Which Thai bank is the easiest for foreigners to open an account?

Aug 17, 2020
4 years ago
Resa ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does anyone have a view on which Thai bank is easiest for foreigners to open bank accounts?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Many users in the discussion share their experiences regarding which Thai bank is easiest for foreigners to open an account with. Kasikorn Bank is frequently mentioned as being foreigner-friendly, though experiences vary by branch. Bangkok Bank is noted for its ease in handling international transfers, while Krungsri is a good option if you have a lease agreement. Several users suggest visiting multiple branches if denied service at one location, and having a Thai-speaking partner can be a significant advantage. The complexity of the process can depend on the type of visa held and the specific policies of each branch.
Nick ************
It certainly helped me to get my landlady involved with the house book and lease agreement.
Brian ********
Bangkok Bank
Peter **************
I had no problem opening my bank account with Bangkok Bank on North Road (Pattaya Nua) Pattaya
Colin ********
BKK
Darren ************
BKK bank was happy for me to open account provided I bought insurance which I didn’t want.

So I got an account with the Yellow bank not problem.
Pat *******
You can bank in Thailand with Barclays. They have the big one in Bangkok and facilities in most places. It's easier
Pat *******
Yes sorry it closed down.
Pat *******
Asia Lifestyle on line mag may be useful
Tom *******
Do they really? Great. I bank with Barclays in the UK. It would be useful to know where their branch is in Bangkok. Do please tell? Thanks.
Pat *******
@Tom ******
don't know as I live in UK but had to make enquiry for someone else. If you are near a main branch go and talk to them, they have an expert in branch. I think I remember though, that you must get an account in UK first. Of you're just going on holiday you can get a roaming note on your account and withdraw at cash points there as usual
Tom *******
@Pat ******
thanks but having lived in Bangkok for 23+ years I’m pretty sure there isn’t a Barclays here unless opened only recently. I haven’t heard anything so I’m inclined to doubt it tbh. Thanks anyway.
Pat *******
@Tom ******
Though there is still a business centre according to website
Alain ***************
In phuket all banks refused to open a savings account. One branch of Bangkok bank in isaan was ok. I showed them a letter from my own bank in Switzerland with a proof that I’m a "reliable customer" take a thai person with you. Bank employee might not understand you. It was a pain to get mobile banking to work. Now i have it all. I’m not living in Thailand yet, but if wheoi arrive, i already have a few baht there
Hamid *******
That is strange, normally they dont do!
Trevor *************
Kasikorn bank i just showed my passport with tourist visa and a card from the hotel where i was staying and all good
Anna **************
Which branch?
Trevor *************
@Anna *************
patong jungceylon
Stan *******
@Trevor ************
they’re really good
Trevor *************
@Stan ******
yes for me and very helpful
Stefan *******
kasikorn
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
If you’re renting, perhaps you could try getting your landlord to go to their bank where you could open up a bank account to do direct monthly payments to them. It worked for me
Daniel *********
BKK Bank
Gordon *********
All the same shit
John *********
K bank is easiest.
Stan *******
Thomas ********************
Bangkok Bank. Letter of reference from your embassy. Did it on a tourist visa. But I'm pretty sure the guy didn't even check that.
Anders *****
Did it on only a tourist visa with Bankok Bank
David *********
I did with bkk bank on tourist visa. I just did thier insurance biz
David ********
Definitely not the Siam Commercial Bank. I was lucky to have a work permit, but if you don't have one, you can forget about opening an account there.
Bobby ********
@David *****
. I got a SCB account on a retirement visa, but SCB doesn't offer anything of any advantage
David ********
@Bobby *******
In my town of Narathiwat it is impossible to open an account without a wp. At any bank actually, not just SCB. Just singling it out as my employer wanted me to open my account there.
Bobby ********
@David *****
. Yes, even in Bangkok it varies from area to area. Each branch sets its own rules. It can be hard work for anyone needing an account for the first time. I take my Thai woman with me whenever I do banking business, I'd be totally lost otherwise.
David ********
@Bobby *******
I am fluent enough in Thai to take care of my own banking, but they seem to be so unfamiliar with foreigners where I live that they'd rather say 'no' out of sheer convenience.
Kevin *****
If you're working it can be at the behest of your employer. I opened a Krungsri account when I first arrived in country because that was the bank the company used. Latest job wouldn't pay into a Krungsri account so insisted I have a Bangkok Bank account. Payroll payments in Asia seem to be about 20 years behind.
Asokā **********
Kasikorn
Colin ******
Krungthai
Simon *******
The big yellow one easy
Janin ******
Kasikorn
Kathy ***********************
Krungsri (Paragon or Sukhumvit 33 branch to be specific) if you don’t have a work permit.

You just need to bring original passport and condo lease agreement.

Bangkok Bank is the second but you need to get a certificate of residence from your embassy.

Forget about Kasikorn if you don’t have a work permit

Their policy has been changed in the past years. I checked with all of them.

If you have a WP, Kasikorn would be the best one.
Sean ******
As long as u have work permit any bank will open an account for u. The easiest iv experienced so far without work permit is lease agreement with ur name on it.
Nick ************
Keep trying. I was finally successful with Krungsri with a phone call from my landlady to the bank, the house book and a lease agreement. They all ask for a WP even though I pointed out that the last thing I wanted was a job and i couldn't with a retirement Visa anyway.
Don ******
@Sean *****
you don’t need a WP. I opened account with BKK Bank off amnesty and used it to apply for my retirement visa. They asked for WP, but I told them that makes no sense as I can’t work if I have a retirement visa. You have to push back on them when they try to deny you. Many clerks are lazy or don’t fully know the rules.
Sean ******
@Don *****
it depends. In ur case u had a retirement visa so ur technically a long term resident. Theres some people that might be on a tourist visa or other kinds of visas that might not qualify to make a bank account so the least a bank has asked for is a lease agreement. But
****
banks will require a work permit. Believe me iv tried lol
Ivan ************
@Se**
there is no requirement, either legal or from the actual banks, that you need a work permit to open a bank account. Or that you can't do it on a tourist visa. Some bank branches just don't want to deal with foreigners.
Don ******
@Sean *****
I agree, it also varies by bank branch
Daniel ********
Bangkok Bank
James ******
James ******
Kasakorn. Take a whack of cash, slap on counter.

Money talks!

No resistance visa...

No previous Bank Account....

No proof of earnings asked for....

Easy money!
Steve *******
Never had any problems with Bangkok Bank but I guess it's all subjective.
Stu **********
Krungsri HQ

Bank of Ayudhya PCL. - Ploen Chit Branch

550 Phloen Chit Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok
*****


02 208 2170

*****************************************
Siddhartha *********
easy to open, with smooth app, and hassle free banking = UOB.

and UOB only.
Steve **********
I did it at BKK Bank Pattaya 2nd road across from Soi 6. Easy as can be. No hassles. No drama.
Neil **********
@Steve *********
best one. Even cashed checks for me!
Ramakrishna *********
How much intrest we will get for FD 1M bath
Patrick ************
Just walk in a bank and try every bank have own policy even the branche or city where walk in can be different
Adam ****************
If you have no funds in an account does it automatically get closed? In reference to Bangkok bank.
Christopher ***********
@Adam ***************
I have a savings account with Bangkok Bank. It was opened via a visa agent. I was advised to keep the account in use otherwise it could be closed. Apparently, at that time, only Bangkok Bank were participating in obtaining visas. All the other banks were no longer doing so. Might be worth paying into to keep it open.
Adam ****************
@Christopher **********
but how do I know if it has been closed already or not? I am not there to check the airport is closed still.
Christopher ***********
@Adam ***************
Assuming you don't have Internet access to your account you would have to ring them to make sure. Could try making a small transfer from your home bank account. If your Bangkok Bank account is already closed the transfer will 'bounce back'. I wouldn't worry. I have read that accounts can be flagged as 'dormant' and not actually closed. In that case you can ask them to reactivate your account next time you are in Thailand.
Garrett ***********
@Ad**
Generally yes, accounts with $0 for X months will be closed.
Adam ****************
@Garrett **********
x months meaning how many? It's not zero but not much in the account
David ****************
@Adam ***************
As I understand it, various fees can be charged, such as for inactivity, but they aren't very large fees. The account would only be closed, though, if the fees manage to drain the account.
Chaz ************
All the branches of banks have their own rules. I have accounts in both Bangkok Bank and Krung Thai bank, I only have a tourist visa but other branches of the same banks did not allow me to open prior to gaining these accounts.
Semar *********
@Chaz ***********
which branch you opened your account? Because i tried at central phuket can not if tourist visa
Chaz ************
@Semar ********
both my account branches are in pattaya. But as I said dont ask just at one branch. Originally is was told no, went to the same bank but different branch and they open account no problem .
Frederick *********
One thing I would strongly advise. If you have a Thai speaking partner, take them with you and let them do the the talking. It’s far easier for bank staff who don’t speak any language other than Thai to say sorry cannot do. It worked for me on two occasions.
Christopher ***********
Otherwise, a 'Government' employee is recommended, particularly schoolteachers!
Bobby ********
@Frederick ********
. This is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY!!!!!
Wayne ********
its hit and miss, even though we have been with SCB for more then 13 yrs you would believe how difficult and stupid things get, at our local branch they know my wife and i very well, i went to ask for a bank statement or they dont have to print it out and give it to me just tell me if there was a remittance from my account to someone else on a certain date for this amount of money as they say they didnt receive it, we need copy passport, i dont have with me i have my thai license or i can show you a photo of my passport on my phone, after
*****
mins of discussing and there were seeing i was getting agitated not angry the manage came out and obviously knows me and took a print out and gave it to me, i checked and remittance did go so i handed the statement back and left. even the small things with banks and their staff are plain down outright difficult they can make things.... its the thai head in box syndrome cannot look outside the box... too difficult or we mite get into trouble...
Bobby ********
@Wayne *******
. SCB! It took me nearly an hour at my branch and about 10,000 forms (perhaps a slight exaggeration, but you get the gist), to change my phone number.
Christopher ***********
@Bobby *******
Bangkok Bank also make very hard work of changing any details too. They try to sell you insurance at every opportunity as well!
Wayne ********
@Bobby *******
yep and sometimes they as easy as apple pie... who knows with these banking staff....
Bobby ********
The one solitary thing Bangkok Bank is good for is showing international transfers when needed. Kasikorn is very good otherwise. CIMB you need wp but gives slightly better interest rates.
Stan *******
This must be the 20th time this month this question has been asked!

But I have always found Kasikorn bank to be the most farang friendly.

However each branch seems to have their own rules so if refused at one, just find another and try there.

Others will swear by Bangkok bank or Siam Commercial but I closed my account with them both because basically, they were shit, especially BBL
Robert **********
@Stan ******
never had a problem with bbk in 8 years. Transfer money every month from uk. Spoke with the manager at my branch. As long as you have correct visa. Not tourist. They were very accommodating and set everything up including online banking.
Stan *******
@Robert *********
I had the correct visa too, but when I tried to replace a lost ATM card and some senior cow refused to let me have one, I just withdrew all my money on the spot and took it to Kasikorn
Robert **********
@Stan ******
i have lost my card on several occasions never had a bother getting it replaced. Suppose its who you are dealing with. I find being polite and courteous works every time.
Stan *******
@Robert *********
I was until she started being obnoxious with me. I never had a problem with BBL until then. Next day I took my book to the branch where I opened the account to officially close it and made a complaint and as soon as I mentioned the branch and her name, they looked at each other and gasped. Apparently they knew her already and she had a reputation for disliking foreigners. They were full of apologies and asked me to keep the account open, but as I no longer lived near there, and was having such good service from Kasikorn I declined.
Resa ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@St**
thank you!!! Appreciate the insight!
Bobby ********
Depends on the individual bank and which Visa you are on
Resa ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bo***
Got a WP3, will be applying for a work permit etc.
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