What are the requirements and recommendations for opening a bank account in Thailand as an expat?

1) Bangkok Bank

2) Kasikorn Bank

You don't say what you are coming in on Michael. Unless you are arriving on an A-O Just expecting to open a bank account is fraught with difficulties.

Depends where you are in a City or Rural area

What I did many years ago was go around all the Banks in the Mall and ask to open an account

Eventually one said yes

You can only open an account on non o visa. After that if you visit a branch near downtown Bangkok especially the central world area its usually easy. Kasikorn and Bangkok Bank are probably the easiest to open with.

I had to get a letter from immigration to open bank account with Bangkok bank

That was 2 months ago

I see a lot of these questions. Same question and I see so many different answers. The multitude of them are incorrect and wrong but different people have different experiences. You’re from the United States so ever since Obama change the rules it is harder and more complicated and many banks don’t want to easily open an account for you and they just say they don’t do it but you can. I did not use an agent. You need your passport plus USA ID plus actual Social Security card (not a copy) you need the information that the United States government is going to require for that bank to give them you have to open an account.

 You will not be able to use online access unless you actually have a Thai telephone number so I got a Thai Sims card with a Thai telephone number so even when I’m in the United States I have access to my account

You’ll need a certificate of residence, which assumes 3 month stay on a long term visa, before the Immigration office should make it for you.

So no bank account in 2 weeks, unless you are more lucky than winning the lottery.

And that is probably not much different from if a foreigner will open a bank account in your homecountry

How did u get a visa without bank account ?

You need a letter from immigration. They don't give you one if you're on a tourist visa. That's in Hua Hin

Bangkok bank,, 500 baht.

Any bank branch that lets you open an account is the best one! It’s really tough to do these days unless using an agent or holding a long term visa.

There isn’t usually a minimum amount needed to open the account but they’d probably want you to deposit a couple of thousand baht or so.