Open USD Bank Account for Foreigner

[John Phuket]

What is the best way for a farang to open a USD bank account in Phuket. I have retirement visa, TIN, house registration yellow book.

I asked at two branches of UOB in Phuket but got conflicting answers or the impression that they did not really know the answer. Has anyone experience of this and know the best bank /branch where the staff can answer the question?

[Rumpelstilskin]

The Thai baht is accepted currency here and you will be able to exchange USD into other denominations easily.  I have a Charles Schwab International account with free checking and 0 ATM 🏧 fees, accepted everywhere. That way you get to own and trade stocks and keep the money in your account.

[JohnnyBD]

Do you mean the bank staff didn't know what a USD account was or they didn't know if they could open one for you? I walked in and asked to open a USD account and THB account at Bangkok Bank and SCB several months ago. The staff knew excatly what I wanted. I gave them my passport & copy of my lease agreement, and they opened the accounts for me. I had to make a $1,000 cash deposit to open the USD account at Bangkok Bank, but SCB allowed me to convert THB to USD to open USD account with them. I had a USD acct at UOB that was transferred from Citibank TH, but I closed it after I opened my other USD accts because UOB charges min. 500B incoming wire fee, and BBL charges min. 200B & SCB charges min. 300B.

Location was Phrom Phong EmQuartier, Bangkok branches.

[Everyman]

UOB seems terrible. I can’t work out why anyone has accounts with them. They have hardly any ATMs, either. 

[msbkk]

22 minutes ago, Everyman said:

UOB seems terrible. I can’t work out why anyone has accounts with them. They have hardly any ATMs, either. 

Just apply for the "unlimit Visa debit card". There is no withdrawal fee from other banks ATM machines with that card. For other transactions just use the app. I agree however that other bank apps are a bit easier and faster to use.