Opening a bank account in Thailand on a tourist visa can be challenging and is subject to significant regulations that have changed recently. Many users advise that it may no longer be possible to open an account as a tourist, especially at major banks like Bangkok Bank, which reportedly began enforcing stricter rules in September 2023. Some users have shared experiences of successfully opening accounts either by obtaining a certificate of residence through their embassy or immigration, while others suggest using an agency to facilitate the process. Insurance purchase is commonly mentioned, although opinions vary on whether it is required. Ultimately, as experiences can vary by bank and location, many recommend persistence, potentially visiting multiple branches or seeking professional help from visa services.
Cliff *********
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!
Gaëtan *******
Myself, 10 years ago I just went to Krungthai headquarter and told them that I’m bored taking cash every time i travel to Thailand. They did open me an account with a debit card …
I bought a Condo here. Just a few days ago, I went to 3 banks in Bangkok, try to open bank account, Bangkok Bank, K Bank and Krungthai Bank. They all said rules changed, tourist visa holders cannot open bank account. Bangkok bank advised me to go to Ambassy and get a non B visa first. I really do not what to do.
its 5000 now and you need to take their bs bank insurance or else they wont get you an atm card (which yhey charge 4-600 baht more for) all in all it was nearly much more than 5000 by the end of it all, walked out of their bangkok office…
That was years ago. Not saying they don't "have ways" of getting it done but things changed drastically this year. And I had a residency certificate from immigration.
Good luck with that one. I did it true a good friend that lives here. He already had a account at Bangkok bank. We opened up a bankaccount in both our names. We canceled the account after one month and I opened up one in my own name because my name was already in there system.
Martin *****
Step 1 . Use the search function in the group . It gets asked everyday
If not admin please rename the group to "opening a bank account in Thailand"
They won't do it with that either. 11 branches. New rules March this year. No bank account with tourist visa.
Henrik *****
Then I was lucky !
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Henrik *****
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Neil ********
Just get a multi currency account if you are a tourist. If you are planning on being here for a year or more then secure the right visa and proof of residency then no problems
Dimitris ************
Impossible. Pay an agent 3-4,000 baht and get it done in 30 mins
exactly, get an study visa or work permit then your are fine. Or, if you have a trusted person like me, ask them to open a bank account on their name. Works like a charm.
yes this was the process I took last year. It may had changed now as I’ve seen reports of people saying that so someone will need to go to Bangkok bank head office in Silom to ask for a list of the latest requirements. I was able to get this letter done at the NZ embassy over email. Note there is likely to be a consular fee for this service though cheaper than the insurance option.
read that list of requirements carefully, the letter from your embassy was only one item of a few different ones, other items included an introduction by a BKK bank employee or am introduction by a BKK bank customer.
, not true, I opened my account with the Bangkok bank last February whilst on a tourist visa, got a TM 30 from my hotel, went to immigration in Patong with 2x photos, passport, paid 500baht for a certificate of residence, went to the Bangkok Bank and got an account.
with all respect!! please stop making life difficult for yourself, it would appear your location is in Phuket, as I've suggested just make contact with tik tok visa services in jomtien, all being well just go and spend a couple of days in Pattaya and get yourself a bank account and Thai driving licenses, that's what I did completely hassle free.
I have my thai license. 90 minutes and 205 baht later. Bank account is the only thing but it's not worth a round trip flight to Bangkok, bus to Pattaya, hotel stay x however many days and then the agent fee. That's not cheap.
well as i am living here since 10 years for me no problem… tourist! How would a tourist get a paper for certificate residence… tourist not resident .. self explained
she is not wrong a lot of banks will not open an account for you. You may have to try multiple banks. I was lucky my Immigration office hooked me up with a bank.
Tried all that. Residence cert, copy of my condo lease, big stack of thai baht. All did not matter because I had a tourist visa and there regs are no new accounts with tourist visa.
I was told a few weeks ago, due to recent changes in banking regulations, the only way to open a bank account now if you're on a tourist visa is to use an agent.
I am aware. But I have talked to a few a d even they are saying it's not easy anymore. Two have contacted me. One wanted 10,000 baht and wanted to take my passport. The other 9,000.
I opened an account a couple of weeks ago in Pattaya with Bangkok bank, I used tik tok visa agent in Jomtien, they charged me ฿4000 agent fee, no need to buy the banks useless accident insurance, it was also ฿700 payable to the bank if you want the atm/mastercard, you accompany the agent to the bank, you don't even queue up, they also converted my international and home country driving license into Thai car and motorcycle licenses, they made it all ready simple.
It covers you for a few health things but the main one is 100,000 baht per accident insurance. Unlimited accidents. I needed this anyway so was a bank-opening-bonus for me.
It's an accident insurance. Will not cover much but that's what they want you to buy... so they will not want to see any more documents to open the account for you
No but I did have my real estate agent with me so I am not sure if her being there made it easier. Plus the fact I am buying property in the country but I hadn't done so at the point of opening the bank account.
If you in Bangkok, go to embassy of your country and ask for certificate of residence (address of your condominium or hotel) after that go to open Bank account. Bangkok Bank it’s most easy.
yes but my case we stay near embassy and managers of Bangkok Bank they told me I can do it there. So We have bank account now. I think this depends on the Bank what they accept.
if you look at the criteria closely you will see that you don't actually need the letter from the embassy. The first thing is passport with a valid visa, then it was a list which stated one of the following, the first being a letter from your embassy or an introduction from a BKK bank employee, further down the list was an introduction by a BKK bank customer. It did take quite a bit of time explaining the word "or" because they kept pointing to letter from your embassy but after much dogged determination the manager came out and hey presto the forms started rumbling out of the printer. This was in the Bangkok bank on Phanon Yothin road in Saphan Mai, so not a tourist area
you can did it in immigration too. I heard someone they did it on immigration but in that moment Bangkok bank they told me that I can did it in embassy. They just need official paper.
I did this process last year. But have had reports of this requirement changed since March this year. Need to go to Bangkok bank head branch in Silom to get the latest list of requirements.
how long ago? I did this a few months ago without an agent in Chiang Rai at Bangkok bank. It now requires a notorized copy of your passport from your embassy. Every bank said no without the notorized letter and I had a wealthy Thai friend take me to every bank. I did not buy the insurance
that is one of the list but if you read it carefully it says one of the following, they kept telling me that I needed it because it is first on the list but I kept pointing to the word "or" and pointed to my wife and saying Bangkok bank customer then pointing to introduction by a Bangkok bank customer on the form, eventually the manager came out and it was done.
once again how long ago? This is my first hand experience in Chiang Rai. If you did it without recently, well good for you. Just like with immigration your experience may vary by location
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Bobby ***********
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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