Gaybutton Posted July 30, 2008 Posted July 30, 2008 Lately I have been helping people obtain their retirement visa and set up Thai bank accounts. Don't forget, without a Thai bank account you're not going to get the retirement visa. It is now quite difficult to open a Thai bank account if you arrive on the 30-day privilege. We did manage to open a bank account for a friend of mine at Siam Commercial Bank this week, and he was here on the 30-day privilege. We were together at the bank and we had to speak with the branch manager. We had to explain why he wanted the account (to get the retirement visa), but they would only open the account for him because I was with him, was able to show that I hold a retirement visa, was able to show that I have property in Thailand, and was willing to guarantee his address. Once the manager was satisfied, he instructed a staff member to go ahead and let him open an account. We had also stopped at a Thai Military Bank branch and was told he needs a "letter from Immigration." I have no idea what that entails or what one would need to do to get such a letter. Maybe someone else knows the answer to that one. If you enter Thailand with at least a Type "O" visa, then you shouldn't have any problem opening a Thai bank account. If one branch rejects you, don't give up. Try other branches of the same bank. Quite often you'll get a completely different answer at another branch. If you run into problems, talk to the branch manager before you give up. After you manage to open an account somewhere and hold at least a Type "O" visa (a retirement visa is better still), now you can arrange online banking. If you have money coming to you from either the UK or USA, you can have money deposited to a Bangkok Bank account by direct deposit. Bangkok Bank has a branch in New York and another branch in London. These are not commercial branches, so you can't just walk in, but they can and will make arrangements to have money direct deposited into your account if you wish. The contact information for the London Branch is: Mr. Peeriyathep Homhuan, Branch Manager Bangkok Bank PCL London Branch 61 St. Mary Axe, London EC3A 8 BY, United Kingdom Tel: (44-207) 929-4422 Fax: (44-207) 283-3988 Swift: BKKB GB 2L Telex: (051) 8812448 BKBANK G E-mail: peeriyathep.hom@bbl.co.th The contact information for the New York Branch is: Dr. Thaweelap Rittapirom, SVP, Branch Manager Bangkok Bank PCL New York Branch 29 Broadway, 20th Floor, New York NY 10006 Tel: (1-212) 422-8200 Fax: (1-212) 422-0728 Swift: BKKB US 33 Telex:(023) 175459 BKBK UT E-mail: helpdesk.nyb@bbl.co.th FED Routing No: 026008691 CHIPS ABA: 0869 If you need to contact either of these branches, I suggest contacting them by telephone rather than by Email. They don't seem to ever respond to Email. As far as I know, Bangkok Bank is the only Thai bank with foreign branches. If anyone knows of other Thai banks that have foreign branches, please let us know. As far as arranging Online Banking with these banks, I know that Bank of Ayudhya and Siam Commercial are quite simple. Bank of Ayudhya is the simplest of all. Once you have an account, you simply go to their web site and you'll be able to get online banking within just a few minutes. Bangkok Bank is a little more complex, and Thai Military Bank is the most complex of all. I don't know about other Thai banks. Maybe someone else can provide more information. Obviously there are plenty of advantages to online banking. Not only can you keep close track of your funds, but you can pay bills online, transfer money to other accounts (now even accounts at different banks), and even add to your One-Two-Call time, among other things. Most things that you can do at an ATM, other than withdraw money, can be done via online banking. Quote
Guest Posted July 30, 2008 Posted July 30, 2008 Funny you should start the thread today. I just got a bank account today. I went to Bangkok bank and they told me to go to Immigration to get a paper. I did that but was told you must be on at least a 60 days Visa to get that paper for a bank account. She said, "but go to Kasikorn Bank and they do not require the paper." I did that. Walked in and out in less than 10 minutes with an account. This is the same account as the boyfriend and has online banking. I still want to get an account with Bangkok bank but I'll have to come in on a different Visa next time and do it that way. Quote
Gaybutton Posted July 30, 2008 Author Posted July 30, 2008 This is the same account as the boyfriend and has online banking. I'm not sure I'm following that part. Did you open an individual account in your own name or did you open a joint account with the boyfriend? Just to be absolutely clear, are you saying that Kasikorn Bank is allowing farang to open an account, even if they entered Thailand only on the 30 days? If that is true, then I urge anyone who is even contemplating retirement in Thailand or any other banking need to open an account while you still can. If they change the regulations, that might close out the last bank that still accepts new farang accounts with nothing but a passport and 30 days. I hope those of you who can take advantage of the opportunity will do so. Kasikorn's web site is: http://www.kasikornbank.com/portal/site/KBank/? I did not see a way to open an account online, if you are not present in Thailand, but I did not spend time searching through the site to see if there is a way to do that. Most Thai banks will permit an account to be opened with a minimum 500 baht deposit. It's worth doing. You never know. Quote
Guest Posted July 30, 2008 Posted July 30, 2008 No, I opened a bank account in MY name. I just used that bank and it is the SAME bank as the boyfriend uses so it will make transfers easy when I need a loan and he can send to me quickly. Yes, 30 days tourist and the lady at immigration is the one that told me to go there. Quote
Gaybutton Posted July 30, 2008 Author Posted July 30, 2008 No, I opened a bank account in MY name. Excellent! Ok, I'm pinning this topic. I think everyone who does not yet have a Thai bank account, but may eventually have a need for one, needs to see this. I urge everyone who this may help to act as quickly as you can. Thai banks tend to change their regulations quite often. Get your Thai bank account before it is too late. Quote
billyhouston Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 Managed to open an account with Kasikorn a few years ago while holding only a 30-day stamp. Internet banking was no problem but setting up transfers is tedious. Once set up, money can be transferred instantly both internally and to most other banks. The recipient gets an SMS to inform of the money's arrival. The cost, for normal sums , for this service is Bht25. This is a 'savings' account, comes with a cash card (fee) and modest interest. Quote
Guest Posted August 1, 2008 Posted August 1, 2008 I agree with Gaybutton in that if you want an account here you should try this bank and set up ASAP. Things change fast here and I had tried for years to set up an account and was turned away at every opportunity. While the bank says it does not matter the type of Visa needed, that can change at any time as with all things in Thailand. It is good to have it as a backup. Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted August 1, 2008 Posted August 1, 2008 I opened my account with SCB when I was here on a 30 day visa upon entry. Quote
Gaybutton Posted August 1, 2008 Author Posted August 1, 2008 I opened my account with SCB when I was here on a 30 day visa upon entry. That proves my point, I think. If you have trouble at one branch, try another. Chances are very good that you'll get a completely different answer. Quote
