Also, there's the whole language thing. Non-Thai-speaking customers can be a headache. Foreign customers can be demanding, not understand what is said to them, be argumentative, etc. I think there's a lot of negatives associated with having foreign customers in the mind of a Thai bank employee/manager. The phrase, more trouble than they're worth, comes to mind. Also, the laziness factor comes into play, there's an additional process for opening an account for a foreigner that the person may not be familiar with and all the pain caused by that discomfort can be swept aside by saying, "cannot."

Of course, not all branches are created equal. In some branches there are English-speaking staff (staff that is comfortable speaking in English) and they may already have existing foreign customers and having one more or less isn't going to break the bank, so to speak. This is why I recommend going to larger branches and picking branches that are likely to already have foreign customers, i.e., in areas where a lot of expats live. I also think that Krungsri Bank is more open to having foreign customers, maybe because it is foreign-owned. Bangkok Bank can also be a good choice as they actually have documentation online explaining the requirements for opening a bank account for a foreign customer.

And there are some intangible factors as well. Do you have a good attitude, patience, and a sense of decorum? Are you reasonably well-dressed? Do they understand why you want to open the account (e.g., keeping 800,000 baht in the savings account all the time for purpose of immigration requirements)? Essentially, are you going to be a good person to do business with? Because if you're not, or perceived that you aren't, then it's going to be very tempting to say "cannot" or come up with additional requirements that are geared toward making you give up and go away.

@Wylie ******

Thai banks are terrified (justifiably in my opinion) terrified of getting crossways with the US Government as it would kind of be bad to lose access to the largest economy in the world. I believe all non-Thai customers are asked if they ever lived/worked in the US and therefore may have some tax liabilities or ongoing obligations in the US.

The US Government imposes requirements on foreign banks as if they were in the States (FATCA) with potentially draconian penalties (including freezing assets of the Thai bank in the US) if they decide the requirements aren't being followed. Every single American customer is a potential minefield. Many bank managers do the cost/benefit analysis and not surprisingly decide that having an American customer isn't worth the headache and potential liability.

An alternative to consider if your immigration office in Isaan allows it is to simply do mail-in 90-Day Reports with that office, or online reports (if the server is back in service by that time). That way you completely avoid doing any business with Phuket Immigration while you are here.

Suggestions. It is a whole lot easier if your landlord takes care of the address registration (TM-30) for you. It's really their responsibility to do this. The process makes it easier for them to do this than for you to do this (for example, a power of attorney and tax stamps are not needed if the landlord acts for themselves rather than having you act for them).

But many landlords like to shirk this responsibility. In that case, you will need signed copies of documents from your landlord:

Signed Copy of Land owner ID card/passport

Signed copy of house book

Signed copy of rental agreement or land owner company paper if applicable.

If any of that is a problem for your landlord, seek another landlord. There are thousands of rental opportunities in Phuket, you don't need the hassle of dealing with a recalcitrant landlord. A landlord who doesn't assist a tenant with living in his rental legally is not someone you want to do business with.

At the moment this may not be possible because of server maintenance issues, but it would be in both you and your landlords' interests for him to register you online (explained at item 2 at

You can also do your 90-Day Report online (may currently not be able to because of the server being down). Barring that you can use the drive through at Phuket Town Immigration to do your 90-Day Report.

From the excellent website maintained by the Phuket Immigration Volunteers:

The Thai embassies in some countries may allow that. My understanding is that a Non-O cannot be obtained for purpose of retirement in the US. One can obtain a Non-O in the US for other reasons, such as marriage and guardianship, though.

@Terary *********

yes, the Non-O obtained in Thailand does not have Thai health insurance requirements. The Non-OA obtained in your home country does. And that remains true for any extension obtained in the future based on those visas in Thailand.

Non-O locks you into needing Thai health insurance, more expensive and harder to impossible to obtain as you get older.

@Todd **********

Good point. You can try but may not be possible. I suggest Krungsri Bank (yellow) might be the best to try. However, you will be applying for your Non-O in Thailand so as soon as you get that you would be on a long-term visa then and should be able to meet any Thai bank's requirements. You can apply for your in-country Non-O when you have 30 days to go on your current permission to stay. If granted it would be granted immediately and you would be able to take that and open an account at a Thai bank. A caveat that it's not always easy to open an account in Thailand for a foreigner, especially an American (due to US government policies imposed on foreign banks). But with persistence, it can be done. Pick large branches that you have reason to believe may have existing foreign customers (in tourist areas, for example). I recommend Krungsri and Bangkok Bank.