Banking Policies

[Baht Man]

This relates specifically to Bangkok Bank but they may all heve the same policies??

I have an account at BKK Bank. And move money occasionally from the US. Dollars are converted to baht upon arrival.

I've questioned them about policies on deposits (cash or transfers from abroad) and about withdrawing the same.

From what I vaguely understand I cannot take out (in cash) more that I've put in (in cash).

In other words, I believe they're telling me I cannot co-mingle the different funds.

I read somewhere that it's best to have a foreign currency account and transfere into it. I also read that for monies over 20k I should get some sort of form from the bank that will allow me to remove it should I decide to. (Buying and selling of a house for example).

I've got cash in some Lao banks that I may want to move here, but it would be in the form of cash. (dollars or baht)

Can anyone that has first hand knowledge, explain thier policies concerning deposits and withdrawls?

My Thai and their English are both limited and I really need some clairification.

Thanks in advance.

Mods............ feel free to move this to a more suitable forum

[allane]

1. Re Transfers of Money into Thailand (Inward Remittances, to use the term used by Bangkok Bank).

It normally takes three business days from the date the money is transferred from abroad, before you can have access to the money. Allow extra time for time zone differences, holidays on one end or the other, etc. The receiving bank uses this time period to verify that the money is coming from a real bank, that the sender has a real acccount there, and has prepaid the transfer. After this three day period the money is combined with whatever balance was in your account before. You can withdraw as much, or as little, of it as you want.

2. Re:Buying a condominiium - do not transfer the money into Thailand until you have found a place and decided to buy it. As per the Condominium Property Act, the money must be identified as being for the purhcase of a condominium at the time it is brought into Thailand. If you want to use money that you have already brought into Thailand, or money that you have earned and saved in Thailand, it must be "recycled" through your home country first.