Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

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Papa Goose
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Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by Papa Goose »

Hi all,

We are coming back to LoS over xmas and new year (2014) part holiday, part property scoping for a permanent move from the UK. We have a week in Bangkok and 2 weeks in HH, and wondered if there a Brit friendly bank in HH that would open an account for us so we could start to make deposits in advance of the move. Just one less challenge to face come the time for the move, 'coz if it's anything like our other international moves there will be plenty of pits for us to fall into.

Thanks in advance.
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by Dannie Boy »

Papa Goose wrote:Hi all,

We are coming back to LoS over xmas and new year (2014) part holiday, part property scoping for a permanent move from the UK. We have a week in Bangkok and 2 weeks in HH, and wondered if there a Brit friendly bank in HH that would open an account for us so we could start to make deposits in advance of the move. Just one less challenge to face come the time for the move, 'coz if it's anything like our other international moves there will be plenty of pits for us to fall into.

Thanks in advance.
It's a few years back now, but I opened my account at the main Kasikorn branch on a tourist visa and gave the name of my hotel as my address - I believe that others have done similar more recently.
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by JuiceLover »

Did the same in April, went to Kasikorn main office on Petchkasem (not the subsidiary in Market Village where I was refused a year before), borrowed the blue book from my "landlord" (which they didn't look at), just stated my address and received an account (not for internet banking) together with "simple" bankcard.
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by richard »

Bangkok bank will open an account, give you a debit card and give you online banking if you produce a passport, an address and a pile of foreign currency. Pile of currency does not have to be big.

I've done it for three friends now and it takes 30 minute max to set up
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Papa Goose
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by Papa Goose »

TY Richard, address will be a challenge as it we will only have the holiday rental place, and nothing with our name at that address.
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by robcar »

I opened an account at Kasikorn in Market Village when I was over there in January. I used the hotel name and address. Very easy to do, they didn't ask for any proof. I have internet banking and have just this week transferred a sizeable sum into it from UK via Currency Fair.

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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by Papa Goose »

Excellent, the apartment we have rented is 400m form Market Village so will go in there. Any expat get together over xmas & new year?
:::::oops just taken myself off topic:::::
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by robcar »

I had last christmas in Pattaya which was wild, didn't make HH until January. I will be in HH this year but don't know where yet
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by joejoe »

robcar wrote:I opened an account at Kasikorn in Market Village when I was over there in January. I used the hotel name and address. Very easy to do, they didn't ask for any proof. I have internet banking and have just this week transferred a sizeable sum into it from UK via Currency Fair.

Regards
hello robcar,
I guess that a kasikorn account doesn't have the IBAN code. What did you input to transfer from Currency Fair to kasikorn?
Also I'd like to know if the transfer from the UK bank to Currency Fair is free and how long it takes to do the full transfer from Uk to Thailand.
Thank you very much.
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by sateeb »

Swift Codes for all Banks in Thailand - The Swift Codes
www.theswiftcodes.com/thailand/
60+ items - SWIFT Code & BIC Code for all bank in Thailand
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by robcar »

Hi joejoe,

The code I used is KASITHBK as supplied on an info slip from the bank. Cost of the transfer was THB350 for transferring a couple of grand, it took 2 days to make it to my account.


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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by migrant »

I thought I would post my recent experience.

Moved to Bangsaphan and, since wife has a Bangkok Bank account, we went in to ask about an account for me. I needed a work permit, or be over 60 (neither apply, yet). OK, no go. Asked some long term residents we met and they said Krungsi will open. We went there, and same story. So we gave up in BS.

Had to go up to Cha Am so, remembering this thread went to the Kasikorn in MV. My wife asked the greeter what was needed and got a mumbled response, and ticket number. Since we didn't really understand, and the line wasn't terrible, I told my wife lets wait and just apply, let them turn us down if it is to be.

Number called, lady very nice with good english. No questions even asked, just took my passport and had me filling out papers. Used BIL's address in Cha Am since we don't have a house number yet. She filled out my occupation (retired) and marital status (single) without even asking, even with my wife, and I, wearing rings in front of her.

So easy, easy, bank account and debit card in about 30 minutes!
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by thaicookingchef »

Hello, any update on this ? Which is most friendly bank at Hua Hin ? Thanks.
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by Big Boy »

A friend opened an account last month (on a 30 day exemption), and the only bank that would accept him was Bangkok Bank.
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Big Boy
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Re: Thai bank account on a tourist visa... possible?

Post by Big Boy »

LOL, just looked up to migrant's post :lach:

I guess, this is Thailand, and it depends upon who is behind the desk at the time :banghead:
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