@Steve ******
when I get home I'm more than happy to upload documentation I received outlining what is and isn't required, I speak fluent Thai and have a year long extention of stay. I had detailed discussions with many bank staff recently. Banks 100% have criteria for opening accounts for foreigners. They all do. They have paperwork and you can request it of them. Does that mean you can find a dodgy manager who will open one for you anyways? Yea of course, it's Thailand. U can bribe people easily in this country. But there is 100% policies in place that determine this. If you haven't opened an account recently then your experience may be different.