Not sure if this is the correct site for this question but I'll ask for advice anyway.

Where is the best place to keep your 800k for renewing your retirement visa, is there a particular bank or account that gives you access should you need to dip into it with a good rate of interest or a fixed saving bond without access to it for say 1 year.

I've tried looking at so many options in the past but just wondered if there are any new products come on the market lately 🤔

Good news for expats and digital nomads in Thailand, especially for those who couldn’t open a Thai bank account.

Wise will officially launch its full services in Thailand starting May 19, 2026, and this will clearly make life much easier for many people.

You will be able to top up your Wise account from a Thai bank, pay via PromptPay QR codes like a local account, receive money using your own QR like a local account, and get a Wise card, both digital and physical, in local currency.

In practical terms, this brings Wise much closer to a real local bank account, without the administrative constraints of Thai banks.

For anyone struggling with banks here, this is clearly a major improvement.

can international college students still open accounts

Hi all

In respect of the retirement Visa

My partner and I both have the 800,000 thb needed for the retirement visa.

If needed we could just leave it in permanently- that’s not a problem and if we have to do that we will.

My questions

1/ does the money gain interest like it does in uk?

2/ do we need a bank account each or can we have 1 bank account with 2 x 800,000 thb in ?

3/ i understand that the money has to be in 3 months before and for 1 month after the visa - are there any rules that don’t allow transferring the 800, 000 thb back to a UK High interest account ?

That money could earn approx £800 a year x2 - £1600 - better in our pocket I guess.

4/ am I right in thinking every 6 months you have to report ? If so, what does this entail and cost? and will that 800.000 thb need to be back in the account before reporting ? If so how long before and after ?

- I guess this may answer question 3 , as if it needs to be in the bank there would be little point in shifting it backwards and forwards.

5/ in addition to the 800,000 thb in the Thai bank , as a couple ( not each ) we would have around 94,000 thb per month coming in ( so nowhere near enough to get the retirement visa on monthly income alone , which I gather is 65,000 thb each .

Based on the figure of 94,000 thb - what could we reduce the 800,000 thb in the bank down to ? I believe it can be a mix or deposit and income

Thank you

Can the account that you open in Thailand for the long stay be a term deposit? Do they have them in Thailand ?

Bank

If someone knows where to get a bank account with DTV (I know it’s not possible atm) or a agency who could help – please reach out to me.

Hi,

My wife and I have a non o visa extension based on over 50 and retired, we each have a bank account with Bangkok Bank and each with a minimum of 800,000 Baht in,

I asked the question at Lamphun immigration today, that because of my concern in case anything happens to either of us would it be possible have the combined funds in one account in both names, the answer was yes as long as the two accounts were transferred into the joint account on the same day,

the answer was verbal so nothing in writing,

My question is has anyone else done this and can confirm it is correct?

TIA Paul.

Hello, my wife and I need to open a bank account and share it (no need for two accounts, LTR visa). Is it possible to open a joint account as a married couple (non-thai)? Or maybe to open an individual account and my wife as a proxy? What from your experience works best and which bank do you recommend for such account?

Hi, my proof of funds is in a 'Gold Account' at my bank. The statement shows the total value in Turkish Lira, covering the 500,000 THB requirement. Is this acceptable, or do I need to convert it to cash before applying?

Hey Guys,

Coming in on a non-immigrant OA and opening a bank account at Kasikorn. Just wondering if banks in Thailand allow you to open an account that accepts both USD and THB, or is it strictly THB? If they do allow you to hold both currencies, is that a problem for immigration when it comes to renewals? I ask because of the poor exchange rate we are currently living with. Thanks in advance.