No one should have a problem opening an account here, even on Tourist visa

[onthemoon]

Bangkok Bank once told me they would close my account when I asked for a new pass book after 15 years as a customer because I didn't have a work permit, even though I am a permanent resident and had all the books with me. A lengthy argument ensued where I asked how I was I supposed to live in Thailand without a bank account after being granted permanent residence for life, working or not. The bank clerk refused to listen to reason or back down - no WP we close your account. Eventually I said I wasn't going to leave the branch until they called HQ in front of me. Luckily someone at HQ told her she couldn't close the account of someone with permanent residence whether they have a WP or not and I got my new bank book. A bit of a sweat though. A nasty example of hitlerism in bank branches.

Bangkok Bank seems particularly bad at that sort of thing and their market share of consumer banking is very low for their asset size. They mainly pander to large corporate accounts and shaft the retail clients. KBANK is the best in my experience and is very good on consumer banking.

Bangkok Bank is particularly good, I take all my foreign friends on tourist visas there, if they want to open bank accounts in Thailand. Just go to HQ on Silom Road.

And with my PR, they were the first ones to offer me a loan, let alone continuing my accounts with them. That was at a branch office. Quite the opposite of your experience.

[ChiangraiTony]

Sorry, that is not true.

Now, understand, I have two separate Bangkok Bank accounts right now in Bangkok. and have had others before that I have now closed.

I am now retired in Bangkok, and am not unfamiliar with opening Thai bank accounts and especially Bangkok Bank accounts as I opened my first one in 1991.

But the first timer will meet several problems ..... they can be overcome..... but you will meet them when trying to open your first account.

One is that the staff on the floor will not want to open an account because , quite frankly, they don't do it that often for a foreigner, and therefore they are not sure of the correct procedures.would mean they will lose "face".

If you have been in Thailand long enough you will know of the "face" problem ..... the bank staff doesn't want to have to say the words, " I'm sorry but I'm not really I know how to do that ..... opening an account for a foreigner", because to say that means they will lose "face".

I've heard such excuses as:

• We can't do that unless you have a work permit
• We will need a letter from your embassy.
• You can't open an account on a tourist visa.
• And you will need a Thai person as a sponsor or a co-signer to open an account.

None of them are true, but are the excuse used to avoid saying, "I'm not sure how to open a deposit account for a foreigner".

All these excuses can be overcome by smiling and being polite..... and to keep trying at various branches until you find one that will be brave enough to try to open the account for you.

I opened another Bangkok Bank account in July 2014 ..... and at first I heard the same excuses again ...... but I was able to keep calm and smile until the account was finally opened.

My U.S. Social Security pension is direct deposit in Bangkok Bank now, which I was told by others at the Bank was not possible, but it was done with some effort.

So, it is possible, just be calm and smile and things can be accomplished.

Not really sure why you were told that it was not possible to direct deposit.

It is my understanding that the U.S. Social Security Administration has an agreement with Bangkok Bank on specific criteria to process Social Security benefits abroad (Thailand). This does not hold true for the other Thai banks such as SCB, etc.. My point is: Bangkok Bank is on their "approved" list.

If you are a U.S. Citizen residing in Thailand and eligible to begin receiving U.S. Social Security benefits paid to you in Thailand, "Bangkok Bank" is the name that's provided to you by the U.S. Social Security Administration in Manilla Philippines, which is the SE Asia regional office.

One reason why the S.S. Office advises those that are eligible, that it takes approximately 3-months to begin receiving S.S. benefits after application is do to validating the bank account set-up process ensuring the funds transfer is correct. I know of someone that recently set-up such an account with Bangkok Bank in order to begin receiving S.S. direct deposit here in LOS. It look about 30 minutes to open the account after completing at least two bank forms.

[Ulic]

First bank I went to in Phuket (Kasikorn, Jungceylon branch) let me open an account not a question. I brought

my passport and a business card of the hotel I was staying at for the address. I had a cell phone as well. Visa exempt on arrival.

It is a real hit and miss when I see the trouble some people have.

[IsaanUSA]

Bangkok Bank HQ office has a big sign in the customer service lobby that says "We Welcome Foreigner Customers". I opened an account there as a tourist last year and had only my passport and a U.S. driver's license (for back-up photo ID). Minimum deposit THB 500. No problem at all. I am very happy with their service and regularly transfer cash from the U.S. that arrives in my account in 72 hours. I have debit and credit cards from them too.

Same experience. Everything was easy and quick at the Silom HQ.

[Tomtomtom69]

Sorry, that is not true.

Now, understand, I have two separate Bangkok Bank accounts right now in Bangkok. and have had others before that I have now closed.

I am now retired in Bangkok, and am not unfamiliar with opening Thai bank accounts and especially Bangkok Bank accounts as I opened my first one in 1991.

But the first timer will meet several problems ..... they can be overcome..... but you will meet them when trying to open your first account.

One is that the staff on the floor will not want to open an account because , quite frankly, they don't do it that often for a foreigner, and therefore they are not sure of the correct procedures.would mean they will lose "face".

If you have been in Thailand long enough you will know of the "face" problem ..... the bank staff doesn't want to have to say the words, " I'm sorry but I'm not really I know how to do that ..... opening an account for a foreigner", because to say that means they will lose "face".

I've heard such excuses as:

• We can't do that unless you have a work permit
• We will need a letter from your embassy.
• You can't open an account on a tourist visa.
• And you will need a Thai person as a sponsor or a co-signer to open an account.

None of them are true, but are the excuse used to avoid saying, "I'm not sure how to open a deposit account for a foreigner".

All these excuses can be overcome by smiling and being polite..... and to keep trying at various branches until you find one that will be brave enough to try to open the account for you.

I opened another Bangkok Bank account in July 2014 ..... and at first I heard the same excuses again ...... but I was able to keep calm and smile until the account was finally opened.

My U.S. Social Security pension is direct deposit in Bangkok Bank now, which I was told by others at the Bank was not possible, but it was done with some effort.

So, it is possible, just be calm and smile and things can be accomplished.

If you speak Thai and know all the ins and outs i.e. you did all your homework and are sure you are entitled to open an account at a particular bank and branch, based on what is stated in print form in the bank's brochures, on their website etc. then all you need to do is explain it to them, like you know more than they do. Of course you would do so in a calm and pleasant manner. Then the staff will quickly open an account for you. It's when foreigners can't speak the language and accept the lame excuses given by bank staff that things don't go their way. You have to do your research before even walking into the bank, knowing what the requirements are beforehand.

Or just go to a big branch like Bangkok Bank's main branch at Silom. For years I was under the impression that this is the only branch in the country that will open an account for anyone. I was wrong of course, but this branch, like a few others in touristy areas or places with a lot of expats (such as Paragon, MBK, Siam Square, Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, central Chiang Mai, downtown Udon Thani, downtown Khon Kaen etc.) should be as familiar with the procedures to open an account as the main branch given the number of foreigners they deal with.

[Naam]

If you speak Thai and know all the ins and outs i.e. you did all your homework...

and keep on yada yada yakety "explaing" then you get an account? there's no such thing like "research" or Thai language required! if some staff tries their well known BS, you ask for the branch manager and tell him firmly in English that you would like to open an account and if that is refused you will file a complaint with the bank's headquarters.

[Pib]

One reason why the S.S. Office advises those that are eligible, that it takes approximately 3-months to begin receiving S.S. benefits after application is do to validating the bank account set-up process ensuring the funds transfer is correct. I know of someone that recently set-up such an account with Bangkok Bank in order to begin receiving S.S. direct deposit here in LOS. It look about 30 minutes to open the account after completing at least two bank forms.

Several years back when I wanted part of my military pension to flow to Bangkok Bank, I just went and opened the Bangkok Bank Direct Deposit account since it was a U.S. govt payment, that night called the military pension agency (DFAS) and gave them the Bangkok Bank NY routing number plus my in-Thailand Direct Deposit account number, the pension payment began arriving no problem.. I think I called around the second week of the month and the very next monthly payment a few weeks later arrived my Direct Deposit account. Now, I don't send my pension to my Direct Deposit account anymore as I moved to other methods of getting money like using my no foreign transaction fee debit cards that reimburse ATM withdrawals, or doing counter withdrawals with those cards where no ATM fee is applied. And of course a person could just have their U.S. pension payment direct deposited to their home country bank and then do a manual or setup an automatic transfer to your regular Bangkok Bank account which don't have the restrictions of the Direct Deposit account.

I guess what I'm saying is the "validation" process any pension distribution agency uses will vary. Some will accept the info via phone call "after they satisfactory verify who you are by asking a series of questions only you should know the answers to", some require a signed form, some may do more validation. I do know that for military and VA pensions both DFAS and the VA will accept the info via phone call as I've done it several times over the years...can't speak to the Social Security Agency policy as I'm not drawing Social Security yet.

[r2d2wat]

I followed the advice of TV and waited until I got to Chiang Mai to open a Bangkok Bank (BB) account. I have a 90 day tourist visa. A week ago I visited 4 bank branches, all with the same courteous reason for no. When I said I would keep visiting other branches until one said yes, the bank staff checked with her supervisor, and got me a written copy, in English, outlining their requirements.

The sticky point was a need for references. There are 3 ways to do this:

A letter from some official organization such as your consular office.

A letter from your own bank, sent to BB's SWIFT account. My bank would not send it this way, or supply all the info requested, but sent me the letter in a secure PDF file. This was accepted.

A Thai person with their ID card, preferably if they have a BB account. They apologized that it could not be a BB employee, but could even be an employee at my hotel, possibly a stranger off the street.

In order to set up an online account, you need a Thai cell phone, and an address where they can mail you your PIN number in about 2 weeks.

There was no hint at laziness, and all the staff were apologetic about needing to follow the rules, at the same time as suggesting alternatives.

[dean008]

agreed 100%. I bought a couple of matresses from central. om delivery day I was told they would be a week late. I went to central and told them I would call my credit card company and ask them to reverse the payment, or they should refund 20% for the inconvenience or get me a bleeping matress.

1hour later they confirmed they would deliver 2 superior mattresses within an hour. some times standing your ground is the best option

Sorry, that is not true.
Now, understand, I have two separate Bangkok Bank accounts right now in Bangkok. and have had others before that I have now closed.
I am now retired in Bangkok, and am not unfamiliar with opening Thai bank accounts and especially Bangkok Bank accounts as I opened my first one in 1991.
But the first timer will meet several problems ..... they can be overcome..... but you will meet them when trying to open your first account.
One is that the staff on the floor will not want to open an account because , quite frankly, they don't do it that often for a foreigner, and therefore they are not sure of the correct procedures.would mean they will lose "face".
If you have been in Thailand long enough you will know of the "face" problem ..... the bank staff doesn't want to have to say the words, " I'm sorry but I'm not really I know how to do that ..... opening an account for a foreigner", because to say that means they will lose "face".
I've heard such excuses as:

• We can't do that unless you have a work permit
• We will need a letter from your embassy.
• You can't open an account on a tourist visa.
• And you will need a Thai person as a sponsor or a co-signer to open an account.

None of them are true, but are the excuse used to avoid saying, "I'm not sure how to open a deposit account for a foreigner".

All these excuses can be overcome by smiling and being polite..... and to keep trying at various branches until you find one that will be brave enough to try to open the account for you.

I opened another Bangkok Bank account in July 2014 ..... and at first I heard the same excuses again ...... but I was able to keep calm and smile until the account was finally opened.

My U.S. Social Security pension is direct deposit in Bangkok Bank now, which I was told by others at the Bank was not possible, but it was done with some effort.

So, it is possible, just be calm and smile and things can be accomplished.

I agree with you on incompetent part however do not agree about being polite and calm part.

I am sick and tired of taking up the back side because some lazy retarded employee is worried about loosing the face.

Demand to speak with a manager or call call Center and demand actions .

Just recently ordered $2000 from the bank, giving them 2-3 weeks notice to arrange and order the money . 1 day before I was suppose to collect it, they called to advise they only have $1100.

I was not polite and was not calm, but called the call Center and head office, by miracle 1 hour after my calls branch had the full $2000.

Why they did not have it in the first place ? Because lazy teller did not order money from head office , nor did she call other branches.

Screw her face, staff are there to work and provide service, they are not there to make sure they have a fun and easy day even when they screw up or " do not know "