Pick up on another site. Krunthai bank are actively closing accountshelp by DTV (tourist) visas, its a policy introduced 2025.

Bank limitations for DTV, response from Krungthai

My Krungthai account has stopped working today: card payments were declined, and the app is locked.

I opened this account while was on an ED visa (2024), and later (2025) switched to a DTV visa (workcation category for remote workers).

I visited a branch and spent about 2 hours resolving the issue.

The outcome was:

• The account itself works, and I can receive transfers

• My debit card was unlocked for online payments until its expiry date, so I can pay in Grab, online, and at stores.

However, the Krungthai NEXT (bank application) is still soft-locked: I cannot log in; the app shows: "Additional verification required, please visit a branch."

The branch teller informed me: "Since you are on a DTV visa, we cannot unlock your app unless you change your visa."

So, there is a lock: you can not login app because verification needed, you can not verify because of DTV is limited.

There is a response from krungthai support email:

Dear Mr. ***

Please be advised that Krungthai Bank has implemented updated conditions governing account opening for foreign nationals and authorization for the use of the Krungthai NEXT Application.

2. DTV Visa Restrictions: Please note that the bank currently does not accept new account openings for customers holding a DTV Visa, nor can this visa type be used for applying for other bank products or services.

These updated conditions are effective from April 3, 2025, and remain current.

The new policy entails the following key limitations, impacting both new and existing customers. New Account Opening is no longer permitted for foreign nationals holding student visas (specifically those attending language schools or special, non-degree courses).

Furthermore, for Existing Customers, this policy impacts service access in two main areas: if you encounter issues with the Krungthai NEXT Application and require identity re-verification to regain access, you will be unable to complete this process. Additionally, existing foreign customers are currently unable to issue a new or renew an expired Debit Card.

We again sincerely apologies that our branch staff were unable to provide the requested service. Please understand that our employees are strictly obligated to adhere to the rules and conditions established by the bank, ensuring consistent operational policy across all locations.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact our Krungthai Contact Center at 02-1111111 , 24 hours every day.

For more information and benefits, please kindly visit our Website or via application Line@Krungthai Connext

Sincerely yours,

Krungthai Contact Center

KrungThai Bank PCL.

I contacted to a few random agents, in hope that prob they have any workaround.

There are their responses:

#1:

Unfortunately, because the DTV is treated as a tourist-type visa, most Thai banks no longer allow DTV holders to open accounts, and some have recently begun deactivating tourist-visa accounts. This policy was updated recently, and based on what we have seen, it is unlikely to change soon.

#2:

That right for DTV visa it 's same tourist visa can't unlock. But you can used true money or if you have Thai friends can give they bank for you. I feel sad that I can't help you with this matter.🙏🙏🙏

So, it seems impossible to have a bank account on DTV at all, even existing ones will be limited. I had a hope that this won't occur to existing customers (like in my case: opened account on ED, then switched to DTV), but it did not work.

Quite sad that while being allowed to live and work remotely from a country for 5 years period you have no access the local banking.

Even re-issuing existing card is impossible (so if one day you will see fraudulent transactions, that may happen after any random data breach, like recent AirAsia one - you can either tolerate or block your card forever, e.g. lose ability to pay online).

According the Krungthai response, it seems that even ED visa holders will be affected (existing and new ones), just matter of time.

For Promptpay (QR payments) the workaround is to use TrueMoney app: after passing verification you will be able to pay by QR, receive money by QR, for both company and personal accounts. It may take A LOT of attempts to pass verification: attaching the same docs may lead to different outcomes: mine was verified from 1st attempt, my wife still can't pass it after >5 attempts.

Figure some may be interested in bank account opening information. Entered on Non O Monday. Went to immigration got the resident form. Had to show my passport stamped non o and my lease agreement for place I’m renting. I asked for two copies of the residency forms from immigration.

Now the bank hopping began but wasn’t horrible. Went to 3 and they each gave me their reason why I couldn’t open the account there. 4th bank was asked for passport showing non o and forms received from immigration and a form from my cell phone provider stating the phone account is mine. Lady spent a lot of time helping I opened two separate savings account one with an ATM card I will use for monthly deposits and spending the other used for holding the funds required for retirement visa I will leave in that account.

So just posting to give my experience and to help hopefully it doesn’t discourage others because a bank or two or three say no, just keep trying.

Anyone anyhow succeed to open bank account with DTV ??

hi

i had an bank account with kasikorn bank and i need the bank letter to prove i had 400,000 thb for extend 1 year marriage visa.

can i know what is the bank letter call or anybody got example picture of the bank letter ?

thanks

So let me get this right. If i apply for a non o in my home country, i can come and open a bank account in thailand. I probably will not follow thru with Retirement extension at this time, but i am guessing my bank account will be ok to continue. Unlike my old bbk account, which i had to close. Will probably choose kasikorn this time.

I find myself in a stressed situation atm. I’m a freelancer and working remotely. I need to open a bank account either in Thailand or somewhere else to get paid and to be able to pay for my expenses.

I don’t know where to open? I can’t open in my home country since I’m not resident there anymore and have been aboard for so long time.

I have only Revolut personal account and I don’t know if I should receive or transfer money there becuase I’ve heard people got flagged and got their account locked.

Ah God this is not fun at all. 😞

My bank account was closed, of course. I have Thai baht that I need to convert to USD, then send that money to my Charles Schwab account in the US.

I have no idea how to transfer cash like that.

Does anyone know the method? I'm in Chiang Mai.

Thank you!

Hi

I am arriving next week with retirement 90 visa,my question is can I get a bank account and how do I do it if I am staying in hotel till I find a rental thanks.

Which bank/s in Thailand would you recommend? I’m also open to using overseas banks like UOB and also privilege banking.

Just a quick one. The people who had their bank accounts frozen, did you all use an agent to open it or have any of you opened an account without the agent & still been frozen