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How can expats in Khon Kaen open a bank account without a work permit?

Bangkok Bankkrungsri BankUOB BankBank Account RequirementsNon-O VisaFinancial ProofExpat Banking in ThailandOpening Bank Account in Thailand
Aug 14, 2018
6 years ago
David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tod / Ron.

If this not related to this site please delete.

Due to the current charges with my existing bank I decided to change banks,

I visited almost all high street banks,

In Khon Kaen and was told the same thing no work permit then I can't open a bank account,

I explained I was on a non0 extension based on being over 50,

This made no difference to any of the banks, repeat no work permit no account.

The only way round this as I have been told by several banks, is to have a Thai person garantour, this is a form the Thai person fills out to confirm your address, (I think it is for more than that)

I was also told by several banks the reason as to why this has become more strict. We have had problems with farang, one even mentioned a nationality, which for obvious reasons I will keep to myself.

The good news was uob Bank Thailand allowed me to open an account with them with just my passport and Thai driving licence as proof of my address,

I understand this is not exactly Visa related, but it may be an issue for people wishing to do their extension inside Thailand and having to have

Proof of financials.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the challenges expats face in opening bank accounts in Khon Kaen without a work permit, particularly for those on non-O visas. While several banks deny account openings without a work permit, UOB Bank allows account creation with just a passport and driver's license. The post includes comments from others who share their experiences and solutions, emphasizing the importance of proof of address and how different banks have varying requirements.
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Betty *****
I wonder if it is easier with a yellow house book? Last accounts I opened was a few years ago, so no need for a new one. Just wondering.
6 years ago
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James **********
@Nathan ********
 yes You are correct. Its the luck of the drawing I think. My Amphoe is the short straw!
6 years ago
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Nat ******
@James *********
 have a yellow book, didn't need a police check. Did need a translation of passport, but not certified. Depends on amphur, some are helpful others not.
6 years ago
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James **********
@Bettina **********
 As my O-A non immigrant visa required a Police clearance in Australia I can see no legitimate reason for another since Ive been in Thailand since the visa was issued. Problem is I, ve yet to hear of another Amphoe asking for the Police clearance. Seems the little lady at my Amphoe has taken her new found title/position to mean she can decide the rules. Needless to say I will not be pursuing a Yellow book whilst she is there. Mind blowing really when you read how easy it has been for others.
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Have to wait till the house is finished
6 years ago
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Betty *****
@David *********
 Lucky you - very easygoing district office. Would get the yellow book as soon as you can, before they change their minds about the requirements ;)
6 years ago
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Betty *****
@James *********
 Oh no about the police clearance :/ Mine didn't ask for that.

The other things I needed too. Witnesses + Blue Book is no problem. Passport copy + embassy stamp + translation + MFA stamp was a bit of a pain to get done, but it's a straight forward process.

Good luck with it! Took me over 10 years to get around to it 😅
6 years ago
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James **********
@Bettina **********
 they want Police clearances from Australia AND Thailand. Yes and translation of passport certified by embassy and then that document legalised my the MFA! Plus partners Blue Book and to witnesses and their blue books. Unbelievable!
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Bettina Friedrich very easy here, only the land lease building permit, then register the address then you get the yellow book and the title with your name on it
6 years ago
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Betty *****
@David *********
 good to hear it's actually useful
@James *********
 what are they asking for? Just got mine and the only annoying thing was the passport translation. Once I got that, the process was surprisingly smooth.
6 years ago
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James **********
Yellow House Book... another nightmare! Can't believe the crap they ask for in my Amphoe for this. Sorry if off topic... a festering sore for me.
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am building Now and will have a book in around 3 months which will make things so much easier
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
If you are married to a Thai or have a yellow book there are no problems what so ever
6 years ago
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David **********
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Rod *********
@Lee ************
6 years ago
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Carl ********
I've had the same problem, I'm married to a Thai and I'm on a non o, phone up Kasikorn and tell them what visa you are on and tell them the bank wont open you an account and kick off with them and they will sort it out for you. They should ask you to send them an email with a copy of your visa. If all fails and you are desperate for a bank account, Kasikorn in Tesco lotus in lomsak, phetchabun will open you an account with a non o, it's about 3 hours away from khonkaen but I had the same problem and just phoned them and gave them a right headache
6 years ago
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Frank ******
yes apparently even a cert will do
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank *****
 if you are married to a Thai national it's no problem
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Carl *******
 I have an account now with uob Thailand,

I just wanted to share the experience I have had this week with banks,
6 years ago
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Frank ******
i don't have any issues with opening a bank account showing my non o visa from savannakhet - with scb i show my marriage cert i got an account open straightaway - perhaps it is the way one dress & talk
6 years ago
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Carl ********
@David *********
 Phone them seriously I did and someone in the call center helped me, had top send them a copy of my visa and my wife moaned at them as well, just told them I need to open an account because I need to extend my visa
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Kbank was the first to say no
6 years ago
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David **********
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Tod *********
This topic comes up from time to time and believe me there is NOTHING at all in the banking law that prohibits foreigners from opening a bank account here on a 30 day visa exempt entry or a 60 day tourist visa entry.

The the criteria required to open an account rests with that branch's manager.

Most banks want proof of address; which you get from your consulate OR from the immigration office. Although some banks will allow you to open an account with just a lease agreement.

If you try to open an account at one branch and are denied go to the next one. you might get more than a few that say no, BUT you will eventually find one that will let you open an account..
6 years ago
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Mike *******
Found from past experiences.and reading many comments on this subject.bangkok bank at ksk very farang friendly.know it's at chaing mai.so not sure it help.ive banked there.for over 10years worry free banking.
6 years ago
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Robert ********
@Tod ********
 The US has had that law for decades....it just seems some Thai banks are now not fond of the paperwork involved.
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 yes krungthai bank is one of them
6 years ago
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Tod *********
When the US went to that mandatory reporting of accounts in foreign banks a LOT of branches quit letting americans open accounts. It didn't bother bangkok bank because they have a branch IN new york and had no problem with the rule
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ***********
 yes
6 years ago
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Robert ********
@David *********
 IF you are American, then the branches have heaps of paperwork they are required to submit to comply with US Tax codes...a real Pain-In-The-Ass!
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ***********
 seemingly it's head office directives, at least that's what they were telling me, one bank even asked my nationality which was surprising
6 years ago
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Robert ********
Just because there is nothing in Thai banking laws preventing a foreigner from opening an account on whatever visa they might have, there are also no laws stating they must help a potential customer either. SMH...
6 years ago
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Robert ********
@David *********
 I wonder IF it is indeed simply harder to get this done up in CNX compared to BKK???
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ***********
 kasikorn, Siam, SCB, Krungsie would not let me open a dollar account even though I had an account with them, krungthai wanted a letter of gaurantee from my girlfriend,
6 years ago
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Robert ********
@David *********
 Which bank turned you down?
6 years ago
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Ron *******
I really wanted the Kasikorn account 3 years ago because the phone app really is good. I went all over Bangkok and they all said they wanted a WP. I then remembered i did once have an account with them when they was the Thai Farmers bank. With persistence i got the Nana Nue branch to do it. Cost me 2500 baht for a years insurance but i swallowed it and took it.
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tod Daniels I even showed him my bank balance and how much I would be transferring here, made no difference, he wanted the money in his bank but couldn't help,

Seems very recent things are tightening up more.
6 years ago
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Tod *********
@David *********
 wow, I though once you'd get to a branch manager you could beat the into submission and they'd let you open an account :O
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ***********
 yes I did at several banks and they said the directive came from their head office not branch level.
6 years ago
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Lance *********
I was referring to Thais in general
6 years ago
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Robert ********
@David *********
 did you try with the branch manager at all?
6 years ago
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Tod *********
@La***
 now, now, it's totally possible to find a bank that will let you open an account. You just have to be persistent AND you have to NOT talk to the dim-wit door greeter, queue ticket button pusher at the door to the bank. You need to talk to the branch manager.
6 years ago
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Robert ********
Sadly when most banks refuse to help, they don't advise exactly what documents they are willing to accept so you may open an account, they simply say No!
6 years ago
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Lance *********
they are ALL becoming less amiable when it comes to FARRANG
6 years ago
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Lance *********
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Ron *******
I know some people don't have a choice but if you can avoid Bangkok bank. They don't issue visa cards anymore, only that stupid Union pay card. That's as much use outside of China as a Pink Thai ID card. 😉
6 years ago
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Eric ********
@Ron ******
 yes, for me the advantage is that it can be used in situations where a credit card is required or at least advantageous, like renting a car..
6 years ago
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Ron *******
Eric Matson No more than a pre paid debit card in my mind.
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ron ******
 they call that a debit card / credit card, if you don't have cash in the bank you can't use it for credit
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Eric *******
 yes to cover the risk
6 years ago
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Ron *******
Although i don't use them, from what i can make out, the credit card system here is weird in the fact that you use your own money
6 years ago
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Eric ********
@David *********
 I asked for 20,000 limit, so they asked for 20,000 fixed deposit..
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Eric *******
 actually you know I didn't ask haha, I have to use 5000bhat a month but no charge if I pay the balance
6 years ago
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Eric ********
@David *********
 did you get a useful limit on your mastercard?
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Eric *******
 I got that from uob today,

No fixed amount, I just transferred money from Krungsie bank to them
6 years ago
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Eric ********
I have been offered a mastercard. The requirement is to have a fixed amount of cash in an account for 3 months..
6 years ago
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Ron *******
I'm not really sure how useful it is in Thailand now to be fare. It was useless at one time. Maybe the outlets now accepting it have increased?
6 years ago
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Amy *******
actually when i was traveling around europe last winter i saw lots of hotels that took union pay. it is still annoying, though.
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ron ******
 I have union pay useful as a fart in the wind😂
6 years ago
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Ron *******
I think if you have the account a while, you may, like me have a visa card. It's when it runs out it is replaced with a Union pay card. New accounts get the Union pay card straight away. Luckily i also have an account with Kasikorn.
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have an account with them only for transferring dollars to a dollar account
6 years ago
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David **********
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Ron *******
Good you finally got it. It seems to get harder unless you use an agent or keep walking around until one will do it.
6 years ago
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Bill ********
I’m sure there’s a way to do it without paying someone for help. I used Chiang Mai Buddy to assist me with opening up my account at Bangkok bank up the road from their office at Kad Suan Kaew mall
6 years ago
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Robert ********
Rental agreement OR utility bill in your name also works with most banks...
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *********
 krungsie were good but yesterday here they were shocking, the girl directed me to UOB bank as they are more farang friendly, her words
6 years ago
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James **********
@Ray ****
 I didn't it in Saraburi with Krungsri too. Just passport with O-A non immigrant visa. Plus 5000thb deposit.
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ray Mac yes I did the same earlier this year in Bang yai, but their charges are getting ridiculous now and it's only very recent they are being more strict.
6 years ago
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Ray *****
Maybe it is harder up country but I got a Krungsri account opened in Bangkok a couple of months ago with no Visa at all, just the 30 day stamp and a copy of my lease
6 years ago
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Robert ********
David Mcmillan They make my life much easier for me in cases like this by sending a letter of introduction to the bank which is easiest for me to use, then I just go with my passport and ID card and its a done deal. They helped me with mobile banking accounts and multi-currency accounts.
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ***********
 awesome, I may look at the Elite visa if I continue to stay, I have just taken on a 30 year farm lease
6 years ago
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Robert ********
@David *********
 I understand...lucky I have an Elite personal assistant that gets the obstacles removed for me.
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ***********
 yes all done, but it is becoming a hassle to get things done
6 years ago
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Robert ********
Wow....highly unusual....glad you got it sorted out eventually David!
6 years ago
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David **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
They would not accept a lease agreement, not even my Thai licence which has my address on it
6 years ago
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David **********
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