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What are the recent experiences of expats trying to open bank accounts in Bangkok?

Bank Accounts Expats in Thailand Visa Issues Thailand Banking Immigration

Apr 18, 2025

22 days ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Has anyone had any luck opening ANY kind of bank account in the last two weeks, specifically in Bangkok? If so list bank and branch or your reply isn't worth much. I've been to about 25 branches in two days.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post discusses the difficulties faced by expats trying to open bank accounts in Bangkok, highlighting that numerous branches have been visited without success. Key comments mention the need for a residence certificate, the challenges of opening an account while on a tourist visa, and suggestions to bring a significant deposit or travel to other locations like Hua Hin or Pattaya where there may be more success.

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Anonymous ******************

Try to travel to Hua Hin or Pattaya. Bring cash ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 baht to open a bank account. My friend did that and was able to open a bank account.

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Chris *********

Ready 1mil baht, put on counter and you'll get your account.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Chris ********

honestly I’m about to that point or a lawyer

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Anonymous *************

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Erik *******

When will DTV holders understand that they are not meant to stay and live in the Kingdom full time ?? They are just temporary here .

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Shaughn ***********

When at the Bangkok Bank HQ in Silom you go down the long passage to enter the area where you open accounts. In this room where they have counters to fill out the forms they should have a list of requirements taped to the counter listing the requirements for foreigner opening an account. If you can meet the requirements then you can then proceed

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Anonymous ******************

If you can open a Bangkok Bank account with a debit card, you cannot use Internet Banking because they require a work permit.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Shaughn **********

yeah I was handed that list by the br mgr when there. Currently I can not meet them.

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Travis ********

Anonymous participant post the list here please

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Travis ********

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John *********

Do you have a Thai partner, that can help at least with the logic.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

a Thai partner? She’s a CORPIRATE BANKER and told me to give it up until we’re married. When im not on my phone ill list everything she told me and why the crackdown is so severe it’s actually very eye-opening

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Jack ********

logic? What in the world are you talking about

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Jack ********

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John *********

What type of account have you tried to open? Also do you have a Thai mob registered to your home address? How much were you planning to deposit?

Hit and miss really, can work if at least you have the above in place

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Jack ********

you don’t register Thai phone numbers to an address. It doesn’t work like that boy

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Anonymous ******************

Do you have any pets? What's the name of your cat?

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Anonymous ******************

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John **********

Have you been to immigration and got a residence certificate? That can help but it's not easy on what's basically a tourist visa.

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David ********

@John *********

from what I’ve seen, you need your work permit plus a while heap of other stuff

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

the banker at the last branch just admitted to me in the last three days the government has significantly changed the requirements for bank accounts under DT but he wouldn’t elaborate

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Brandon ************

Anonymous participant That's just what they always say. They've been saying "just changed" for over a year now. They just don't want to do the paperwork, that's why they won't do it. It has nothing to do with the government regulations.

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David ********

Anonymous participant I’ve heard that. They don’t want any tourists with bank accounts

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John **********

it's not so much tourists, the problem is the crack down on mule accounts, so they are very strict on verifying identity these days and some can't be bothered going through the process for what is by definition a temporary account

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John **********

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

I thought about it, but I don’t see how a resident certificate would really help that much and no one has brought up a resident certificate. They all want to work permit work permit work permit that’s all they say over and over and over.

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Pascal ***********

Anonieme deelnemer without an official address in Thailand, you can’t open a bank account. So that residence certificate shows you have an official address here.

Together with a 1-year rental contract, it will improve your chances.

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John **********

Anonymous participant plenty of people open bank accounts without a work permit. But the bank does need to be able to verify you are who you say you are, the residence certificate can help with that. As can having a Thai SIM registered in your name (actually pretty essential to get the app).

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John **********

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I went to the Bangkok bank world headquarters with the email that said they’d open the account for me and got nowhere

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I’ve been to 28 branches in two days. I don’t think I can take another no. Everyone keeps telling me to go to this bank or that bank and I do and it’s always no.

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Werner ************

Anonymous participant you’ve gone to 28 banks all have said no - are you not going to take the hint?

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Wannikea *********

Anonymous participant contact Siam legal

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Wannikea *********

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