Opening Bank Account in Udon

Post by **ugotguts** » March 25, 2015, 1:55 pm

Hi all

I am staying in Udon for 3 months and like to open a bank account in Thailand. I am a foreigner with no work permit and only a social visit pass, would I be able to open a bank account with one of the Thai Banks.

In addition, what are the charges for opening a bank account and if there is any minimum sum to maintain inside the bank account as well as the ATM withdrawal charges.

Many thanks in advance.

@Thesportsbar · Post by **@Thesportsbar** » March 25, 2015, 2:50 pm

Mate, Kasikorn Bank, need your Passport and all good to go, and about 500 Baht for the ATM Card from memory.

Post by **ugotguts** » March 25, 2015, 8:17 pm

Thanks alot!

Post by **747man** » March 25, 2015, 8:50 pm

@Thesportsbar wrote:Mate, Kasikorn Bank, need your Passport and all good to go, and about 500 Baht for the ATM Card from memory.

180 Baht Withdrawl Charges from MOST ATM's...

Post by **Nong Bua Dave** » March 25, 2015, 9:27 pm

747man wrote:
@Thesportsbar wrote:Mate, Kasikorn Bank, need your Passport and all good to go, and about 500 Baht for the ATM Card from memory.
180 Baht Withdrawl Charges from MOST ATM's...

Not if you are withdrawing from a local bank account.
If you are in the same province as the account ATM is free from nearly all holes in the wall.
Some charge THB3 if you use their ATM and are from another bank e.g. withdraw from a Kasikorn account using SCB.
Withdrawing from another province e.g. Bangkok in Udon is around THB15
Withdrawing from overseas banks is around the THB 180 you mention.

Post by **cali4995** » March 26, 2015, 9:44 am

that kasikorn branch at central mall is super-friendly . embarrassingly so . I've stopped
there to make a deposit for a friend a few times. the girl stewards even filled-out the
form for me. 7 days a week service . if I wanted a local acct be tempted to go there

Post by **Bandung_Dero** » March 26, 2015, 9:52 am

747man wrote:
@Thesportsbar wrote:Mate, Kasikorn Bank, need your Passport and all good to go, and about 500 Baht for the ATM Card from memory.
180 Baht Withdrawl Charges from MOST ATM's...

What's that got to do with opening a Thai bank account??

Post by **ugotguts** » March 26, 2015, 2:55 pm

Thanks all.. probably open a K Bank account next month when I am there then

Cheers
Jackson

Post by **Gar** » March 26, 2015, 7:51 pm

If you walk inside Kbank and do your withdrawal with a teller instead of using the machine, there is no 180 baht fee.

Post by **ugotguts** » March 27, 2015, 9:42 am

Hi Gar! That is great news!

Post by **fdimike** » March 27, 2015, 9:42 pm

Gar are you saying that you can use a debit card issued by an overseas bank in your home country inside the bank and avoid the 180B ATM fee?

Post by **papaguido** » March 27, 2015, 10:08 pm

fdimike wrote:Gar are you saying that you can use a debit card issued by an overseas bank in your home country inside the bank and avoid the 180B ATM fee?

I do it frequently, it's a "cash advance". No fees from either bank, but I'm assessed a 1% exchange fee on the amount of withdrawal (same as ATM minus 180bt).

Post by **kubotatim** » March 27, 2015, 11:09 pm

Most banks tell you to use the atm and refuse inside in my experience

Post by **fdimike** » March 28, 2015, 5:14 am

Papa, debit card or credit card or does it make a difference? Which bank are you using?

Post by **papaguido** » March 28, 2015, 5:55 am

As far as I know it may be done with any debt card with Visa or MC logo. You should check with your financial institution (Terms and Agreement). I use a MC debt card issued through my credit union and it works pretty much the same as using a credit card, except with a debt card funds are deducted directly from my checking account and assessed a 1% exchange fee (I think credit cards is 3%).

Also, some banks have a daily limit, much like an ATM. My credit union allowed me to reset my max withdrawal from $1000 to $3000.

Post by **papaguido** » March 28, 2015, 6:51 am

More info here...

When to Use a Debit Card Cash Advance

http://www.mybanktracker.com/news/when- ... sh-advance

Post by **Gar** » March 28, 2015, 7:33 pm

I use my non chip US debit card inside the KBANK at Tesco near the airport. Kbank charges me no fee. My US credit union charges me 1%.