he's complaining about needing a visa to get a bank account. He could have applied for a visa before arriving, no Thai account needed, and open his Thai account when he arrived. As for other countries requiring you to show funds to remain long term, I don't know. But I suspect there may be a financial requirement.
go to a nearby country for a few days. Apply for a visa. I suppose you could pay an agent to help you open a bank account. But no point complaining about a bank account system that is same as many other countries like UK.
he mentioned going for visa. Those are applied for online, with e-visa at an embassy. If he wants to enter without doing e-visa, a border run will give him 60 days NO VISA entry. Can extend that by 30 days at immigration. 2 different things. One is a visa from embassy, the other is entering without a visa.