Can I open a Thai bank account with a visa exemption?

Yes if you use a fixer, I opened a Bangkok bank account for 4000 baht

Not easy

I have a bank account but when they wanted to gouge me1000bht to put money into my account because I didn't open the account at that branch, they said I couldn't open a new account without the letter from immigration first. Banks are not essential!

Not possible anymore…. My thai wife tried for my friend visiting from abroad… no not even at bkk bank (phuket not possible bkk might be different)

Asked my banker and she told me they no longer will create accounts for tourists. Said it created a large distraction and ultimately the bank typically loses money in the process. This was only concerning tourist accounts.

yes

I have spent a lot of time scouting the banks in CM over the last couple of weeks trying to open a bank account.. I've recently extended my 45-day visa exempt by 30-days..to give me time to prepare an application for an OA-Visa.. based upon marriage to a Thai national.. and wanted to open a bank account in order to get ahead of the 60-day deposit requirement.. however every bank i approached stated that only Bangkok bank could open accounts for foreigners.. ie. non citizens.. and Bangkok bank would not open an account without a certificate of residence from our local Amphur.. stating that the TM30 acknowledgement issued by immigration was insufficient.. and said in addition they would need an official letter from immigration granting me permission.. which has all been put in motion of course.. indeed the application to our local Amphur District Office was made in person and dealt with on the spot.. and i left there with the requisite certificate around 1.5 hours later.. the application to immigration was also made in person and was processed very quickly.. again actioned while i waited.. except i was informed that the letter has to be mailed to me.. and it would take around 3-4 weeks for it to arrive.. no explanation given for such a delay in issuing the letter.. despite my (Thai) wife doing her best to befriend the clerk and encourage a more expeditious outcome.. no express service was available as has been suggested on other threads.. so ive had to grin and bear it.. ive learned to just jump through the hoops as they are presented.. move onto the next one and go again.. its taking a lot longer than i would have liked but I'm slowly getting there!

It is possible but depends on a lot of things, mainly luck.

yes

I've done it on a tourist visa. You have to start with a number that gets their attention. No further from me on this

I did in Krungsri Bank...Samut Songkhram....10 minutes....

Not Bangkok Bank apparently, let us know if you do succeed

I just recently did this at the Bangkok Bank at Emquartier.

You will have to go there twice. You need to first go and say you are a tourist and want to open an account. They will give you a form and then you need to go to your embassy and get it filled out. They might fill out the form directly or they might give you a different one. This is called a certified letter of residency or something similar. You need to bring proof of address and some cash with you as well to your embassy. Your embassy will charge you for this letter most likely so I can't tell you how much it will be. Mine cost 1400 and most seem around there.

You might be able to skip going to the bank for this step and get the letter directly from your embassy, but I just wanted to be safe and get the form from the bank just in case.

The second time you go there you will open your account. You need to bring your passport, proof of address, the letter from the embassy and 1200 baht at least.

500 is the minimum amount you need to open an account and it will be deposited into your account. The 700 will be charged to get a debit card. It might be more than 700. I can't remember exactly but definitely not more than 1000.

This was my own first hand experience and it was quite simple to do. I really suggest going to Emquartier to do so. Any big location should be okay, but they were extremely knowledgeable on how to open a bank account for a tourist and seemed to do it very often. I think there even were two other tourists ahead of me opening one too.

Greetings from Siam Legal,as of 2 weeks ago the banks in Thailand has changed their regulation, so we have to unfortunately postpone your appointment until further notice. We will keep you informed for when we receive a confimation of new regulations allowing us to assist you once again.

We are doing our best to look for other alternatives for clients who wishes to open bank accounts. Once more alternatives are found we will make sure to contact you as soon as possible.

I have asked 2 agents recently and both have told me the same thing, it is not possible currently as banks have recently changed policy.

I've included 2 response I have received below.

Take a Thai person with you make it easyer.

Siam Legal. They will get you paperwork to open a Bangkok Bank account. 5000b. You also need a Thai SIM in your phone. Make an appointment in the morning and get a bank account in the afternoon.

i opened mine on visa exempt without having to go through any agent.

Shop around for an agent way less hassle

Pay agent

Getting a bank account

Don’t expect to get something for nothing. Each office is an independent business. Each office makes their own criteria.

You certainly will pay a fee for transferring USD from USA to Thailand. The amount depends on the bank and the transfer service.

Banking is an essential service if you plan to spend time here. It’s not FREE.

I prepared ahead of time by getting a bank account set up 6 months ago.

I treated this as an important business transaction, not just a casual activity.

My Thai friend made an appointment for me at the Bangkok Bank branch across from Astra in CM. He also translated for me.

I am a middle aged physician and dressed as such. Yes I did do the whole business card ceremony.

I told the banker that I plan to retire soon and buy a condominium at Astra.

I was asked to purchase a life insurance policy for about $100. Presumably the banker gets a commission. Whatever, it’s the price of doing business at the bank.

They wanted to copy my passport and see my credit card from Wells Fargo. I think I showed them how much was in my account also to make the point that I’m a serious customer.

I also showed them $500 in perfect $100 bills that was to be the initial deposit.

Nothing else was required.

Act like a serious customer and you will be treated as such.

Present yourself properly and you should be fine.

If not, thank them for their time and visit another office.

Best wishes on your adventure to Thailand!

@Elly ******

yes you can as its easy

Because of the huge inflow of Russians it is now - apparently since about a months or so ago - very difficult (and much more difficult than before so all the comments that somebody did it a year ago are not really very relevant unfortunately)

Yes. We did it last summer,in Hua Hin. Bangkok Bank /Blúport Mall. No agent, just ourselves. Got the relevant paperwork at immigration. Completed in around 30 mins for the both of us.

Yes. Easiest way = Agent. 4000 baht average

They're few and far between now. Might have to go through an agent. I think they charge about 5000 baht

Yes. Finding a branch that will let you is the hang up.