I Need To Open A Bank Account

[AnkertilBrewer]

Sorry for the boring newb question, but you can always tell yourself you'll be "earning merit" by helping a new guy in town. I arrived with some cash, and I don't want to have to keep this concealed so I'd like to put it in an account. I'm not working yet, and only have my hotel as an address, though I'm staying there at least a month. Can someone recommend a good bank that will give me an account without much hassle?

[Greenside]

Kassikorn Bank, Moonmuang Road (on the northeast corner of the moat) is usually very helpful and doesn't demand work permits or other formalities.

[eyecatcher]

+1

yes I first opened with Kasikorn, I think on chang klan road, staying in a hotel posed no problem, they dont even need to see your passport, well for me they just wanted to confirm the spelling of my name.

can open there and then with 1000bt to deposit, and for (it was 2yr ago) 150bt you can have the ATM cashcard so no charges for extractions from the wall!

Off you go, and make the rest of the afternoon a useful one.

[eyecatcher]

ah.......it may be shut now...........tomorrow morning then!

[Tywais]

Inflammatory post and reply removed. The OP asked a simple question so if you can help do so, if not keep out of it.

[anto]

Because opening a Bank a/c is going to get harder next month ,i opened two this week .One at Kasikorn and another at Bangkok bank both ar Meechoke plaza .All they asked for was a passport and for me to write down my address .No proof of address or work permit asked for .Easy peasy .

[elektrified]

+1

yes I first opened with Kasikorn, I think on chang klan road, staying in a hotel posed no problem, they dont even need to see your passport, well for me they just wanted to confirm the spelling of my name.

can open there and then with 1000bt to deposit, and for (it was 2yr ago) 150bt you can have the ATM cashcard so no charges for extractions from the wall!

Off you go, and make the rest of the afternoon a useful one.

I concur with KBank being a good choice but would recommend another branch. Chang Klan which is where I have my accounts is the main branch and is much stricter on requirements than some of the other branches.

[AnkertilBrewer]

Thanks guys, that's exactly the info I needed! Sorta' sorry I missed the inflammatory post, but, really appreciate that this forum is being monitored.

[AnkertilBrewer]

Kassikorn Bank, Moonmuang Road (on the northeast corner of the moat) is usually very helpful and doesn't demand work permits or other formalities.

OK, that will do nicely. Thanks so much.

[THAIPHUKET]

Kassikorn Bank, Moonmuang Road....... service plus English ok?

The function of a personal account officer seems not be known here, or ?

Any names to recommend?

[chiang mai]

Kassikorn Bank, Moonmuang Road....... service plus English ok?

The function of a personal account officer seems not be known here, or ?

Any names to recommend?

Can't recall the name but there is one female customer service person (circ 30 ish) who acts as the primary interface between the branch and those that are Thai language challenged, she's very good and her English is near perfect - just ask for the C/S lady who speaks English..

[kjhbigv]

Because opening a Bank a/c is going to get harder next month ,i opened two this week .One at Kasikorn and another at Bangkok bank both ar Meechoke plaza .All they asked for was a passport and for me to write down my address .No proof of address or work permit asked for .Easy peasy .

Do you know why? Could do with having a 2nd account?

[elektrified]

Because opening a Bank a/c is going to get harder next month ,i opened two this week .One at Kasikorn and another at Bangkok bank both ar Meechoke plaza .All they asked for was a passport and for me to write down my address .No proof of address or work permit asked for .Easy peasy .

Do you know why? Could do with having a 2nd account?

It's because of anti money laundering laws that are due to be implemented soon.

I just went through opening a Euro account here and it took weeks to get the approval, and I had to fill out and sign dozens and dozens of forms.

[hellodolly]

I opened one at SCB in the night Bazaar years ago all I had to do was give them my address and show them mypass port and they made a copy of it. Don't remember but I think my ATM card was free.

They have several workers there who speak English. Just go in and sit down and wait for one of them to become free if they are all busy.

[NancyL]

To answer a question raised -- the concept of a "personal account officer" seems to be foreign here, at least for those of us whose banking business involves maintaining an 800,000 baht visa account and a personal (maybe joint) account that we use for everyday bills.

I know exactly what the poster meant -- back when we had a business in the U.S. and usually had much higher balances, the bank had a "personal account officer" who sometimes would show up at our business, without an appointment, at the busiest times, and say she was "here to serve us". (She didn't take kindly to our suggestion that she help load the truck with outbound plants. That was normally that help we most needed at those times!)

Anyway, I found the best way to merit personal attention at a branch bank here is to discover an error -- in favor of the teller. Talk to the manager. Tell her you think one of her employees gave you 1000 baht more than you desired. Give her the 1000 baht and just wait until next time. The employee in question will be watching the door for you the enter. She will come to you with profuse thanks and forever after, she will personally come and help you every time you enter the bank.

Somehow I think the 1000 baht honesty test is a better investment than having a large bank account -- large enought to merit a personal account officer. We had one at our last business bank. In 2008, we closed our business and took in a lot of money as we sold assets. The personal account officer recommended we invest those funds in an annuity from AIG. Wow -- what a great piece of advice (in hindisght!). I'm so glad we stuck with the recommendation of our long-time financial advisor who said "if you belong to a credit union, put your money there, because all hell is about to break loose!)

[endure]

Bangkok Bank in Kad Suan Kaew. They're used to furriners and I believe they're open 7 days a week.

[NancyL]

Bangkok Bank in Kad Suan Kaew. They're used to furriners and I believe they're open 7 days a week.

Yup, that's where we bank now. Very convenient location and hours plus good English-speaking staff. I wish we had this type of customer service back when we ran a business in the U.S. and had other business banking needsl

[DaamNaam]

Been Banking with Bangkok Bank for 14 years. Never had a work permit. Never had a problem with them either, pretty good service for a bank.

[AnkertilBrewer]

Took care of it today. Everything went smoothly. Opened the account, exchanged money, and put the exchanged money in the account. The girls were kinda' nice and kinda' cute, most of 'em.

Thanks for the advice, which worked 100%.

[uptheos]

Don't remember but I think my ATM card was free.

SCB opening fee 100 Baht, annual fee 200 Baht.