I'm an australian. I work in indonesia on a 8 wks on 3 weeks off roster and commute in and out of thailand. Being australian I do not require to apply for a visa to enter thailand but as I am slowly planning to stay in thailand with my fiance' I am wanting to open a bank account. I have tired and been told I require a 1 year visa. Could anyone help with any ways to make this happen or to get around this??

Actually as an Australian you are entitled to a 30 day tourist visa upon arrival. Also, apply for a bank account at Kasikorn bank. All they require is your passport - I had no problems there.

Kasikorn in Siam Paragon just my needed Passport and a small opening deposit 1000B or something I think I put in!

Each bank seems to have different rules for foreigners. Check KasikornThai, Bank of Ayutthya, Siam Commercial.

Just keep trying different banks and branches.

Just keep trying different banks and branches.

You will find a compassionate bank officer eventually. As said before try Kasikorn and SCB.

Naka

thanks. i've tried adyudua and siam commercial they both turned me down as well as bangkok. i'm in patong at the moment so it could be an idea to go to a less touristy location but i will try kasikorn... initially wanted adyudua for their foreign currency account. i'm paid in us dollars and the current times are killing me compared to before.

thanks. i've tried adyudua and siam commercial they both turned me down as well as bangkok. i'm in patong at the moment so it could be an idea to go to a less touristy location but i will try kasikorn... initially wanted adyudua for their foreign currency account. i'm paid in us dollars and the current times are killing me compared to before.

Different branches of the same bank, indeed even different staff in the same branch seem to have different interpretations of their rules so even though one branch has turned you down feel free to try another branch of the same bank. You'll find one to take your money off your hands eventually.

When you apply just make sure that you ask for a savings account NOT a current account.

thanks. i've tried adyudua and siam commercial they both turned me down as well as bangkok. i'm in patong at the moment so it could be an idea to go to a less touristy location but i will try kasikorn... initially wanted adyudua for their foreign currency account. i'm paid in us dollars and the current times are killing me compared to before.

All the big banks have foreign currency accounts.

Naka.

You could try HSBC or Standard Chartered. They don't have much branch overage (SC has some) and may have minimum deposit requirement.

Does anyone here have experience with SCB's best 'Interest Bearing Account' which is acceptable by Immigration for 'Long Stay Extensions' such as retirement. (800,000 method).

Somebody a few weeks back mentioned their account that attracts 2.7%, but when I enquired I was told that the funds invested were not guaranteed.

Not really much of a return for non-guarantee!

If there is no guarantee I doubt that it would be acceptable - and indeed that sounds like a very small interest (unless monthly?) to take a risk - fixed deposit account have been acceptable in the past but I would always check with office involved before moving out of the normal passbook savings.