Another Day in Paradise

[DragonMaster]

There has been a lot of discussion about bank accounts and immigration, so I decided to further investigate the bank account information. This morning, I walked into K bank close to me and opened a brand new savings account. The whole process took less than 30 minutes. The key to success is to pay a visit to the bank, ask what is required, then provide it, and not depend on posts here. The Sage of Bang Saray has said that residence certificates are necessary to open a bank account. This is not true, at least at K Bank and Bangkok Bank. Everyone should have a TM30 stapled into their passport, which Immigration requires to provide services. This is acceptable for residence verification. To save time, here’s what was needed.

1. Valid passport
2. Long Term Visa/extension with at least 1 month of validity remaining.
3. Photo ID from your country or a certified copy of your birth certificate. (I had my expired drivers license and birth certificate)
4. TM-30 (Report of address) in your passport
5. A valid Thai driving license

I took a copy of my lease as well, but that wasn’t needed by the bank.

A couple of weeks ago, I had to renew my extension to stay in the Kingdom. I made sure I had everything I needed, and walked in fingers crossed hoping for the best. As has been the case for the last 15 years or so, I have never paid a Visa agent to do the deed, and this year was no exception. In and out in less than 30 minutes, only 10 with the immigration officer. I’ve been using the monthly deposit method for the last several years so I didn’t have to tie up 800,000 Baht and file FATCA forms every year with the IRS. This process is easier for US citizens by bringing a copy of your benefits verification from Social Security, which you can download from the website.

If you are from the UK or other countries, be prepared to prove / justify where or who provided the funds you brought into Thailand.

One last point that seems minor to many, but makes a difference. Don’t walk into any Thai government office dressed like a casual beach bum. Dress like you are attending a business meeting. No shorts, tank tops, or flip flops. Polo shirts, long pants, and shoes / sandals are suggested.

[Gaybutton]

Your last point does make a difference - to the point I have seen people denied service and told to leave because of the way they were dressed. I don't think it is asking too much to dress appropriately when going to immigration - and neither do they. And dressing as if you are going to spend the afternoon at the beach - that ain't it.

What we still don't know is if getting a residence certificate is available for whatever one's need may be.

I wouldn't be so quick to criticize what Dodger says. I think we all know that when dealing with immigration and banks, much of what happens is at the whim of whoever you're dealing with. But I would not bother about a residence certificate unless the bank asks for it. And if they do, I would try at at least one other branch of the same bank before trekking to immigration. And if the bank does require it, until we know whether getting a residence certificate is easy or difficult, I would ask the bank to provide a written statement to show at immigration saying the bank requires a residence certificate.

[Dodger]

The Sage of Bang Saray has said that residence certificates are necessary to open a bank account. This is not true, at least at K Bank and Bangkok Bank.

Just to get the record straight...I never said that a certificate of residence (CR) was necessary to open a bank account as you have incorrectly stated.

In the post titled "Residency Certificates - Just One More Hassle", I stated that I was informed by an immigration agent (Chonburi) that the policy for issuing CR's was changed in April of this year and they now only issue CR's for purchasing vehicles, obtaining/or renewing drivers licenses, and purchasing property. And that anyone needing a CR for any other reason would have to request this from their embassy. At no time did I state (or even insinuate) that a farang could not open an account without a CR.

Later in that same thread you'll see where two other members actually said that their banks were requesting a CR to open new accounts. They didn't mention the names of their banks.

If you had good luck and were able to open a new account without the CR, the more power to you, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't make false accusations pertaining to my comments here.

[Gaybutton]

At no time did I state (or even insinuate) that a farang could not open an account without a CR.

That is correct. It was another board member, not Dodger, who stated that some banks are requiring it, but he did not say which ones.

It is difficult enough already trying to open a Thai bank account, but is there anyone reading this who tried to open a Thai bank account and was ever asked to produce a residence certificate?

Personally I have no need to open a new Thai bank account, but in the past all I ever needed was my passport, valid O visa, and 500 baht. And years before that I didn't even need the visa - just the passport and 500 baht. That, of course, has changed.

[Jun]

A helpful and mostly fact backed opening post. Thank you.

As for what people may have said:

One can easily assume that obvious audit nonconformances being identified at the bank(s) would include; foreign account holders not having legitimate long-stay visa's and/or certified residence in Thailand. My guess is that the number of major nonconformances like this being found in individual foreigner accounts is overwhelming, to both the auditors and the Central Bank, thus the reason for this knee-jerk suspension of Residency Certificates.

If a person needs a Certificate of Residence to open a bank account in the short-term (next few months) my suggestion would be to contact your Embassy for support/direction.

It's quite easy to speed read that and conclude you need the certificate, even if that's not what you say.

Not worthy of an argument.

[Gaybutton]

Not worthy of an argument.

[DragonMaster]

Excuse me Dodger, while you may not have specifically mentioned it on this board, you said this on another.

“ From everything I've seen and heard, the banks are still requiring certs to open new accounts, but I haven't heard anything regarding them requesting these for existing accounts.“

Perhaps there’s another one of you posting.

[Jun]

Perhaps there’s another one of you posting.

Would be a very convincing clone

[Gaybutton]

while you may not have specifically mentioned it on this board, you said this on another.

When quoting something someone posted elsewhere, please include a link to the post for those who wish to read the entire topic along with the specific quoted post.

The link to the post DragonMaster refers to is: https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showthre ... post301420

We have no confirmation yet as to just what is going on with banks and residency certificates. The way I see it, the possibilities are:

1. All banks are requiring residence certificates to open new accounts.
2. Some banks are requiring residence certificates to open new accounts.
3. Only some branches within certain banks are requiring residence certificates to open new accounts.
4. None of the banks are requiring residence certificates to open new accounts.

If any banks really are requiring residency certificates to open new accounts, I have seen nothing about it in any English language Thailand news media, no announcements from any banks, and so far nobody saying a residency certificate was required of them.

Until we do know, to me it is another case of "Don't worry until there is something to worry about." In other words, if you are going to open a new Thai bank account, I wouldn't bother with a residency certificate unless the bank insists on it - and even then I would check with other branches of the same bank before going to immigration to try to get a residency certificate.

And if a bank does require it, as I said in a post above I would have the bank provide a statement in writing saying a residency certificate is required and I would take that statement with me to show immigration if there is a problem about getting the residency certificate.

And we also don't know whether it is relatively easy or difficult to get a residency certificate for any reason, whether it has to do with banks or not.

For me, until we know differently, the bottom line is I would not bother with a residency certificate when trying to open a new Thai bank account.

[Dodger]

Excuse me Dodger, while you may not have specifically mentioned it on this board, you said this on another.

“ From everything I've seen and heard, the banks are still requiring certs to open new accounts, but I haven't heard anything regarding them requesting these for existing accounts.“

True statement. Your success at K Bank being the first I've heard of someone opening a new account lately without any hassles.

I would suggest asking the members of this forum who had trouble opening accounts without the CR before you draw any broad conclusions.

It's becoming more apparent as time goes on (to me anyway) that the approval criteria required by the different banks to open an account are all over the place. Not only does this criteria differ between banks, but it differs between different bank branches - and even between different bank agents.

As GB eluded to earlier, this is nothing new in Thailand and we should all be very used to this by now.

Dragon...just one question: You included having a Thai drivers license as being one of K Banks requirements for initiating a new account. Does that apply to everyone? Meaning, if you didn't have a Thai drivers license would you have been turned-down? Just curious.