What documents do I need to open a bank account with Bangkok Bank as a non-immigrant visa holder?

Jul 13, 2018
6 years ago
Brad *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Report: copy of Bangkok Bank list of documents to open a savings account; and, Bangkok Bank documents were accepted at Bangkok immigration.

I will try to attach below and if not successful in a separate post the Bangkok Bank list of documents required to open a basic savings account. In my case for a non immigration type O Visa, they required a passport and a certified affidavit from the US Embassy where I swore that I was the holder of the passport issued on....etc.

Once the Bangkok Bank savings account was open, I used transferwise to transfer $800,000 B to them ( a separate wire transfer from my US Bank to the US transferwise account was necessary).

As recently reported by others, immigration accepted the Bangkok Bank guarantee letter and evidence of foreign currency transfer (along with a passbook copy showing the required). amount).

Prepare for almost an hour at Bangkok Bank main branch in silom even if you get there when they open at 8:30 a.m... first you go to Windows 55 thru 59 dpwnstairs to get the guarantee letter and then upstairs to Foreign Exchange to get the evidence of foreign currency transfer which is a letter and supporting doc.

Everything including the passbook has to be dated the same day and then you have to travel North to Bangkok immigration. Immigration didn't get to my number until early afternoon.

Only the Bangkok Bank documents and form 87 and passport pages were required. No residency documents, such as lease, owner ID, or House book, were required at Bangkok immigration.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
This post outlines the required documents and procedures for opening a savings account with Bangkok Bank while on a NON-O Visa, including the need for a passport and a certified affidavit from the US Embassy. It also discusses the acceptance of documentation by Bangkok immigration and mentions alternative banking experiences by other expats.
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Diiz *********
Now krungsri ask valid visa.. not tourist >< they didnt see 1st my Visa ED first... so couldnt open it éè. Once i show my visa ed it was ok !
Ian ********
Krungsri were very good to me. I was on a tourist visa. I took along my passport and my 12 month rental agreement and they opened an account with Internet banking and a phone app there and then. Also got given a debit card (visa or mastercard, can't recall) and I was good to go. I can ever withdraw from any Thai bank atm and no charges.
Ian ********
Nope, I have used my Krungsri card at several different banks including Krungsri atm's and I have never received any charges or fees from these withdrawals. Nothing on my online statements. It's national also.
Brad *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I've seen the topic come up a few times regarding Banks used to meet the 800k baht requirement for the non O Visa over 50 one-year extension. I am not sure I gleaned a clear answer.

I will be getting my first one-year extension around the beginning of September. I am getting almost zero interest at my Bangkok Bank savings account. Has anyone found other accounts in Bangkok with an interest rate above 1% that will be accepted by Bangkok immigration.

I thought I heard mixed comments that some immigration staff in Thailand do not accept the higher interest fixed accounts and some do. Has anyone in Bangkok found a bank account with a decent interest rate that is a sure thing with Bangkok immigration?
James ********
My bank in the USA is now offering 2% for 14 month CD.
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Tod *********
Jack you can get a notarized affidavit of income from abroad from your consulate that states you get at least 65K baht a month in income and use that to meet the financial requirements.
Tod *********
the rule about fixed deposit accounts and meeting the financial requirements for extensions of stays don't spell it out exactly, BUT most immigration offices will let you use a fixed deposit account IF you can access the money (even if you lose your interest). You can't use the type of fixed deposit accounts where the money is frozen for the term of the deposit.
Derek ***************
I tried at my small branch in Non Thai and the branch at the Mall and both said "can't do". Will try at their regional head office on Chumpon Road when I'm next in town.
Jamie **********
I just lied to them that I want to put X amount of money in it and deposit money into the bank every month. For some reason they changed there mind and opened the bank account for me.
Derek ***************
I would avoid Bangkok Bank as they no longer issue Visa debit cards. Instead they issue Union Pay cards which are of no use whatsoever other than as an ATM card at Bangkok Bank ATMs.
Derek ***************
I tried to pay at Sizzler in the Mall and they actually had the card reader and a pad to enter the 6 digit pin. It came up with a transaction denied message. Now I just use it as an ATM card.
Chris **********
I've tried twice at Tesco Lotus to use my Union Pay Card. Even the check out folks were surprised. And this is in sight of the Bangkok Bank Branch, just a few yards away, in my local Tesco. They just suggested I go to the ATM to get cash. It pissed the people off a bit in the queue behind me!
Richard *****
@Juliana ****
ok, so no photo of the paper 🙁

Will have to check up on the MC later. Thanks.
Juliana ******
@Richard ****
not really. Was a paper print with a list of countries to the clients to say in which countries they had issues with unionpay, as i told them i could not withdraw money from my account in Denmark cause i could not find any atm that accept unionpay, so she told me to go back there in 3-5 months time when they would launch a mastercard card. Lets wait and see if its true or not
Richard *****
@Juliana ****
Any chance of posting that list please?
Juliana ******
I just went to the main branch in Silom to make a new atm card and i asked if have other options than unionpay and she said to me because people were always asking other card in maybe 3-5 months bangkok bank will start make Masterdcard cards. She told me to watch the website in few months to see what date they will start. Lets see if its true or not. When i asked about other card she also made me sign a list of countries where unionpay is hard to use or withdraw money
Tod *********
@Richard ****
Sorry to hear it didn't work, I had two people so far push it as far as they could and got issued visa debit cards but they were both told that was the last card the branch had (even though they went to the same branch on different days :O)
Richard *****
@Tod ********
, nope, didn’t work for me either. The branch call head office and were told that all Visa debit cards had been destroyed. They now only issue UnionPay.

I found UnionPay to be pretty useless anywhere for purchases except some supermarkets and BKK ATMs. I’m currently in UK and found that I can actually withdraw cash at the Barclays Bank ATMs so life is improving! Next stop USA for a test! 🙂
Derek ***************
I hammered them pretty hard but they just don't have Visa cards to issue. I have banked at this branch for 15 years and the best advice they could give me was to open an account at a different bank.
Martin **********
@Tod ********
Also depends if visa debet, brings even more costs, not aware of that
Tod *********
You can get a visa debit card IF you hammer them (and I mean hammer them HARD :O ) They still have them at most branches, they just try to shoe-horn you into that b/s card they are using now.
Tod *********
There is nothing in thai banking law that prohibits someone from opening a bank account on a 30 day visa exempt entry or a 60 day tourist visa entry. The decision to allow people to do it or not rests with the manager of a particular branch. If one branch denies you walk down the street to another one. You'll find one that will open the account for you.

Most banks want proof of residency which you can get from your consulate or sometimes from the immigration office. However K bank branches are known to open the account with just a lease agreement.
Biff *******
Same for me, except that I had no residence certificate. My wife preempted everything by asking the branch manager before I arrived and she vouched for me using her Tabien Ban (blue house book). She also has an account there which helped.
Ivor ******
I got a BKK Bank savings account with a residency certificate on a 30 day visa exemption. I did have a friendly thai friend who smoothed the edges though. I think the Thai friend is key.
Shane *******
If you are in pattaya, all you need is any visa or visa exempt stamp, proof of where u are staying and to take a small accident damage/life insurance policy out with them, about 4k worth. Walking Street branch and they will open the account for you on the spot. Obviously take your passport also
Shane *******
Yeah it comes down to the teller, in my case having a small separate policy wasn't a bad idea
Martin **********
They try to sell you that insurance. Just refuse it, and they will open the account any way. I am at the same branch.
Jamie **********
I use TransferWise because they are cheaper than others and the bank don’t charge you. And if I want proof of currency transfer at the end of the year, I just go ask the bank for a certificate of currency transfer. And as opening a account I just had a tourist visa and nothing else. Banks differ bank to bank so if one won’t accept you just keep going to the next bank. One of them will open one for you.
Jamie **********
@Martin *********
👍 that’s great I will have a look later.
Martin **********
@เจมี่ ************
Just acknowledge this. The free or minimum transfercost you put yourself, only works until 2000 € send in one or different transfers. I not know for one BIG amount, but then the difference of the money conversion, become more important also.
Jamie **********
@Martin *********
that’s good info. I will look into Xendpay to see what they are like
Martin **********
@เจมี่ ************
, it depends on the amount send. But as long you can put minimum amount of costs, it still beats Transferwise. On my last one, the difference was 0.30/euro. That is still better then what the banks do, on a transfer or payement, not talking about Paypal, and others.
Jamie **********
@Martin *********
yes. That’s how they cover there hidden fees. Lower the currency rating and up the price per Baht. That way they cover the hidden fees that they don’t tell you about.
Martin **********
There is also XENDPAY. I use it with transferwise. Pro of Xendpay is that you can put your own fee you want until 2000 €, but currency exchange is a bit less good then transferwise. On my last transfer of 1000 €, saved a few hundred baht, going this way.
Brad *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for the comments. The other point I wanted to stress... Some people who used transferwise at other Banks had a hard time getting the guarantee of foreign currency transfer that would be acceptable to Bangkok immigration. I just wanted to reiterate that with Bangkok Bank, they were able to issue the appropriate document that was acceptable to immigration.
Jim *******
Smaller branches seem to do anything to help you. Quit easy
Martin **********
I open an account in November, Pattaya branch. Near walking street. In fact a gogo does evenings to arrange this. The Windmill. But as it was no bank day there, the friendly Mamasan, went with me to the bank, which was already close. She managed to let us in, and everything done in 10 minutes. No visa. But be aware. They try to put on your bill a very expensive insurance. Do not accept that, read it well. Then you get a new one without it.
Jim *******
Depends on branch also

Some don’t require much. My Brit friend moved here 2 months ago, local branch in Korat just asked to see his passport
Barry ******
Depends on the bank branch. It's still possible to open with a visa exempt stamp in some branches still.
Michiel *******
Bangkok bank asked me same paper from my embassy. Was the branch on ksr.
Al *******
Sure seems like a major hassle just to open a bank account.
Bob **********
Transferwise a simple wire transfer from your bank is much cheaper
Mark ***********
bringing money in via bank transfer should be straight forward? Sending money "out" gets a little more frustrating.
David ************
@Bob *********
I do it from BoA and no problem.
Bob **********
@Brad ******
that’s not good I use Citi $25 wire transfer 500 baht at B.B. and it’s fast
Brad *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
yes. I had my u.s. bank send test deposits but they don't seem to be showing up in my passbook when it's updated at the main branch.
Bob **********
Now that you’ve opened one you can do ACH transfer to B.B. New York
Brad *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
My bank did not offer International wire transfers.
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