Simon1985 Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Is it possible to open a bank account In Phuket on a tourist visa or do you need a residency visa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamKangMan Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 No problem with opening a bank account on a tourist visa. I recommend Kasikorn Bank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ping Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Yes, Kasikorn Bank (for one). Some previous threads on this issue: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/260738-opening-a-new-bank-account-in-thailand/ http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/154359-you-can-open-a-bank-account/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ping Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 (edited) ^^ The Iceman beat me to it... Edited May 19, 2013 by Ping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinginKata Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Worth saying again that much depends on the attitude of the branch manager/staff. Kasikorn and Siam Commercial banks are more helpful than some other banks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogpoo Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Opened an account at Bangkok bank recently, excellent service from the staff! Online banking simple and call center very helpful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nkg Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Kasikorn Kamala was extremely easy for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon1985 Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 That's good news. Thanks for the info guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NomadJoe Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Worth saying again that much depends on the attitude of the branch manager/staff. Kasikorn and Siam Commercial banks are more helpful than some other banks. Yes. 4 years ago when I had a tourist visa I want to several Bangkok Banks and none would open an account for me without a work permit. Rawai Tesco did only on the promise that I would bring my WP in when I got it otherwise they would close the account later on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerald14 Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 No problem a friend of mine was here and K-Bank renewed his ATM card on an tourist visa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon1985 Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 Does anyone know if the Kasikorn or Siam Banks offer safety deposits boxes. Also are travellers cheques still easily cashed in Phuket. I was in another part of Asia last year and it was hard to find anywhere to cash travellers cheques. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Morozov Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 There are safety deposit boxes but AFAIK people are waiting for YEARS in the queue to get them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falkan Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 There are safety deposit boxes but AFAIK people are waiting for YEARS in the queue to get them. outside the tourist-ghetto the banks have empty safety deposit, cost around 6000thb a year.. take a drive and you find.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapster Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Hi, I don't know if anyone will see this post as the last one was in May!! BUT......the Kasikorn bank needs a 'copy of House Registration' for opening a bank account. I'd like to open an account when I visit on a tourist visa in November but what is this 'house registration', please. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falkan Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Hi, I don't know if anyone will see this post as the last one was in May!! BUT......the Kasikorn bank needs a 'copy of House Registration' for opening a bank account. I'd like to open an account when I visit on a tourist visa in November but what is this 'house registration', please. Cheers tabien-baan i think! well every bank have different rules so try another one.. if not,you can deposit to my account... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinginKata Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Quite honestly opening a Thai bank account has always been hit or miss depending on how that branch manager interpretes the rules, and how hungry he is for new business. Recently I supplied a couple of my guests with the appropriate paperwork but they were flatly told a Work permit is required - Kasikorn and SCB. I advised them to try other branches - still waiting for them to report back. I read this report in the Chiang Mai forum --> There is a crackdown by the government. Was just talking to my broker in BKK today about it. Something about a new U.S. tax law as well as pressure from the E.U. They said soon it will be very difficult for foreigners to open brokerage accounts in Thailand anymore as well as restrictions on who can open bank accounts. Link --> http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/657464-open-a-bank-account-scb-or-bangkok-bank/page-3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishIvan Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 There are safety deposit boxes but AFAIK people are waiting for YEARS in the queue to get them. outside the tourist-ghetto the banks have empty safety deposit, cost around 6000thb a year.. take a drive and you find.. Just pick up a house rental contract (tabian bahn for the linguists) from any stationary shop and fill it out yourself, put any old address you want on it. I usually put a kareoke bar on Patak Road as my primary address. When your having a few beers at a beer bar just get one of the birds behind the jump to put their moniker on it. Backdate it a few years, scrunch it up, spill a bit of coffee on it and presto! Looks like youve been living here for years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phuketrichard Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Hi, I don't know if anyone will see this post as the last one was in May!! BUT......the Kasikorn bank needs a 'copy of House Registration' for opening a bank account. I'd like to open an account when I visit on a tourist visa in November but what is this 'house registration', please. Cheers MY gf opened her account in Kamala branch, No taam bien baan needed. They do take on a sms service without telling u which is 199 baht.year ( i cancelled it) and their atms cards are 800 baht!! compared to SCB at 150 a real rip off IN Kamala the scb an bangkok bank would not open a new account without a wp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keestha Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Katsikorn Khao Lak requires a work permit, but a friend of mine managed to open an account nevertheless telling them she had found a job and that the work permit application procedure was in motion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon1985 Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 (edited) Hi, I don't know if anyone will see this post as the last one was in May!! BUT......the Kasikorn bank needs a 'copy of House Registration' for opening a bank account. I'd like to open an account when I visit on a tourist visa in November but what is this 'house registration', please. Cheers What Kasikorn branch did you go to? Edited October 20, 2013 by Simon1985 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapster Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Hi Simon, I haven't been to a branch yet. I'm in Johannesburg, planning to move to Phuket. (Believe me, it can't be worse than South Africa. I bet you don't get shot dead for a mobile phone!) Anyway, earlier in this thread KBank was mentioned as one where I could probably open an account with only a passport and a tourist visa. I went on their website and they specify needing a house registration (yellow/blue book?) as well. I'm coming to Phuket for a week in November and I'd like to open a bank account to have somewhere to transfer funds in the future. Any suggestions will be gratefully received, thanks! Sent from my GT-P7500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapster Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 @IrishIvan Your suggestion re: a homemade rental book is cool, but what if they want to send me paperwork and a cheque card to the 'karaoke bar'. Surely I'm going to need a real address, either in Thailand or at home in Johannesburg? Sent from my GT-P7500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenBravo Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Hi Simon, I haven't been to a branch yet. I'm in Johannesburg, planning to move to Phuket. (Believe me, it can't be worse than South Africa. I bet you don't get shot dead for a mobile phone!) Anyway, earlier in this thread KBank was mentioned as one where I could probably open an account with only a passport and a tourist visa. I went on their website and they specify needing a house registration (yellow/blue book?) as well. I'm coming to Phuket for a week in November and I'd like to open a bank account to have somewhere to transfer funds in the future. Any suggestions will be gratefully received, thanks! Sent from my GT-P7500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app If you rent a house, get a copy of the rental agreement, take it to immigration and get a proof of residence letter. This should satisfy the bank, though, it might be best if you check with them first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 (edited) Ah, your experience was based on a web question. Just come here and check a few different branches. And no worries, I have never received any mail from any bank here yet (and they do have the correct address in the books). Still I would not follow that suggested solution. Edit: not true, I do receive some mail from Bangkok Bank here sometimes, but that is not intended for me. Edited October 20, 2013 by stevenl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinginKata Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 If you rent a house, get a copy of the rental agreement, take it to immigration and get a proof of residence letter. This should satisfy the bank, though, it might be best if you check with them first. Says he is only here for a week. Most likely staying at hotel or guesthouse. Won't have any rental agreement. Immigration won't give residence letter on a transit visa (30 day stamp). Bank's never post any documents to a home address. ATM card is issued at time of opening bank account. Ain't no cheques or cheque card going to be issued to a private individual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenBravo Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Sorry......missed the bit about only staying a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapster Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Thanks, LIK, you are absolutely correct. It's sounding like I won't be able to open an account unless I'm living in Thailand with a proper visa and an address. When I move to Phuket, I'll just have to arrive armed with lots of cash until I can get an account up and running, is that it? Cheers Sent from my GT-P7500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BShifty Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 (edited) I opened an account at the Bangkok Bank in Patong on Rat-U-Thit Road with only my passport with a tourist visa last year. Had my girlfriend do the talking. Had to take out some insurance for 2000THB. Used my girlfriends address in Ubon as my mailing address in Thailand. Got her Mum to SMS my password for internet banking when it was mailed. Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Edited October 20, 2013 by BShifty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapster Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Cool, BShifty, I'll certainly give it a try when I'm in Phuket. I could let my wife do the talking, but only if they speak Afrikaans! Sent from my GT-P7500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blindside Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Katsikorn Khao Lak requires a work permit, but a friend of mine managed to open an account nevertheless telling them she had found a job and that the work permit application procedure was in motion. Friend of mine did this at BKK Bank in Phuket. Only thing is that he can only draw from a BKK bank ATM and he cannot swipe his card at the tills. Until his WP arrives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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