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What bank should I choose for a DTV account in Thailand, and can I get a bank card instantly?
DTV visabank accountsThailand bankingexpat bankingvisa issuesKhon KaenPattayaThai banksimmigration advice
Apr 5, 2025
a year ago
Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTERAny suggestions on what bank to go with under the DTV? Do you get a bank card instantly? (I’m only in khon kaen for 1-2 days).
Right now I’m in isan but I’ll probably eventually move to Pattaya. Should I wait and open the account in Pattaya or just do it today in isan?
Right now I’m in isan but I’ll probably eventually move to Pattaya. Should I wait and open the account in Pattaya or just do it today in isan?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion reveals the challenges of opening a bank account in Thailand under the Digital Nomad Visa (DTV). Many commenters point out that securing an account is extremely difficult, often requiring a Thai friend or an agent, particularly in larger cities like Pattaya. Recommendations for banks like SCB and K Bank are provided, but complications arise due to strict banking regulations and the need for a permanent address. A general consensus suggests that expats may be better off waiting to establish an account in Pattaya, where support services are more accessible, despite a high cost associated with using agents.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Brandon ************
Probably won't be able to open an account without an agent. Most of the agents that do this are in Pattaya, and current cost is running about 12,000-15,000 baht.
But if you are going to end up in Pattaya, it's better to have an account where you'll be living. Some things are just easier if you can go into the bank branch you opened your account at, and you also get a certain number of free ATM withdrawals in the same province that you opened your account at, but using the ATM outside of that province would have a charge.
But if you are going to end up in Pattaya, it's better to have an account where you'll be living. Some things are just easier if you can go into the bank branch you opened your account at, and you also get a certain number of free ATM withdrawals in the same province that you opened your account at, but using the ATM outside of that province would have a charge.
Jack ********
@Brandon ***********
cardless withdrawal with BKK bank via the app has no out of province feeReply to
Jack ********
Reply
Henrik *****
You are not eligable for a bankaccount on touristvisa like DTV.
You need to have a long term visa.
So forget about getting a account.
Banks in Thailand are like everywhere in the world, interested in having good stable custormers, that have a permanent address, a steady easy traceable income, and use the account all year round.
That is why the banks are reluctant to give accounts to people on short time ( read: tourist ) visas, and who only spend part of the year in Thailand.
Don’t expect to get a residence certificat, until you have stayed at a permanent adress in at least 3 month, since that is what the residence certificat should confirm.
Furthermore the added attention on whitewashing of money, is an added burden on the banks, so reluctant depositing large amounts isn’t a guaranteed way to open an account.
The value of a resident certificat, had gone down, since Immigration Officers are giving them to people that are not on a longterm visa, or have stayed severel months at 1 adress in Thailand, so even if it is a formal requirement, the bank make up their own assesment of the stability of the want-to-be customer.
You need to have a long term visa.
So forget about getting a account.
Banks in Thailand are like everywhere in the world, interested in having good stable custormers, that have a permanent address, a steady easy traceable income, and use the account all year round.
That is why the banks are reluctant to give accounts to people on short time ( read: tourist ) visas, and who only spend part of the year in Thailand.
Don’t expect to get a residence certificat, until you have stayed at a permanent adress in at least 3 month, since that is what the residence certificat should confirm.
Furthermore the added attention on whitewashing of money, is an added burden on the banks, so reluctant depositing large amounts isn’t a guaranteed way to open an account.
The value of a resident certificat, had gone down, since Immigration Officers are giving them to people that are not on a longterm visa, or have stayed severel months at 1 adress in Thailand, so even if it is a formal requirement, the bank make up their own assesment of the stability of the want-to-be customer.
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77-foreigners-face-new-hurdles-in-opening-thai-bank-accounts/Claire ********
You won't get one. Unless you have a very clever agent, or a bank that will let you have one with a DTV.
Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTERJust tried KS bank. No luck.
Bangkok seemed to start then a staff came over and said we don’t do it. Not sure if they’re just lazy, honest or uneducated in the visa situation.
Bangkok seemed to start then a staff came over and said we don’t do it. Not sure if they’re just lazy, honest or uneducated in the visa situation.
Greg ********
@Joel ******
Someone just posted that they opened an account on DT%V in Krungsri in Central Festival Pattaya. Good luck with it, but they are a good branch and have always been helpful, even though my account is elsewhere.John *********
@Joel ******
keep trying, ask to speak to the manager, even to arrange an appointment on another day. You could say I am looking to build a long term relationship with the your bank to make the appointment. No point in dealing with gatekeepers, the source always. Firstly you have to dress well, each bank it’s discretionary so if you are dressed like a typical backpacker or singlet shirts & flip flops, you are just not going to be taken seriously.
Ensure you have a Thai mob registered to your address in Thailand, not a hotel or box no.
Ask to open the basic savings account which will come with an atm/debit card, you can get mobile banking as long as you have a registered Thai mob.
Depends whether you really need a bank account, if it’s only to use for a few transactions every month then not worth it.
If you get an appointment with a manager, explain your background what you want to achieve having an account with the bank. You could say I am planning to deposit 500k + THB with you and I am planning to apply for a DTV and after that, I plan to set up a business with Thai partners and get a work permit obviously using the correct visa etc. So you are looking to establish relationships and build over time.
See how that goes, or any other approach you may come up with but at all times, be incredibly respectful to bank staff etc and never lose your cool.
Try a main bank in central Bangkok like K Bank, SCB etc. you may have to try at several branches or banks if you can’t make progress.
Thailand is fluid, maybe the laws will change, be more relaxed but for now devote the time to try and make a success of it. Some won’t bother or just give up, which will tell you you won’t survive in Thailand GL
Please post if you successfully open an account but you don’t have to name the branch, that wouldn’t look cool at all. Just which Bank and if it was in Bangkok or elsewhere?
Reply to
John *********
Reply
Greg ********
As others have pointed out it is not easy. If you have a Thai friend then you could try up in Isaan with them but I doubt you will be successful. In Pattaya you will need an agent and it seems all the usual ones cannot open accounts for DTV. There was a post recently where someone did with an agent down there.
Adrian ********
@Greg *******
I opened an account in Pattaya 3 weeks ago without an agent. Krungsri bank in central were happy to open an account for me no questions asked when I provided my cert of residence which I got from the immigration officeGreg ********
@Adrian *******
Good one. I went in there for replacement ATM card and they asked me to open an account at that branch. My main account with them is elsewhere. I was fine doing it as I lived in Pattaya at the time. Having a local account would have been handy plus splitting money between accounts is a good idea. However, I did not have 2 types of photographic ID so could not go ahead. After an hour I came away with the .managers business card for his property business though:-)Adrian ********
@Greg *******
Surprisingly very helpful bank. After being turned away by 4 different banks, the shopping centre security guard took me inside Krungsri bank and sat me down with a bank teller who explained that I need a certain of residence which most people don’t bother getting on the DTV, all you need is a copy of a lease if renting and copies of a few other bits which IO list for you.30 mins at IO sorting the cert out then I went back 2 hours later to collect it. IO put me on the spot when they asked me which bank I wanted to open an account with as they address the cert of residence to that individual bank.
Greg ********
@Adrian *******
Interesting about the Cert of Residence and IO. Jomtien immigration certainly have a Bangkok Bank branch they prefer to use 🙂 I think Krungsri are best of the Thai Banks. Part Japanese owned. I used to work for a Japanese company with thousands of workers in Thailand - all payroll went into Krungsri. At the branch I used 5k salaries per month went into it including expat Directors and C-Suite. I never heard a complaint about their banking. If you can get their "Boarding Card" is a very handy product but you may been a WP for it. Give it a go though as it is the most useful card I have at the momentAdrian ********
@Greg *******
thanks for the tip, I will see if I can get one.I spoke to a few ex-pats who have been around the block in Thailand and all vouched for Krungsri and Kasikorn as the best 2 for westerners - funny enough they all told me to stay away from Bangkok Bank - happy with my choice of Krungsri and your comments above back this up.
Greg ********
@Adrian *******
I use Bangkok Bank for my ATM etc. Just transfer money over when I I am going out etc then if I lose that card never more than 20k on it and usually less. The Boarding Card is great for travelling as you exchange money upfront and use it in local ATMs. I have used it in UK, Netherlands, Switzerland and Singapore for local currency. Online it works well and you can switch it on and off on the application and change the max amounts. I used it to buy a Breitling and transferred the cash into when I was in the shop.Adrian ********
@Greg *******
excellent, thanks Greg I will defo see if I can get myself oneReply to
Adrian ********
Reply
John *******
Does this mean you were able to get the visa without your birth certificate? Did you ever figure out why they originally wanted it?
Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ******
Yeah mate, that’s correct. I’m not really sure to be honest. I probably should have asked but I didn’t want to push it ha ha. As soon as I went there, he didn’t even really ask about the birth certificate, he just wanted to enquire further about my money situation and when I showed him the proof on my phone, he approved me there.
Before that, however he did mention that he wanted to wait for my birth certificate to come in but then after a bit more chat and clear that I will not be taking work from Thai people, they approved it.
John *******
@Joel ******
- great that it worked out.Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ******
yeah stoked bud!Reply to
Joel *******
Reply
Anonymous ******************
If you are very very lucky you may possibly, eventually get a bank account on DTV. They are extremely difficult if at all to get .
John *********
Anonymous participant 115 it's discretionary at each branch just the basic savings account with atm/debit card is fine
Greg ********
@John ********
It is not discretionary at each bank. Some bank HQ have issued guidance on this. You keep posting as though opening banks accounts is easy on the DTV. It is NOT easy as many posts attest. In fact it is very far from easy. Name the bank names and locations where it is as simple as you posit? Which bank have you walked into in 2025 and opened an account?John *********
@Greg *******
Do you have a Thai bank account?You know how Thailand works, don’t think western logic, of course the main bank branches in Bangkok have discretionary powers, it’s all possible in Thailand but you have to have the right approach and you have to dress well. I know several managers who will simply turn down your average tourists that walks in off the street, singlet, shorts, flip flops, they just don’t see long term relationships with the bank.
I am obviously not going to tell which branches of particular banks because that could cause problems for that branch manager.
You will find the right way, especially if you want to build a long term relationship with that branch but most give up and forget about it.
It’s always possible in Thailand (legally) even if some one says no, of course if you ask a gatekeeper, they probably either don’t know, not interested, always make an appointment to see the manager to discuss mutual long term business. You may have to invest some time to reap the long term rewards and objectives.
Please post if you manage to open an account, without stating which branch, just the basic info which bank, city etc
GL🤞
Thailand ..The Land of Smiles and opportunities
Jack ********
@John ********
now you’re just making things upReply to
Jack ********
Reply
John *********
Open a savings account with say SCB, K Bank, it's discretionary at each branch so you need to look respectable deposit a decent amount but open at a branch in the province you are going to live.You will get a atm/debit card but you must have a Thai mobile registered to your place of living, do you can get mobile banking
Jack ********
@John ********
Thai mobile registered to your place of living? Stop making things up boyReply to
Jack ********
Reply
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