KBank not opening new accounts for non-Asean people unless on A-O (Retirement)?

[PaulHamon]

I was in KBank today (Cha-am) trying to open an account, I'm 47 and married to a Thai. I've been with KBank for about 13 years overall.

They told me new rule across all Branches (document was from 2019/2562, unsure on Month) only O-A (retirement visa) can open accounts with them now.

 

Managed to get this photo before they ripped it out of my hands and told me I cannot take photos, I wish I got the front cover it was obviously the guidelines name/date in full.

 

I had my existing Cha-am Bank passbook, my Tambien Bann (yellow book), my pink Thai (alien) ID card and my passport with me.

Now I have to walk around with a ATM card with a years worth of money on it, everywhere I go. All I wanted was to move a chuck of it to an account/card I don't have in my wallet, everyday!!!

The photos gives exact instructions of who can be given a bank account, it was full of all the nationalities, including ASEAN rules. People from ASEAN can get and account with Pink Card but I cannot, even thou I already have an account with them.

 

[johng]

6 minutes ago, PaulHamon said:

I had my existing Cha-am Bank passbook, my Tambien Bann (yellow book), my pink Thai (alien) ID card and my passport with me.

Have you tried other branches yet..hard to believe they won't open another account for you but T.I.T

[poohy]

Can confirm same law applies  in KBank Prachuap

[EricTh]

Not a big deal, just go to the other banks like Bangkok Bank. Bangkok Bank always welcome foreigners.

 

 

[PaulHamon]

29 minutes ago, EricTh said:

Not a big deal, just go to the other banks like Bangkok Bank. Bangkok Bank always welcome foreigners.

 

 

Don't want different banks to much running around for everything, especially on stupid rule that makes no sense.

[SteveK]

If you don't like stupid rules which make no sense, you're in the wrong place mate.

[Peter Denis]

Every branch-office of a thai bank can change/amend/ignore head-office rules and follow their own course (similar like the local IOs that can bend the overall IO regulations).

So if your local branch refuses to open an account for you, a customer for over 13 years!, you should politely demand (request is too soft a word) to speak to the local bank manager.

And if also he/she is unwilling to open an account for you, you should - on the spot - close all your existing accounts there and leave with the money, telling them you will find a more customer-friendly bank that will do business with you.

It's well possible that another KBank branch nearby will not turn you down, and otherwise a Bangkok Bank branch will for sure be happy to welcome you as customer.  

[PaulHamon]

6 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Every branch-office of a thai bank can change/amend/ignore head-office rules and follow their own course (similar like the local IOs that can bend the overall IO regulations).

So if your local branch refuses to open an account for you, a customer for over 13 years!, you should politely demand (request is too soft a word) to speak to the local bank manager.

And if also he/she is unwilling to open an account for you, you should - on the spot - close all your existing accounts there and leave with the money, telling them you will find a more customer-friendly bank that will do business with you.

It's well possible that another KBank branch nearby will not turn you down, and otherwise a Bangkok Bank branch will for sure be happy to welcome you as customer.  

Yes, I thought this the case also each branch having its own autonomy, they were telling me this is not the case. So, Pectahburi and Phruap Khiri Khan (as poohy confirms above) both follow these rules which leads me to wonder if times are changing.  Maybe someone else will prove your point, which would be great.

[PaulHamon]

11 minutes ago, SteveK said:

If you don't like stupid rules which make no sense, you're in the wrong place mate.

very wise.

[Peter Denis]

13 minutes ago, SteveK said:

If you don't like stupid rules which make no sense, you're in the wrong place mate.

Correct, but not very helpful...

[RBOP]

Sounds like its a branch issue. Try one of the larger branches. I get similar issues with Bangkok Bank. A branch near me always gives me an issue when I want to pay insurance overseas but head office on Silom never bats an eye. Another branch wanted a work permit when I wanted to open a fixed account for purpose of retirement visa.  I have always found Kasikorn to be one of the more difficult banks to deal with and a very rude customer service lady boy they make you talk to on the phone. 

[silver sea]

20 hours ago, EricTh said:

Not a big deal, just go to the other banks like Bangkok Bank. Bangkok Bank always welcome foreigners.

 

 

 

19 hours ago, PaulHamon said:

Don't want different banks to much running around for everything, especially on stupid rule that makes no sense.

I agree with EricTh: just go to a different bank and open an account there. With internet banking you can transfer money between accounts, even if they are different companies. No fee. No running around. Easy peasy. You can do it on your iPad, while the wifey is frying up your breakfast.

 

I live in Hua Hin and use the banks in the basement of Bluport. The only one that was difficult was Bangkok Bank: they wanted a Certificate of Residence from Immigration, which would have cost 500 baht so I took my business elsewhere.

 

It makes sense to open another account with another company anyway, because later this year (August),all Thai banks will be reducing their liability to clients, were the company to go bust, to 1,000,000 baht per account holder (not account).

 

 

 

 

 

[steve187]

what other photos of visas/yearly extensions were in the notice

[recom273]

20 hours ago, poohy said:

Can confirm same law applies  in KBank Prachuap

I don’t know about A-O or non-ASEAN. I have been in the same position as the OP for years, I opened a Kasikorn account 10 years ago with my employers help, before I had WP. I got a WP and my pittance of 30K as a teacher, and managed to save a small sum every month, but there was never much in the account.

 

A few years back I received some money and quit teaching, I tried to open another account to keep my store a million baht, my emergency / visa money, a fixed account would be ok with my limmigration office.

 

No cannot - Bank of Thailand rules - Mist have work permit.

 

I persisted over a few years, It seems they have dropped the BoT rule and now it’s a bank rule, they will allow a retirement visa holder to open as many as they like, but married with a legitimate reason to be here, no cannot. 
 

Now, next birthday, I’m 50, I was going to get a retirement visa and demand 3 accounts.

 

I have posted their silly rules before, I have stood next to Burmese workers opening accounts for their 5000B monthly salary and said to the manager, so you welcome them but not my money, “sorry, cannot”  and posters suggest taking the money out and going to other banks, they don’t give a toss, 1M is small change. 
 

It may be about money laundering, I dress in jeans and T shirt, no cannot, I dress in a suit and act in a professional manner - certainly not. 

For the OP, some helpline reps will suggest that it’s down to the bank or local manager, some will suggest you ask the manager to apply for special dispensation from head office, but I needed a house book which we don’t possess.

 

Living out of a tourist area - other banks won’t entertain me, even if I speak to helpline reps who tell me it’s possible for non-o holders to open an account (GSB), the frontline staff and managers say, no cannot - I was even thinking about applying to the Islamic bank.

 

I believe in taking responsibility, All my bikes are in my name, i have a DL, it’s difficult dealing with people who Insist that I need a WP to register a bike in my name or that only thai people can have 5 year licences (it isn’t) but I follow the rules and take charge of my own life, I visit the banks on my own and speak with the managers, it’s a no win with these people. I have been thinking to return to teaching for 6 months, but life isn’t that bad.

 

[Captain 776]

The K.......in K bank, stands for Krap..........go to Bangkok Bank

[Suradit69]

19 hours ago, SteveK said:

If you don't like stupid rules which make no sense, you're in the wrong place mate.

Don't keep it a secret. Where are the magic places to be where no one has any complaints about rules, regulations and laws  and everyone agrees on the flawless good sense of politicians, business executives, police et al? 

 

I'm sure we can all agree we're thrilled by our home countries and beloved embassies.

 

 

[jackdd]

My post from another thread referring to the picture posted in the OP:

11 hours ago, jackdd said:

Actually this is just the case because the person who wrote this document doesn't have much knowledge about visas, and the person at the branch is taking this document literally.

It says:

Retirement: Use passport together with a visa which says "retirement" or which is visa "O-A".

Because of the bold and underlined word retirement, this looks like the headline of this page, and most likely there are other pages for other cases, for example married to Thai and so on.

The document says "retirement or O-A". The problem is that a visa which says "retirement" just doesn't exist, the person who wrote this was most likely referring to the non-immigrant O visa. He just make a mistake due to a lack of knowledge about visas. Can probably be solved by explaining this mistake to them.

[sfokevin]

So basically one must have proof of health insurance to open a bank account?... 

[recom273]

20 hours ago, EricTh said:

Not a big deal, just go to the other banks like Bangkok Bank. Bangkok Bank always welcome foreigners.

 

 

BKK bank are the worst, they need a document from the embassy.
 

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Save-And-Invest/Save/Savings-Account

[ThomasThBKK]

10 minutes ago, recom273 said:

BKK bank are the worst, they need a document from the embassy.
 

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Save-And-Invest/Save/Savings-Account

Not for me and all my friends, BKK bank emquartier on elite visa, no issues.

Same for Kbank Thong Lor, and krungsri emquartier.

 

https://www.thailandelite.com/privilege/393?locate=en

 

Kbank is still elite partner, so cant only be retirement visas.

 

I would guess, the general policy is the same as always.

 

You need a long term visa that is either Retirement, Marriage, Nonb with work permit or elite visa - and all the more touristy visa stuff is not allowed anymore, that's basically the same everywhere.

 

Did you even read the link? 

Quote

Trusted individuals such as a Bangkok Bank staff member or customer, director of a private company, permanent residence in Thailand, government or private educational institutes located in Thailand trusted by the Bank

 

They want a reference letter, which can be from your girlfriend/friend or a random thai you give 100 baht to that has an account there. It's normal for banks to want a reference letter. Your home country banks etc also give you reference letters.

[d2b2]

Every interaction I have had with KBank has been shockingly dismal. I can't imagine wanting to bank there. Bangkok Bank is a far better service provider

[ThomasThBKK]

1 minute ago, d2b2 said:

Every interaction I have had with KBank has been shockingly dismal. I can't imagine wanting to bank there. Bangkok Bank is a far better service provider

i have both and BKK bank absolutely suckssssssss, cmon the mobile banking app is sooooo bad.

 

KBank has one of the best banking apps, not only here - worldwide, i have no other bank that is such a joy to use on phone.

[Vacuum]

1 hour ago, sfokevin said:

So basically one must have proof of health insurance to open a bank account?... 

Seems to be the plan.

[scubascuba3]

I was told a year ago i needed to have a long stay visa to open a 2nd Kasikorn account, i went to a different branch and a tourist visa was sufficient, also ok at other banks and branches. Just keep trying different branches. In the end I opened a second and third account with Krungsi and Bangkok Bank with a tourist visa, I didn't bother with Kasikorn

[EricTh]

1 hour ago, silver sea said:

 

I live in Hua Hin and use the banks in the basement of Bluport. The only one that was difficult was Bangkok Bank: they wanted a Certificate of Residence from Immigration, which would have cost 500 baht so I took my business elsewhere.

 

I got my Cert of Residence for free when I applied for Bangkok Bank account if you are willing to wait for one or two weeks. 

 

The other solution would be to show the bank you have a house in Thailand, work permit visa etc, then they can waive Cert of Residence. I opened one in Krungsri without a Cert of Residence.

 

 

[Scott Tracy]

Try other banks. You don't keep money on an ATM card, it's in the bank. The card gives you access, but there are daily limits.

 

[NCC1701A]

1 hour ago, recom273 said:

BKK bank are the worst, they need a document from the embassy.
 

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Save-And-Invest/Save/Savings-Account

almost six years Bangkok Bank zero problems, always friendly and helpful.

 

 

[NCC1701A]

No one wants to hear this but I will say it again in case at least one person here will listen.

 

Always dress like you are going to a important business meeting when you go to the bank.

 

Thailand is class and status driven society and you are constantly being judged.

 

This is not directed at the op.

 

 

 

[Just Weird]

1 hour ago, sfokevin said:

So basically one must have proof of health insurance to open a bank account?... 

No.  Why would you think that?

[Just Weird]

1 hour ago, ThomasThBKK said:

i have both and BKK bank absolutely suckssssssss, cmon the mobile banking app is sooooo bad.

What is so bad about BBL's mobile app?  I've never have any problems with it.