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What challenges did you face while trying to open a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O visa and a Thai spouse?

Banking in Thailand Thai Visa Non-O Visa Opening a Bank Account Expat Challenges Corruption in Thailand KYC Process Thai Marriage Certificate

May 22, 2025

a day ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

2 days ago I went to open account in Bangkok bank in local area..they took my papers..copy of passport and stamp..my marriage certificate, TM30, I am still shocked when she asked me for my salary slip..I copied and gave it to her..and she said will let me know soon..because she wanted to send papers to head office..next day she called me..she said I want to talk to your wife..she can't speak English..so I went to bank again and asked what happened..she said I need more documents..I said if you need more documents tell me I will give it..she said no just want to talk to your wife..I said she works and is free only after evening..then in evening my wife tried to call her..you know what she asked..she said tell me  your husband country address..even I have already given my marriage certificate in Thai and English I have given it but she is still doing stupid things..and my address is written on the marriage certificate its been almost 3 days now but she is still wasting our time..

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user shares their frustrating experience trying to open a bank account in Thailand with their Thai wife. They provided all necessary documents, including their marriage certificate and salary slip, but faced delays from the bank staff, who insisted on speaking to the wife for more information, despite the address being listed on the marriage certificate. This has led to feelings of shock and confusion over the process, with many commenters suggesting that the bank’s actions stem from efforts to prevent fraud rather than genuine verification. Other users share similar experiences, highlighting a trend of lengthy and complicated procedures at certain banks in Thailand.

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Dave ************

They want you to use an agent, then the agent gives them a backhander. We call it corruption, but if you want to get any thing done it is the easiest way.

Having said that, I have a retirement visa,bank account, driving licence, ID card, house book etc. All obtained without using an agent.

12 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Dave ***********

yes I have everything and already give but until now she still not tell us about account opening..I know it's all about corruption

11 hours ago

Reply to

Nav ********

John *********

Bangkok Bank will find a million excuses to not open an account for you. My Thai wife and I went there first in April 2025. In 5 minutes we both looked at each other and concluded it would be easier to climb Mt. Everest barefoot. We left and my account was open

***

hour later at KrungThai Bank. No fooling around at KrungThai.

I have a Non-O marriage visa.

13 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John ********

you open in Bangkok?

11 hours ago

John *********

No. Ratchaburi province.

10 hours ago

Reply to

John *********

John *******

Go to the head office. If Bangkok bank then go to Silon Rd. Only the HO can handle things in one go

14 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John ******

silon is head office?

11 hours ago

Reply to

Nav ********

Loin *****

Not good for business

Am I right?

15 hours ago

Loin *****

It seems Thai is not so practical country

15 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Loin ****

of course..you still suffer even you have all papers..this call corruption because they want I use agent and agent also pay them some amount..so that why they treat like this

11 hours ago

Reply to

Nav ********

Cameron *******

Welcome to Thailand. Patience is the key.

19 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Cameron ******

😄 🤣 agree

18 hours ago

Reply to

Nav ********

Mike ******

Thais are incapable of doing ANYTHING simply. Just been to get a re-entry permit for the 20th SUCCESSIVE year. Despite holding my passport in his hand, I had to also give him copies of annual permission to stay/various copies of passport pages. They have had the SAME information from me SIX times a year for 20 years. Do they understand what Data Bases are?

20 hours ago

David ********

not stupid thing just a good control

20 hours ago

Matthew *********

@David *******

you would never find in a western country the loops it takes to open an acct. Banks only need to question where the money came from. End of story. What other countries does it take days to open. The law in Thailand says you need proper visa not interview wife. That's immigration job

20 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Matthew ********

correct.. nothing to do with wife..it's person account and I already provide all documents but she still wasting our time..and that's not bank job for interview wife..that's Immigration job..

19 hours ago

Reply to

Nav ********

Jordi ********

Went to BKK-Bank around five times with wife and non-o. Every time they add something to the list, a list that isn't there because we ask for it. Anyway, keep jumping through the hoops, had everything ready again, went there, now the manager died...Sorry no account, have to go to another office, boyoboy🤣🤷. Will go to a different bank, im giving up on this one.

20 hours ago

Mark **********

I was able to open one at KBank, just looked at my visa, marriage certificate and t

10 minutes later I was done

21 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Mark *********

kbank? In which city?

19 hours ago

Reply to

Nav ********

Walrus *******

Just checking the credibility of you.. Blame all the scammers not the bank staff. If your wife is sincere she shot take a few hours off work.. playmate no mor bucking the system. Your in thier country so follow the rules

21 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Walrus ******

so you means..am not follow the rules? I think I should blame you..are you one of them?..my means scammer

18 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Walrus ******

how many times she take off? She was go with me before as a first day for ask documents for bank account..after that I go myself and give all papers..I fill bank form and siqn..next day she call me and said again want to talk with wife..I immediately go to bank I ask her what documents you want..she said I will tell your wife..she already call but still not yet any response..

19 hours ago

Reply to

Nav ********

Matthew *********

It doesn't matter if you provided a million documents and spoke every language in the world she still would search for a reason of this power trip they love playing in Thailand. They just keep finding more reasons to run people off while their tourism number are down and have the worst economic growth in se asia. They are product of their education system.

a day ago

Todd *********

@Matthew ********

then try to be a better product of your own education system and find your way around it. It’s not 🚀 science

21 hours ago

Matthew *********

@Todd ********

has nothing to do with me. Some of these at banks already had their minds made up before someone even walked in the door. I personally won't play games. My first experience was a total shit show. Showed up the next day with same documents with an agent. Acct opened in five minutes. I laughed at the lady and said the money I spent for agent to me about Minutes to make and told her it takes her a week fill time. Money always has the upper hand. It's just said Thailand has to play games like this. I lived in Japan and that shit would have never happened. Difference between a professional country. Thailand is pushing people to Vietnam. I already found me a place on Saigon. Going to split my time. Already impressed with Vietnam

20 hours ago

Todd *********

@Matthew ********

I like Vietnam a lot. But you will find the visa situation considerably worse.

And SE Asia should never, ever be considered alongside Japan. Entirely different beasts

19 hours ago

Matthew *********

@Todd ********

visa is different but if I am going to split time then it's not a problem. You can do as many border runs as you want. And your correct it's not fair to come to Japan. Japan and Korea are levels way beyond se Asia. They are the standard of success. Hoping Vietnam will bring back the one yr visa.

19 hours ago

Todd *********

@Matthew ********

agreed that 3 months in Vietnam and 3 months in Thailand is very easy to do long term. So is DTV in Thailand.

Japan and Korea have extremely high levels of government controls and loss of personal freedoms. Ideal for people who require structure or struggle with decision making. They are most definitely not any standard of success. They are what happens when govt controls you too much

19 hours ago

Reply to

Todd *********

John **********

i go to the Bangkok bank at Meechok plaza with my Thai wife..they refused for let me open a bankaccount so i go the same day to the Bangkok bank near my house in Mae Rim...no problem at all!

a day ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

😆

19 hours ago

Reply to

Nav ********

Todd *********

easy to see why agents are thriving in Thailand

a day ago

Etincelle **********

@Todd ********

Good job, let's promote the wrong behavior (and as result get more hoops to jump through).

If one's papers are in order opening a bank account is not an issue. Just the same as in one's home country.

21 hours ago

Todd *********

@Etincelle *********

you think?! Is this your first day in Asia, Africa, central or South America, Eastern Europe or the South Pacific? That’s how the world of visas works. Always work arounds.

The agents require nothing but up front money to facilitate your visa or visa exempt. Again, give it a try. Then you will be aware

20 hours ago

Etincelle **********

Mate, shame on you if that is your best reply. A bit of ranting at people live there longer than yourself and have been through it for business and personal matters. So much for being subject matter expert.

20 hours ago

Todd *********

@Etincelle *********

don’t be such a child. You have no clue about agencies or how they work.

‘Shame on me’ for accurate response lol? Give your head a shake

And the poster isn’t one bit interested in business visa is he?? Stay on track or just shut it

19 hours ago

Reply to

Todd *********

@Etincelle *********

it’s the correct behaviour. Nothing wrong with it. And NO hoops to jump through with agents. Give it a try so you can offer an educated opinion.

And FYI, opening a bank account in ANY other nation is a very different situation than your own

21 hours ago

Etincelle **********

@Todd ********

LOL. No need to beat around the bush: agents targeted here are mostly the ones using tea money and sr. relationships to use back doors.

The agents used by businesses help you sort your papers but require the same effort except for the visits to officials that are streamlined. And often mentioned as (too) expensive.

21 hours ago

Reply to

Etincelle **********

Carsten **********

No, they only want to test if you are really a couple and if your wife knows your details like foreign address. There are too many foreigners married in sham marriages, where the 'wife' got paid to pop up when needed, but has no or little relationship to the foreigner. Thailand is full of such arrangements to allow foreigners to open bank accounts and to do all kinds of things you do not want to know. Hence, the personal check with your wife. Nothing stupid about and part of the KYC process.

a day ago

Jordan *****

@Carsten *********

Why would the wife know the exact adress? Like who cares where some guy stayed who knows when in some other country

18 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jordan ****

correct..even I don't remember her mom and dad name also village or other things..so that's means this marriage not genuine? Some people said because of scams they ask..do you think scammer open account like this? Scammer and other bankers all involved and this because of corruption..they only wasting time of genuine people

17 hours ago

Reply to

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Carsten *********

lol they online want to test? So they don't believe in marriage certificate? And other documents? That attested by mofa ?..my wife know only my city name and state..she doesn't know proper address..it's not make sense..and this not bank job for test her or interview..this Immigration job..

19 hours ago

Reply to

Nav ********

Ticha *****************

It's typical inspection to prevent fraud account. Many Thais are used as scammed marriage for a benefit but not a genuine relationship.

a day ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ticha ****************

scammer also links with bankers employed and government employed..they never go like this for opening bank account..this because of corruption..they pay money to bank employees and open there account..I think what ever they do scammer still can open there account because of corruption..and only genuine people face this problem..this rules are only for genuine people but not for scammer they still find the way

16 hours ago

Ticha *****************

@Nav *******

Not necessary link with bankers. It's tougher because of new regulation from Bank of Thailand. Many Thais suddenly got their bank account suspended and must provide proof of many thing to unlock their bank account even though they are not mule account.

And for relationship, When you do visa non O extension you also have to prove your relationship to immigration. They also visit your home.

16 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ticha ****************

they suspended because of kyc..most of country's Banks want kyc updating policies..and in my country also they doing every years,,and some of after 2 years..but still I heard from thai people that thai online banking experience very poor..even can't open online accounts..I think thai bank should need strict rules..but at the end rules only for innocent people scammer still can do what they want..they should work first on corruption then I think this rules can work..

16 hours ago

Ticha *****************

@Nav *******

I understand your frustrations. Thai banks really need to work on clear rule to open bank account together with immigration (to prove genuine purpose of stay)

14 hours ago

Nav ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ticha ****************

so you means..that I have non o visa..that not from immigration?this not call clear rules..this call just wasting someone time..because local employees also don't know what docs they need for foreigner accounts..they always ask to hd office..they must give them study about this matter..and they want I use agent so they can earn some also

11 hours ago

Ticha *****************

@Nav *******

why are you negative about it. By immigration regulation I mean they both should cooperate to make everything clear since starting and what things foreigner must do when they arrived here. I am Thai living abroad and immigration also requested proof of relationship at least 20 pages even though I have marriage certificate. But that means once they approved I am in their country for genuine purpose which make everything easy for me when I came to their country. Not that I have to fight for life after getting visa and go back and forth to immigration for a doc any authority request. Immigration should make clear path line the country I am living in as a foreigner. That's why visa agency in Thailand get richer day by day because of unclear regulation which make everything hard for foreigner.

11 hours ago

Reply to

Ticha *****************

Matthew *********

@Ticha ****************

they can profile Chinese if they want. Chinese seems to be at the route of all Thailand problems bit they complain how Chinese numbers have dropped

a day ago

Eric *********

@Matthew ********

it’s amazing

14 hours ago

Reply to