Can I maintain two separate bank accounts in Thailand for my retirement visa requirements?

Question

Banking question. I cannot get an answer from immigration:
I am fine putting ฿800,000 in a bank account . But I want to get decent interest. The bank tells me I can get a decent 2.4% interest in a fixed account. However, that money cannot be accessed by ATM or the banking app for things like making payments.
I don’t want to put the 800,000 into their savings book account because it only gets 0.25% .
Also, I want to have my pension deposit every month over the next 12 months so I can in one year get my 800,000 back. 
Question: can I have two accounts? One with a bank that is a fixed account that I put the 800,000 in and I do not touch for the year and I get 2.4%.
Then A regular savings account where I would deposit my 65,000 baht every month so in 12 months I can show that I have the pension and I can get my 800,000 back

Will that be allowed?  Same bank just two different accounts. The savings account that I deposit my pension into I could then use for paying bills, etc., and withdrawal from ATM.

Or does everything need to be one account?

Ask Thailand · Answer

Yes, you can maintain two separate bank accounts in Thailand—one for a fixed deposit where you can place your ฿800,000 to earn 2.4% interest, and another for your savings where you can deposit your monthly pension of ฿65,000 and have easier access for daily expenses. It’s important that the funds in the fixed deposit account remain accessible when needed, even if not through ATM or banking app. Most comments agree that this approach is feasible as long as you ensure compliance with visa financial requirements.

Ellie ******* · Answer

Sorry, but we are not going into banking details. OP got an answer regarding the Thai visa.

Marcos ********** · Answer

2 accounts. Put the 800K in a certificate of deposit account that has a fixed rate for a number of years, and another for daily use and pension deposit.

Peter ******** · Answer

Yes. I have a savings account, transfer my pension, pay bills, gas, buy food etc, and a fixed account, term deposit for 3 months at crap interest but it just sits there and I'm happy with that as my retirement visa is secure, I can withdraw from this account if needed and I have sufficient cash in the other account for living. Both accounts with Bangkok Bank. Cheers.

John ********** · Answer

As long as you can get *instant* access to the 800k even if that means you have to pay a penalty such as loss of interest

Tod ********* · Answer

Totally could be two separate accounts, BUT on the fixed or term deposit account you have to have access to the funds all the time. It can't be "locked" for the term of the deposit (don't think not being able to get at it thru an ATM or an app is a problem as long as you can walk into a branch and get to the funds)

AND

I sure wouldn't move all of it at once into that account either (but that's just me) I'd wait the 3 months after my extension was granted so that I met the 3 month seasoning requirement rule, THEN move 400K of the money to the term account and after that deposited move the rest, that way you have 400K baht (the required minimum) in at least ONE account continually so that they can't say you broke the "chain" of the funds

Should have no issue at all doing that and dumping the 65K baht a month into the other account each month, every month for the next 12 months before you apply for the following year extension

Can I maintain two separate bank accounts in Thailand for my retirement visa requirements?

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