Banking

[maccastime]

Good Morning Lads.
Well as mentioned in earlier posts it will be wheels up on the 23/01/2011.
Just about have all Non Imig Visa stuff sorted this end.
Just wondering what documents are required for opening a bank account in Hua Hin?
Will Passport, Visa be enough.
Happy New Year to all Members.

[Farang]

Pick one of the banks in Market Village. Thereby you'll have service also during evenings and weekends.
All you need is your passport and a bit of money to deposit and pay for your debit card. If there is no
queue you'll be in and out in ten minutes. If you are going to use internet banking service, open the
service account while you're opening the bank a/c.

I have been quite satisfied with Kasikorn Bank. They have good service and a very convenient and
secure internet banking system.

[Homer]

I found it depends on the bank and the branch.

Bank of Ayudhya: No Bhat account on a Tourist Visa, yes to a US Dollar account.

Bangkok Bank: Need a letter from a Thai citizen or the US Embassy guaranteeing you are who your passport says you are. Gee, I thought that's what the passport was for. One branch gave me a form in Thai, the other gave me an instruction sheet for the form, but not the form.

In all three of the above encounters the expressions, tone of voice and body language of the person I dealt with told me there was no F'ing way I was going to be able to open an account, so I went to the bank that was reputed to be the easiest for a foreigner on a tourist visa.

At Kasikorn Bank in Market Village I thought from the start that not only was I going to open an account without any problem but that they were glad to have my business. Only bump was when the person helping me asked if I had a ‘Thai Address’. I told him I rented an apartment and the name of the building. He asked which room, I showed him the number on my key. Problem solved.

[Spitfire]

It could also be different from area to area or that "The wind is blowing westerly today, so no, not possible." Also, never know where the farang haters are lurking in these faceless suits or who will just tell you "Not possible" because it would be easier for you just to go away instead of them trying to deal with you/do their job properly and losing face somewhere/somehow along the way in front of work friends.

I tend to find that the HQ branch of a bank in a city is more helpful/useful than it's sub-branches as it seems like the sub-branch minions are not authorized to make decisions outside the most basic/common banking services.

[Korkenzieher]

I can also support Kasikorn in Market Village - I told them I was looking to buy in the area and was in and out in ten, too. The internet banking service knocks spots off anything I have in the west! Elect for the One Time Password system. AIS phone numbers will work outside the country, so you can do e-banking with K-Bank from anywhere but DTAC/Happy so not so you cannot receive the OTP on their numbers *outside* Thailand. If you have the option, use an AIS /1-2-Call number.

[maccastime]

Many thanks for the info lads,muchly appreciated.Yes a mate of mine attempted to open an account while on Hollidays in los,and yes got the runaround,produced a passport,but they were not interested? i always thought a passport was like gold? top of the tree? but as mentioned probably easier if you have your non imig visa,or retirement visa.Will definately visit the Market Village and see how i go.
Thanks again for all info.

[paulsimkiss]

Hi, Yes I agree, Kasikorn Bank easy. All done in 10 minutes. Walk away with debit card and internet access. Even all set up on my mobile.

[MwD]

Yep, Kasikorn are the most farang friendly bank, and I find their services like internet banking very easy to use. No hassle. They have branches and ATMs everywhere.

Due to the company I work for I was forced to open a Bangkok Bank to receive salary...yesterday, it took me an hour to sort out my OTP for internet banking, spoke to a number of people here and in Bangkok, answered a hundred questions....... With Kasikorn, it was achieved in minutes.

[Korkenzieher]

Adding to the OTP system: It used to be that OTP only worked outside Thailand on the AIS phone network. DTAC would not work (certainly for Pay as You Go phones). That seems now to have been rectified, as my DTAC number connected to E-Plus network as soon as I landed in Germany last night. Welcome to Germany messages appeared (somewhat annoyingly) at 3 am local. So I guess that means I can now use my K-Cyber banking from outside LOS, though have not yet tried to do so.