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What is the best bank for a US citizen to open an account in Thailand?
US Citizen BankingThailand Banking OptionsVisa TypesKasikorn BankBangkok BankNon-O VisaExpat BankingMoney Transfer Regulations
Aug 21, 2025
8 months ago
Liam ********
ORIGINAL POSTERBest bank for opening account for US citizen? Thanks
TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation discusses various banks suitable for US citizens opening accounts in Thailand. Kasikorn Bank (KBank) is frequently recommended for its user-friendly services resembling US banks. Bangkok Bank has mixed reviews; some users report good experiences, particularly when opened under a Non-O visa, while others advise against it due to recent policy changes and perceived customer service issues. Other banks mentioned include SCB (Siam Commercial Bank) and Citibank. The importance of the visa type when opening an account is also highlighted, indicating that having the correct visa can ease the account opening process.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement 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.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
John *********
Any bank except Bangkok Bank. What a stupid policy they have. It is because they can’t tell the difference between a British or Australian retiree and a Chinese scammer/money launderer.
Tony *********
As others have said...steer well clear of Bangkok Bank.
They truly are terrible and very unhelpful staff had many problems with them. I'm moving my funds as soon as I have exceeded the 3 month rule 👍🏼
They truly are terrible and very unhelpful staff had many problems with them. I'm moving my funds as soon as I have exceeded the 3 month rule 👍🏼
Justin ******
I'd have thought Citibank - there's a big one at Asok
Joe *****
Wells fargo
Bill *******
The closest branch to where you live
Pete **********
**********************************************************
Very fitting sketch. Have a laugh and cheers 🍻 TIT .🌴 ❤️
Larry ********
Kasikorn the best
Matt **********
Kasikorn is probably the closest thing to a US bank in the sense of mobile ui, customer service, etc
Neil ********
Kasikorn is one of the best
Stephan ***********
Kasikorn (KBank) or SCB (Siam Commercial Bank). Bangkok Bank used to be one of the top 3, but at the moment it's better to avoid them, until the new rules and requirements are definitely clear.
Paul *******
Go to a branch of ANY large Thai bank that is situated in an area where there is a large expat community.
Sornsawan **********************
K Bank
Marty *********
Either Kasikorn or Bangkok Bank.
Tony *******
Bank off mum and dad
James ******
Bangkok bank. You can make a deposit in Bangkok bank New York and use your account number here and it goes in immediately
Maitin *******
@James *****
I am very interested in this. Do you deposit USD or THB? What shows up in your Thai account? How is the exchange rate? Did you just the banks routing number and the Thai account number?
Could you Zelle to the account?
James ******
@Maitin ******
anyone wants to know how I do it just send me a message. But basically you wire money to New York Bangkok bank with their routing number, many ways to do it free from your bank because it's in the United States, and you use your bangkok bank account number here. There were no fees and the exchange rate is what you would get if you went to Bangkok bank and exchanged moneyPhil ******
@Maitin ******
we are in THAILAND and the currency i s Thai bahtMaitin *******
@Phil *****
of course we are but the bank that is in NYC is in the US. If I Zelle or ACH it will be in USD.Phil ******
Ok so send USD to an forex company and they convert to THB.
Reply to
Phil ******
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Rees *********
Definitely not bangkok bank
Rees *********
Bank of America
Robert *******
@Rees ********
worst Bank in America !!!Steve *********
@Robert ******
completely agree with youReply to
Steve *********
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David **********
@Rees ********
he didn't specifically ask about Thailand, so well played, sir 😂Reply to
David **********
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Christopher ***********
My visa agent opened my Bangkok Bank savings account as part of a Non-O Retirement Visa plus extension package. At that time, she told me only Bangkok Bank were doing this because the other banks were concerned about money laundering regulations.
Wylie *******
@Christopher **********
how long ago was this? Bangkok bank is actually the bank that is cracking down the hardest and freezing everyone's account in the last month. I heard due to opening too many scam accounts. I believe I also saw a post showing a sign on some branches stating they will not open any more accounts for foreigners. Many people, including me, have or are switching banks as a result.
Christopher ***********
@Wylie ******
2017. Just checked today and no problem (yet). Incidentally, more recently, a staffer at my Bangkok Bank Branch offered ‘help’ with my visa. Immigration office have also done so. Comforting to know that should I run short of savings, I have two more available options.Reply to
Christopher ***********
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Alan **********
@Christopher **********
OK "Agent" is realy saying that other banks can't get away with paying under the table for both opening and bank account without all the proper paper work or correct Visa , then also fraudulent add money in and out of the Account to aquire and Visa .Basically its slowly coming ontop for all this dodgy Visa and bank openings .Brandon ************
@Alan *********
nothing is coming to an end. You can still get a Bangkok Bank account open with an agent today. The price is just higher than before.Jay *******
@Brandon ***********
exactly, the bags weren't big enough. Problem now solved.Alan **********
@Brandon ***********
Again "Agent" Realy .These so called Agents are slowly coming up against problems .What they are doing is not legal , and when it all comes ontop and people get found out with bank accounts and Visa gotten through corruption 🙄 and under table cash the so called " Agent " will be gone in a flash .Brandon ************
@Alan *********
there's no law affecting what they are doing with bank accounts. There's no law that says tourist can't have bank accounts, it's just bank policy which means it's at the discretion of each bank branch manager. So that portion is irrelevant. And I haven't heard of any agents having problems with immigration, so it doesn't sound like anything is coming to an end. It's just in the news and will be gone from the news in a couple months. Same as everything else in Thailand.Alan **********
@Brandon ***********
opening a bank account on a Tourist Visa is not possible unless you pay under the table ! Getting a proper Visa is not possible without the funds needed unless you pay under the table. All I'm saying is the government are clamping down on all this !Reply to
Alan **********
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Kevin ***************
We arrived on OA vise week ago. Opened with BB and been great so far. Time will tell. Employees great to work with.
Gerg **********
@Kevin **************
I have an OA and haven’t had any problem with Bangkok Bank either.Ken *********
@Kevin **************
you can only transfer 50,000 baht per day as a foreigner, otherwise great bank.Wylie *******
@Ken ********
not true are all. I regularly transfer greater than 50,000 baht into my BB account from wise and just a few days ago transferred 400k baht out. BOT actually just issued an announcement the other day debunking the rumor that they were limiting transfers to 50,000 baht per day also.
Ken *********
Reply to
Ken *********
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Maitin *******
@Ken ********
that's a BOT issue. Not a specific bank issueReply to
Maitin *******
Reply
Christopher ***********
@Kevin **************
Bangkok Bank are great. An employee offered to assist me with any visa issue. Obviously, networking with the immigration office.Reply to
Christopher ***********
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Ossie *********
Kasikorn by a mile
Jeremy ********
It’s more like the correct visa than the best bank
Bob **********
What visa do you have ?
Liam ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bob *********
O-ABob **********
@Liam *******
Bangkok Bank,SMB or KasikornLiam ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI had good experiences with Bangkok Bank in late 70s and 80s. But there seems to be alot of negative feedback from some so just checking in.
Reply to
Liam ********
Reply
Jay *******
Any other than Bangkok bank
Urs **************
@Jay ******
sorry, I am a bit lost. Do they have new rules from the governement? I had 12 months visa and therefore needed bank account. In february my visa expired and I will come back next week and apply for 12 months again. My account at BB still exists. Would I have to expect problems?Jay *******
@Urs *************
very possible BB freezing many accountsUrs **************
@Jay ******
so better to undertake preventive action before arrivalJay *******
@Urs *************
I don't think anything you can do before arriving.Reply to
Jay *******
Reply
Urs **************
@Jay ******
why?Jay *******
@Urs *************
because they treat their customers like criminalsUrs **************
@Jay ******
which city?Jay *******
@Urs *************
ThailandReply to
Jay *******
Reply
Gary ********
@Jay ******
spent 6 hours at Bangkok bank today after they froze my account for the second time in two months. 7 days to get access to my funds after all the passport paperwork scanned again. Thai people love paperwork and come back tomorrow..Gary ********
Or people who though.. I'm retired I want to join the Thai culture and be a good citizen only to have your assets frozen on a whim. I would have thought we needed these documents or your account will be frozen on this date. I can use my American ATM and carry cash I guess. But my rent they want me to pay with scan.. Really frustrated with the situation.
Frank **********
@Gary *******
why do they take so long. I went to my branch at 10:30 in the morning at 5:30 in the evening I had full access.Gary ********
@Frank *********
it was packed with people.. Crazy busyBrandon ************
@Frank *********
pretty sure they just say 7 days to cover their ass in case it takes longer than usualFrank **********
@Brandon ***********
no doubt.Reply to
Frank **********
Reply
Jay *******
@Gary *******
yes, I verified everything about 3 weeks ago. Will be going back to verify again soon. Luckily I have other ways to access funds. Feel bad for those that don't and have been abandoned by Bangkok bankReply to
Jay *******
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Billy **********
@Jay ******
was just at BB this morning. Packed with foreigners drawing all their money out … or a least trying 😂Chaos
Lynnette *******
@Billy *********
ferang panic.Billy **********
@Lynnette ******
yes, I have had BB for 12 years and no problemsLynnette *******
@Billy *********
I think some customers are having accounts frozen for 4 months when they've received the bank letter for immigration. Or had to go re-verify their account. Tightening up probably because of so much money laundering and people using agents 800k which then gets taken out soon as extension done. I only have a bank book for my account so probably they aren't bothered about me.Marius ************
@Lynnette ******
I’m thinking maybe just having bank book is enough for me toChristopher ***********
@Lynnette ******
No worries. The resident experts on FB (sad trolls) warned me that because my Bangkok Bank savings account was opened by a visa agent I would be one of the first to be subject to special scrutiny with a view to closing it out and invalidating my retirement visa and subsequent extensions. I would then be deported, banned for life and also prosecuted.Billy **********
@Christopher **********
silly, the backhands from the agents to the immigration pays for their children’s schoolBecause we are here, we have driven the price up for ALL
ex
Christopher ***********
@Billy *********
When first arriving in Thailand some of us don’t have a Thai bank account or fixed address. Agent set me up for 15 months giving me ample time to sort myself out.Lynnette *******
Billy **********
Chris ************
@Billy *********
just some soap and water. Hang on clothes line to dry.Chris **********
@Billy *********
yeah they could at least recommend a good lint trapReply to
Chris **********
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