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

ThailandBank AccountNon-O VisaMarriage CertificateFacial RecognitionMobile App IssuesChiang Mai
Jan 11, 2025
7 days ago
Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Got my bank account this morning with no problems whatsoever (well, one tiny one that I'll mantion later), at bangkok Bank Meechok branch (Chiang Mai).

We were told that even though I had got a residency certificate, they did not require it, as my non-o visa and marriage certificate were enough..

My little problem...... I now have the book, the bank card, and I can access my account online with no problems. However, I cannot access through the mobile app, as the faciaL recognition required insists that I have a face covering....... It's my beard...🤣😂

Guess it couldn't all go to plan, so the 30 mins it took was good. Unlike the flights where we paid for 16 hours and got another 18 for free through Beijing...☹
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user successfully opened a bank account at Bangkok Bank in Chiang Mai using just their non-O visa and marriage certificate, without needing a residency certificate. However, they encountered a humorous issue with the mobile app's facial recognition due to their beard. Comments from others offered various insights, including alternative login methods and advice on navigating the app's requirements.
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Henry ***
Hi
@Paul ********
 .. If I already have a marriage certificate in Thailand and am now trying to apply for a residency certificate (yellow book), can I open a bank account?
4 days ago
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Lincoln *******
I only need to use facial recognition for large payments like paying rent, itusually tells me i have a face covering on too and i don't even have a beard, just need to get into really bright light.

Does he need facial recognition just to login?
6 days ago
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Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lincoln ******
 I've sorted it now after much combing, and rearranging my beard.

At the moment it seems that it was required for registering the mobile account, but I guess I'll find out more further down the line.
6 days ago
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Lincoln *******
@Paul ********
 oh that is good to hear, gotta keep that thing well tamed to please the bank 🤣
6 days ago
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Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lincoln ******
 yeah, the next step was to get a big sticking plaster to stick it down under my chin....😁

Santa Clause definitely couldn't get mobile banking from them....😂
6 days ago
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Paul *********
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Ruth *******
“Got another 18 for free” 😂 Love the attitude.
6 days ago
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Andy **********
I was advised to always do the facial recognition, against a plain white background, with nothing else in the image or it will play up, also pay attention to the onscreen instructions to smile or blink, I wondered why it prompted you to do things such as blink, it must be so if someone got your sign in number, they couldn't scan your face while you were sleeping and clean out your account 🙆🤦😂
7 days ago
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Tim ******
@Andy *********
 When I opened my bank account I had to set up facial recognition (without glasses). Now I can't read the instructions about when to smile and blink without glasses. 😅
7 days ago
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Andy **********
@Tim *****
 I suppose if it doesn't recognise you, if you wear your glasses, you could go back to the bank, and get another photo done, I've heard of people doing that, or get some contact lenses 🙆😅
7 days ago
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Andy **********
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Ken ********
Friendly staff at meechok it's a good branch
7 days ago
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Terary **********
I always take my mobile device in and let them figure it out.
7 days ago
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Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terary *********
 I did, they couldn't get it to work. They asked if I wanted to come back later after I'd had a shave ! 🤣
7 days ago
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Paul *********
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Sam *****
How did you get a non o visa without a Thai bank account.
7 days ago
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Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sam ****
 Applied through UK embassy.
7 days ago
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Sam *****
@Paul ********
 oh I thought it was a requirement to have the money a Thai bank account to get a non o visa. This is all too confusing for me atm.
7 days ago
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Brandon ************
@Sam ****
 that wouldn't make any sense to require a Thai bank account to apply for a visa at a Thai embassy outside of Thailand.
7 days ago
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Sam *****
@Brandon ***********
 in Australia it seems you can only apply for OA and ox no just O. And they require funds of 800k in a Thai bank account. I am lead to believe.
7 days ago
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Joseph *******
@Sam ****
 Used to be the same in the US: you could apply for the OA but not the O. Now that the e-visa has arrived, nearly all visas can be obtained at a Thai embassy. I believe the same holds true worldwide.
7 days ago
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Steve *******
@Joseph ******
 You've always been able to apply and get a Non Imm O visa in the US and in any Country that has a Thai Embassy/Consulate
6 days ago
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Joseph *******
@Steve ******
 In 2004 & several later years, this was not possible at the LA Thai Embassy.
6 days ago
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Steve *******
@Joseph ******
 You're mistaken
6 days ago
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Joseph *******
@Steve ******
 No I’m not. When I first moved to Thailand in 2004, the non-O was not an option at the Thai Consulate in LA. In fact, a couple of friends I subsequently made in Thailand that tried but had to settle for the non-OA, later regretted it after learning you could switch from tourist to non-O after arriving in Thailand.
6 days ago
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Ruth *******
@Joseph ******
 There is no Thai embassy in LA. There’s a consulate. You would have no problem now. There’s no telling what the issue may have been a decade ago. I applied for two non-O visas in the U.S. last year (the second because my passport was stolen and I was given bad advice by the Thai embassy in Japan 😂). I proved funds in the U.S. then needed to show the transferred funds when I applied for my extension.
6 days ago
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Joseph *******
@Ruth ******
 Yes, the Royal Thai Consulate General. Sorry if I don’t know the difference, though I actually don’t care. I tried to provide some info, an afterthought, & you want to go to town with me, first by stating categorically that I was wrong ( I wasn’t) & then on semantics?

I don’t need this. Commenters like you are the reason knowledgeable folks like me avoid sharing info.
6 days ago
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Ruth *******
@Joseph ******
 I’m not sure where I stated “categorically” that you were wrong. I said that CURRENTLY, one can apply for a non-O through the consulate. I specifically said that I don’t know what was the case in 2004 (actually, I said “a decade”, because you said you tried again “years”, with no specificity, later) and that there was no way to really check that at this point. You seem sensitive.
6 days ago
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Brandon ************
@Sam ****
 wrong on all 3 accounts
7 days ago
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Brandon ************
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Michael ******
Another 18 hours delay flying via China, had been told about this, one plus they are cheap flights compared to all others.
7 days ago
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Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *****
 Started with a 5 hour delay at Manchester, got shunted from Thai onto China Air.

To be fair, the flight from Frankfurt to Beijing was excellent with loads of legroom. It means a 5 hour flight to Chiang Mai, instead of an hour, and both China flights were delayed.

We were supposed to be here 15 hours before our dogs arrived, but they ended up beating us. Thank goodness for good neighbours..
7 days ago
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Paul *********
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Colin *******
Just try to read the on screen instructions when you have remooved your glasses... right faff to set up
7 days ago
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Jo **********
also when I opened an account a resident certificate was not required
7 days ago
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Marcel ***********
Hated my beard
7 days ago
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Tony **********
Didn't like my beard either.
7 days ago
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Penelope ************
Same thing happened to my husband with the beard issue, but after 30 minutes, another employee came over and told him to smile showing his teeth and then it worked!😬
7 days ago
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Jay *******
@Penelope ***********
 that was a big one and the the app wants to see a huge smile to accept.
5 days ago
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Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Penelope ***********
 The gurning into the camera didn't work, but after judicious brushing, and restyling, I managed to get signed up........

Without having to shave. So that's a small win. 😁
6 days ago
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Penelope ************
@Paul ********
 Good job and sorry that the smiling didn’t work.
6 days ago
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Penelope ************
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Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Penelope ***********
 I'll give that a go, thank you.
7 days ago
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Bănică ********
@Paul ********
 basically it's funny you can trick the sistem with a real good size picture of you when you didn't have a beard cut that out of cardboard and use it while logging in sadd this happened I think this might truly help you!
7 days ago
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Bănică ********
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Ian **********
I use fingerprint on the BB app. This just goes to show how staff at different branches have no clue about the rules. The most important requirement is to prove your address
7 days ago
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Tim ******
@Ian *********
 Facial recognition is only required for amounts >50k or changing daily limits.

How can I disable facial recognition or set a new one? You said you only use finger print recognition.
7 days ago
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Ian **********
@Tim *****
 Mine was setup in the branch
5 days ago
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Ian **********
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Garrett ***********
@Ian *********
 Never needed a CoR to open an account...
7 days ago
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Ian **********
@Garrett **********
 No did I 9 years ago. When did you open your account?
5 days ago
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Ian **********
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Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ian *********
 I don't get that option when setting it up.
7 days ago
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Paul *********
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