Good Morning,

How easy is it for a (tourist-non resident) farang to open a bank account in Mae Chan.

Which bank would be easiest?

As well as Passport whst else does he need ?

Best Wishes

You'll need some sort of proof of residency Wiley.

Do you ave a yellow book? (Tabien Baan).

I'd imagine the banks are the same but I went to the Chiang Rai Kasikorn Bank first up and a young girl asked me to come back with my wife so I crossed the road to the Bangkok Bank where the manager turned out to have lived in Australia and fixed me up with an account in no time.

You may need to specify an ATM card that works in all bank outlets.

Is this a new Thai Government law, or just each bank (and for that matter, each branch) deciding what documentation is needed, to open an account. ?

what does one do if one does not have a yellow book, does not appear on the tambien baan. I lease an apartment, under a 30 year lease. But the only paperwork, besides the lease, is a blue book with no name in it, because the land is owned by a Thai company.

Have 3 accounts in Mae Chan

All were easy to open with just a passport

Mind you that was some time ago

Ok Thank you,particularly Sceadugenga .

Will try next month,when I return

As I near retirement ,having to start making plans for the future

If there's a problem I'd come into town and try the bigger branches, as I said, the Bangkok Bank near the Clock Tower was very farang friendly.

I got my bank account because I bought a bottle of whiskey to a friendly police man I got to know.. it depends on what visa and why you want an account. I got a debit card. You need a guy from the government that can vouch for you. So you need connections with the police or government offices if you're not on a non b or non whatever..

from the bangkok bank website, opening an account for if you are are foreigner:

For foreigners

1. Foreigner with a Work Permit

• Passport
• Work Permit

2. Foreigner with Long-stay or Tourist Visa

• Passport and one of the following documents:
  
  2.1 An official document from another country, such as a document from the
  relevant agency giving evidence of the customer’s right to receive pension
  funds, OR a letter of reference from one of the following:

1. • • • Embassy or international organization
       • Customer’s home bank to Bangkok Bank via the SWIFT messaging network
       • Person acceptable to Bangkok Bank e.g. branch officer, customer, government officer or company executive
       • Educational institution located in Thailand and acceptable to the bank
       • Company that is acceptable to the bank, confirming the customer is in the process of getting a work permit
         

2.2 Other documents that show the name of the customer e.g. a document
showing the ownership of real estate in Thailand such as a unit in a
condominium

3. Foreigner with Permanent Residence in Thailand

• Passport, or Certificate of Residence, or Alien Certificate
• House Registration

or see:

http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/DailyBanking/Accounts/SavingsAccounts/Pages/Default.aspx

With retirement extension in passport plus a 100,000 baht you can open an account at Citibank or try kasikorn with same and less of a deposit your choice.