Bank account & ATM

[MiriamAlegria]

Hi everyone,

I'm Miriam from Malaysia and I'll be in bangkok for 1years+ for study on May. And this is my first time in bangkok so I have no idea how thing works.

So, I only have one international bank account which is HSBC and I'm wondering for my period of stay, is it convenience for me to withdrawal money from any thai's atms? Does every atm accept the HSBC atm card?

thank you very much.

[Mrjlh]

Should be able to get all your questions answered here: http://www.hsbc.co.th/1/2/bkh2/home

[MiriamAlegria]

unfortunately, can't find any answer there.

[Mrjlh]

If you already have an HSBC account you should be able to open an account at any Thai branch. Contact you current banking branch where you live and ask them. They should be able to help you.

If not then you need to open an account in Thailand. Then transfer funds as needed. Ever do online banking? Simple as that.

[Mrjlh]

Looks like this link will answer your question. You'll need to open a Thai bank account to be safe.

http://www.scmp.com/news/article/1235719/hsbc-cards-no-longer-work-many-overseas-atms?page=all

[MiriamAlegria]

If you already have an HSBC account you should be able to open an account at any Thai branch. Contact you current banking branch where you live and ask them. They should be able to help you.

If not then you need to open an account in Thailand. Then transfer funds as needed. Ever do online banking? Simple as that.

Don't I need like working permit & other documents to open an thai bank account?

[MiriamAlegria]

http://www.bangkokbank.com/BANGKOKBANK/INTERNATIONALNETWORK/INTERNATIONALBRANCHES/ASIA/Pages/BranchesinMalaysia.aspx

I just found there's bangkok bank in malaysia, that means I can open an bkk bank account in malaysia and use it in bangkok?

[Scottythai]

Yea. BKK bank is good for what you are looking for. I work in Malaysia and have used it before.

[wym]

Depends what you want to do. ATMs already generally work internationally.

If you want to be able to deal with your account over the counter in Thailand, you will need to open your account at a branch in Thailand.

XXX bank Thailand is legally a separate bank from XXtheSameBankXXX anywhere else, so transferring funds will incur international SWIFT fees etc.

You may find that Bangkok Bank is an exception wrt the fee transfer, but that you'll have to communicate remotely with the Malaysian branch to manage the account.

It's not an issue opening an account here without a work permit, even a tourist visa's OK at many branches, the rules aren't applied evenly just keep going from one to the other until you find one that's OK. Branches in shopping centres are best for convenient opening hours.

[CharlieH]

If your card for ATM use has the visa symbol on it and you inform the bank you are travelling, you shouldnt have a problem.

[theoldgit]

If you already have an HSBC account you should be able to open an account at any Thai branch. Contact you current banking branch where you live and ask them. They should be able to help you.

If not then you need to open an account in Thailand. Then transfer funds as needed. Ever do online banking? Simple as that.

You cannot open a HSBC account in Thailand, they only have one branch and that's for corporate accounts only.

You shouldn't need a work permit to open account in Thailand, if one bank asks for one then go to another, this topic has been discussed for years in this thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/260738-opening-a-new-bank-account-in-thailand/

[MiriamAlegria]

Thank you so much for your time you guys.

How about I open a Bangkok bank account in malaysia before im off to bkk thn use it there? will it works?

[wym]

As I said, depends on what you mean.

It will be the same as having an account with any other bank in Malaysia, do your banking by letter, email, fax and telephone. Transfers from there to your Thai bank accounts will most likely cost the same.

If you want to handle your account dealings over the counter, you'll have to open it at a branch in Thailand.

I could be wrong specifically with Bangkok Bank, why not stop in or call and ask them?