What are the steps for opening a bank account in Thailand on an O-retirement visa without embassy assistance?

If you live in Chiang Mai I would definitely open my bank account there rather than somewhere cheaper or easier. There are a variety of good reasons for this, chief of which if you need to do something official, you will be asked to do it at the branch where you opened the account.

50 bucks for a certified copy of passport is what the Embassy charges.

Getting a bank account

Don’t expect to get something for nothing. Each office is an independent business. Each office makes their own criteria.

You certainly will pay a fee for transferring USD from USA to Thailand. The amount depends on the bank and the transfer service.

Banking is an essential service if you plan to spend time here. It’s not FREE.

I prepared ahead of time by getting a bank account set up 6 months ago.

I treated this as an important business transaction, not just a casual activity.

My Thai friend made an appointment for me at the Bangkok Bank branch across from Astra in CM. He also translated for me.

I am a middle aged physician and dressed as such. Yes I did do the whole business card ceremony.

I told the banker that I plan to retire soon and buy a condominium at Astra.

I was asked to purchase a life insurance policy for about $100. Presumably the banker gets a commission. Whatever, it’s the price of doing business at the bank.

They wanted to copy my passport and see my credit card from Wells Fargo. I think I showed them how much was in my account also to make the point that I’m a serious customer.

I also showed them $500 in perfect $100 bills that was to be the initial deposit.

Nothing else was required.

Act like a serious customer and you will be treated as such.

Present yourself properly and you should be fine.

If not, thank them for their time and visit another office.

Best wishes on your adventure to Thailand!

When I got my bank account with Bangkok Bank In Chiang Mai, this was not necessary. They just made copies of my passport.

Find another bank, this is nonsense.

If you have a problem with one branch, just disengage and go elsewhere.

You are making this way to complicated. I had a bank tell me I needed a letter from my embassy. I left. I had a bank tell me they wanted 5900 baht life insurance policy. I left.

Truth is I hired an agent I believe it was 2500. This is in chiang mai. She went to immigration got the residency certificate and drove me up to the correct bank. Super simple. Took an hour of my time on a tourist visa.

You need to provide a notarised copy of your passport. The US embassy provides those

You can get a certified copy of your passport at the embassy. They don’t help in getting a bank account but they will provide a certified copy

The US embassy and others no longer offer residence certificates. You also cannot get a residence certificate from immigration in Bangkok on a tourist entry. Your best bet will be to find an agent to help you open a bank account for 3-5,000 baht.