How to Open a Bank Account in Thailand

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Open a bank account in thailand

Whether you are a newly-arrived expat in Bangkok, a new employee of a foreign or Thai company, or an investor about to purchase your first condo in Thailand, opening a bank account should be one of your first priorities. Our Bangkok property agents can assist you in this process

HOW TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT

Although some banks are stricter than others, the process is usually straightforward and for the most flexible banks (Contact us for more information) you will only be required to bring the following documents:

  • Original passport
  • Address of residence in Thailand and:
  • Original Lease Agreement if you are a tenant; or
  • Original Sale & Purchase Agreement (condo) if you are an investor

Note that more often than before, many banks require a work permit to open an account.

IS A BANK ACCOUNT NECESSARY TO PURCHASE A CONDO IN THAILAND?

For foreign investors, having a bank account is not absolutely necessary for the process of purchasing a condo in Thailand itself – you can use your lawyer’s account for all money transfers, however an account is necessary if you plan to receive rental income from your tenant. Since every bank account comes with a Visa payment (debit) card, you will be able to cash out or pay by card all over the world with your Thai card.

FOREIGN CURRENCY ACCOUNTS

If you need a foreign currency account (USD account) you might need to have a letter of recommendation issued by your embassy. Most banks also require a work permit to open a USD-denominated account. The requirements may differ from bank to bank.

LOCAL VS. FOREIGN BANKS

Local banks have been fully restructured after the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and have now a healthy balance sheet. The local banking system is solid and reliable.
Everywhere you look, even in small towns, you will easily find ATMs of many local banks. Most 7/11 minimarts and Family Marts have at least one ATM.
Expats are usually impressed by the excellent quality of service (call center easy to reach and extensive staff in most branches) and the advanced technology of most Thai banks, notably in terms of online banking – you can pay bills and make transfers directly from your phone using your bank’s application!

Among the most popular local banks we can list:

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  • Kasikorn Bank
  • Siam Commercial Bank (SCB)
  • Bangkok Bank
  • Krung Thai Bank
  • Krungsri Bank (Bank of Ayudyah)

There are only 2 foreign banks offering retail banking: Citibank, with local headquarters in Asoke, and Standard Chartered, with local headquarters in Sathorn. Other foreign banks in Thailand (JP Morgan, UBS, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America, BNP Paribas, etc.) only provide corporate and investment services and private banking.


TYPES OF BANK ACCOUNTS

  • Savings account: Most common type of account for expats in Thailand. Only a small deposit is required to open the account, which is linked to your debit card and/or credit card (cf. GOOD TO KNOW below). The bank provides a bank book (or passbook) on which transactions can be printed. Debit cards and bank books can be used in most ATM machines. Using the card at other banks’ ATMs may incur a small fee of 10-20 THB.
  • Standard current account: Current accounts involve a cheque book. A passport is needed and a work permit is mandatory. A larger initial deposit is required. If you wish to open a business bank account you will be asked to present all the relevant paperwork of your company.
  • Foreign currency deposit account: usually in USD only for work permit holders.
  • Mutual/Fixed deposit accounts: there are all sorts of fixed deposit accounts (3 months, 6 months, 12 months…). Different conditions and interest rates apply. Best is to ask bank officers to provide details at the counter.
Good to know – DEBIT CARDS VS. CREDIT CARDS:

A DEBIT CARD card is tied directly to your account, hence you can only spend what you have on your account. This is the card the bank will give you by default when opening an account.

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A CREDIT CARD is a line of credit you can access with your card, with a grace period of 30 days on the interests. You will need a history of at least 6 months of salary to be eligible to a credit card. Credit cards in Thailand are often necessary to rent a car or pay a hotel reservation. They offer a wide range of benefits including miles on Thai airlines, free cinema tickets, discounts in many shops and restaurants, etc.

OPENING HOURS

  • Most branches in Thailand are open on weekdays (sometimes also on Saturday) from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm
  • Some branches in very commercial areas can open until 6 pm
  • In shopping malls you can find many branches open every day until 10 pm

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS

  • International transfers into and from Thailand usually take 2-3 days
  • There is no IBAN in Thailand, so in order to make an international transfer into Thailand, you will need to provide your bank with the SWIFT code of the Thai bank where you want to send the funds.
  • Whenever possible, for transfers to Thailand, it is better to send the funds in the currency of origin, as Thai banks offer much more attractive conversion rates than foreign banks.
    Ex: if you send money from the USA to Thailand you should do it in USD

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