Hi , been quoted 80k BHT by legal firm to open a Thai bank account .. it’s this a fair and reasonable price ? Any guidance would be grateful 🙏
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The community discusses an individual's quote of 80,000 baht by a legal firm to open a Thai bank account. The general consensus among commenters is that this amount is exorbitant, with typical fees ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 baht, often less if handled personally. Many respondents emphasize that it is possible to open an account independently, especially if the correct paperwork is provided, without incurring such high costs.
I have three accounts with Bangkok Bank, and they never asked me questions, and there was no charge to open them. Did you go to a bank or an agent? The 80K Baht you mentioned may be the required account to get a Visa. That would be 800K if you want a retirement visa.
Mick ********
Did it with my wife but with correct paperwork could have done it alone
Free Apart from 300bht for second atm card If not married take a Thai friend with account at same bank
Phil ***********
no take your 80k baht in cash, and pop it on the counter in the bank. before you ask to open account. and say.. this is deposit for my condo. ill be paying in the millions yada yada, rummage about pull out some condo brochures and they will pop it in a savings account for you, charge you 400 baht, hand u a visa, and setup the phone app on the spot. 80k for agent account is fully over the top insane level, you got stitched up like a kipper extra special buffalo sickness price. Be nice! be friendly, smile, be daft, be bendy, like bamboo
Dave *********
Why pay an agent to do something you can do yourself? I opened an account with Bangkok Bank last week. You need the following:
Non immigration visa stamp in passport and evisa paperwork if that’s what your country gives you.
Certificate of residency- Get this from immigration office.
Passport and driving license
80k is a total rip off. It cost me 500 baht to open two accounts, one for day to day purchases and another for savings to deposit my visa money 800k so it doesn’t get touched.
and even then dave, the 500 is just the fee to make the debit card on the spot hey. i had the same experience, tho I took some cash in, i had condo brochurse on me and pics, phone was ringing off the hook, as im keen to buy a condo. they were fine, friendly, helpful and got it all done on tourist visa
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Phil ***********
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Oliver ********
It's fair and reasonable, if you're a convicted fraudster with a lifetime ban on opening a bank account.
Arch *********
Crooks
Kevin *********
Usually they just make you take out an accident insurance for about 7k
Terary **********
I will open you a bank account for 79K.
Charlie ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
ONE LOVE everyone ❤️
Keil ******
Big scam
Achanster ******
Which law firm is it? Need to name and shame them, greedy bastards!
Achanster ******
Wow that's a LOT of money. I spent 20k and was told it was too expensive!
Kate *******
Good grief no!!! I really do hate how anyone can do things like this but they do it a lot there.
If that figure is correct 80,000 baht then the lawyer needs to be in jail...scandalous
Mark ********
Very expensive!!
Don *****
Man that’s just criminal
Marcus ************
Very smart of you to inquire. 5-10k baht should do it.
Meta *******
If you feel it's too much then you're probably right.
Eric ******
No matter who you choose, do your research and read reviews. It is much easier to do it with an agent. The people that are telling you how "easy" it is got theirs a long time ago or got extremely lucky! Even if you can get one on your own, you're going to have to navigate the mountain of paperwork and most likely shlep around to many branches until you find one that will even consider it. For around 5000 baht, why would I even bother trying to figure it out myself?? And Mark at One Stop uses Bangkok Bank. There are several You Tube channels that have done video interviews with him when pressing Visa and tax matters have come up amid rule changes. Just search One Stop Pattaya and you can watch them. That is how I found out about him.
got my bkk bank account last week easy as. Basic paperwork l had myself. No cost no drama. Prefer to keep my money and not pay agents only encourages them to screw people. Same as a driver's license it's so basic my 10 year old could do it. It's actually quite fun to do it and people watch 150 bht the same as bike licence. Why would you pay blood suckers.
As I said in my post, you got extremely lucky. Many people come on here all the time saying how hard it is and ASKING for names of agents. And paying agents encourages them to screw people over?? The owners of this site made this a forum for people to come on and ask for advice and for experienced people, especially the moderators, to help them with useful tips and explanations on how things work. By the way, THEY are agents, yea, they sound like real blood suckers. And it’s actually quite fun to shlep from bank to bank hoping you’ll get one that will even consider it?? Ok, what if you don’t have a Visa and you’re here on an exemption, then what? Try that and tell me how “easy” it is. And “basic” paperwork? Ok, if you say so. Oh well, you got it, good for you. But it’s not that simple for everyone, in fact, downright impossible for some…except with an agent. All that said, I am NOT an agent, don’t work for an agent and have only dealt with one agent, that I learned of through You Tube. When people ask for recommendations, I tell them Mark at One Stop Visa in Pattaya because he knows what he is talking about.
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Eric ******
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Trym ********
I have account in SCB and Kasikorn. It cost me zero thb to establish the accounts. You are being scammed
Trym ********
Looks like someone is trying to earn a little extra.
It's the rip off of the year, banana boat arrival ahoy! 5000 baht is the cost to an agent.
Arnold **********
If you own a property or a business in Thailand you can open bank accounts in 30 months at any bank.
David ********
Got mine 5000 with Moy services pattaya same day.
Ning ******
It is better and cheaper to buy a home safe ?
Pascal *****
free by myself
Kace *******
i got mine by going to immigration and having the helpers fill out my paperwork, waited in line and left with a residency certificate. they asked what bank i want i said Bangkok bank. i went to the Pattaya branch. i waited a couple hours but i only paid the small amount. i almost went to an agency but thought i would try it on my own first. i recommend doing it yourself.
No! Visa, marriage, address paperwork, passport, thai speaker and legwork. Do it yourself and save your money!
Joe ******
Must have seen you coming
James ************
Mots in Pattaya can do it for around 5k.
Jack ****************
My friend you need to stop wearing a shirt that says "sucker" on it. All jokes aside- that is too much and you should avoid whoever said that to you at all costs. The person is a snake.
Nicholas ******
If in pattaya use mots services did mine for me
Rob **********
You can do it yourself !
Jim ********
Do it yourself. Walk into a bank and open an account.
Peter *********
When o first went o thailand an agent took me to the bank 800k in and out in 1 second
maybe not but this is the list of requirements for this specific branch of Bangkok Bank. Every bank or branch maybe different.
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Pete *******
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Glenn *********
Really OTT priced...please stay away from this place.
Brian *****************
I put 500 baht into my
Account. Pink Bank NP
Randy *********
That’s insane. It costs nothing. Ask the bank what they need, get those papers, return and open account.
Bill ********
No. Rip-off.
Samuel ********
I don’t understand why anyone would pay 5-10K baht to open a bank account, unless they don’t meet certain eligibility criteria. I’ve never paid to open an account. As
I’m moving to Australia soon, I’ve opened an account there without any fees. I’d hate to imagine how much people might pay in that situation.
really, appreciated 🙂 And YES, they know their stuff, they are well organized
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Greg ***********
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Brian **********
Ya, find a better lawyer
Jason *******
Am I missing something? Why would anyone pay money to open up a bank account. I just went to the local krungsri Bank and opened it up myself in 10 minutes
How long ago? Things have changed very rapidly of late, including some new banking rules coming into play. Agents are the way now, no matter how much shoe leather you are willing to put into saving say 3,500 -5,000. Maybe 8-10K in Bangkok.
last week l opened an account bkk bank. No issue had all the required documents took awhile but hey l got time. She even set up the app for me it's great. The original person called over the manager little bit of talking amongst the 3 of us all good to go.
Good to have up to date and specific information. What happened even a few years back can be of no relevance. I have certainly never paid to open an account, but most of my accounts were set up years back. That said one was set up in 2022 and no issues. But on all occasions all my ducks were in a row and no stupidities like tourist visas, etc. Something was interesting about 2022, simply that the bank was a very unusual choice. Why do people keep going to banks that we have heard of over and over again refusing? Yes, different officers, different days is an argument, just as with Immigration, but constant rejection is a fair indication so why try bank X?
the DTV is definitely a game changer for banks but l am sure they will adapt over time. The ball is in the foreigners court on how we approach banks. It not like being in a bar some decorum required
I take your point but it is a discussion best not begun or we will move toward looking at educational standards among arriving expats. I mean formal education there. But you could argue that as irrelevant and the thing to focus on is "street" navigational skills, but those have collapsed too.
once living here we tend to fall into this crazy existence of superiority like we bring all this entitlement to Thailand because we pay or spend so much as opposed to average Thais. But we need to adjust ourselves at times to fit this culture that we all love. It's good to have these types of discussions in forums though expats should work together more I feel
because some farang think they are in their own country. Here you need you speak with respect tell them why you want the account,have the correct paperwork that the bank requires. If you just walk in and say l want to open an account most teller's will so no. They don't understand your request because they are not trained or know you can open an account. If the teller doesn't respond ask for the manager they will help you and most likely speak English. Also ask them to set up the bank app on your phone easy to pay or do anything that way. Try again but slowly slowly they can and will help you.goid luck
whoever handles new accounts l am not caught up on their title.on the machine when you enter the bank you select new account you revive a number when your number is displayed you go to the person whose window number is displayed. Is that more specific for you. Are you questioning whether l have an account ?? Or infact l am even in Thailand 5555. I opened an account last week bkk bank 👌🍻
easy now of course I am not questioning what you ask me about 😅 you didn't have to be specific. I just meant / thought that the staff who handles new accounts and other "special tasks" are not the ordinary tellers who receives and pay out money. But never mind
and what’s worse is your clearly have no idea how financial services work and that in most countries around the world you can pay to open an account. Silly woman
nothing horrible about my comment - a simple fact. Would you expect people who come to your country to pay to open a bank account? It's common sense and if people lack that, then they're gullible. Simple.
Throw ฿1,000,000 cash on the counter at the bank and ask them can they look after it for you, and all you want in return is a Debit card and a little book.
We were referring to bangkok, pattaya was not mentioned in the original post.
These types of services are cheaper in pattaya, and sometimes can even be done on your own by simply purchasing a small insurance package through the bank.
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THAI ******************************
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