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

bank account opening expat experiences Bangkok banking Thai residency bank branches visa issues Thailand banking system

Apr 18, 2025

a day 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 frustrations of expats trying to open bank accounts in Bangkok, with one user reporting visits to 28 different branches in two days without success. Comments suggest that having a residence certificate from immigration might help, along with the possibility of having a Thai partner and meeting specific requirements related to account types and local registration.

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John *********

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

a day ago

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

a day ago

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.

a day ago

David ********

@John *********

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

a day ago

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

@David *******

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

a day ago

David ********

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

a day ago

John **********

@David *******

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

a day ago

Reply to

John **********

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.

a day ago

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).

a day ago

Reply to

John **********

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

a day ago

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.

a day ago

Wannikea *********

Anonymous participant contact Siam legal

a day ago

Reply to

Wannikea *********

What are the requirements for opening a bank account in Thailand for expats with a Non-O visa?

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