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How to Open a Thai Bank Account: Choices, Requirements, Reader Experiences

If you're working, retiring, or frequenting Thailand then it makes sense to have a bank account.

Why?

Because using foreign credit and debit cards involves high fees, on top of local ATM charges. And then there's the frustration of cards being rejected by ATMs.

Opening a Thai bank account isn't the same process at every bank. There are different requirements for each. I tried at least five different branches of different bank brands before I had success in opening an account.

What struck me was that quite often the bank staff cited different requirements to that on the bank's website.

When I did cite the requirements stated on the website, I was told that “things had changed”, or “the manager said…”

So I figured others must be struggling too and decided to write this article to help other foreign nationals, like you.

thai bank account for foreigners

My Current Banking Arrangements

My Thai Bank Account

Since writing the first version of this post, hundreds of people have reported their experiences of opening bank accounts in Thailand, making this post a solid resource for others wanting to do the same.

I still bank with Bangkok Bank, with a debit card, with access to Bualang online banking.

The online banking was set up for me at the ATM of the branch where I opened the account.

The ATM card was issued on the spot, for a 300 Baht fee, and I've had to replace it once due to wear and tear.

Transferring Money

I now regularly transfer money to my Thai bank account via Wise.  This is an international money transfer service, and usually the cheapest option.

Using this means I can avoid the sending and receiving bank charges and inflated currency conversion fees involved in money transfer.

It feels so good to beat the banks!

+ Read more about that here

Multi-Currency Account

I also have a Wise account, which, by the way, is a great option if you don't want to open a Thai bank account, or need a pre-move banking solution until you are able to set one up.

This account lets me hold money in different currencies (GBP, USD, Euros, whatever) and then convert the money to THB whenever I like. I can do this at a time when the exchange rate is favorable.

Or, I can allow the currency conversion to take place in real time as I spend money in Thailand on the debit card (MasterCard), which is issued with the account.

If you are someone who has a regular income paid in a one or more currencies, this is a good solution for getting paid into an account that you can readily access in Thailand.

+ More on this type of account here

So I have my Bangkok Bank card, my TW Borderless card, and my home bank cards – which I never really use.

How to Open a Thai Bank Account

Things are a hell of a lot easier in Thailand when you have a Thai ATM card and an account to transfer money into.

But despite the permission to stay you have, be it a retirement visa, work permit, or Non Immigrant O Visa based on marriage, opening a bank account can be frustrating.

Indeed, I've heard from people on tourist visas who've had less hassle opening an account than someone on a long-stay visa who is married to a Thai national.

So before you trudge around town and get frustrated as hell, read this post and see which bank is most likely to work best for your situation.

What you'll find below is the requirements for each bank, and a summary of reader experiences reported in the comments section.

Since starting this post many moons ago, it seems that the overwhelming consensus is that Bangkok Bank is the most friendly bank when it comes to opening accounts for foreigners.

The easiest, however, may very well be K-Bank, depending on the branch.

There's a bit of a gap in 2019/20, where, because of COVID-19 not many foreign nationals were opening bank accounts, but you'll see some recent experiences starting in late 2021 and some new ones for 2022.

1. Bangkok Bank

Requirements:

  • Passport and one other official identification document: for example, a reference letter from your embassy, your home bank or a person acceptable to the bank.
  • You will also need to provide evidence of your address in Thailand as well as your regular address in your home country.
  • UPDATE: In some cases Bangkok Bank is now asking for a certified letter from your Embassy. This letter must state that you have presented your passport to the Embassy, and that it is indeed your passport. Depending on the Embassy cost will be between 1150-1750 Baht)

If you have a work permit, are a permanent resident, or hold a long-stay visa, you can apply for a wider range of services such as a cheque account, internet banking and online international funds transfer services.

I opened my account with my passport, Non Immigrant O visa and my driver's license. This got me internet banking too. This was done at the Exchange Tower branch in Asoke, Bangkok. The rule regarding a letter from the embassy was not in place when I opened my account.

Reader Experiences:

  • (2020) Alex opened an account in Khon Kaen with a Dutch marriage statement, his identity papers, Thai wife's ID card, and a written guarantee from his wife.
  • (2020) At the second branch he tried in Isaan, John opened an account with passport, original marriage certificate, Thai wife's Tabien Baan, and drivers license (Thai and Australian).
  • (2021) Sebastian was able to open an account at Bangkok Bank (Central Embassy Branch) with the following documents:- Passport
    – ED Visa
    – Acceptance letter from Thammasat University
    – 500 THB opening deposit
  • (2021) John managed to open a Bangkok Bank account at Lotus’s Branch Thalang (Phuket) with a Tourist Visa, UK Passport and a letter from immigration (300 Baht.)
  • (2022) Nishan opened an account on a Tourist Visa in Phuket (Patong) with a passport and letter from immigration. He got an ATM card, mobile banking, but had to take out a life insurance policy for 7,900 Baht.

2. Kasikorn Bank (K-Bank)

Requirements:

Individuals who have base in foreign countries:

  • Passport
  • Work permit or education-based visa (seems these are not required at every branch)

Reader Experiences:

  • (2019) Anthonin opened an account at Pantip Plaza Pratunam with his passport, an address in Thailand, and a confirmation letter of internship.
  • (2021) Phil opened a bank account with his passport and UK driving license. He was set up with telephone banking, mobile banking.
  • (2021) Reetus opened an account at Kasikorn Bank Central Festival Pattaya with his passport (ED visa) and a letter from his language school. The ATM card was issued on the spot.
  • (2021)  Justin was able to open an account with Kasikorn at the Thanon Sri Nakharin branch, across the street from Paradise Park in Bangkok, using his education visa (technically an education guardian visa). He also showed them his townhome lease.

3. UOB Bank

Requirements:

Individual Non-Resident Account:

  • A copy of passport
  • A copy of work permit (seems this is not always required, depends on the branch)
  • 50,000 Baht deposit
  • Phone number

Reader Experiences:

  • Danny opened a UOB account with a passport, phone number, proof of address and 50 000 baht. He got a bank card on the spot.
  • (2021) Sebastian also opened an account with UOB Thailand to have an alternative. They  required the following:
  • Passport
    – ED Visa
    – Acceptance letter from Thammasat University
    – A 50,000 THB opening deposit, which can be immediately withdraw after opening the account.

4. SCB

Requirements:

  • A work permit and passport are required to open an account.

Non-Resident accounts are for:

  • Branches or representative offices of Thai corporations established in countries outside Thailand.
  • Tourists and other overseas visitors.
  • Foreigners temporarily working in Thailand.
  • Foreign government agencies, including embassies, consulates, or specialized UN agencies such as ESCAP, FAO, UNICEF, etc.
  • International organizations or institutions located in Thailand, but established by the government of the country to which such organizations belong.

Note: The implication is that any non-resident can open an account.

Reader Experiences:

  • Scott opened a SCB savings account at the Tesco Lotus Fortune Town branch, with nothing but a passport and money to open the account. He had previously tried at the Central Rama 9 branch and failed.

5. Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri)

Requirements:

At least one or more of the following:

  • Work permit
  • Condominium Lease Agreement (at least 1 year)
  • Thai Driver’s License
  • House Registration Documents (proving you live in a particular house)
  • A Thai wife’s ID card and Marriage Certificate

Reader Experiences:

  • Joe opened a bank account (with a debit card) with just his passport on Sukhumvit Road (near Robinsons, between Nana and Asoke BTS stations). He showed his Non-Immigrant O-A visa (retirement visa). He used his girlfriend's address, but they did not require evidence of this. The visa card cost him 350 Baht.
  • (2019) Tim opened a savings account with Krungsri (Onnut branch) with a 1-year lease contract for his condo and his passport.
  • (2019) ASDF opened an account at Central Festival in Phuket. only a work permit was required.

6. CIMB

Requirements:

  1. Citizen ID card or passport (for foreigner)
  2. Savings account book or Current account number

Applicant Qualification:

  1. The applicant must be aged 15 or over.
  2. The applicant must own an individual savings and/or current account or a joint account that authorizes either owner to withdraw cash or a merchant account with single account owner.
  3. Other terms and conditions are as specified by the Bank.

Reader Experiences:

  • Theo opened a CIMB Thai bank account using his friend as guarantor. Only his passport was needed and his friend's contact details, address, etc.

7. KrungThai

Requirements:

  • For foreigners: Passport, alien certificate, work permit issued or endorsed by any credible organization or visa which is valid for at least 3 months.
  • For international students: Passport and student certificate issued by school/college.

Reader Experiences:

  • John was able to open a KrungThai savings passbook account in Chumphon. He used his passport and Non-Immigrant O visa.
  • JP opened a savings account at Krung Thai on his Non O marriage visa, and also one at the SCB branch in Kalasin, which only required his passport and a deposit.
  • (2018) Robert opened an account at Kuung Thai in Sattahip, with passport and address information.

How to Transfer Money to Your Thai Bank Account & Avoid Fees

Once you have opened your Thai bank account, you'll want to start transferring money into it from your bank in your home country.

Unfortunately, this can be a costly process, especially if you are transferring money every few months, or even more frequently.

Your home bank (the sending bank) will change you a fee of between $10-20, and the receiving bank will charge you around $10.

In addition, you will be charged a currency conversion fee – because the banks don't give you the mid-market rate, but instead a rate they decide on.

So, on $1,000 or £1,000, you could be looking at saving $50 or more in fees.

The good news is that you can avoid these fees using a great service that I've used for many years now.

+ Find out more here

Transferring Money Out of Thailand

So that's the best way to transfer money in, but what about transferring out?

if you want to know the best way to send money from your Thai bank account to an account overseas, check out this post for a run-down of all the options.

——

Share Your Experience & Help Others

It would be great if you can let me know what bank account you have and on what terms you acquired it.

This will save other readers time and hassle, and help them find the most “farang-friendly” branches, so to speak. I will then add the information to the list below.

——

More Tips for a Better Life in Thailand

Improve Your Thai Skills:

Learning Thai makes life here easier and more fun. I use Thaipod101. It is free to get started & easy to use.

Get Good Health Insurance:

Start with a quick quote from Cigna. Then compare my other recommendations here.

Protect Your Online Privacy:

A VPN protects you against hackers and government snooping. I always use one. You should too. Read why here.



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Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. J says

    Went to Bangkok Bank at Kad Suan Kaew with my passport and residency certificate, and I'm on a 2 month single entry visa. According to their paper about opening accounts this is all you need (or a work permit instead of residency certificate etc). Got my internet banking, ATM card etc pretty quick.
    Reply

  2. Peter Pan says

    I opened a bank account yesterday with Krungthai because my school wanted me to. I am never sure why it is they cannot just transfer the money to my other accounts. I have Kasikorn, SCB and Krunsri but No, I need yet another account. Firstly in Bangkok at the branch I went to they only opened at 10.30 am and then being the last day of the month was pretty much heaving the whole day long. When I finally got to the counter, they ummed and ahhed and said they could not do it because I did not have a work permit (original). I showed my Thai marriage certificate - No that was not good enough for them. Eventually showed them some documents from the school, and my Thai teachers license from Krusapa and they did the trick. Was miffed out the whole time for being forced top open yet another bank account. I am sure the school gets a cut or the accounts lady get a 100 baht omission or something like that for getting people to open an account which is why they have this ridiculous requirement for opening a bank account which the school uses, and nothing else will be unacceptable.
    Reply

  3. Cindy says

    First of all, I appreciate having come across this post and its up to date too.

    For the last week or so, I have been trying to get the procedure correct regarding opening a savings account in Thailand. What a chore!..LOL

    I have a Vietnamese friend who wishes to open a savings account with Siam Commercial Bank in Bangkok. I found out she will need her passport and the initial amount to open this account. I would appreciate if someone here can enlighten me, what should be the initial amount to open such an account.
    To date, no update from the bank regarding the said.

    She is doing a small business thus her business partner will deposit the earnings into her account in Thailand SCB.

    She does not work in Thailand and wish to transfer money from Thailand SCB account to Vietnam SCB account.

    I found out that if you open a SCB account in Hanoi, Vietnam, you can do internet transfer. However, if you open a SCB account in Ho Chih Min City, such banking feature is not available. Its so confusing!
    Reply

  4. James E says

    Just a quick note. Bangkok Bank confirmed that their VISA branded ATM/Debit cards will all expire at the end of the year regardless of the expiration date on the card. You can get a replacement free of charge: "simply visit a Bangkok Bank branch in the same region." The same region as where you opened your account. I'm not sure about how digital wallet balances (I've got Rabbit on mine) will be affected.
    Reply

    • Max says

      FYI:
      Bangkok Bank replaces the current Visa branded ATM cards with the Be1st Smart TPN MasterCard. There will be only one card if you want a debit card.
      I have had the new MasterCard since November last year, and it's a total fiasco compared to the Visa branded cards. It doesn't work everywhere online as it should. There's been a lot of complaints on internet,but Bangkok Bank doesn't care. Luckily I have a Visa debit card from K-Bank, and it always work.
      Reply

  5. Ren says

    Hi. I would like to open a bank account on an ED Visa. If i am correct K bank and SCB are okay for me?

    My question is, might be silly but even if i manage to open one, can I still use it after my visa expires and i leave the country? Can I use the card in another country or only in Thailand?

    Thanks in advance
    Reply

    • Max says

      Opening an account on an ED visa can be a bit problematic. SCB requires a work permit and is quite strict about it.

      K-Bank also requires a work permit or at many branches a retirement visa.

      Bangkok Bank could actually be a better choice.
      You need to show passport + one additional document as proof of identity. For example:

      * Reference from your Embassy/Consulate in Thailand.
      * Reference from your bank in your home country.
      * Reference from a well-known customer at the bank.
      The easiest way (in my opinion) is
      to go to the local Immigration office and apply for a so called "Certificate of Residence".
      That together with a passport works almost all the time at BB.
      If that doesn't work:
      Go from branch to branch and ask for a savings account. There are so many BB-branches in every major city,even in malls.
      Many foreigners have been able to open an account this way.
      It includes a bit of legwork,but might be the only solution.

      If you are successful,you will get a bank book,an ATM-card with a debit card most likely MasterCard. It's valid all over the world. The bank account will be valid even if you're visa expires,
      but you need some money deposited, otherwise the bank will eventually close the account.
      Reply

  6. Max says

    An update about opening a savings account at Kasikorn Bank and Bangkok Bank:
    The official requirements (at the moment) at Kasikorn Bank:

    * Passport
    * Work permit
    or
    *Passport
    *Retirement Visa (doesn't matter what type of retirement visa)
    *10000 baht deposit

    I don't know if option 1 when you
    have a work permit also requires a 10000 baht deposit.

    If you meet the requirements you have your savings account,bank book, K-Debit ATM-card incl. Visa debit (300 baht),internet and mobile banking in about 30-45 min.

    Kasikorn Bank has a good website in english where you can see their accounts and requirements.

    Bangkok Bank:

    Opening a bank account here is not that straight forward. But here you can open a savings account when having a 60 days tourist Visa TR.

    * Passport
    * Work permit
    or
    * Passport
    * One out of several documents:

    * A reference from your embassy/consulate certifying your ID and address in Thailand.
    * Reference from your bank in your home country.
    * A well known customer at the branch.
    * A "Certificate of Residence" from the local Immigration office (300 baht). This certificate together with the passport makes it real easy to open an account at some branches,but lately some immigration offices doesn't issue the certificate when the reason is opening a bank account. You can always apply for another reason,it might work.
    *500 baht deposit

    If you get the savings account, you'll have the bank book, a Be1st Smart ATM-card incl. MasterCard debit (300 baht), internet and mobile banking.

    Bangkok Bank has an optional Personal Accident Insurance when opening an account. The cost was 2018 5900 baht/year.

    They also have a great website in english showing their accounts,ATM-cards,fees and requirements.
    Reply

  7. Himakar says

    Thank-you for this blog, it helped me much.
    I have Non O Thai wife visa (marriage visa) and I am from India.

    After reading this blog I decided to open bank account in Bangkok Bank at Asoke in exchange tower. They asked to get letter from embassy with approval of passport details OR a residence certificate from embassy ( both has fee ) as I am looking to get rid of fee and make work done, I went to Kasikorn bank which is opposite to PS tower (near Indian embassy), Sukhumvit. They said account can be only open based on work permit or retirement visa.

    In the same building I went to krungthai bank, unluckily there is no staff who speak English at that time and asked me to come on the next day (staff is on holiday).

    Next to this bank there is Krungsri bank, so I thought to check my luck there and stepped in. I showed my visa page and asked them to open account. They had call with their other colleague and took the xerox copy of my passport and gave a document to fill which is for account opening. So they didn't questioned anything much, I just need to show an address proof on my wife name ( I showed driving licence copy) this is just to verify address and note in their computer. They didn't collect any other documents other than my passport and visa page. And my account is opened within 15mins.

    This bank also has good facilities like mobile banking, cardless withdrawal, if you opt premium service then many number of good features for online shopping and transactions with visa wave debit card. I found this quite simple process and very quick.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Himakar, thank you for your update. this is really useful information. It was lucky you kept on trying and didn't give up at the first hurdle. It looks like Krungsri Bank might be the easiest option at the moment.
      Reply

      • Himakar says

        Yes it is the easiest option and if one get letter or passport attested document from embassy then it is also very easy at Bangkok Bank (any branch) and if one has their marriage certificate in Thai or translated to Thai then it is easy at krungthai bank as well (I found most of this bank branches staff in Bangkok don't speak english but they help their best using Google translate or any other means to convey the message).

        Currently I am trying to open another account, so checking the other options like UOB, CIMB, etc.,. will come with update soon.

        I found SCB is the one which won't allow to open without work permit.

        I suggest everyone not to go with agent to open a bank account instead try by yourself in the branches near Asoke, Sukhumvit areas and any big malls as they know rules better and support well.
        Reply

  9. Tom Prendergast says

    I opened a Bangkok Bank account on Beach Road Pattaya two weeks ago. I showed them that I had a type O visa and told them I was staying at a hotel in soi 7. They didn't want anything else and apart from having to sign many bits of paper, they gave me an account and a debit card on the spot. It was the first bank I tried, they were very helpful and understanding.
    Reply

  10. babala says

    Question: how easy is it to WITHDRAW funds from a Thai Bank? We have had 800,000 baht in an account to satisfy immigration but now want to close the account. Is it easy to get the money? Move it out of Thailand to another bank?
    Reply

    • James E says

      It's pretty easy but could be costly. First - you can't take it out of the country as Baht, you'll have to do the FX inside of Thailand. The safest way to do it is a wire out of your account in Thailand. Problem is you'll get hit with a wire transfer fee and the buy/sell spread banks love. My guess is that all-up you'll be looking at about 4 - 5% in fees (hidden and stated) you might also need to prove the origin of the money to satisfy anti-laundering laws in your destination country. Your other choice is to withdraw the money as cash and then FX it at a bank or service to the currency of your destination. 800KBaht is about the limit two people could do this for and it still risks that the customs officer at your destination is having a bad day.
      Reply

      • Jim says

        If your going out of Thailand,then another way is to up your ATM Limit to the daily max withdrawal limit,and withdraw that max daily from a selected Overseas ATM that issues the largest single withdrawal amount.
        Bangkok Bank charge is 100bht per withdrawal.
        Reply

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