@Todd ********

technically correct, in practise 180 days as a regular tourist is a trigger point for being questioned in some check points. Happened to me last year after maxing out METV and returning 6 weeks later on visa exempt. The 180 day reason was given by airport immigration

@Davy *********

past 12 months from when you go through immigration checkpoint - especially at the major airports.

As you are well under 180 days total in the past 12 months you shouldn’t have issues on that alone.

Google search border run service with the nearest city in Thailand to where you are and see what is available.

Use a Thailand border run service if wanting to do same day. More reliable if you are up around your 6 month and trying to squeeze in the extra entry at the end.

Problem will mostly affect those currently out of the country and their number expired due to inactivity of not being topped up after 6 months. I haven’t been there since last June and there is possibility of them having to close my account.

When at the Bangkok Bank HQ in Silom you go down the long passage to enter the area where you open accounts. In this room where they have counters to fill out the forms they should have a list of requirements taped to the counter listing the requirements for foreigner opening an account. If you can meet the requirements then you can then proceed

Sounds like an advertising post for Thailand elite.

@Ralph ******

yea i know about the fees etc, have both a Thai account and use wise. For a regular tourist doing 3 months it’s not really worth it after considering the annual fee for bank account. I did some comparisons a couple years back on fees of having just wise vs both and having a Thai bank account becomes cost effective after spending 3-5 months in country. There is a monthly cash allowance that wise allows which is free. And can avoid fees just by using the card at supermarkets and malls. It’s the cash withdrawals over the monthly limit last that is when the fees start to eat into savings. But if have Thai friend or family then can avoid fees by sending from wise to their bank account and then they withdrawal cash out for you.

Wise is a good option to have for a tourist to avoid those sort of problems with card skimming. You can disable card settings on your phone so it can only be used in ATMs and chip transactions. Turn on and off the payWave and magnetic strip as needed.