Foreigners Face New Hurdles in Opening Thai Bank Accounts

[Sir Dude]

Getting to the point now that you are only okay if you have a work permit on a non-immigrant visa and TIN number, plus pay and submit a tax form every year... other than that, it can't really get more opaque at the moment.

[scottiejohn]

40 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

I said those without long stay visas have been getting accounts far to easily for too long (and they should not be).

Why not?

[TigerandDog]

"There’s also an ongoing initiative to ensure that Thai mobile banking accounts are registered under the actual SIM card owner's name, which has caused complications for some, including foreigners using bank accounts in their spouse’s name or linked to corporate accounts, writes Barry Kenyon for Pattaya Mail."

 

The above is only part of what is happening. They are NOT just ensuring that telephone account names match bank account names exactly. They are accessing telephone account number profiles (without permission from the account holder), and they are also data matching passport numbers. So bad luck if you've opened a mobile phone account with a passport that has now expired, and your bank account has been updated to the new passport number.

 

They haven't got the intelligence to check their paperwork and see that the bank account was opened with the same passport number as the mobile phone account was registered with.  This is the issue I'm having with Krungthai bank, and they expect me to prove to them that the expired passport was used to open the bank account.

[ronnie50]

2 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Consider Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, India or even Japan where things are not all that costly if you go outside Tokyo.  They are far more respectful and welcoming to foreigners and 10 times less visa hassles for long stay.

True Japan is much cheaper these days. I was there recently. But there's no way Japan is welcoming to foreigners. They are respectful to everyone as that's part of their culture, but try entering a Japanese bar or one of the millions of entertainment venues. Most foreigners are not welcome at all and often refused entry outright. 

[Purdey]

Wouldn't the bank nearest to immigration have more experience dealing with foreigners and be more amenable to opening bank accounts? 

[ronnie50]

14 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

The above is only part of what is happening. They are NOT just ensuring that telephone account names match bank account names exactly. They are accessing telephone account number profiles (without permission from the account holder), and they are also data matching passport numbers.

Your post prompted me to check with my mobile operator (TRUE), and while they have the correct name exactly as the bank, the passport numbers and DOB  at TRUE don't match. I'll be over to one of their shops tomorrow to update that.

[nomad22]

2 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Consider Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, India or even Japan where things are not all that costly if you go outside Tokyo.  They are far more respectful and welcoming to foreigners and 10 times less visa hassles for long stay.

 

What long term visa options are there for Japan?  Last time I checked, the only options to stay longer than 6 months were to get a job or marry a local girl.  There is no retirement visa.

[Cabradelmar]

1 hour ago, scottiejohn said:

Why not?

Fraud, AML, regulatory compliance, immigration control... there are many reasons countries have these rules (Thailand isn't the only one)... Moreover, if you don't live here you don't need a bank account, and of you do live here, get the correct visa that allows you to open a bank account.

[MartinBangkok]

7 hours ago, jmd8800 said:

And just where is your little corner of paradise?

Check IQair

[lanng khao]

On 2/17/2025 at 5:35 PM, sikishrory said:

Anyone had accunt frozen yet?

Only the once when i was dating a Eskimo..

[MartinBangkok]

23 hours ago, sambum said:

 

If you think a retirement "O" Visa is difficult to get - you try for a Visa based on marriage to a Thai national! My first year I had to get 147 photocopies of  various documents - another kind of maximum break! Plus numerous trips backwards and forward from Immigration with pieces of (IMHO)  "needless trivia" - and a visit to our house from the Immigration Police who arrived the day before we were told they would be coming!

Jesus Christ, and you are actually willing to put up with this derogatory treatment from Thailand? This is insane.

[KhunHeineken]

4 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

(Expat pensions are Thai tax residents. )  incorrect !!  they are tax residents only if they need to pay tax and that might change as this is a flip flop goverment

How am I incorrect when your post agrees with me???? 

[KhunHeineken]

4 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

And just who uses mule accounts. Someone who deals with large amounts of unreported cash money that they would have a hard time explaining the source of that money.

 

Like someone who receives large amounts of cash from a "reputable agent" which they certainly would not want to deposit in their own accounts.

 

So who owns the account?  As explained in 'The Shawshank Redemption':

 

... a phantom, an apparition. Second cousin to Harvey the Rabbit.

So 800k goes in, and 800k goes out, from an account of a foreigner who has been living here for years, and you think the authorities have no idea why, and will treat this transactions the same way as a rice farmer from Issan who has hundreds of millions of baht flowing through their account?   Too funny.  

[jerrymahoney]

I made no reference to the account of a foreigner.

[KhunHeineken]

4 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Why would the Thai'S bother ? We falangs talk a lot but at the end of the day, we are all like sheep and accept all the absurd rules that are daily invented to make life more difficult for foreigners. 

 

Sure you'll always have the poor chap who has married a Thai lady and thinks he's fully local and integrated. But that is totally wrong, The day his money will stop, he will just be thrown out on the road (cynical).

 

Not to mention even how rude they can be in some banks. In Bangkok it's ok, but in Hua Hin market village. A certain bank written in Green Letters and starting with K for exemple. At the market village branch of this bank, the man at the cash counter is openly rude with foreigners and makes it a point to try to refuse anything that is possible.

 

Same with a customer "service" lady in B bank, outside market village on Phetkacem Road.  She also seems to dislilke falangs, often rather rude, but just loves their money apparently.

 

Consider Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, India or even Japan where things are not all that costly if you go outside Tokyo.  They are far more respectful and welcoming to foreigners and 10 times less visa hassles for long stay.

Good post.

 

Some people have invested so heavily in Thailand, both financially and emotionally, that they have to say Thailand is great and their life is great, otherwise, they would appear to be one of the "my girl is different" crowd.     They would NEVER admit to making even  one bad decision here, because they all think they are smarter than the next farang.  

 

I p*ss myself laughing when I see a foreigner try to be more "Thai" than other foreigners, as you say, more "local and integrated."  You know the ones, they have Buddha tattoo, but have zero idea of the significance.  

 

It's all very interesting, when you consider that whatever long stay visa they are on gives them no more "rights" than someone on a 30 day visa exemption stamp.   

[KhunHeineken]

4 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Well, you've added a little bit of sunshine to this thread, too!

Always happy to brighten up your day. 

[KhunHeineken]

4 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

What's next?

 

Have to provide a certified, notarized and legalized true copy of TRD tax clearance certificate each time you use the ATM?

 

Be afraid!

Why would you have to do that?  The banks, thus the government/s, know the details of your ATM transaction anyway? 

[scottiejohn]

Just now, KhunHeineken said:

Still waiting for some content from you, in any thread. 

 

Gotta be going close to 20 posts now when the only thing you have posted is trolling me. 

Please do not be so big headed as to think anyone would be daft enough to consider that you would be worth trolling!

I have already told you my position with regarding posting opinions on any site regarding any so called tax changes.  I will say no more on that subject!

I will however continue to call you out when you make your scaremongering and potentially dangerous posts!

People  who do not know you, do not realise that you are a total charlatan and that the posts you make appearing/hinting as being facts are not clearly stated as being your wild opinions!

[scottiejohn]

Just now, KhunHeineken said:

The ATM takes  photo of all people making a transaction. 

 

As far as a Thai having to use there ID card to verify a foreigner's ID, you are trolling me so hard that you are making yourself look stupid, well, more stupid than you already are.

 

No, not twisted, just uneducated, with no forward thinking. 

Now you know what it is like to get a taste of your own warped and so called opinionated facts!

[KhunHeineken]

3 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Getting to the point now that you are only okay if you have a work permit on a non-immigrant visa and TIN number, plus pay and submit a tax form every year... other than that, it can't really get more opaque at the moment.

Yes, Thailand thinks it's close to becoming like Singapore.

[KhunHeineken]

3 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

Why not?

Because they are just tourists. 

[KhunHeineken]

2 hours ago, TigerandDog said:

"There’s also an ongoing initiative to ensure that Thai mobile banking accounts are registered under the actual SIM card owner's name, which has caused complications for some, including foreigners using bank accounts in their spouse’s name or linked to corporate accounts, writes Barry Kenyon for Pattaya Mail."

 

The above is only part of what is happening. They are NOT just ensuring that telephone account names match bank account names exactly. They are accessing telephone account number profiles (without permission from the account holder), and they are also data matching passport numbers. So bad luck if you've opened a mobile phone account with a passport that has now expired, and your bank account has been updated to the new passport number.

 

They haven't got the intelligence to check their paperwork and see that the bank account was opened with the same passport number as the mobile phone account was registered with.  This is the issue I'm having with Krungthai bank, and they expect me to prove to them that the expired passport was used to open the bank account.

The next logical step will be "telco agents" to make all your sim card issues disappear.  They all want their snouts in the trough.   

[scottiejohn]

37 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

I made no reference to the account of a foreigner.

Where?

[NoDisplayName]

46 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Why would you have to do that?  The banks, thus the government/s, know the details of your ATM transaction anyway? 

 

Don't you know you'll have to have all your ATM slips countersigned by your moo ban pooh bah before you can apply for your tax clearance certificate, which of course must be initialized by the deputy police chief as a security clearance, before you can apply for your extension!

 

C'mon, man!

Don'cha know they're out to getcha?

It's all according to the new CRS rules.

Heck, even Kenya has signed up.

[KhunHeineken]

2 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

Your post prompted me to check with my mobile operator (TRUE), and while they have the correct name exactly as the bank, the passport numbers and DOB  at TRUE don't match. I'll be over to one of their shops tomorrow to update that.

Some members may suggest you are scaremongering. 

[KhunHeineken]

1 hour ago, MartinBangkok said:

Jesus Christ, and you are actually willing to put up with this derogatory treatment from Thailand? This is insane.

His girl "is different."

[scottiejohn]

32 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

The banks, thus the government/s, know the details of your ATM transaction anyway? 

If you are scaremongering as usual then I assume you mean Thai banks and NOT your issuing bank!

As such then exactly what details do you claim that the Thai banks know about each individual transaction.

Please provide links to confirm the lies statements you are about to make!

[KhunHeineken]

51 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

I made no reference to the account of a foreigner.

So how it it relevant on a forum for foreigners?  

[LetsGoJoe]

The other day I tried to send 20,000b from my home country account to my Thai account via Wise and it was going to take 7+ days to drop. I diverted to my wife's account and it took 8mins......can't help but wonder if this has something to do with taxation....?

[scottiejohn]

22 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Because they are just tourists. 

My question was not directed at you so BUTT out!

Apart from being a financial charlatan you now seem to have become a failed clairvoyant and claim to know what other posters were thinking when they posted!