What are the experiences of expats opening bank accounts in Thailand?

Follow up on the bank debacle this week, hope it helps people open a bank account.

Krungsie bank would not allow me to change from Bang Yai branch to Khon Kaen without a work permit,

I went to UOB (Singapore bank Thailand)

I showed them my non 0 extension based on being over 50 and my driving license. 10 minutes later a new bank account,

They are very Farrang friendly.

interest rates are ok too.

1 bhat to 100,000 1.5% interest

100,001 to 200,000 2% interest

200,001 to 300,000 3.3% interest

then 0.5% on anything over the 300,000bhat.

I then went back to Krungsie bank to withdraw and close the account, as my original bank was in Bang Yai they were charging me 730 bhat to withdraw the cash, (not happy)

They then proceeded to call their head office who then said I could change my account to Khon Kaen, (too late the cashier had already put the withdrawal through. so I copped a 730 bhat charge.

UOB do not do Foreign currency accounts here, but they do in Sukhamvit,

I then went to Bangkok bank here in Khon Kaen and again no problem opening a foreign currency account.

Be careful with the fcd accounts with the banks as there is a charge of 2% on withdrawing foreign currency

Its a minimum 2% charge on the withdrawal.

If you withdraw in Bhat there is no charge.

ps. I am not recommending, just sharing info.