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Can I open a K bank account in Pattaya on a non-O retirement visa?

KbankPattayabank account openingNon-O retirement visavisa issuesexpat servicesThai immigration
Jul 30, 2025
25 days ago
Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
K bank account opening question. I’m visiting Pattaya to visit friends today, travelling from Phetchabun. Has anyone opened an account in Pattaya on a non O retirement visa with Kbank recently? If so which branch was it? My local branches refused me due to their particular rules.

Thanks in advance
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses experiences and advice regarding opening a Kbank account in Pattaya on a Non-O retirement visa. Various community members share insights about branch experiences, the necessity of resident certificates, and the option of using agents to facilitate the process. Some users report successful account openings with minimal documentation, while others caution about the challenges faced due to stringent bank policies.
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.
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Phil ******
@Tony ****
 yes its changed. If you have a non O visa with extension pending try
@Mots *********
 or
@Tik ************************
23 days ago
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Jim ***********
Opened today in Hua Hin. Rental contract, driving license and passport showing O visa. No problem.
24 days ago
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Paul ********
@Tony ****
I opened one 2-3 weeks ago in Pattaya Central Festival Kasikorn. I have a one year non-o retirement visa. Got a residence certificate from Jomtien Immigration first.

Took less than an hour to open a standard savings account, and I left with book, working debit card and ap/promptpay set up and tested on my phone. No agent involved.

I'm not anti-agent when needed, but I don't see how using one would have helped even a little bit in this particular situation.

They were very happy to do it. Honestly, I think they are a little gleeful because they are aware they are gaining a lot of ex-Bangkok Bank customers.
24 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Paul *******
 on a "one year non-o retirement visa" ??? There is no such thing. It's either a one-year Non-Imm-O/A visa, or you are already on the 1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement. Which is not the same thing
@Tony ****
 has - he still hasn't applied for the extension
24 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nongnuch *******
 hopefully I’ll be ok. I’m sure they understand the need for a bank account to get the extension of stay 🥴
24 days ago
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Paul ********
@Nongnuch *******
 Yes, I was speaking imprecisely about the visa. I have an extension of stay, not an O/A.
24 days ago
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Paul ********
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul *******
 thanks Paul. Very helpful ☺️
24 days ago
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Tony *****
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Nongnuch ********
@Tony ****
 your plan is absolutely doable. Don't listen to Max. Ignore Max. Max knows sh..
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
the advantage being on a Pattaya adress is, in Pattaya there are a multitude of agents who can legally open a bank account for you on a Non-Imm-O Retirement visa. This service usually costs between 5000 and 7000 Baht. If you try it by yourself, you will most probably get turned down by the majority of the banks, some will make you contract an accident insurance as the prerequisite, others will simply tell you "not possible". If you want to streamline the process, use an agent
25 days ago
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Paul ********
@Nongnuch *******
😳🙄
24 days ago
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Paul ********
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Marianne ********
Not Pattaya, but I went to my local Kasikorn-branch today and opened a couple of accounts. While I have a extension of stay based on marriage so there was no problems, I asked about what about people with "regular" 90 day Non-O stamps.

The lady said it should not be a problem and sounded surprised when I told her I read about many people struggling to open accounts with their 90 day Non-O stamps.

This was in Cha-Am, Petchaburi province.
25 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marianne *******
 they didn’t say but the Non O Visa based on marriage says married to Thai citizen
24 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marianne *******
 thanks. Yeah I got told that if it was non o based on marriage it’s not a problem 🥴
25 days ago
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Sue **********
@Tony ****
 based on marriage with Thai or just married (with farang)?
24 days ago
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Sue **********
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Damo ***********
keep walking the street mate and go to next K branch.. maybe you get lucky in 1 of the 8 branches you visit..
25 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Damo **********
 thanks ☺️
25 days ago
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Tony *****
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Andy **********
If you are on a retirement visa, you should be okay opening a bank account in Pattaya, a lot has changed recently with opening bank accounts, if you are struggling there are lots of agents in Pattaya, usually the agents get you a Bangkok bank account.
25 days ago
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Max *************
@Andy *********
 The problem is where he's officially staying. Having an account in Pattaya Chonburi while staying in another province is not very smart. There might be problems when applying for the 1 year extension.
25 days ago
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Andy **********
@Max ************
 yes I've heard some problems can only be sorted, by returning to the bank where you opened the account, which would obviously be a pain if you are on the other side of Thailand, as long as his local bank, would give him the bank letter and statement for visa renewals, I've heard some will, some won't, but what else can he do, if his local bank won't allow him to open an account? probably the best thing to do, is just make sure all your details are up-to-date, if opening an account in a different area, and then open an account, in his local area at a later date, if and when his circumstances change.
25 days ago
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Marianne ********
@Max ************
 Why would there be problems?
25 days ago
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Max *************
@Marianne *******
 Because of for example bank letters or bank statements needed at immigration in the province where you're staying. It's not very practical to have your money in another province.It might be quite hard to open a bank account in one province with an official address in another one.You must imo be lucky to pull it off.
25 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Max ************
 can you not get bank letters and statements at a local branch if paying the fee?
25 days ago
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Marianne ********
@Max ************
 Better than not getting an account at all.

Maybe it's easier to move the account to a new branch than it is to open one ?

Don't really know, haven't done a tonn of research since my extension of stay doesn't require any financial proof.
25 days ago
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Marianne ********
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy *********
 thanks
25 days ago
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Tony *****
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Bob **********
You’ll most likely need a resident certificate so you’ll need a tm30 and then who knows but with Kbank you’ll need to always go to the branch where you opened the account to get anything,bank letters ect good luck
25 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
 I have COR, TM30, utility bill from mobile, didn’t matter. Every branch told me three weeks ago they could have opened but not anymore. WTF people are supposed to do is a genuine question now. Whilst I understand that the Banks are trying to protect themselves from fraud we are all just trying to to adhere to the stipulations laid down by the Government!!

Hopefully this is just a temporary measure until things play out
25 days ago
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Bob **********
@Tony ****
 I understand completely the bad guys has made it bad for everyone but that stuff won’t help in another province I’m going to Kbank tomorrow to see if I can open another account just to see what happens
25 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
 a K bank branch in Bangkok weren’t bothered about location of COR etc. they simply said instructions where to deny foreigner account opening. They did questions location of COR etc but were happy that we were visiting relatives
25 days ago
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Tony *****
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Max *************
Just out of curiosity. Why open an account in Pattaya if you're not living here?
25 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Max ************
 only because that’s where we are visiting friends.
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Tony ****
 if your friends register you properly under the TM30 system, you can get a "certificate of residence" from Immigration for their adress. With this you will be able to get a bank account opened in Pattaya. Alternatively use an agent, it takes only one day
25 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nongnuch *******
 thanks. As always you give great advice
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Tony ****
 correct. You see, a change of adress for a bank account is absolutely no problem. Thousands of Foreigners have yet had bank accounts opened in City X, then if they later moved to City Y, they were able to register their bank accounts under their new adress at the bank branch in City Y. It is absolutley no problem, as this is exactly what a TM30 accomodation registration is used for. It enables you to receive a certificate of residence from Immigration, which you take to the bank branch in City Y to get your account address moved, making the branch in City Y your new managing bank.
25 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nongnuch *******
 thank you again ☺️☺️☺️☺️
25 days ago
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Tony *****
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Max *************
@Tony ****
 The reason you're in Pattaya is irrelevant. My point is having a bank account in one province while officially staying in another might be a bit problematic in the long run. Get it?
25 days ago
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Max ************
 get it? Why are you always so confrontational. I understood you the first time. But you seemed to be questioning why I’m opening in Pattaya. I just answered by saying that’s where I am and why.

This is t the first time you’ve answered a question in such a confrontational manner. Perhaps you dont mean to perhaps you do. But you never really offer any real advice you just seem to want to poke holes in everyone’s comments.

There’s some great advice on here which is why we use this group, especially at a time when the rules and interpretations seems so fluid by organisations which are greatly affecting newcomers
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Max ************
 leave your keyboard and go get some coffee. You are making it look like a can of worms. Stop molesting threadstarters!
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Max ************
 you are overcomplicating the matter. He can open an account in Pattaya, and re-register this account at the bank branch where he lives under his local adress. Why do you insist that this is not possible? Thousands of expats have moved within Thailand and changed their bank branches to their new locations
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
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Tony *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Max ************
 no Kbank branches local to me are prepared to open an account for my situation. Their requirements are either yellow house book or married. A Non O visa for retirement is not acceptable without the extra requirements.

Every single Branch has told me that this is a new direction given to them within the last few weeks. Not just Kbank but SCB as well.

I’ve tried many branches now and all the same answer. I’m visiting friends and was hoping easier in Pattaya
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Tony ****
 in the place where you live, you just visit the bank and show them your "certificate of residence" from Immigration. They will register any account you opened in Pattaya under this adress. They will be your main bank branch from then on
25 days ago
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Max *************
@Tony ****
 Why just KBank and only in Pattaya? You can also try KBank on Jomtien Beach Rd. Just take the baht bus from Pattaya straight to the bank. If you're on a 90 days Non-O based on retirement but staying in another province than Pattaya, you'll have some logistic problems doing 1 year extensions.
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Max ************
 Max, you like to overcomplicate things. He won't have any problems with the Kbank in his area, he can move the "main branch" to where he lives after having opened the account on a Pattaya adress. I opened my SCB account in Hua Hin and now my SCB branch is Sisaket where I obtain the bank letter of guarantee for Immigration
25 days ago
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Max *************
@Nongnuch *******
 That's not how it works at every Thai bank. Provinces in Thailand are almost like states in the US,if you get my drift.
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Max ************
 you are full of BS as usual. Take your medication and scroll on
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
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