My in-laws just retired to Thailand, they just got the 90 day non-immigrant O visa, the stamp on the passport and the visa pdf. They also got a certificate of residency from the police station and have been trying to open a bank account. They have gone to almost every bank in koh samui and no branch have accepted the application for a bank account, despite having all the required documents. They always make up something or just straight donβt want to do it. Has anyone has the same issue? What do you recommend?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is sharing their in-laws' difficulties in opening a bank account in Koh Samui after receiving a 90-day Non-Immigrant O visa and a certificate of residency. Despite having the necessary documents, multiple banks have rejected their applications. Several commenters express similar experiences of difficulties with banks in Thailand due to stricter requirements and suggest potential alternatives, including visiting agencies or other locations. There is a consensus that having an agent or speaking Thai might greatly assist in dealing with these issues.
The situation is very same in large cities and in the Bangkok area. 5 banks declined to open with my 10 year long term residency LTR visa. Most banks ask work permit now, they don't give a queue number outside the bank to open an account if you can't show the work permit. Situation is a full chaos, kasikorn is the same. One bank asked me to go to their headquarter office to open there as only this office can make the final call to open or not. The situation forces almost every legal visa holder to use a middlemen (agent) for this very routine transaction. Pretty ugly situation right now
TG *********
It helps a lot if you speak and read Thai.
Osian ********
Kasikorn was plain sailing and very efficient and professional.
Dennis *********
probably want to work with an agent, even though it shouldn't be necessary.
Ant ***********
Sadly Iβm hearing this too often at the moment , as mentioned you will just have to keep trying at other banks outside of Samui .
Out in the sea,you mean? Koh Samui is an island. Taking the ferry to the mainland everytime you need to visit your branch will become tiresome after a while.
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Max *************
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Doug ********
Been getting worse despite many people on here saying no it's all ok.
Definitely been more issues raised the last few weeks
I got mine end of June with all the correct paperwork was rejected by Bangkok bank, kasikorn and krungthai.in the end krungsri did mine in udon thani. Needed all the paperwork plus proof if phone contract and wanted my tin number,when I explained I don't work at all in Thailand they accepted my UK national insurance number,bit bizarre, and they wanted second form of id and accepted my UK drivers license. Said would have to be approved in Bangkok head office as and I would know in two weeks if any issues.been five weeks now so hopefully all good
The other three banks all said my non o 90 day visa based on retirement was classed as tourist and would have to be one year or would help if I was married.
Banks don't have a clue about visas. Saying that a 90-days non-O is a tourist visa shows that. Customer service should know that or at least the head office. When I renewed my Fixed Deposit Account at my Bangkok Bank branch,they asked for an ID,even when having a passport. I've been a customer there for years with loads of money deposited over the years.But,the girl in customer service said that a digital ID from back home (I haven't been back home for many years) would suffice. I had the digital ID-app in my phone,logged in,showed her and everything was hunky dory. Go figure. I wonder what they will come up with in November when I'm renewing the FDA once more. π
What does " renew my Fixed Deposit Account" mean? How could you renew this account if you had it aleady? Do you mean, you had a Fixed Deposit Account, you closed it but you wanted to open a new one? Thanks.
It's a 7 months term FDA. Meaning,after 7 months I visit my bank, and because it's closed, I need to officially open a new account. I used the term "renew" but it's actually closed automatically. In Thailand an FDA has a bank book,it's not same as back home where you just "extend" it online,no paper work. So,every time you want to "extend" an FDA here, the bank will close the account and open a new account with a new bank book. That bank book is needed at immigration when I do my annual extensions. I've now got a pile of blue and orange bank books from Bangkok Bank. Back home it takes like 1 minute to do it online via mobile banking,but Thai banks love their bank books. Go figure. π
Only for FDA's.The reason for having an FDA is better interest.I also don't have to think about updating the bank book on a regular basis.Just once when I'm going to my branch once a year for the bank letter.
It will be very interesting what my branch will come up with when I'm going there in November for another term.They keep changing requirements even for old customers without any relevant reason whatsoever. π
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Max *************
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Brendan ********
Yes i had the same problem. We are in ratchaburi. Told you need to go to a tourist area we are not use to it . Traveld 100 miles to hou hin . Then Told it has to be a bank in ratchaburi. So went to the bank krungsri. Took an hour . But all done
Max *************
You do know that Koh Samui is a quite small island?
Have you been there? Maybe 75% of it is just jungle, mountains,hills and coconut trees.There's only one road around the whole island. Nathon is the main city and you can drive around it on a bike in like 5 minutes. Do you think there are many banks there? You compared it to Ratchaburi. π
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Max *************
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Jason ******
The only bank I could recently open was kasikorn bank after trying a few different banks
Max *************
Did they listen to the reason those banks rejected them and asked for additional requirements? Have they talked to any agency in for example Nathon?
Stuart ***********
This situation seems to be happening a lot since the recent crackdown, it must be really annoying for them. Have they asked what they need to provide to open an account? They might need an agent to help or maybe travel Surat Thani to see if they are more accommodating there?
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Stuart ***********
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