Can someone open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa while planning to switch to a retirement visa later?

Yes and no

Wait and do it properly when you go for your visas

You’d be lucky if you can

Yes you can. Use an agent 5000 baht and get in done in 20 mins. Otherwise you loose you time and effort

Just try lots of branches, it's not impossible.

Been here seven years on a long term visa and I have to beg.

Why would you?

Very hard especially in Bangkok to nearly impossible. The Banks want you to be on a Non O visa to open Bank Account

I struggled recently in rural Thailand. Had to go to a city and use an agent but well worth the 6000 baht fee

I did it at the Bangkok Bank with a letter from immigration and proof of residence...

Just use an agent,they are everywhere. 4 to 6000 bhat get one in a afternoon.

Yes, I did it.

Some agents do that for a little sum of money

go to Siam Commerical Bank and say you are starting an import/export biz.

Easy.

Use agent.

Pay few thousand fee.

I opened an account with Bangkok Bank several months ago on a 30 day extension

Went to Immigration, with proof of address, copies of passport, biometric and Visa extension pages ... . Completed a form, (ticking the box for Bank account )

Immigation gave me a letter/form ( all in Thai ) and immigration officer stated this would be sufficient to be allowed to open a bank account . ... bank account duly opened that same day .. ( without insurance and a small amount think it was 600baht )

. ..in Prachin Buri . ..no agents, no fees

not as difficult as I thought. . . . But as others have said, they do love their paperwork . .

Take many copies . ..even the bank wanted copies.. ..good luck

Theses are the current requirements to open an account at any Bangkok Bank

If you go with a Thai friend it is more easy

Very difficult now with agents and lawyers throwing (your) money at the problem - technically only residents can open a Thai bank account, BKK bank used to bend the rules if you spend 5k on an insurance policy.

Yes

It is possible, although it is getting harder, you just need to try a fair few banks and branches. In my opinion and experience Bangkok bank seems to make it somewhat easier than the other banks.

In Thailand every thing is possible $$$. Good luck

Probably not

Open a bank account with a tourist visa

Each bank is different but bkk bank is the easiest for a savings account when I opened mine I needed 20k bht

It seems it was more possible in the past but more recent strict account management suggests no.

But nothing is absolutely impossible. There are sketchy services you could hire to get the result but unless there is some reason for urgency, why not wait?

LAWYERS ALLIANCE THAILAND

With an agent..

It's possible, but not easy. You're probably going to need to try a lot of banks (10-20+), possibly have to buy insurance, or use an agent to get it done.