2 hours ago, jeffandgop said:

Yes my name on my bank account is in English. But I do not understand why a translation of my name on my pink card from English to Thai would be a problem, especially as it has my photo on it...have you had such an experience? Thank you.

Have not tried to get the pink card translated, if they did that they would also have to amend the Yellow book. You just need to get a Bank account with your name as it is on the pink card.

6 hours ago, jeffandgop said:

Yes my name on my bank account is in English. But I do not understand why a translation of my name on my pink card from English to Thai would be a problem, especially as it has my photo on it...have you had such an experience? Thank you.

Because this is Thailand. Staff do not infer anything. They are 100% literal to everything. If the name does not match, literally, then it is not the same person to them. You cannot negotiate, suggest, or persuade. It's black and white, right or wrong. And what the checklist they have says is what they do. They do not question their orders or instructions as that's how they have been taught since they were young. To even make a suggestion to your boss to improve something would mean that boss's process is inferior and could cause them to lose face and become angry, so it's simply not done.

Just back from Central and whilst the GF was shopping, stuck my head into Kasikorn branch to ask what I needed to open a Fixed Deposit account (I already have a Savings account with them).

Expected to need a Certificate of Residence but as I still had the new lease with a copy of my Landlord's chanote in my bag, they were happy to accept that + my Passport and 20 minutes later I walked out with a Fixed Deposit account seeded with 400K.

Next step will be to add another 400K 3 months before my extension is due (end of September though I usually do it at least 6 weeks early so will try to get it added by May) and all the while I'll maintain at least 400K in the BBL account so I can show continuity if I have to.

12 hours ago, flexomike said:

Have not tried to get the pink card translated, if they did that they would also have to amend the Yellow book. You just need to get a Bank account with your name as it is on the pink card.

My pink card and yellow book has Thai script for my name. That was how it was issued by Thai authorities. The Bangkok Bank rep did not state that was the reason my pink card was not acceptable. I will ask the bank manager the next time I go there

8 minutes ago, jeffandgop said:

My pink card and yellow book has Thai script for my name. That was how it was issued by Thai authorities.

That's just the way it is. It's always written in Thai script.

On 1/12/2026 at 4:43 PM, it is what it is said:

when setting up my account BB wanted a letter from the embassy

This was one of the strangest things in my introduction to Thai bureaucracy. Bangkok Bank insisted that the US embassy had to confirm that I actually was living at the Bangkok address. I kept telling them that there is no way the US embassy would investigate and confirm this to them, but they said other countries did and showed me a letter from the Malaysian embassy.

So I went ahead and set up an appointment with the US embassy in Bangkok and got an "attestation" where you raise your right hand and swear that the information is correct. The form the embassy gives you literally says the information has not been validated, but Bangkok Bank was OK with it and I got my account.

7 minutes ago, davb said:

This was one of the strangest things in my introduction to Thai bureaucracy. Bangkok Bank insisted that the US embassy had to confirm that I actually was living at the Bangkok address

Note BBL will accept letter from embassy OR certificate of residence.

Some embassies do not even supply letter.