What are the current requirements for opening a bank account in Thailand as a foreigner?

I have lived in thailand on a O retirement visa since 2012, own my house on my wifes land , have a bangkok bank account with heaps . yesterday I tried to open a new joint account with my wife at the acriculture farmers bank and also the government bank , she has accounts at both near our house, will cut the story short, had all papers they wanted and more , but then they wanted more , I was treated like a leper ,my birth certificate , my address in australia, have not lived in australia since 2010 and a yellow book, told them to shove there account, then tried to get a yellow book, that is even harder, the ampher was not helping at all .Thailand does not want ferangs in thailand , it is so hard to do any thing now and they are making it as hard as possible , thailand for some reason has made everything harder, , immigration will be next , I am sure that it is a crack down on all the corupt dealers that have been operateing for years ,ps in 2012 the bb manager opened my account personately ,could not do enough for me , now your lucky if they let you in the door , then you wait for hours what has happened !

I just changed from Bangkok Bank to Krungthai bank. They never asked for 2 IDs and also said they don't support accounts for marriage. I explained I already have an account with you and now I want to open an fixed account. Sorry Sir cannot do we don't support marriage visa . I proceed to ask for the manager and after showing him every document I carry in my folder. Pink ID. Tabien Ban, Passport, Visa, and Krungthai passbook. The manager agreed to let me open an account as long as I fo kor la 15 25 or something from the Amphur to show I live at the address still. I you have a Thai sim card the shop takes your picture and registers you.

Didn't see anybody mention a residence permit from immigration to open a bank account.

You’re lucky mate,I tried to open an account with the local Thai farmers bank and was informed,Firstly ,I was not a farmer and secondly as I was not Thai I couldn’t open an account

I set up with kasikorn on business visa and work permit last Thursday with kasicorn. Very easy show passport with visa, wp if applicable and another id or whatever kind. The only weird thing is they used the address on my uk driving licence

It's not specifically a driving licence it just requires a secondary photo identification on top of your passport.

Expired license is worthless. One thing to do is go turn that in for a government valid ID card.

If you're good with following instructions can do everything in Thailand yourself, otherwise maybe consider using an agent.

Kasikorn wanted my UK licence on Saturday just passed . Then they realised I was using an Irish passport. So they took my Thai Drivers. I needed: Irish Passport, Irish Citizen Document (like birth cert with picture) Marriage Cert, Wife's ID, Blue book for the house and aforementioned Thai Drivers. They want proof of address in your home country. I left 20+ years ago but my Irish Citizen document has my old Hong Kong Address so it was fine. The driver license is probably for that address purpose. Took about 25 minutes start to finish at the Phuket Central Festival Branch.

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In my experience I would recommend Kasikorn bank as I've had 4 accounts with them over the last 14 years and apart from 1 less than helpful branch they have been excellent The last time I opened an account was 3 years ago and I don't think there have been major changes so here's what I needed. First you need a residency certificate from immigration and for that you may need a 'fixed' address so either a lease or letter from a hotel stating you are staing for several months. You will also need your passport for ID and finally your phone if you want to use the app but the SIM/contract must be in your name. I have no idea what the UK driver's license is all about.

"wukas"???

What I hear is you have not been here in a long time. Everything has updated in Thailand and you are struggling to adjust to the updated ways of doing things.

Been at Kasikorn for 8 years and never wanted my driving license, just passport, they're not interested in yellow book so dont bother its a shitty process and really waste of time.

I call BS.

I've NEVER had to show a driver's license from "back home" to open a bank account.

You NEED a Certificate of Residence and your passport and THAT is it.

And you do NOT need a "home country" driver's license to apply for a Certificate of Residence either.

But you DO need a PROPER address. And PROOF you actually live there (lease/rental agreement, utility bills in your name, your name in the "house book", etc, etc).

The ONLY reason you MIGHT need to show your (home country) driver's license would be if you were trying to rent a vehicle or hoping that the DLT would ignore their own rules and just "give" you a Thai license (which used to happen in the days before Thaksin was ousted as PM - if you had a VALID driver's license from "back home" - some DLT offices would issue you an equivalent Thai license without having to do any tests).

And I've been dealing with Bangkok Bank since 2004 and NEVER had a problem with them. Then again, I've never tried scamming them either.

You need a Thai Address, so Yellow Book or work permit.

So I'm guessing you are back in the UK how are you going to open.a bank account if broke.

Well then good Luck ALL has changed …. You will not able to open a new bank account.. the Bank rules have changed dramatically! Go to Kasik and ask what to do … then you will see how it works now

I also have failing eyesight (macula degeneration), and had no problem opening two Thai bank accounts recently with my expired drivers license. It's only the photo that goes out of date after ten years, just show them the date of expiry on the license showing the date of your 70th birthday. I also needed to show 12-month lease, passport with Non O visa, cellphone number with proof from provider that it's registered against my passport details, and a certificate of residence from local immigration office. Good luck.

am interested in what bikes you are selling. 😁

The general rule is "two IDs with photo", hence a driving license is the likely second option. However not every bank/branch has that rule.

My opinion is two-fold… First- gone are the days of “easy” banking in thailand .. It USED to be most people could just walk in, visa or not, tourist or not, and walk out with an account and debit card.. true.. it’s not IMpossible .. but it’s becoming far far harder for those who don’t have a legitimate long stay visa/extension to open accounts…

Second - banks are (in)famous for having policies and rules that can vary WIDELY from branch A to branch B .. of the SAME bank.. So it can pay to take the “No.. can not” reply … and just stroll on down to the next branch and try again.

In the OPs case - i might suggest taking his Thai partner with him - sometimes having a Thai person there - even IF they aren’t going to co-sign or any legal/financial interest in the account - can tip the scales in your favor.

TO ACCESS online, I was told I would need a Thai cell phone, is that right?

If you’re broke, how will you show the ฿800,000 to get the non O?

An expired driving license isn't valid ID anywhere.

Passport is fine, try Khrungthai they are the best for foreigners to apply for bank accounts they shit our Bangkok bank account down & we moved everything across with no hassle.

I don't drive and bank just said they wanted 2 IDs.