 largest so pick either of them.

I am with Kasikorn on Pattaya Klang

They specialise in servicing "falangs". I opened my account on a tourist visa but now have a yearly extension based on retirement on a non-O visa.

There can be no rhyme or reason for a bank refusing to open an account for you. Don't get too exercised by any refusal and keep plugging away at branches that will be convenient for you to access. If it takes more than a day you are particularly unlucky, in my opinion

Good luck and don't worry.

7 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

OP, it sometimes help to bring along a Thai person who is an account holder with the bank, sort of an introduction. Also enquire about accident insurance, Lots of Thai banks sell insurance "to their account holders" and the staff get a commission, if they think they are up for some commission an account gets magically opened.

Good trick, the Insurance question..........I was offered Insurance when I transferred the money into SCB for my Condo purchase, I used that excuse to open the account - To Buy a Condo.   smooth as silk.

No work permit, no condo, tourist visa > UOB bank.

Any known downside to choose UOB over i.e. Kasi/BKK ? 

 

I'm only looking for an savings account + atm card (or withdrawal at their office) to save in on the nowadays _huge_ atm fees. 

Any known downside to choose UOB over i.e. Kasi/BKK ?   

I'm only looking for an savings account + atm card (or withdrawal at their office) to save in on the nowadays _huge_ atm fees. 

 

I dont know if there is any downside, but i think your best chance to open an account at all is with UOB without work permit, no condo and tourist visa.I did open my account with them last year without work permit or condo. Before i tried some Thai Banks (bangkok bsnk, kasikorn, tmb ect.) in Bkk and they all refused.

I have now a savings+fixed deposit account with UOB inclusive Visa debit card and internet banking.

 

If you can open the account with Kasi ect. good luck and go on.

 

Please report your experience if you are successful with Kasinorn since i can not see any recent report regarding account opening with them based on your data (no work permit ect.)

 

 

 

Bangkok bank Big C South Pattaya.