Best bank for opening account for US citizen? Thanks

Is anyone having problems transferring money to kasikorn bank this week. I send money there regularly using wise but for some reason this time the bank says it hasn't arrived although I had confirmation it had from wise

Hi guys,

This is a follow-up to my previous post here:

[members only]/?

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7/8 – 6:45 AM

I entered Thailand by road from Malaysia via the Bukit Kayu Hitam / Dannok border checkpoint.

Cleared Malaysian immigration with no issues. Activated my Non-O visa using my passport and a printed eVisa (just regular A4 paper 😆). Everything was smooth and hassle-free. The Thai immigration officer even welcomed me and wished me a great stay in Thailand.

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8/8 – 1:00 PM

Visited the immigration office in Hat Yai to request for residence certificate.

They asked for the original and a photocopy of my eVisa, TM30, passport (front page and Non-O stamp), and the completed application form. I requested two copies of the residence certificate — one for banking and one for driving license/vehicle purchase purpose. Yes you need 2-3 copies.

Waited for about 20 minutes, and everything was done. No passport-size photo, rental agreement, or payment required.

Bonus — the super friendly officer asked if I needed the visa extension checklist, gave it to me in both Thai and English, and even passed me two application forms to prepare in advance. She told me to return if I needed help any help especially on bank account matters. Kudos to Songkhla Immigration!

Location : [members only]

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8/8 – 2:30 PM

Headed to Kasikorn Bank on Level 2 of Central Festival Hat Yai.

Told the staff at the front that I needed to open an account for visa extension purposes. She gave me a queue number, and I only had to wait for one person ahead of me.

The officer attending to me was very polite and professional. She asked for:

- My passport

- eVisa

- Rental agreement

- Kor Ror 22

- Marriage certificate (from my home country)

- Residence certificate

- Phone number

She made photocopies, asked me to sign each page, took photos of all documents, and submitted them to their HQ (I believe). After a short wait, she proceeded to open the savings account for me.

She downloaded the K+ app and set it up on my phone.

Deposited 1,000 baht + 400 baht for the upgraded debit card.

After everything was set, she introduced some of the bank’s services like PA insurance, mutual funds, and fixed deposits — which I politely declined, mentioning I’d return when I’m ready.

She also explained that I could apply for a credit card by pledging a 1:1 amount in an FD (e.g., 50K baht FD = 50K credit limit).

She gave me a SWIFT transfer slip, mentioned she wasn’t familiar with Wise, and recommended using SWIFT for international transfers. Before I left, she said to come see her later for the extension support letter and handed me her name card.

All done in about 30 minutes, plus some casual chatting.

I left with a new savings account and debit card, and honestly, everything went so smoothly — from eVisa, to immigration, to banking — I feel incredibly lucky.

Location : [members only]

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All this completed in just 3–4 hours total, in a single day.

Next up: Funding 400k Baht and let it seasoned for 2 months & Thai driving/motorcycle license and vehicle purchase.

Till then…

(Photo taken by my wife via FaceTime 🤭 and YES I went all by myself)

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Maybe this is useful for DTV holders.

I had to Pick up someone at bkk airport and went to the kasikorn Exchange booth to obtain one of those travel prepaid Debit cards that also allows QR payment. Heres what I learned:

You need foreign currency with you to Open an Account. I only had thb but they let me exchange 30 baht to 1 USD which was fine. The lady helped me to install the Application called tagthai which contains the scan to pay Feature. After talking a bit with her, she told me that QR pay only works when the Receiver is a Business. In my Experience, this means no payment at most bars and markets, as they use private Accounts to receive money. I went up one floor and bought a whopper with my balance which worked fine. The Application is a bit disappointing that you can’t top up with a credit card. Only in a kasikorn branch. So in short: the card is easy to get with no long term visa. Just passport and foreign currency is enough. The use cases are pretty Limited though. I just got one to try as i have a Thai Account since it was easy to get. I will try to add the card to shoppee which doesn’t like any of my foreign cards 🤣 Hope this was helpful and I have not tested it but I believe my condo water bill goes to a Business Account and therefore should work for this. Cheers na

Two days to go before entering Thailand on my non o visa. DTAC all done. Hua Hin where I own my house. Are Kasikorn bank and scb bank still the first two banks to try first ?

What is the best bank to use in Thailand as an expat from USA transferring funds from USA banks? Thank you

With Kasikorn Bank. I don't have an app. Don't even have a smart phone, yes it is possible to survive without.

All the new regulations with facial scan and maximal withdraw amount, does that affect me at all ?

Normally I withdraw over the counter a couple of times per year and move money to my trading account once a year. Each time around 200.000 per transaction. Don't use ATM. Use the debit card for online shopping. Once a year I get the letter for immigration from the bank.

Does the new rules affect me a any way ?

Kalasim immigration

Non O retirement Visa.

Help below if required.

Arrived in Thailand 5 days ago, under a Non O visa.

I’m from the UK.

Public holiday in Thailand, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Immigration reopened today Monday morning. I needed a TM30, and Certificate of Residency so I could open a bank account.

I got there at 8.50am, 10 minutes before it opened as I knew it would be busy. I live with my Thai girlfriend in our (hers) house, so difficult to do the TM30 online as not a business or hotel.

She came with me, I was one of the first in the queue all sorted in 20 minutes. The cost was 500 baht. Left with the TM30 stapled to my passport and my certificate of Residency in an envelope.

Could not have been easier, and lovely people.

I then went to get a new SIM card from the AIS shop, then opened a bank account with Kasikorn Bank.

All sorted in 4 hours 😀

Documents required.

TM30 & Certificate of Residency.

Passport

E visa printed copy

Passport size photo

My girlfriend’s ID card.

My girlfriend’s house book.

Cost 500 baht.

New sim for my phone.

( I have my own phone number as an e-sim)

Passport only.

Cost, sim 100 baht, and 300 baht a month for a good data plan.

Opening a bank account ( Kasikorn Bank)

Passport

Certificate of Residency

Phone with new Sim (so they can upload the app and open the account)

Usual bank questions, home address in uk, what you salary was, new phone number, ect.

Cost was 300 baht. ( but I gave 3000 baht cash to put in)

The whole process took 4 hours.

I know I was probably lucky with my timing.

And I know all provinces are different.

And I know it depends on the person.

All that worry for nothing.

Now I wait for 60 days for my funds to season, and apply for my extension.

I hope all who are trying find it as easy as I did.

For the Non O retirement visa, would you recommend using a visa agent or not? I'll be in Bangkok.

Also what bank would you recommend for opening an account? From what I've read on this forum Bangkok Bank used to be good but now they're not anymore. People say Kasikorn is good, any others?

Thanks!

Hi all, just thought I'd put something up here about my experience opening a bank account today. I am currently in Thailand on a Non O based around my son, this is my first Non O and I needed the bank account to apply for my visa extension. TLDR Bangkok bank wont give you a bank account on an initial Non O since the rule changes so use KBank for new accounts!

The first branch I visited was the Exchange Tower Bangkok bank. The lady I spoke to wasnt very polite and it was clear she didn't want anything to do with me. She asked for a copy of my passport, my driving license, my sons birth certificate, my girlfriends ID and a copy of my sons passport. When I showed her printed copies of all of this she told me I needed a letter from a UK embassy that confirmed my passport was truly my passport. At this point I thanked her for her time and left.

The second branch I visited was the Bangkok bank opposite Sukhumvit Soi 11. This was a very different experience, the lady was very polite and started to process my application until she noticed the stamp in my passport was only for 3 months. At this point she explained that with the recent changes to Thai banking, Bangkok bank will no longer give bank accounts to anyone who hasn't already extended their visa. Basically anything less than 4 months and the banks policy is to refuse you.

The third and final branch I went to was the Kasikorn Bank in the Two Pacific Place building in Sukhumvit, just a short walk from the Nana BTS station. The lady was very helpful, only required to see an electronic version of my visa, an original passport, sons birth certificate and my girlfriends national ID card. I was only in the branch for about 30 minutes and I left with a new account, a functioning app on my phone and she even gave me a little tour of the KPlus banking app before I left.