Best Thai Bank

[PeteC]

It would be interesting to see which bank people think is best, and why. I know there is not a lot to choose between any of them, but people usually have a reason why they stay with one establishment rather than change, or an incident that happens that makes you so angry that you empty the account immediately and move on. That unfortunately happened to us on Friday with K Bank (not in Hua Hin). The man couldn't be bothered helping us with the issue we came in about, but incessantly hawked insurance policies and outright refused to help us unless we agreed to "consider" getting a policy. That type of intimidation may work with Thais but it doesn't work with me. In any event, lets see what people think about their Thai banks. I've only listed the major establishments. Feel free in comment on others. Pete

[buksida]

Banks vary enormously depending on where they are (and who is managing them), I've been into banks in HH and been refused everything then have gone into the same branch in a different city and they're falling over themselves to help.

[margaretcarnes]

I always found Bangkok Bank very helpful and efficient. It started years ago - in 1999 - when the staff aided and abetted me in forging a signature in order to transfer a 'holding' account of 5000Bt to my name from that of the previous owner of my bar. (In the days when 5000 had to be held as security for payment of licences!)
It continued when I discovered that they do an immediate clearance on UK Civil Service Pension cheques.

But Ayyudhya Bank staff were always very good when buying stacks of 5 dollar bills for visa runs.

[Roel]

Agree with buksida. I have or had accounts with all of the above and lived and worked in several different places in Thailand. There is no such thing as one bank being structurally better than another. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes not.

I would say if you are in a business like import-export and do a lot of international money transferring stick to the two big ones Bangkok Bank or Kasikorn.
For internet banking I personally use Kasikorn Cyberbanking and I am very happy with that. Others report that they are happy with the Siam Commercial Bank internet banking, probably not really makes a difference.
In the past these were the only two with internet banking services but can imagine that others have caught up by now.

If you just need an account to pay a few bills, use local ATM's and receive a pension or whatever any bank where they not hate you will do.

[MwD]

Also agree with buksida, had pleasant and unpleasant experiences with same banks in different locations. Depends on the staff working there.

I find Kasikorn a very user friendly bank, easy to setup facilities like internet banking etc..

With Bangkok Bank, I receive a SMS every time I buy something with the card, every time I
log onto internet banking, every internet payment transaction made, so gives some comfort in the security aspect.

[hhfarang]

I thought they were all pretty much the same, but then I've mostly only dealt with Bank of Ayudhaya, and mainly just because of the convenience of their branch and ATM locations. They've always been courteous and efficient any time I've dealt with them either at the main branch or the sub branch near my home so I have no complaints with them.

[MrPlum]

Please be careful with internet banking. Security breaches are common. If you pm me your login details and password, I can check if anyone has tried to access your account.

Siam Commercial online banking has given me no problems, while staff at my branch have been fine. Just the one occasion trying to sell me insurance.

[Piesat42]

I use SCB and think there internet banking service is great ... top up phone pay bills easily. And for some strange reason the branch in Market Village has the only machine for getting cash advances It went down once and I bimbled to other near by banks who said use the ATM "no have machine"

[deepee]

Her lady ship does all our banking. Use KB have not had any problems so far with them.I might use the Bank of A to change cash as they tend to give better exchange rates tho.
Went into the Bangkok Bank in Sing-Buri last trip up there and they got hissy with me as I had an open neck shirt and no neck tie on! Reminds me of that Thai tv life insurance ad with the up country boy heading into the office all dressed up only to find out that they don't worry bout that stuff - btw seen the new
ad with the guy getting a taxi and his neighbour hosing ? As close to Monty Python humour as the Thais can get. Great stuff!!!