Just a little note to say that contrary to some reports I have had no troubles opening a Thai bank account.

I have just a 60 day tourist visa issued from the USA's Thai Embassy in Washington D.C.

I opened two accounts. One at Kasikorn Bank and one at Siam Commercial Bank. Both needed just 500 baht to open plus an addition 300 baht (expense) if you wanted an atm debit card. The atm cards have no name on them so would be useful only for electronic useages. Both banks wanted my passport of course and a local address (which I used the hotel address I was staying at). They send no statements to the address as it is a passbook that is issued.

When I opened my bank account a few years ago, I went to Siam Commercial Bank. They wanted me to go to immigration and get some sort of paperwork or permission. I went to Kasikorn Bank and they opened an account on the spot with my passport and 500 baht for the first deposit. Very easy.

When I opened my bank account a few years ago, I went to Siam Commercial Bank. They wanted me to go to immigration and get some sort of paperwork or permission. I went to Kasikorn Bank and they opened an account on the spot with my passport and 500 baht for the first deposit. Very easy.

 

I had the same experience with Bangkok Bank so same as Monkee See, I went to Kasikorn and it was hassle free. Policies could vary from branch to branch though.

Thanks for the useful info.

 

1 Do they give you the ATM card immediately when opening the account?

 

2 Are you sure they don't send mail to your hotel "address"?

 

Policies could vary from branch to branch though.

Policies do vary from branch to branch. That's why I always recommend going to another branch if you don't like what you are being told at one branch. Quite often you get precisely the opposite answer at another branch. Like so much else in Thailand, sometimes even banking seems to be "just make up your own rules."

 

I'm glad several of you are able to open Thai bank accounts without too much trouble. Again, some banks make it very simple and some are a major hassle.

 

I advise anyone who visits Thailand regularly to open at least one Thai bank account and make sure to get online banking. That's especially advisable if you are even considering retirement in Thailand. The banking rules seem to change quite often. If you don't already have a Thai bank account, I strongly urge you to open one next time you're in Thailand. Don't wait! Open the account while you can and while it's still easy at some banks. Those rules can change any time.

 

It used to be that any farang could open a bank account at any Thai bank even if you were only here on the 30-day privilege. Back then, all you needed was your passport and 500 baht. Now it's not quite so easy, but most banks that will allow you to open an account will still also allow you to open an account with a minimum of a 500 baht initial deposit. They also charge 200 to 300 baht for the Visa Electron Card, which is actually an ATM card with the Visa (sometimes MasterCard) logo. You can use that card in major shopping centers, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. You can even use it at ATMs in your home country or other countries you are visiting.

 

.....500 baht to open plus an addition 300 baht (expense) if you wanted an atm debit card......a local address ........ they send no statements to the address.

My experience was identical to 'topjohn5', when during my last visit this past summer, I opened an account with Bangkok Bank. Easy as could be, no problems at all. And, I can confirm that they, indeed, do not send statements to your Thai "address"..... at least not to date.

they, indeed, do not send statements to your Thai "address"..... at least not to date.

Actually, they do . . . upon request.

Thanks for the useful info.

 

1 Do they give you the ATM card immediately when opening the account?

 

2 Are you sure they don't send mail to your hotel "address"?

 

I have had an account at Siam Commerce Bank for 10 yrs and I have owned a condo in Thaiand for 9 yrs and I have never received one piece of mail from Siam Commerce Bank in all those years.

 

 

1 Do they give you the ATM card immediately when opening the account?

Yes.

Thanks. I could be tempted to open an account on the next visit to BKK.

 

Could anyone recommend a branch where good English is spoken?

 

Also, I trust Thai banks give some form of receipt on the spot when a pile of cash is handed over?

Also, I trust Thai banks give some form of receipt on the spot when a pile of cash is handed over?

 

Yes, you'll get a bankbook the same day.

 

Sorry, I'm not familiar with BKK branches of any Thai banks.

Thanks. I could be tempted to open an account on the next visit to BKK.

 

Could anyone recommend a branch where good English is spoken?

 

Also, I trust Thai banks give some form of receipt on the spot when a pile of cash is handed over?

There is some English spoken in most branches of any bank throughout Thailand, even in rural areas. You shouldn't have any problems communicating your banking needs at any branch, anywhere in Thailand, even the mini branches located in many shopping centers. It's not a problem. In Bangkok, you'll find the best English spoken in areas frequented by farang.

 

Receipts are given at all ATMs and you will also get a receipt when a bank teller hands you cash. If an ATM is out of receipt paper, the machine will give you the option of canceling the transaction or contuing without a receipt.

 

Whenever you make a withdrawal from a bank teller, they want your passport and bank passbook. The teller will give you a receipt and will also update your bank book. Also, most bank branches will have a machine at which you can update your passbook yourself and a great many also have machines at which you can deposit cash into your account (or anyone else's account if they have an account at that bank).

And the useful thing to note when depositing at the ADMs(automated deposit Machines) is that your account is credited immediately as the machines are capable of reading/checking the notes. You don't need to wait for a teller to check the contents of a deposit envelope as you did before.

 

A good and very convenient bank office for doing transactions where you require helpful English speakers (who often just cruise the floors looking for confused farangs) is Bangkok Bank's head office on Silom.