I've just heard from a mate of mine who went to do his retirement extension through his agent and was told that Pattaya immigration now require everyone to have a Bankok bank account, is this correct please ? 

Can't be correct for legit extensions but may well be for "agent" route i.e. fake financials

Hope not. I just wired 900,000bt to my Krungsri account today.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Can't be correct for legit extensions but may well be for "agent" route i.e. fake financials

Exactly! By chance I came upon a discussion with an agent in Soi (withhold).

"You need a Bangkok Bank account" otherwise difficult/more expensive.

"We will go with you for opening account, no problem".

"All I need is your passport and the money ("fee")".

 

The friend whom I asked for didn't care and did his retirement extension based on Non O-A with another agent. Using his Kasikorn account as usual.

That was in December.

The required insurance for Non O-A was the "creative part" that the agent handled (he is now 80 years old).

Only if your going  through the agent and don't have the money .

 

 

 

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Can't be correct for legit extensions but may well be for "agent" route i.e. fake financials

I think you're correct.  Everybody I know that uses an agent always mentions their dodgy trip to Bangkok Bank.

Yes sounds like a requirement of that agent.....certainly not a requirement of immigration. 

The closest bank to immigration is Bangkok Bank walking distance around the corner.  

Maybe some special relationship going on with immigration and the agents.