Must show IFT (BKK bank) or similar on other banks

I never had problems with Wise … good exchange rate, low fees, they tell you exact time it would reach the BKK bank account … marked as “international TRX” ….

@Chris ***********

do tell us more: how, which bank and required documents. A lot of people would benefit from your reassured reply above.

@Angelo **********

one gets non-O for 3 months, opens a bank account within a month, seasons 800k for 2 and extend the visa for a 1year at the end of the 3 months Non-O validity.

No Thai bank will open a bank account with Visa On Arrival / Exempt Tourist Visa - without help of an agent at aprox 5000 baht. Same for DTV i assume.

Yeah … London Thai embassy is one of the most efficient if not the most efficient in the world. My Non-O experience the same.

Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn … if not on a long term visa the opening an account is increasingly impossible without an agent. Especially in BKK.

@Mike *******

no landlord will ask you for a visa; a month rent in advance and 2 months deposit is all they are interested. As for banks - you may need to see quite a few before one will give you a bank account. Immigration letter of residence is important but after that each bank is differently fussy; one branch rejected me as the lease pages were signed by just one person not both as on the lease. Other had a problem with surname being before the first name on the lease and the immigration letter. 3rd time lucky as the clerk wanted to finish for the day just before closing time. Easiest route is an agent, a 30 min job for any visa.

They are great (first hand bank account and driving licence experience). Efficient and well organised.

Just compared Wise - for a 312,000 baht transfer from £; fee is 0.46%. Exchange rate is also much better than WU.