Here's the back story about foreigners and opening bank accounts in Thailand.
Years ago, perhaps until around 15 years ago, it was very straightforward for many foreigners on visa exemptions or generally non-working persons to open a Thai bank account with minimal documents or fuss. Perhaps you needed a certificate of residency, which was easy to obtain via your embassy or immigration, plus a secondary proof of identity document such as your national driver's license in your home country but that was about it.
Over the years, banks have gradually started tightening the criteria for opening bank accounts as a foreigner. Some banks began to scrutinize or even deny bank accounts to American nationals, mainly due to the US government reporting requirements, while leaving foreigners with other nationalities alone.
Then came concerns about money laundering and transnational crimes.
In fact, Bangkok Bank has specifically cited the practice of Burmese nationals opening "ghost" accounts for the purposes of money laundering and recipients of scams as the reason for cracking down on Burmese and by extension, foreign nationals opening bank accounts without being resident and working in Thailand.
Each bank and branch may have their own individual policy and ultimately the branch manager decides whether to open an account or not. Some bank managers might open an account for someone on visa exempt if they explain they need a bank account in order to qualify for an extension of stay, without which they won't be granted an extension.
Others may refuse to deal with any non-working foreigners. Oftentimes, dealing with foreigners who can't speak Thai proves frustrating and consequently, some bank branches prefer to say "no, cannot" in order to save face or not have to deal with the complexity and paperwork required to open an account for a foreigner.
Agents, bringing along a Thai speaker and/or going to the head office branch in Bangkok (or sometimes, a major branch in an expat heavy part of Bangkok/Pattaya/Samui/Phuket/Chiang Mai etc) can help a lot.
Avoid random shopping mall branches especially if you're living in a Thai area and don't speak Thai, meaning such branches will not be used to dealing with foreigners.
DTV holders may not "require" a Thai bank account as such, but if they intend to spend an extended time in the Kingdom, it is advisable to open one and contrary to what you have said not only is it possible to open one, but even retirement and marriage visa holders struggle to open bank accounts at the beginning, since most Thai banks prefer to deal with expats holding work permits.
Sort of. Generally speaking, Thai banks prefer dealing with expats holding work permits but it's not an absolute requirement. What it comes down to is the individual policy of the bank and branch you're dealing with.
Absolutely no one goes to that sort of trouble to avoid opening a bank account. Virtually no one will make an international transfer to pay their rent either; besides, almost always the recipient ends up receiving less than the transferred amount due to bank fees.
You're just inventing crazy roundabout "solutions" to satisfy either your ego or trying to justify not opening a Thai bank account.
Again, most actual residents of Thailand who don't work here, particularly retirees and to a lesser extent those married to Thais or raising Thai citizen children DO in fact require a Thai bank account because without one Thai immigration will NOT grant an extension of stay.
Thai immigration does NOT permit you to use a foreign bank account to hold the required 400K or 800K funds for marriage/retirement extensions any longer.
As for DTV holders, most are probably going to be moving and traveling around a lot and not true "residents" as such but depending on how the visa is utilized, they can become de facto residents, meaning most of the 5 years is spent in Thailand and as such, a bank account is something they'll want to have.
That is pure nonsense. You don't need to be working in Thailand to need a bank account here. You may need one if you're a retiree. In fact, without one you can't get an extension of stay and same for those married to Thais seeking an extension of stay regardless of whether they are working in Thailand or not.
Also, avoiding expensive fees and wanting to purchase goods and services in Thailand, including for those who are so inclined, using the QR code system and of course, making transfers/payments to Thais requires the use of a Thai bank account.
Sounds like you're a very bitter person who likes complaining and playing the victim yourself. The world isn't a fair place and there's no such thing as equal or reciprocal treatment.
Besides, if we're complaining, I could bring up the unequal treatment when it comes to foreign land ownership. Thais can own land without being citizens or even residents in many western countries, meanwhile foreigners can't, even if they're on permanent residency visas and married to Thais. They can only be granted this privilege once they obtain Thai citizenship.
Technically, the only true residency visa that Thailand issues is the permanent residency or PR visa, obtainable after spending at least 3 unbroken years on a non-B or non-O (or smart visa) plus a work permit throughout this time with a minimum salary requirement of at least
Well, the DTV is valid for a period that is 5 times longer than a standard extension of stay obtained in country. Sure, each stay is only for 180 days or roughly half the amount of time afforded to an extension of stay and sure, to stay another 180 days you have to seek an extension of stay then leave the country, but a 1 year extension of stay is hardly a "long term visa", when it's only valid for a year.
Semantics maybe, but it's a bit strange to me to call an extension valid for a measly 12 months as "long term" but not a visa that's valid for 5 years even if each stay is only valid for 180 days (or 180+180).
Sure. With a work permit, you can open an account at any bank branch. Problems only arise for foreigners who don't possess work permits. The only categories of foreigners that might be permitted to open a bank account without too much trouble without necessarily showing a work permit are: 1) permanent residents (although the vast majority of its holders, except those who are retired would have one); 2) Smart visa holders (whose visa class includes a work permit integrated into the visa); and 3) maybe LTR visa holders, but not guaranteed.
Even though the DTV is not technically called a non-immigrant visa, in effect it is and as such, holders of this visa are non-immigrant residents. Therefore, it is only logical to want to have a local bank account and do anything you are permitted to do on this visa in order to live in Thailand successfully for the duration of the visa.
