Without Work Permit?no Thai Bank Account?

[delmersomsri]

Currently posses USA passport with an O-A Thai Visa stamp with multiple re-entries. Is it true that I cannot obtain a Thai Work Permit?

If I cannot get a work permit is there any banks that would allow me to open an account in my name. All help appreciated. Work permit and bank account

[Lite Beer]

You cannot work with a Retirement Visa.

Plenty of banks will give you a Savings Account. You just have to keep looking as some choose to ignore the rules and make up their own.

Kasikorn Bank seem to be the most friendly

[ubonjoe]

You do not need a work permit to open a bank account. You just have to go from bank to bank or even to different branches until you find one that will do it. The most important thing to have is proof of address.

See this webpage on Bangkok banks website it has the best information I have been able to find about opening an account. It probably is the same for other banks as well.

http://www.bangkokbank.com/Bangkok+Bank/Pe...+Accounts.htm#1

[beechguy]

There are some threads in the Jobs/Economy section that address the bank account issue. Kasikorn Bank, as mentioned before, seems to be the most friendly. If you're in Bangkok, I used Bangkok Bank near the Nana BTS Station, others have mentioned their location near Silom.

Here is one thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Opening-Bank...nt-t260738.html

Here is another:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Foreigner-Op...Th-t268210.html

[ahkuoi]

Nope you dont need work permit. I opened a joint account with my wife and they only asked for passport only. Single accounts depending on the people working in bank they might let you open without work permit. You only need passport and residence proof.

Good luck

[Mario2008]

If you know a Thai person who can vouch for you, that can also be very helpfull in getting a bankaccount.

[beano2274]

Most banks will not let you open an account without a Work Permit or Tambian Baan, however, you should walk around your area and check in all the banks, you might get lucky.

[delmersomsri]

Currently posses USA passport with an O-A Thai Visa stamp with multiple re-entries. Is it true that I cannot obtain a Thai Work Permit?

If I cannot get a work permit is there any banks that would allow me to open an account in my name. All help appreciated. Work permit and bank account

THANKS TO ALL. AS USUAL YOU CAME THROUGH.

Just as expected, more leg work, more asking.

[ubonjoe]

I just checked back through some of your posts and found that you are married to a Thai. Does she have a bank account? If yes you should go to that bank and ask to open an account.

[katabeachbum]

I just checked back through some of your posts and found that you are married to a Thai. Does she have a bank account? If yes you should go to that bank and ask to open an account.

Yes if married

If not married, ask the bank to have a look at the regulations. #1 WP, #2,3,4 blablabla #5 Residents of Thailand.

Provide Certificate of Residence and point at regulation #5 and you get a bankaccount.

[Maverell]

I found that opening a bank account (savings) here was easier in Bangkok than in the UK ( my home country ). The whole process took all of 15 minutes - all I needed was my passport. They did not even check my visa nor did they want proof of address. I left the bank with a personalised ATM card and passbook.

It cost about 300 baht for the ATM card and they wanted a deposit of 2000 baht. I checked my balance at an ATM 20 minutes after leaving the bank and my new account showed the 2000 baht.

Excellent service and I have held the account about 18 months.

Bangkok Bank, near Nana BTS.

But of course, getting a loan or other similar product will not be as easy.

[Mister Fixit]

You cannot work with a Retirement Visa.

Plenty of banks will give you a Savings Account. You just have to keep looking as some choose to ignore the rules and make up their own.

Kasikorn Bank seem to be the most friendly

Kasikorn Bank are great - go there first.

[Jimi007]

I've had an O-A visa with a US passport for over four years and I was able to open a savings account first at Siam Commercial Bank with no other documents. Then I opened a Bangkok Bank savings account as you can transfer funds from Bank of America to Bangkok Bank online. (PM me if you want to know how to do this. There are small fees. but better than most.) Bangkok Bank wanted to see a work permit. I showed them my O-A visa that said employment prohibited right on it. They had to have the manager come and check it. She said it's only three months. I said I have use it to enter within three months of the date it was issued, as it was a single entry visa. Then I referred her to my entry stamp that said one year. She argued a bit and then said okay. Then there was a problem with B of A after three years and they didn't allow me to transfer to that account. So I went and opened another one at Bangkok Bank, they had to have a little staff meeting over it, but since I had two other Thai bank accounts, one at their bank, they said okay and gave me a new account and ATM card. So, now I have three. We didn't have any banks here where I live back then. The closest was at least 20 a minute drive each way... But there are more Siam Commercial Banks and ATM's it seems than Bangkok Banks in my area or that used to be the case. Now 7-11 has Bangkok Bank ATM's. But as said every branch is different. You can also as stated use a residency certificate which you can get at the US Embassy or consulate, but they are currently $30 and on July 13th they go up to $50 per notarized document. Way over priced in my opinion!