Is HSBC Thailand a qualifying bank to park my 800,000 baht?

[baz 79]

I'm getting conflicting advice from Ai depending on which google site you access. One site gives a categoric NO. Another site offers a more cautious Yes.  Getting a dependable answer from the Thai Immigration Bureau would be ideal but how do you do that? A random email or phone call is asking for trouble. I already have an online HSBC account and being able to include the 800,000 baht in my 'portfolio' (if only!) would be welcome. But unless I get a 100%, director-stamped endorsement of HSBC my 800,000 will stay snug and secure with SCB. Does HSBC qualify, anybody?

[DrJack54]

You are referring to 800k held in Thai bank account for reason to obtain extensions. 

Keep the funds in your SCB account.

[Upnotover]

Where is your HSBC account?  I thought they shut down personal accounts in Thailand many years ago.

[Stocky]

3 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Where is your HSBC account?  I thought they shut down personal accounts in Thailand many years ago.

They did, they closed in 2012, my HSBC Thailand accounts got taken up by Krungsri.  HSBC Thailand is corporate/commercial accounts only.

[UWEB]

7 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Where is your HSBC account?  I thought they shut down personal accounts in Thailand many years ago.

Yes, it was 2012. Now they do only Private Banking and Business Banking in Thailand.

[baz 79]

My HSBC account is online and originated from my Hong Kong days. But the answer is clear from the restricted nature of HSBC Thailand's business now, it's clearly NOT a conventional retail bank so I'll be staying with SCB. Thanks to posters for clarifying that one.

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, baz 79 said:

I'll be staying with SCB.

Bit off topic however, be aware that CW no longer has an SCB branch there. 

Only relevant if you deal with that immigration office. 

[khunPer]

On 7/8/2025 at 9:01 AM, baz 79 said:

I'm getting conflicting advice from Ai depending on which google site you access. One site gives a categoric NO. Another site offers a more cautious Yes.  Getting a dependable answer from the Thai Immigration Bureau would be ideal but how do you do that? A random email or phone call is asking for trouble. I already have an online HSBC account and being able to include the 800,000 baht in my 'portfolio' (if only!) would be welcome. But unless I get a 100%, director-stamped endorsement of HSBC my 800,000 will stay snug and secure with SCB. Does HSBC qualify, anybody?

I agree with @DrJack54, keep your money in a Thai bank, like your SCB bank. Best way to keep the money is a separate 12-month fixed account for best interest and showing proof of funds easy for everybody, if you can afford to keep 800k baht all year.

[BaanOz]

45 minutes ago, khunPer said:

I agree with @DrJack54, keep your money in a Thai bank, like your SCB bank. Best way to keep the money is a separate 12-month fixed account for best interest and showing proof of funds easy for everybody, if you can afford to keep 800k baht all year.

I'm thinking to do exactly this in the future and looking at the lates rates at SCB Bank here: https://www.scb.co.th/content/media/personal-banking/rates-fees/deposits/deposit-en.pdf

What rate is it for a 12 month term deposit. I guess we would come under the non-resident column?

Thanks

[khunPer]

2 hours ago, BaanOz said:

I'm thinking to do exactly this in the future and looking at the lates rates at SCB Bank here: https://www.scb.co.th/content/media/personal-banking/rates-fees/deposits/deposit-en.pdf

What rate is it for a 12 month term deposit. I guess we would come under the non-resident column?

Thanks

The 12-months fixed deposit rate varies depending of the Bank of Thailand rate, the 12-months fixed deposit rate is around 1.5% at the moment. You'll be deducted 15% withholding tax of interest earnings. You can get withheld tax returned when filling your/an annual tax return form, if the withheld amount matters for you.

[dantho]

On 7/8/2025 at 8:01 AM, baz 79 said:

I'm getting conflicting advice from Ai depending on which google site you access. One site gives a categoric NO. Another site offers a more cautious Yes.  Getting a dependable answer from the Thai Immigration Bureau would be ideal but how do you do that? A random email or phone call is asking for trouble. I already have an online HSBC account and being able to include the 800,000 baht in my 'portfolio' (if only!) would be welcome. But unless I get a 100%, director-stamped endorsement of HSBC my 800,000 will stay snug and secure with SCB. Does HSBC qualify, anybody?

Hi, back in 2012 when I was trying to open an HSBC account in Thailand I was told that they were no longer operating personal accounts in Thailand. Whether anything has changed in the meantime I wouldn't know. However they did arrange for me to open an account with Krungsri Bank (Yellow Bank).

[Magictoad]

Have you asked a agent? They will know.

[outsidetrader]

2 hours ago, dantho said:

Hi, back in 2012 when I was trying to open an HSBC account in Thailand I was told that they were no longer operating personal accounts in Thailand. Whether anything has changed in the meantime I wouldn't know. However they did arrange for me to open an account with Krungsri Bank (Yellow Bank).

[outsidetrader]

It clearly says  on Googgle that HSBC is does indeed just fine re visa renewals .

Just as long as you have a Thai account to prove it.

[sandyf]

On 7/8/2025 at 8:32 AM, DrJack54 said:

You are referring to 800k held in Thai bank account for reason to obtain extensions. 

Keep the funds in your SCB account.

Before HSBC sold the retail business it was a Thai bank for personal accounts, and still is to a certain extent for business, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

HQ moved to London and renamed as HSBC Holdings when Hong Kong returned to China in 1997.

[Kerryd]

An "online account" with a foreign bank will NOT be accepted by Immigration.

THINK about it.
Immigration wants a Letter from the Bank verifying the account and balance AND they want photocopies of your updated bank book, including the page with your name and account number and the page(s) showing the current balance.

I seriously doubt they'll accept a print out of a "screen capture" from your phone as proof of your supposed balance.

They expect the money to be in a THAI bank so that if you need it (to live on or to pay hospital bills and such) you can access it literally immediately.

Which is also why they do NOT accept "But, but, I've got more than 800k in my 401k or Social Security or (insert overseas investment plan here)" as proof of funds.

People have been trying for years to scam Immigration by pretending they have the money to meet the requirements - but don't want to put it in a Thai bank because "waaaa - the bank clerk will steal it all" or "waaaa - I can make .25% more interest per year from my home bank".

Sheesh, some years ago, some Immigration offices wouldn't even accept it if your money was in a Fixed Term savings account because they wanted to see transactions on your account to prove you were using the money to live on.

(That was a dumb requirement and now places like Jomtien have no problem with the money being in a Fixed Term account as you can still access it almost immediately if the need arises.)

But they will NOT accept things like "Gain 123" investments (from Bangkok Bank) as proof of funds even if you have more than the required amount because you can't access those funds immediately if the need arose.

So if you aren't going to put the money in a Thai bank then you'll have to go the "agent" route and hope for the best.

[Pdavies99]

HSBC Thailand only offer commercial accounts for businesses. 

 

Personal accounts are not available.