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[45louise]

Hi all

I will be arrive in CM within 2weeks and I wonder how bank system works there.

First, I'm with tourist visa and where I can open bank account in CM??

Which bank should I go?

Second, is there any bank in CM offering US$ checking account with debit card?

Well I hope someone using it so I can get wire in US$.

Thank you in advance.

[Nienke]

Don't think it's possible to open an bank account with a tourist visum. Always thought one needs a workpermit for this. Or do i miss something here?

Nienke

[45louise]

Ummm.... some say yes... we can open it with visitor visa...

Does anyone else know about it..??

[jackr]

I've opened accounts with just the 30 visa-exempt stamp in the past although understand they're tightening up somewhat nowadays. Do you have an actual 60-day Tourist Visa or the 30-day stamp? If the former you may be ok. Anyway, try the Srinakornping branch of Bangkok Bank, 3-400 yards down Chiang Moi road (running east of the moat). Pop upstairs and ask for Miss Shampoo, or could be Chompuu as in 'pink'. She's really nice to deal with, although most of the staff are here.

/edit: regards the US$, you can wire any currency into a Thai account but make sure the exchange is done in Thailand; ie - SWIFT US$ in as opposed to doing the exchange in the US and sending in Baht. //

Edited October 24, 2007 by jackr

[45louise]

Well thank you in million.. life saver...

I will deal with her..

[tijnebijn]

I just opened a new bank account for my mother .

They needed a copy of the passport and a copy of the contract of the residence

you rent , to be certain for the address. It was at the Siam commercial Bank .

At another branch I heard them whisper needing a work permit , she is a retiree.......

Officially you need these kind of requirements , but you will be able to open one .

Not to forget is that it seems they indeed are a bit more reluctant then they were

a couple of years ago when I opened my accounts , needing nothing but a copy

of my passport . So you could be facing some difficulties nowadays .

Accounts in dollars are possible at Bank of Ayudhya .

Money transferred into Thailand are normally done on the onshore rate .

( which is the positive one )

I noticed that Siam Commercial and Siam City bank have the best exchange rate

compared to Bangkok Bank and the others , sending large sums it does matter .

[idahospud]

I am from the US Just opened a bank account with atm ,savings 7 days ago near cm university. I only needed a Passport I have a tourist visa with a triple entry. I tried about 5 banks it is a hit and miss no luck at any Bangkok Bank branches they told me I needed a letter from the embassy some wanted work permit. in baht not us$.

I will get address of bank if you need

[45louise]

Yes would you get the address for me?

wow thank you very much for all do you guys!!

very supportive... bet it is nice to live in CM..

[mcgriffith]

It really depends on the bank, and in some cases which branch of a given bank. I went through this last year when trying to open an account.

Technically speaking, according to Thai law, new accounts can only be opened by holders of 1 year visas/extensions, whether for work, education, retirement, etc. They started to really enforce this after Oct 1, 2006. However, this is Thailand, and there will always be exceptions to the rule....

The poster who opened an account for Mom already had an account there- thus was "grandfathered" for the new account.

The poster who opened an account a couple of years ago- laws were different then.

I have a friend who has been coming here for many years (20+) who has always had an account, and never had more than a "Visa Exempt" 30 day entry stamp (this is not a "Tourist Visa", btw).

When you get here, do as suggested above. If you try enough banks, you will no doubt eventually find one that will open an account for you.

Good Luck!

[rrose070]

Sorry to tag on, but how timely for me! I've been seaching and haunting the "banking in Thailand" threads for a week now, with no definite answers. 45Louise, I arrive CM in 7 days, on a 60 day tourist visa (which we will renew for 30 more days at the end of that) if you haven't done it yet by then, I'd love to accompany you. If you have, pleeease post every detail here, I've been fretting my head off over this, and the fees BOFA charge for overseas ATM withdrawals are ridiculous! sorry to hijack your post. Thanks, to you and all the others, for this info.

[Rinrada]

Go to any of the BIG Bank branches and open one.....I have about 6 now...nae problem...and always on a vw.....

[endure]

Hint - try the Bangkok Bank in Kad Suan Kaew...

[idahospud]

45louise I opened mine at Bank Ayudhya I looked on my passbook and did not see an address

From the moat get on Huai Kaeo rd it goes to Doi Suteph and cm university go past the super highway start looking for a honda motorbike shop on left you are within walking distance from there it is next to a 7 11 you might google this bank and get exact address their signs are yellow it fronts Huai Kaeo rd I did indicate to them I would be here for at least 6 months they did not seem to concerned. But when they handed me an umbrella I knew it was over, they spoke good english also. A legal firm that advertises on this site indicated to me it was a hit and miss situation

[45louise]

Well appreciate for all of replies.

Especially for idahospud.

I will try google map to find location.

Thank you for helping.

Thank you in million!!

[TheEmperorOfTheNorth]

It's really rather typical that what you'd think would be the most organized and professional types of businesses (banks, insurance companies) really just do whatever, depending on if Somporn-the-Clerk is having her time of the month or not.

Using other kinds of their services it gets progressively more entertaining to watch.

The banking sector is a complete joke in Thailand, but if you accept that and treat it as such, i.e. deal with banks the same cheerful way as with your typical dvd seller at the Night Bazar, them you usually get what you want; may have to try a couple of course.

[TheEmperorOfTheNorth]

Btw, go apply for a loan for a couple million baht, that's truly solid entertainment. No need for ubc that month.

Then with the loan Somporn the Clerk pushes their insurance and credit card, but then then approval for the card gets rejected a couple weeks later 'because you are in debt' ... Well no shit Somchai, you just loaned us 5 million baht. Next bank next door, the one that thought they couldn't do the loan: sure, no plomplem for the card.