Thai Bank Accounts

[willi2006]

Interesting other thread "Can't Open Bank Account To Get A Retirement Visa" http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php ... pic=111191.

Last week I tried at 3 SCB branches in Khon Kaen to open a savings account. They either wanted a work permit or being married. One branch proposed to try Bangkok Bank. I read in forums that Bangkok Bank wants work permit to get internet banking. Later I called the SCB help center. Was not friendly. He asked also for work permit, said: "requirement of the Bank of Thailand". I doubted this. He offered to talk to the branch and call me back, but never called back. By the way SCB has lower interest rates for Non-residents http://www.scb.co.th/html/th/interest/d ... it-eng.pdf. Sound like discriminating Non-Residents.

I looked at the internet pages of Kasikorn Bank. Interesting they say on the page saving rate http://www.kasikornbank.com/GlobalHome/ ... saving.jsp: "Non-residents, both private individuals and corporate entities receive the same interest rates as Thai residents per the table above." Last Wednesday I tried at Thanon Pracha Samoson Khon Kaen Branch: showed my passport with a non immigrant O multiple visa, lady asked for my current address in Thailand, I got savings account (minimum deposit 500 Baht) and VISA electron card (cost initial 100 Baht + 200 Baht for first year) within 30 minutes. I asked for internet access. Lady told me I need an e-mail address in Thailand. I never heard this before. Thus I later called the help center. Was very friendly. Can be any e-mail address. I will try again and if necessary call Help Center from branch.

[Techland]

This is the link to the English section for logging in.

https://ibanking.bangkokbank.com/BiB/index.html

It does not work in Firefox. Only IE.

I know this one. The problem I have is that all further pages are in thai language. In other words except for the amount currently present on my account I can't read anything. Completely useless. So if you have those direct account pages in english something is wrong on my side. If not, then I will have to look for another bank...

[Doc]

I believe that if you go to: https://ibanking.bangkokbank.com you will be able to select your language preference.

Can't check it out for you because right now I have a terrible Internet connection which I can't get straightened out until Monday. Just switched over to the GPRS system. Was good yesterday - but today it is crap. Maybe just their system - will find out tomorrow when I try again.

[Prenders88]

The moral of this thread tells us that policy changes with Bank to Bank.

[Doc]

The moral of this thread tells us that policy changes with Bank to Bank.

And perhaps employee to employee and day to day and location to location...

I have discovered here in Thailand, as in the rest of the world, when trying to get something accomplished, one only needs to tell people what they need to know. Forget asking questions.

Opening a bank account: Drop in, tell them you want to open a bank account. Hand them the money and your passport - fill out the paperwork and viola - it is accomplished. That is the way that I have done it at 4 different banks - no problems.

The man who acts like he knows what he is doing, can accomplish almost anything. Act confused - and you will have at least 2 other people telling you what to do, and you won't accomplish anything.

[ntvillas2]

Krung Thai Bank in Charoensir Center. the Staff are Great and No problems to open an account.
If you have a Nationwide flex account you can Take 200.000 per Day with The best Rates nothing taken Off.
If you want the Best HSBC in Bkk. They will look after you well if you have money to invest.
So here money talks.

[Techland]

I believe that if you go to: https://ibanking.bangkokbank.com you will be able to select your language preference.

Don't see or find that option...

[Techland]

I believe that if you go to: https://ibanking.bangkokbank.com you will be able to select your language preference.

Don't see or find that option...

I called Bualuang Phone service and they walked me through the menu to click the right buttons. Basically you have a tab Preferences, then a left menu entry My Preferences, then a few options where one is language thai or english. Stupidly enough the word 'english' is written in thai, so once thai is active (seems default) you will not find the way to english...

[Irish Alan]

A Kasikorn Account with a tourist visa? – Yes!

I wanted to open a bank account in Thailand even though I only have a tourist visa. I had heard a few stories about the requirements so decided to get the information straight from the horse’s mouth. I heard Siam Commercial would do it so I dropped in to the branch in the Charoensri complex.

I asked the lady in customer services, “Can I open an account in this bank even though I just have a tourist visa?”

“Yes,” she replied. “You just need an address in Thailand and your passport.” “Is that all?” I replied, “So I can just use my girlfriend’s address?” “Yes,” she added.

Went back on Saturday and handed her our address on a sheet of paper complete with girlfriend’s name and phone number if she needed to ring her.

SCB girl: “Where Sureeporn now?”
Alan: “In work.”
SCB girl: “She must come in with you to sign paper.”
Alan: “But I just want an account in my name, not joint account.”
SCB girl: “Yes but she must come in with tabian baan (house registration document) and sign.

She is looking nervously around struggling for the English muttering in Thai to a customer at the desk beside me. She then calls a male colleague over. I’m trying to be calm and tell him I was told I needed passport and Thai address. I’m thinking okay I’ll come back on Monday with the g/f and he reiterates what I have been told and says Sureeporn must come in with tabian baan to sign. They continue to chat to each other as he constantly flicks through my passport and spots a card that is stapled into my passport from when I was working in Thailand 2 years ago. It was to cover my medical insurance.

SCB man: “You work now?”
Alan: “No I’m finished.”
SCB man: “You have work permit?”
Alan: “I’m not working so don’t need work permit.”
SCB head wrecker: “You need work permit.”
Alan: “Yesterday I just needed a Thai address and a passport, now I need an address, the house owner with her tabian baan and a work permit?”
SCB head wrecker: “Yes.”
Alan: “Anything else? Medical? Police clearance?”

SCB head wreckers look at each other.

Alan: “Thank you and goodbye!”

A short walk over to the Kasikorn Bank account. I am politely ushered to sit down.

Alan: “Can I open an account with a tourist visa?”
Extremely efficient and friendly Kasikorn guy: “Yes sir.”

I hand him my passport and piece of paper with g/f’s name and address and he sets to work. Between typing he asks me about the weather in Ireland and what it is like. I’m waiting for hurdles but there are none. You get your ATM card there and then with your passbook. The guy was efficient and didn’t look for help from anybody. He asked me did I want to use Internet banking and I said yes. He explained that I would get an email with the codes tomorrow (Sunday) and if I didn’t ring the call centre.

So if you are here on a tourist visa (mine is 60-day triple-entry) and you want a Thai bank account then I wouldn't recommend SCB, they were a waste of time and kept throwing hurdles in my way. I recommend Kasikorn... =D> =D> =D>

[Prenders88]

Alan we are with Kasikorn, the bank are very helpful esp. the Baan Houy Branch in Udon Thani. They even helped with a lawyer when we bought the shophouse.
It's the nearest branch to your bench in Nong Prajack park.

[Irish Alan]

Alan we are with Kasikorn, the bank are very helpful esp. the Baan Houy Branch in Udon Thani. They even helped with a lawyer when we bought the shophouse.
It's the nearest branch to your bench in Nong Prajack park.

[rickfarang]

And I have to echo your experience at SCB. I found similar incompetence with the SCB staff in Bangkok. I have no use for them. I also have to add that I had my first Thai Bank account with Kasikorn, and they were very cooperative. I have several with Krung Thai, and they have always been helpful and even patient with my repeatedly leaving ATM cards in the machines

[Irish Alan]

Well sure enough I got an email from Kasikorn today confirming that I had been approved to use their e-Banking facilities. You input the code and username they give you and change to a username and password that you choose yourself and you are able to access your account online. Bulá bus... =D> =D> (That's a round of applause as Gaelige.)

[bunternut]

Hi People

Just to say that i have been looking into retirement visa etc from UK to Thailand, and a couple of things seem relevant here,
firstly your money ie the 800,000 baht does not have to be in THAILAND, for us Brits , i am told by the Thai consulate in Hull, that you have to satisfy the Brit embassy staff in Bangkok that you have the necessary funds, which can be in UK bank, who will then sell you , sorry give you a paper to show the Thai authority, sounded same like the freedom to marry paper, although why thats called freedom i will never know LOL.
That said might be useful to have Thai bank account because obviously statements etc will be up to date, I had no problem however using UK statements to get visa for my wife so you pays your money and takes your choice I suppose.

In support of the Thai Banks, some of the so called problems and yes moaning about the banks seems a bit Harsh, try walking into a UK bank and opening a bank account for your Thai wife or even yourself when you have been out of the country , you will need two forms of ID and Two forms of proff of address, not as easy as it sounds , the ID ok, but proff of address, a real bummer believe me, a passport and some cash, come on where in the world is that acceptable, and if it is , do you really want your money in a bank like that

[Mobaan]

I too have difficulties ( no really rigth now it is impossible ) to access my SCB accounts on line . Ever since they changed I have not been able to log on. The system does not accept my passport number .
You guys who are so high on Kasikorn Bank : do they in Udon provide facilities to do investment banking e.g buy mutual funds ,individual stocks etc . Does anybody have personal experience here. ? Do they provide online trading services?

[jackspratt]

Hi People

Just to say that i have been looking into retirement visa etc from UK to Thailand, and a couple of things seem relevant here,
firstly your money ie the 800,000 baht does not have to be in THAILAND, for us Brits , i am told by the Thai consulate in Hull, that you have to satisfy the Brit embassy staff in Bangkok that you have the necessary funds, which can be in UK bank, who will then sell you , sorry give you a paper to show the Thai authority, sounded same like the freedom to marry paper, although why thats called freedom i will never know LOL.
That said might be useful to have Thai bank account because obviously statements etc will be up to date, I had no problem however using UK statements to get visa for my wife so you pays your money and takes your choice I suppose.

In support of the Thai Banks, some of the so called problems and yes moaning about the banks seems a bit Harsh, try walking into a UK bank and opening a bank account for your Thai wife or even yourself when you have been out of the country , you will need two forms of ID and Two forms of proff of address, not as easy as it sounds , the ID ok, but proff of address, a real bummer believe me, a passport and some cash, come on where in the world is that acceptable, and if it is , do you really want your money in a bank like that

Bunternut I think you need to do some further research

Firstly, there is no such beast as a "retirement visa" for Thailand. What the Hull consulate was probably talking about was a non O-A visa, which will get you 12 months in Thailand to explore the possibility of retiring here (assuming you are 50+ of course).

For that visa you money does not have to be in a Thai bank. However, if after being here for 12 months you decide to retire in Thailand, the 800k will need to be in a Thai bank if you wish apply for a further 12 month "extension".

Alternatively you can apply on the basis of TBH65,000 per month "pension" (really income) from outside Thailand, which the Brit embassy in Bangkok must certify.

Finally, you can have a combination of money in the (Thai) bank plus pension eg 40k per month pension, plus 320k in the bank.

[Mainer]

Bunternut I think you need to do some further research

Firstly, there is no such beast as a "retirement visa" for Thailand. What the Hull consulate was probably talking about was a non O-A visa, which will get you 12 months in Thailand to explore the possibility of retiring here (assuming you are 50+ of course).

For that visa you money does not have to be in a Thai bank. However, if after being here for 12 months you decide to retire in Thailand, the 800k will need to be in a Thai bank if you wish apply for a further 12 month "extension".

Alternatively you can apply on the basis of TBH65,000 per month "pension" (really income) from outside Thailand, which the Brit embassy in Bangkok must certify.

Finally, you can have a combination of money in the (Thai) bank plus pension eg 40k per month pension, plus 320k in the bank.

Jackspratt, it appears that your own reseach may be a bit out of date.

I was talking to an under 50 year old Brit today who is here on a Non-O visa with a Thai wife. He was issued an extension last year with the 400,000 baht in the bank (for married to a Thai, in this case). But yesterday (Oct. 31), the officer at Nong Khai Immigration told him that they no longer want to see money in the bank, but they want proof of income of 40,000 baht per month only.

He said he thought his visa extension was to be denied. Then his wife put 1000 baht on the table and said what can be done about this? The officer then said, oh, I see you have had an extension before and therefore you are grandfathered. Extension issued. "Go Figure" !

[jackspratt]

Not at all, Mainer. My post only addresses "retirement" visas, not "marriage" visas. The rules are quite different.

And the new rules about marriage have been in place for a number of months.

[patriot]

I opened a regualr account at the main SCB Branch UT with no problems with a tourist visa.
Then managed to open a forign currency (euro) account, again on a tourist visa.

The standard of service far exeeds that of BBL IMHO.

[Irish Alan]

It goes to show they differ from branch to branch. The two I spoke of in the SCB in the complex just didn't seem to know what they were about.