Any Issues On Keeping My Thai Bank Account

[wannarepat]

I'm leaving soon, but I want to keep my Thai bank account running as I still expect to get the odd payment coming in through my online business. Since there is a whole song and dance about needing a non-B and work permit to open my account, will there be any issues once I no longer have these. I plan on using Internet banking to monitor my account from abroad.

[PhilHarries]

Can't say definitively but when my contract came to an end I stayed on another 18 months and continued to use my Thai Farmers account and visa/WP never even got raised but I didn't receive funds for that time. I am led to believe that any account lying dormant for a period, 3 months sticks in my mind but don't quote me, is automatically closed. Personally I don't see it as an issue but you could go along to the bank and ask, maybe just tell them you're off to a new contract elsewhere but want to keep the account.

[fletchsmile]

I'm leaving soon, but I want to keep my Thai bank account running as I still expect to get the odd payment coming in through my online business. Since there is a whole song and dance about needing a non-B and work permit to open my account, will there be any issues once I no longer have these. I plan on using Internet banking to monitor my account from abroad.

Not sure who your bank is with. That could make a difference. I moved away from Thailand for about 2 years, and kept all my accounts open (with Bangkok Bank and Bank of Asia - now UOB). No problem. It's easier to just keep accounts open in Thailand than to close them. A couple of tips:

- Internet banking is a good idea. Be prepared for it to take a couple of weeks to set up if you don't have already.

- Consider registering 3rd party bank accounts that you can transfer money to 3rd parties on-line. eg friend/ persons you trust that bank with same bank. If need be you can transfer money to them on-line, which can be useful if you need to make small payments, get funds to someone etc. Again may take a couple of visits to bank/ weeks

- For current (and some other) accounts there is often a minimum balance below which they charge a fee. eg Bangkok Bank is THB 5,000 and below that charges THB 100 per month

Golden rule. Sort before you move, and allow a couple of weeks to put in place. Sometimes they go smoothly, sometimes you keep needing to go back to your branch

Edited December 6, 2007 by fletchsmile

[Artamus]

I set up my account (Ayuthya) on a tourist visa, and is is inactive for long periods with only a nominal amount in the account - no problems at all. I do however log on and just view the account from time to time.

[naka]

One of my accounts was closed last month by the bank after 12 months of no activity.

Took a trip to the bank with my passport and the account was re-activated.

Taking a few hundred Baht out every few months via ATM card should keep it functional.

Naka.

Edited December 6, 2007 by naka

[Gary A]

The account must be kept active. There may be different time periods for different banks, I don't know. A local farang friend of mine had his account at the Siam Commercial bank closed for inactivity. He lives here. He didn't even know it. I owed him some money and he asked me to deposit it into his account. The bank told me that the account was closed.

[samran]

I've kept a Kasikorn bank account going since about 1997. For various periods, the last between 2004 and 2006 it remained pretty inactive. I always managed to keep a couple of thousand baht in it, and it seemed to work.

Good idea about getting internet banking though.