Bank account update.

Hi last week I posted here asking for personal experiences opening a bank account and I got some helpful advice. I also got the usual doom sayer , keyboard warrior stuff suggesting I had no chance without an agent. Anyway, here is my experience and this relates only to one bank branch in one specific place but it may assist someone. It’s specific to me a UK citizen on O-A 12 month retirement visa.

I went today to Bangkok bank in Karon Beach, Phuket , I was there a total of 55 minutes including waiting time. I signed what seemed like hundreds of forms then left with a savings book and master card for my newly opened bank account.

What was required :

1. My passport showing entry stamp and long term visa

2. Printout of E Visa

3. I was asked for a Thai driving licence but they accepted my UK licence and International driving permit instead.

4. Thai phone number

5. UK UTR ( Tax reference)

I had taken a residence certificate ( some people in this group refer to this as “ a letter from immigration” )this was not required.

I also took TM 30 also not required and I was never asked for a tenancy agreement. ( I don’t have one anyway)

As I say this was my experience in a specific branch. The experience may well differ in different branches of BKK bank and different banks. It may also differ with different nationalities and different visas.

I paid a small fee 699 baht for my Mastercard. There was an option for a different card at 400 baht. After my account was opened I was offered insurance but declined and this was no issue.

One last thing, despite having a Thai sim I could not set up online banking but was told if I got a top up invoice from an AIS store with my phone number on it they would be able to do this for me quite easily on my next visit.

BKK bank in Karon is the first and only bank I went to.

Hope this helps someone

Hi all, so I now have my non O-A visa and tomorrow I will take my TM 30 to immigration to get a residence certificate. So apart from those, my passport and another ID what else should I expect to need to open a bank account, also which bank is recommended? I am in Karon Beach Phuket. TIA

Banks? I live in Karon Beach. I just received my. Non-O immigrant visa. Next is to open a bank account. I assume it probably would be a branch in Patong.

Do people have a Bank to recommend?

Bangkok ? Kasikorn?

I guess I’m looking for decent customer . Also if I put ฿800,000 in there for a year, I would like to get some kind of return

Suggestions 

Hi, where is the nearest place to extend my 30 day exempt visa, for another 30 days? I am from uk. Is it correct I require the following

1. 2 x passport photos

2. 2 x copy of passport page

3. 1900 baht

4. Arrival stamp in passport, do I need copies of this?

Anything else.

Thanks

Edit. Sorry I forgot to say I am in Karon Beach Phuket. My mistake.