6 hours ago, PHJones said:

Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited (SET: BBL) reported a net profit of Baht 11,840 million in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2/25). 

According to today's BP, that's up 9.5% year-on-year

 

 

16 hours ago, happydreamer said:

Just curious how banks can tell you they won't open an account for you but to get the visa you need a bank account.

No bank is under any obligation to open an account just to ease a foreigner's visa process.  In this case they have not refused to open an account, it is just that you cannot meet their requirement of having a work permit.

I remember when I opened my bank account here I was living in the ### Hotel and that was my address for years even after I'd moved into a condo. That was early 90s with the Yellow bank, Krungsri. I've since opened a bank account with Bangkok Bank which I didn't use for 20 years, just kept it ticking over.  So that's a suggestion to anyone who needs another bank account for whatever purpose; just try a completely different bank.

16 hours ago, CallumWK said:

money in a personal safe will pay as much interest as Thai banks these days, and you don't risk the bank going tits up.

No Thai retail banks are at risk of going tits up.

15 hours ago, pdebuck456 said:

So far non immigrant O (marriage) plus lease contract plus certificate of residence issued by CW immigration has not yet resulted in successfully opening a bankaccount, on as of now 8 attempts at 6 different banks.

None of those documents are the work permit that you have been clearly told is now mandatory by the bank so what do you expect?

15 hours ago, pdebuck456 said:

So simply not way in getting a 1 year extension based on marriage....

Perhaps your complaint should be directed at Immigration, not the banks!

12 hours ago, Lorry said:

12 hours ago, problemfarang said:

didnt even give the name where the money transfer to.

That's normal in Thailand. 

Normal everywhere not to disclose personal information of bank accounts' owners, not just Thailand.

6 hours ago, PHJones said:

Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited (SET: BBL) reported a net profit of Baht 11,840 million in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2/25). 

 

Kasikornbank Public Company Limited (SET: KBANK) reported a net profit of Baht 12,488 million for the second quarter ended 30 June 2025.

 

Are you trying to make a point?

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Normal everywhere not to disclose personal information of bank accounts' owners, not just Thailand.

 

Please write "normal everywhere,  where I know".

Thailand is the only country I know where the bank will not tell me to whom they sent my money. They won't even tell me the receivers account number. 

 

Things may be different in Liverpool. There are about 200 banking jurisdictions - I don't know them all.

17 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Perhaps your complaint should be directed at Immigration, not the banks!

The banks have become assistants of immigration for a long time already. 

You didn't notice how diligent they check your passport and your visa if you only walk past a branch ?

25 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No Thai retail banks are at risk of going tits up.

Now, it would be really niche and reassuring where you have this insider knowledge from.

I tend to believe you,  but still... how can you know?

3 minutes ago, Lorry said:

12 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Normal everywhere not to disclose personal information of bank accounts' owners, not just Thailand.

 

Please write "normal everywhere,  where I know".

No, it is normal everywhere not to disclose account holders' details to third parties.

Just now, Liverpool Lou said:

No, it is normal everywhere not to disclose account holders' details to third parties.

Please say "everwhere I know of" - which may be only Liverpool.

It's not normal in all countries I know of, but I don't do banking in 200 countries. 

Just now, Lorry said:

26 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No Thai retail banks are at risk of going tits up.

Now, it would be really niche and reassuring where you have this insider knowledge from.

I tend to believe you,  but still... how can you know?

Publicly available financial information and industry status reports about all listed banks, nothing to do with insider information.

Just now, Liverpool Lou said:

Publicly available financial information and industry status reports about all listed banks, nothing to do with insider information.

Thx, nice to hear that. 

1 hour ago, Lorry said:

The banks have become assistants of immigration for a long time already. 

You didn't notice how diligent they check your passport and your visa if you only walk past a branch ?

My bank does no such thing!

Last time I went in to the bank I only gave them a photocopy of my PP ...so they couldn`t check anything . No problems .

4 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No Thai retail banks are at risk of going tits up.

 

Unless and until you state your professional background that qualifies you to make such a statement, you will excuse me for presuming you unqualified. 

On 7/22/2025 at 8:13 AM, Lorry said:

The banks have become assistants of immigration for a long time already. 

You didn't notice how diligent they check your passport and your visa if you only walk past a branch ?

Oh well if there is a law only WP holder can open a bank account but immigration is insisting foreigner need

a bank account to extend their stay then something is very wrong and the Thai government should do something about it.

It would probably help if western media could report about it

1 minute ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

Oh well if there is a law only WP holder can open a bank account but immigration is insisting foreigner need

a bank account to extend their stay then something is very wrong and the Thai government should do something about it.

It would probably help if western media could report about it

 

It's a tricky situation. Immigration requires bank accounts as you say, but immigration cannot order Thai banks to open accounts for those foreigners who need them for this purpose.

 

The Thai government could obviously order state-owned banks to provide such accounts, or find other ways for foreigners to deposit Immigration money, but that would require quite a coordinated effort across different government departments, so I wouldn't bank on this getting sorted out in a hurry.

28 minutes ago, Caldera said:

The Thai government could obviously order state-owned banks to provide such accounts

Actually,  the state-owned banks are the ones usually most reluctant to open an account for a foreigner,  e.g. Krungthai or GSB.

22 minutes ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

Oh well if there is a law only WP holder can open a bank account...

 

There is no such law.

 

Years ago, when I first tried to open a savings account with Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), they asked for a work permit, which I did not have, claiming it was the rule.

 

I insisted on seeing this rule and a lawyer who happened to be next in the queue behind me supported me.  The bank employee had to call head office for it, got it by fax, and when I read it, it was clear that their rule applied only to current accounts, aka checking accounts for which cheque books are given, not to savings accounts. The bank lady still refused to open the account for me.

 

I walked down the road to another branch of the same bank and got my account without a problem.

 

It is possible and probable that the bank rules have changed since then to apply the work permit rule to all types of accounts.

10 minutes ago, Lorry said:

Actually,  the state-owned banks are the ones usually most reluctant to open an account for a foreigner,  e.g. Krungthai or GSB.

 

That's certainly true. Krung Thai would be the obvious choice, but someone would need to order them.

To me, all these Bank nonsense requirements is a way to get rid of expats/ long stay visa holders of all kinds. I guess it is time to recondsider Thailand as a destination for retirees. The Land Of Nonsense!!

Thank God I had the foresight to open several Thai bank accounts when I got my first ED visa and maintained them in funds so they were never closed. I'd left Thailand for 3 years, came back and the accounts were still operational.

 

I think the approach varies from city to city, I don't have any issues here in Chiang Mai.

It’s an attempt to stop fraudulent accounts. Holding a visa is not that difficult but the process of obtaining a work permit is more stringent. Surely one can use the same account to do multiple things. Secondary accounts may be desirable but not necessary. 

24 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

It’s an attempt to stop fraudulent accounts. Holding a visa is not that difficult but the process of obtaining a work permit is more stringent. Surely one can use the same account to do multiple things. Secondary accounts may be desirable but not necessary. 

You're totally right.  The more I thought about it the more I realized that the less "official" I make myself here the better off I am in the long run.  No property purchases, no auto purchases, and a secondary bank account just invites unwanted attention.  

12 hours ago, happydreamer said:

You're totally right.  The more I thought about it the more I realized that the less "official" I make myself here the better off I am in the long run.  No property purchases, no auto purchases, and a secondary bank account just invites unwanted attention.  

May make things expensive, in long run, if here for the long term, depending how settled you want to be.  No property purchase being the main one, as owning has kept my housing cost to zero, as each appreciated, paying for the next, till last one, basically paid for everything (house / car) we own now.

 

Auto is definitely a luxury item and can be expensive, especially if new, and definitely not needed.  Very convenient, but far from a necessity.

 

Renting & just a scooter is the way to go, if not sure, or you get bored easily.   Especially if condo buying is your only option.   

My wife can do the official stuff under her name with my unofficial financial backing if she wants it.  I want no part of it.  Honestly from what ive seen as far as construction quality here...this is one of the poorest build quality housing markets ive ever seen.  Finding someone to fix things outside of hanging a picture or television has proven difficult. I'd never invest in property here.  

BK Bank required me to open a second account due to the types of deposits I had made.   The original account became my ret extension account.  Only the second account carries a debit/ATM card.   If something changes that makes it easy, I want to open an account with Kasikorn