Which bank has the best current account

[essex boys]

Hi all, I have a savings account with Bangkok bank this holds the money for my visa etc, im looking for a current account to put money in just for everyday expenses, having looked on the various banks web sites there doesn’t seem to be much difference between them, anyone have a suggestion on what might be the best bank? Also looking at getting a credit card which bank is better or easier to get a credit card from

[Upnotover]

A current account has a cheque book.  I don't think you want that.  You just want another savings account.  I use Kasikorn, 1 account for immigration, 1 for daily use.  Are you working?  You'll need to be to get a real credit card, otherwise the best offer will likely be a card with a limit dictated by a locked deposit amount.

[yosib157]

I have used what is now ttb (previously Siam City and Thanachart) for more than 20 years. 4 years ago they gave me a free card which I can use in any bank ATM, pay online, transfer money and every service is totally free of charge. As the previous member wrote, it is essentially a Savings Account. Their online banking is also great sending all the information you need.

Mine is due for renewal next year and I'm hoping to get an identical replacement.

[Equatorial]

1 hour ago, essex boys said:

im looking for a current account

 

I agree with @Upnotover - in Thailand, people use savings accounts for what we would typically use a "current" or a "checking" account. Over here, only businesses use current account and write checks. 

 

In terms of quality, they are all pretty much the same, at least that's my impression. If they offer interest on the balance, it's not much.

 

What I look for is the quality of the banking app. I only have experience with Bangkok Bank and SCB; BB's app is poorly designed, and there are still some things I haven't figured out how to do. SCB has a much better app with more functionality and flexibility. 

[essex boys]

Hi all, thanks for the replies and good information, the situation I have is I have a Bangkok bank account but the card I have I can’t use to shop online or make contacless transactions in a shop by touching my card on the reader, what normally happens when I’m trying to order grab or buy from lazada etc is they ask for my CCV number when I enter it it gets rejected or I get a message saying incorrect CCV it’s as if some functions of my card have not been enabled by the bank….looks like I will have to contact the bank by going into a branch to sort it out

[Equatorial]

Using your Bangkok Bank app, look at the ATM card settings. Bangkok Bank (as well as other banks) allows you to enable/disable not just the card as a whole, but specific types of transactions (e.g. international, online, etc.) and also to set limits. My guess is some of those settings are disabled and that is interfering with what you're trying to do. 

[Caiman]

Proximity of ATMS to home etc. may also be something worth considering!

[howerde]

With reference to a credit card i have always been turned down, they have all said need a work permit, i have tried for the last 10 years, lol  i still ask occasionally

[richard_smith237]

4 hours ago, essex boys said:

Hi all, I have a savings account with Bangkok bank this holds the money for my visa etc, im looking for a current account to put money in just for everyday expenses, having looked on the various banks web sites there doesn’t seem to be much difference between them, anyone have a suggestion on what might be the best bank? Also looking at getting a credit card which bank is better or easier to get a credit card from

 

Just open a second account with BKK Bank...  One for 'Visa holdings' the other to use.

 

Keeps things simple.

 

 

[essex boys]

@Equatorial, many thanks for your advice regarding card management on the app, I had a look through and just noticed that the prompt to ‘ activate debit card ‘ is greyed out so I can’t select it, looks like I need a trip to my branch to sort it out.

many thanks for your help

[Equatorial]

10 hours ago, essex boys said:

the prompt to ‘ activate debit card ‘ is greyed out so I can’t select it

 

Impossible to tell for sure without clicking through the different options, so this is just guesswork.

 

It is my understanding that Activate refers to a new card that has not been activated. Greyed out implies that your card has been activated, meaning, the issue is elsewhere.

 

I would click through the Lock/Unlock and Change Limits options and see what the settings are and if they need adjustments. Or even the Suspend option (in case your card is in Suspend=YES state and needs to be unsuspended). 

 

All else fails, you're right, it may take a trip to a branch, but I'm sure one way or another you'll be able to get your card to work. 

 

Btw, hearing about all of the CC and ATM card scams it's probably a good idea to keep your card in a locked state, and only unlock it briefly when you are using it. 

[Equatorial]

17 hours ago, essex boys said:

I have a savings account with Bangkok bank this holds the money for my visa etc, im looking for a current account to put money in just for everyday expenses,

 

One more comment. 

 

Another poster in another thread mentioned that he keeps a bank account dedicated to the EOS requirements, where he makes required the monthly deposits, which he immediately transfers to another bank account that is dedicated for everyday use. 

 

I like the idea of keeping the two separate. For one, the bank book provided to the IO has a small number of entries and it clearly shows the information that the IO is looking for. 

 

More importantly, it helps to guard against a mistake that would cause your balance to dip below the minimum required for the EOS. There is an ongoing thread where the OP is asking about his options, because his balance dipped below the minimum - by mistake. 

[Equatorial]

13 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Just open a second account with BKK Bank...

 

For opening a separate account, I would suggest considering a different bank. The BB mobile app sucks. I much prefer SCB. I have not used Kasikorn but I hear good things about it as well. 

[Crossy]

I have accounts with: -

 

Bangkok Bank - The answer is no, now what's the question? Not the best App but they retain an online site to use with your PC unlike others.

 

SCB - Easy to deal with, at least at our local branch, App is pretty OK but no online site "for security reasons". I have two accounts, one for my visa money which doesn't do much, and the other where my salary gets paid. We also have our mortgage with SCB.

 

Krungthai - Great at our local branch as the senior teller speaks decent English. App is reasonable once you get used to it.  Again no online banking site.

 

Overall I would recommend SCB.

[BritManToo]

TTB ..... debit card works in any ATM in any region with no charges.

[HappyExpat57]

I have both Kasikorn and SCB Bank savings accounts for regular use. Kasikorn has a slightly  better exchange rate when dealing with cash than SCB. Both have easy-to-use phone apps. Kasikorn has a website I've found useless and SCB used to have a great website but they discontinued about a year ago.

[renaissanc]

I've used SCB bank for the last 41 years and never regretted it. The app is very easy to use and has good functionality. The bank's service is fast wherever I've used one of their branches. 

I used to leave money in bank accounts until I realised how silly I was to do so. The interest from gold over the last 5 years has been 93%. Compare that to the taxable 1.25% or so bank account interest you get. Banks are laughing all the way to the bank!

[Travel Dude]

On 5/15/2025 at 4:59 AM, essex boys said:

Hi all, I have a savings account with Bangkok bank this holds the money for my visa etc, im looking for a current account to put money in just for everyday expenses, having looked on the various banks web sites there doesn’t seem to be much difference between them, anyone have a suggestion on what might be the best bank? Also looking at getting a credit card which bank is better or easier to get a credit card from

Just open a 2nd saving account at the same bank. Easy. 

[khunPer]

You can use your savings account – or another savings account, if you wish to keep you "visa money" separated or move your deposit for extension of stay to a fixed account with better interest – a current account might not give you any benefits apart from the option of having a cheque book (you might never use) and lower interest on savings.

 

Credit card – to my knowledge – requires that you have a stable salary income (with at least six month history) or deposit the amount you wish credit-limit for. More easy with a normal debit card, which you can use both for cash and payments – and also online shopping – or a smart phone app and QR-code for payments. With the SCB-app, for example, you don't even need a plastic card anymore; I was surpriced when my girlfriend told me, that she haven't had a plastic card for several years, just her phone...😉

[richard_smith237]

16 hours ago, Equatorial said:

For opening a separate account, I would suggest considering a different bank. The BB mobile app sucks. I much prefer SCB. I have not used Kasikorn but I hear good things about it as well. 

 

I have accounts with all three of those... 

 

The Apps are pretty similar - no one app stands out above the other for ease of use.

 

Any saving account is pretty much the same...    it hardly matters at all.