4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

First up unrelated to opening bank account.

As for PC it assists with opening bank account and TDL.

Certainly not across the board.

Some will insist on COR

OP is opening bank accounts. I corrected you.

On 3/24/2026 at 3:57 PM, Maestro said:

This must be something new with Krungsri bank. I've used their app regularly, more so since they stopped the online service on their website last October, most recently on 05.05.2026, but when I tried to log in earlier today I got a pop-up telling me that my account is locked. Then I uninstalled the app, installed it again and started a new registration on the app. Result:

This seems to be a violation of Section 27 of the currently valid Constitution of Thailand:

Unjust discrimination against a person on the grounds of differences in origin, race, language, sex, age, disability, physical or health condition, personal status, economic and social standing, religious belief, education, or political view which is not contrary to the provisions of the Constitution or on any other grounds, shall not be permitted.

https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2017-05/CONSTITUTION+OF+THE+KINGDOM+OF+THAILAND+(B.E.+2560+(2017)).pdf

Thanks for letting us know! Getting locked out of the bank account sounds absolutely terrible. If this is a new thing, does Krung Sri mention it on their website?

16 minutes ago, zhangxifu said:

OP is opening bank accounts. I corrected you.

The post you quoted I made was in response to this post of yours...

"People renew TDL and open bank accounts all the time with pink card and TB. I just did!"

For some to open bank account PC will be useless.

Also same for TDL renewal.

Lovely that you were able to renew TDL recently.

On 3/19/2026 at 10:06 PM, DrJack54 said:

That's very different situation.

You should and will be able to open Thai bank account.

Try kasikorn.

With a Non O and perhaps proof of address, should be fine.

Some banks may ask for COR.

Avoid BBL

About BBL, just got my "Marriage" visa based on 400K in the bank.

Went to BBL in Kanchanadit, Surat Thani. Paid 100 thb for Bank letter stating my account and 100 thb for 6 months statement. Did NOT have to sign any paper to keep 400K locked and it isn't locked either if I look at the banking app.

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Did NOT have to sign any paper to keep 400K locked and it isn't locked either if I look at the banking app.

Not all BBL branches put that restriction in place.

The fact that many did leads to to same conclusion.

Avoid BBL..

BTW: In many cases a 12 month bank statement is required.

BBL cannot produce that on the spot.

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

About BBL, just got my "Marriage" visa based on 400K in the bank.

Went to BBL in Kanchanadit, Surat Thani. Paid 100 thb for Bank letter stating my account and 100 thb for 6 months statement. Did NOT have to sign any paper to keep 400K locked and it isn't locked either if I look at the banking app.

You failed to mention how long the funds have been in your bank account. If they've already been there more than 4 months, then the new rule wouldn't apply to you anyways.

Note the the main group caught out by BBL freezing account was the marriage extensions using money in bank.

Some (most) had only placed the 400k for the two month seasoning.

Many of the retirement extension folk leave funds in bank all year round.

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

About BBL, just got my "Marriage" visa based on 400K in the bank.

Went to BBL in Kanchanadit, Surat Thani. Paid 100 thb for Bank letter stating my account and 100 thb for 6 months statement. Did NOT have to sign any paper to keep 400K locked and it isn't locked either if I look at the banking app.

This will be excellent if confirmed nationwide.

1 hour ago, greeneking said:

This will be excellent if confirmed nationwide.

Read post above yours from Brandon.

Some folk would already have the 400k seasoned for 4 months prior to application

On 3/19/2026 at 3:59 PM, billylala said:

Yes i have non-o 90 days stamp based on marriage...

I suggest that with your visit to the next SCB branch, you shouldn't show only the arrival stamp in your passport, but als a printout of the e-Visa which the embassy emailed you and, as you are married, copies of the marriage certificates KR.2 and KR.3 and let the bank employee choose if any or both are helpful.

On 4/5/2026 at 7:05 PM, zhangxifu said:

People renew TDL and open bank accounts all the time with pink card and TB. I just did!

So at which bank (and, specifically, which branch) were you able to open a new account 10 days or so ago, solely on the basis of your "wondrous" pink ID card and yellow tabien baan?

On 4/12/2026 at 10:40 PM, Maestro said:

I suggest that with your visit to the next SCB branch, you shouldn't show only the arrival stamp in your passport, but als a printout of the e-Visa which the embassy emailed you and, as you are married, copies of the marriage certificates KR.2 and KR.3 and let the bank employee choose if any or both are helpful.

Yes, exactly!

The next question will be do you have a yellow book. Then they will want the wife's phone number. But yes, it can be done, maybe.

On 4/12/2026 at 4:07 PM, BrandonJT said:

You failed to mention how long the funds have been in your bank account. If they've already been there more than 4 months, then the new rule wouldn't apply to you anyways.

2,5 months

5 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

2,5 months

So let's be clear.

BBL issued you a bank letter verification of account ownership without funds seasoned for 4 months

On 4/16/2026 at 8:47 PM, DrJack54 said:

On 4/16/2026 at 8:47 PM, DrJack54 said:

On 4/16/2026 at 8:47 PM, DrJack54 said:

So let's be clear.

BBL issued you a bank letter verification of account ownership without funds seasoned for 4 months

Yes

Hi all,

Unfortunately I'm stuck in this catch-22 situation of opening a Thai bank account, for the purpose of retiring in Thailand using the 800K THB in a Thai bank method.

I'm a 50+ years old male from an EU country with sufficient funds to meet the financial requirement. I would most likely live in Bangkok as I like big cities.

I'm currently in Penang. I was in Thailand on a visa exempt for less than 60 days in February and March this year. I went to a Kasikorn branch in Hat Yai and was told they will not open a bank account with a visa exempt or a tourist visa, as already mentioned on this thread.

It seems my only option would be to obtain a non-O from a Thai consulate abroad, but from what I found online they also seem to require 800K THB in a Thai bank account? If that's the case, there's no way out of this loop and I'll have to look at another country to retire to and to spend my money in, likely Cambodia.

Is there still any way to open a Thai bank account on a visa exempt in Bangkok, with or ideally without the help of an agent? That would be my preferred option.

Or has anyone obtained a retirement non-O in Penang or KL recently and what financial and other proofs were required? I hear KL require proof of no criminal record. To obtain that I would have to fly to Europe and back... (I can start a new thread about this if it's better, and delete this part from this one).

Thank you for any help, much appreciated.

15 minutes ago, Visa-catch-22 said:

It seems my only option would be to obtain a non-O from a Thai consulate abroad, but from what I found online they also seem to require 800K THB in a Thai bank account?

Yes you need to obtain the Non O retirement outside of Thailand.

The 800k does not need to be in Thai bank.

Use your own existing bank account.

After you enter Thailand with a Non O you will be given a 90 day stamp.

Open a Thai bank account and then transfer funds to the Thai account.

WISE is a good option.

To open the Thai bank account you more than likely would need a COR or at very least TM30 plus Lease.

Thank you for your reply @DrJack54

I'll start a new thread to follow up on the most recent requirements to get a retirement non-O in Malaysia.

15 minutes ago, Visa-catch-22 said:

I'll start a new thread to follow up on the most recent requirements to get a retirement non-O in Malaysia

By all means.

You will find threads on obtaining Non O (retirement) eVisa in nearby countries such as Laos and Vietnam etc.

Less reports re Malaysia.

@Tod Daniels I think has sometimes posted about KL.

On 3/19/2026 at 9:12 PM, billylala said:

Went to one branch of kasikorn in Na kluea pattaya they required a id card to proceed..

I have added some facts at my own thread: