srwitt Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I have been coming to Thailand 12 years now for hols. I am here on a visa exempt obtained at airport. How does one go about opening a bank acc so can deposit the 800000baht for retirement visa. I tried once and was told I need a work permit or Edu. Visa. Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lite Beer Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Just keep trying until you find one that is willing to let you open an account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopburi3 Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 You try different branch banks until one allows. Bangkok Bank policy is listed below - but don't expect many branch banks to know it. http://www.bangkokbank.com/Bangkok%20Bank/Personal%20Banking/Foreign%20Customers/Pages/Opening%20an%20account%20new.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMA_FARANG Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 (edited) I did it back in November 2010. You really usually need a Non immigrant O visa....which you can get at a Thai consulate in your home country. That's what the banks really want...either that or a Work Permit. You also can get one if you are married to a Thai...and if you are over 50 and plan to come to Thailand for retirement. (The visa I mean). Different Thai consulates will have different "requirements" they will tell you....so contact a Thai consulate to get their take on what is "required" from you. You can also get that Non immigrant O visa here in neighnoring countries....but most everyone who is sucessful getting that visa here in S,E, Asia is married to a Thai..it's difficult to get that visa locally simply based on retirement. You can also enter Thailand on a tourist visa, and convert it here (for a fee) to that Non immigrant O you need to open that bank account. Once you have that visa you need to make the rounds of the banks and ask about opening an account for retirement . Some will say no, and give you phoney reasons why you can't open the account. keep trying, one branch of a bank my say no, but another branch will say yes. I opened mine in this bank and branch: Bangkok Bank Soi 43 Sukhumvit Road branch Bangkok I found them to be the most "Farang friendly" branch....but your experience may differ. Just keep trying. Don't let being turned down a few times keep you from trying again. Edited June 10, 2012 by IMA_FARANG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lite Beer Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Kasikorn Bank have a reputation for being most helpful. Try branches that are in shopping centers such as Big C or Tesco or tourist areas where they will be more used to dealing with foreigners. Keep trying and you will get one. More information Here. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beechguy Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I did it back in November 2010. You really usually need a Non immigrant O visa....which you can get at a Thai consulate in your home country. That's what the banks really want...either that or a Work Permit. You also can get one if you are married to a Thai...and if you are over 50 and plan to come to Thailand for retirement. (The visa I mean). Different Thai consulates will have different "requirements" they will tell you....so contact a Thai consulate to get their take on what is "required" from you. You can also get that Non immigrant O visa here in neighnoring countries....but most everyone who is sucessful getting that visa here in S,E, Asia is married to a Thai..it's difficult to get that visa locally simply based on retirement. You can also enter Thailand on a tourist visa, and convert it here (for a fee) to that Non immigrant O you need to open that bank account. Once you have that visa you need to make the rounds of the banks and ask about opening an account for retirement . Some will say no, and give you phoney reasons why you can't open the account. keep trying, one branch of a bank my say no, but another branch will say yes. I opened mine in this bank and branch: Bangkok Bank Soi 43 Sukhumvit Road branch Bangkok I found them to be the most "Farang friendly" branch....but your experience may differ. Just keep trying. Don't let being turned down a few times keep you from trying again. Nonsense, he doesn't need a visa just to open a bank account. Agreed, he may as well get one if he is going to start the retirement extension process though, but not necessary. Plenty of information here. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/260738-opening-a-new-bank-account-in-thailand/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 No particular visa needed, especially in places such as Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket, becomes more complicated upcountry and out in the sticks but perserverance and diversity pays divdends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrilled Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 If at 1st ya don't succeed try try again.I didn't have trouble my 1st time around 5 years ago.I opwened it at Kasikorn bank.Next one will be at bangkok bank.no visa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdude Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Try the Kasikorn at Central Bang Na. The only thing their request is a phone number, adress and e-mail from a Thai person who you know. It worked for me some years ago and still now some friends who are coming to here and want to open a bank account succeed everytime. Good luck on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tig28 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 There is no "correct answer" --- no posters here are right or wrong -- and none of the previous posts are "nonsense"!! It is a matter of pot luck -- because whatever the correct regulations re a foreigner opening a bank account may be --- different banks -- different days -- all different responses. Years ago went to the Bangkok Bank (Emporium -- Sukhumvit Rd) with simply a tourist visa. They could not have been more helpful. Bank account ?? -- certainly!! ATM card ?? -- no problem!! internet banking?? -- Oh no!!! cannot without a WP. 18 months later with a Business visa and now owning a business in a different part of BKK ----- I foolishly thought that transferring my account to the local Bangkok Bank branch would be a mere formality. Very wrong. Cannot transfer!! They would also not open a new account without a WP. So the message is clear -- you have no choice but to keep trying different Banks and different branches. As a previous poster observed --- the Kasikorn Bank is reputed to be easier to get on with than the others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 If you can produce a Thai drivers license (which is really easy to get) that will go a long way towards preventing a "no can" answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommoPhysicist Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 All you need is a passport and some money. Maybe a letter or signature from an existing account holder. Bangkok Bank even have an application form marked 'Bank Account for Tourists' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mockingbird Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 All Kasikorn branches in Pattaya will do for you, with just a copy of your passport. I'm not sure about bkk, but if you try kasikorn branches in the tourist spots you'll probably get some joy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winston888 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 (edited) I have been visiting the LOS for the past seven years or so on tourist visas, and recently I opened two bank accounts, (savings acount with ATM card) at SCB and Bangkok Bank, both in Bangkok. I had no difficulties and managed to do it on the first try. I took along a friend who is a Thai citizen and who speaks Thai. Edited June 11, 2012 by Maestro Changed font format to default Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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