Which bank to choose?

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Sultry
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Which bank to choose?

Post by Sultry »

I want to open a bankaccount but I'm not sure which bank to choose. Any help, advice or tips?
It's a small world after all...
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buksida
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Post by buksida »

Basically the Thai banks will treat you as a third class citizen so I would advise opening one in Bangkok with HSBC or Standard Chartered if you want anything that resembles some kind of service.

If you have to have an account in Hua Hin from what other people have posted on here I would have to go with Bank of Ayuthaya.
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Post by Burger »

Sultry,

May be worth checking out some of the new branches in the Market Village (New Tesco mall).
My wife reckons her bank, Siam Commercial, are open until 9pm, which could be more than handy.

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Gutte
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Post by Gutte »

To me it seems like everybody is complaining about their own bank except me and a couple of friends who, like me, have chosen the Bank of Ayudhya.

This bank has for two years now been very helpful in every way without exception. And I've asked for some tricky things - like for example to be granted a credit card without even having a work permit. I have been treated like a first class client all the way. They have very convenient online services, in English, and when fysically walking into the bank I have seldom had to wait even a minute.

Shouldn't have told you this - now I might have to wait...
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Sultry
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Post by Sultry »

Hmm, good to know.

So what kind of documents do I need to bring with me to open an account?
It's a small world after all...
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Post by Burger »

So what kind of documents do I need to bring with me to open an account?
Think it's your passport, Thai address (can give a friends if you don;t have one) and 1,000 Baht to open account.

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STEVE G
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Post by STEVE G »

Hi Sultry,
I opened a Bangkok Bank account last year and I have never had a problem with them. I only use it for transfers and for a couple of large purchases, and as a general ATM account. I have never felt I was being treated any different to any other customer, but then I do not know what sort of transactions other posters have been attempting.
It was very quick to open and only required a passport and local address, there was a small extra charge for getting an ATM card straight away, I cannot remember how much but you could avoid this by waiting a few days. The member of staff spoke good English and was helpful in filling out the forms; I think I was only in the bank for about thirty minutes in all.
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Post by Gutte »

Sultry,
if you have a house here, bring your house book with your name in it, together with the passport of course, because then you will be considered resident and get interest on your account balance. If you are not resident you will not get any interest. These are the rules at least in my bank (Bank of Ayudhya) but I think they apply everywhere.
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Post by Burger »

It's worth knowing that you can also have, seperate to your current account, a 'fixed-term deposit' account if you have a lump of cash you don't mind tying up for a set period, 3 months, 6 or 12.
You get upto 4.7% pa, depending on how much you have in there.

I opened one with Kasikorn without house book, just passport and address.

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