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Can I open a bank account in Thailand with a retirement visa?

Mar 17, 2025
17 days ago
Moe ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, Is there any bank can open account with retirement visa? Please let me know....

If so, let me know the location & bank name.

Thank you ka
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Several banks in Thailand allow individuals with a retirement visa to open an account. Bangkok Bank is frequently recommended as one of the easiest options and is known for its support of expat clients. Other banks mentioned include Kasikorn Bank, SCB, and Krungsri Bank. To successfully open an account, applicants typically need to provide their passport with the visa, a residence certificate from local immigration, and may be required to deposit a certain amount, often around 100,000 THB. There are reports of increased scrutiny and requirements recently, so it's advisable to check with individual banks for their latest regulations.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Steven *********
I had no trouble with a marriage visa and no trouble with a retirement visa opening an account. I used Bangkok Bank. Needed the visa stamp in my passport, a home address and a Thai phone number
Moe ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I already asked all the banks … they ask for some documents.

Thank you all
Rod *********
as long as you meet bank conditions any bank will open an account
เต๋อ *****
Are you seeking to open account to apply for retirement visa? Or you already have visa?
Moe ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@เต๋อ ****
I already have a retirement visa, I want to open another bank acc, I had already opened bangkok bank
เต๋อ *****
@Moe ***********
just bring your visa and rent agreement to open it.
Graham ******
@เต๋อ ****
The OP is on a retirement visa
เต๋อ *****
@Graham *****
go to immigration, ask for a letter of permission to open account.

Go to Bangkok Bank.
Graham ******
@เต๋อ ****
yes, I know that a residence certificate is required
เต๋อ *****
And after you have that visa, visa is proof of resident, you can open at any other bank.
เต๋อ *****
And only Bangkok Bank will open for you.
เต๋อ *****
@Graham *****
No, tell them you want to apply for retirement visa, and it requires 800kthb in the bank, you need to open account.
Graham ******
@เต๋อ ****
The OP already has a retirement visa
เต๋อ *****
Oh, and the lease of the place you are staying
เต๋อ *****
@Graham *****
Then it should be easy, they just need to see your visa.
Stephen *******
Most of the banks will give you an account, if you got the retirement visa.
Sean **********
I am a little bit confused by your question since you need to have a bank account opened in Thailand in order to apply for and receive a retirement extension
Graham ******
@Sean *********
The OP is on a retirement visa not an extension
Moe ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Marianne ********
You just need your passport with your retirement visa, and a Residence Certificate from your local immigration and it should not be a problem opening a bank account.

Bank have been more strict with this lately, but since you hold a long term visa, it should not be a problem.
Michael ********
I want to recommend Krungsri Bank. They will help you and they don’t take a fee for cash out or transfers.
Colin ***************
SCB Chalong
Bob **********
How did you get a retirement visa without a bank account??
Jan ******************
@Bob *********
You apply for the visa at home with your bank at home. Also possible to get extension of stay with a affidavit letter without funds in a Thai bank.
Bob **********
@Jan *****************
if your country still issues them in this case she has a BB account just looking for another I guess ,I’ve lived here 15 years on a non-o extension
Warren ******
I arrived on an OA from the US and set up the Thai account after arrival.
Adaryll **********
@Warren *****
hi there. May I ask where/how you completed your OA? The medical and criminal background portions of it? Also did you get foreign insurance? Would you mind providing a step by step how you got it done in the states? I will be doing this soon and there’s sooooo much conflicting information everywhere. Much appreciated!
Bob **********
@Adaryll *********
don’t do it the insurance is close to useless just apply for a non-o and get here open a bank account deposit your 800k no police check no medical certificate or insurance
Graham ******
@Bob *********
You can get a retirement visa from an Embassy or Consulate without a Thai bank account
Bob **********
@Graham *****
I’m not talking OA
Graham ******
@Bob *********
neither am I but that is one of the options
Moe ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
oh.. Sorry..

I forgot, first I opened an account Bangkok bank with agent. And I kept did retirement visa with agent.

I only have Bangkok bank account. And I just want to know which bank can open an account with retirement visa.
Bob **********
Charlie ***********
Bangkok bank for sure
Tom ********
Bangkok Bank is usually the easiest but you will be asked to take their accident cover too, around 5000 baht but a small price to pay considering it's getting increasingly difficult to open Bank accounts now.
David **********
Don't need an agent just letter from immigration
David **********
Bangkok bank khon kaen
Ben *******
If you are coming for a retirement visa I don't think Kasikorn will open an account for expats until you have been here a while. The visa agent opened a Bangkok Bank Account for me
Moe ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
yes, they first opened bangkok bank with agent and got a retirement visa
Ruth *******
@Ben ******
is that new? I opened mine there as soon as I got here last year.
Ben *******
@Ruth ******
.. I think so. I would like to be proved wrong as my plan was to originally go with Kasikorn. Am with Bangkok Bank at the moment.
Sean **********
@Ben ******
opened my account at Kasikorn bank Emquartier but did use an agent first time after trying many on my own.
Paul *******
There is a wonderful Thai lady ojn the staff at Bangkok Bank in Doi Saket. She has willingly assisted many Westerners to obtain a bank account. You will need yopur passport, letter of residence, deposit of 100,000 thb and it will assist if you are accompanied by an account holder of the branch.
Stephen ********
Fairly certain any bank if your visa is already in place
Moe ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you so much for suggesting . It helps alot ...
Michael ********
Bangkok Bank seems to be the bank favoured by Agents and Immigration, i believe its also the only Thai international bank, but im not sure about that.
Dennis ***********
Kasikorn Bank- Pattaya Klang- just past Soi Bukhou heading to the beach
Colin *********
You have to have a bank account get a visa, so my bank opened a deposit account with health insurance, the best(easiest one )is bangkok bank, did mine on beach road pattaya
Phil ******
@Moe ***********
the BoT issued notices to all banks banning new accounts and blocking suspicious accounts so I guess it will be hard. This agent
***************************************************************************************
has been advertising can still identify a bank account do contact them
Bill **********
I use Bangkok Bank; they are all over.
Neil ********
KBank very good. Bangkok Bank gives potentially more support to non Thais.

Don’t fall for the need an insurance. It’s a con for all foreigners and not required
Robert ********
@Neil *******
More Thais than farang fall for the insurance scam. Almost all in my wife’s family have that
Anna *********
I'm pretty sure lots of banks maybe any bank. Just try one near you making sure you take passsport visa and anything else they may require. It is DTV visas that are having trouble opening bank accounts.
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