Bangkok Branch Bank Account Recommendation Please

[TCA]

A friend, a Portuguese national, is looking to open a Thai bank account (in Bangkok) with a view to transferring money from his home country to effect a property purchase. He works offshore (1 month on, 1 month off), so uses only visa on arrival/visa waiver or whatever it's called, for his time in Thailand. He is struggling to find any branch of any bank that will open an account for him with solely a passport. Can anyone recommend anywhere in Bangkok where recent success has been had in this respect in his circumstances.

Thanks.

Edited October 9, 2008 by TCA

[Nowhereman60]

Just go to any Bangkok Bank with your passport, a Thai friend who can recommend you (not all banks will want this) and an address in Thailand and he should have no problems.

Edited October 9, 2008 by Nowhereman60

[aurelius]

Go to Bangkok Bank's Head Office in Silom & look for the first 2-3 desks on the right hand side in the new accounts services area - they have staff handling english & expats. Make sure they know about the housing funds transfer.

[TCA]

Thanks for both replies. The info has been passed on so we'll see how he goes. I also suggested Siam Commercial Bank at 9 Ratchadapisek Road as suggested on another thread. Any other options are welcome. Thanks.

TCA

[Bangyai]

You might want to tell your friend not to send his money here just yet. The world finance situation is still worsening and the Thai stock market is falling. Best to wait a while and see how things develop.

[pkrv]

Full instuctions here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Open-Bank-Ac...25#entry1735189

A minor error was correct a couple of posts on.

[TCA]

You might want to tell your friend not to send his money here just yet. The world finance situation is still worsening and the Thai stock market is falling. Best to wait a while and see how things develop.

The property he's paid a deposit on is not an expensive one and his decision is made, assuming he can arrange for a pain free money transfer to complete his purchase. He'd rather do this to his own account than that of a real estate agent or lawyer.

Thanks to pkrv for his reply.