Thai Bank Account for Foreigners
Head-to-head comparison of 8 commercial banks for holders of Non-B, Non-O, LTR, SMART, Thailand Privilege and DTV visas — with fees, flagship branches, and insider tips you will not find in the brochure.
Quick Answer
- • DTV holders: Krungsri / CIMB Thai / TTB (KBank and Krungthai still refuse)
- • Retirement / Marriage Non-O: Bangkok Bank (biggest network + FET certificate) or SCB Wealth
- • LTR / Elite / SMART: Every bank accepts — choose by perk (Krungsri Exclusive / UOB Privilege / SCB Julius Baer)
- • Lowest fees: TTB All Free + TTB Global Debit (0% FX at overseas ATMs)
- • Highest yield: CIMB Chill D 3.88% p.a. (1–3M THB tier)
Comparison Table
| Bank | DTV? | EN support | ATM FX | Wire-in | Timeline | Our fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBL Bangkok Bank | ✓ | ★★★ | 220 + 1% ต่อรายการ (ATM ต่างประเทศ) | 0.25% (min 200, max 500 THB) — คิดจากผู้รับ | 1 วัน (walk-in) — สมุดบัญชี + ATM/debit card ได้ทันที; internet banking รอ SMS OTP อีก 24 ชม. | ฿5,500–9,500 |
| KBK Kasikornbank | ✗ | ★★★ | 220 + 1% conversion | 0.25% (200–500 THB) | 1 วัน — ATM card + K-Plus activation ภายในชั่วโมง | ฿6,500–10,500 |
| SCB Siam Commercial Bank | ✓ | ★★★ | 220 + 2.5% conversion (ปกติ) / 0% ถ้าใช้ SCB PLANET card | 0.25% (200–500 THB) | 1 วัน (Wealth Center) / 2–3 วัน (สาขาปกติ — ต้องผ่าน approval) | ฿7,500–12,500 |
| BAY Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya) | ✓ | ★★★ | 180 + 1% conversion (ต่ำสุดในหมวด) | 0.20% (150–500 THB — ต่ำสุดในกลุ่ม Big 4) | 1 วัน — Krungsri Exclusive lounge 30 นาทีเสร็จ | ฿5,500–9,500 |
| KTB Krungthai Bank | ✗ | ★ | 220 + 1% | 0.25% (200–500) | 2–5 วัน — Krungtai HQ ต้องส่ง approval | ฿6,500–11,500 |
| TTB TMBThanachart Bank (TTB) | ✓ | ★★ | 0 (TTB Global Debit) / 220+1% (Standard) | 0.25% (200–500) | 1 วัน | ฿5,500–8,500 |
| CIMBT CIMB Thai Bank | ✓ | ★★★ | 220 + 1% | 0.20% (150–500 THB) | 1 วัน | ฿6,500–10,500 |
| UOBT United Overseas Bank (Thailand) | ✓ | ★★★ | 220 + 1% | 0.25% (200–500) | 1 วัน (Privilege lounge) / 2–3 วัน (regular) | ฿7,500–12,500 |
Bank profiles
Bangkok Bank is Thailand's most foreigner-friendly major bank. Non-B/Non-O/LTR/SMART/Elite holders can walk into Silom or Siam branches with passport + Residenc…
KBank accepts Non-B/Non-O/LTR/SMART/Elite Visa holders only (no DTV, no tourists as of Jul 2026). Bring passport + Residence Certificate (<30 days) + Thai phone…
SCB opens accounts for long-stay visa holders at its Wealth Centers (Siam Paragon, EmQuartier, One Bangkok) in one day. Ask for the SCB PLANET debit card — zero…
Krungsri (owned by MUFG) accepts long-stay visa holders including DTV (since May 2026). Bring passport + Residence Certificate (<30 days) + Thai phone. Krungsri…
Krungthai (state-owned) is best for foreigners working at government agencies, state universities, embassies, and LTR/Elite holders who want fast Revenue Depart…
TTB (TMBThanachart) offers the 'All Free' package — zero fees on transfers, other-bank ATM, and annual debit card. Combined with TTB Global Debit (0% FX + 0 THB…
CIMB Thai (Malaysian parent) offers Chill D Savings at 3.88% p.a. — the highest rate in Thailand, plus a fully English digital app and access to CIMB's ASEAN ne…
UOB Thailand (Singaporean parent) offers Privilege Banking (AUM > 5M THB) with direct links to UOB Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Multi-Currency Ac…
FAQ
- Can foreigners open a Thai bank account?
- Yes, if you hold Non-B (Work Permit), Non-O (Retirement/Marriage), LTR, SMART, or Thailand Privilege (Elite). DTV holders are now accepted at Krungsri, CIMB Thai, TTB, SCB Wealth Centers and UOB Privilege (KBank and Krungthai still refuse as of July 2026). Tourist visas: success rate under 20%.
- How long does account opening take?
- Walk-in at a flagship branch: 30 minutes to 1 day — you leave with passbook, ATM card and mobile banking. Small upcountry branches may take 3–5 days pending HQ approval.
- What documents are always required?
- 1) Passport + visa valid > 3 months, 2) Residence Certificate from Immigration or your embassy (<30 days), 3) Thai mobile number, 4) Proof of income (Work Permit, LTR card, or 3-month overseas statement).
- Best bank for digital nomads / DTV holders?
- Krungsri (accepts DTV, best Japanese support, low wire fees), CIMB Thai (Chill D 3.88% + ASEAN network), or TTB (All Free + Global Debit with 0% FX). Avoid KBank and Krungthai — they still refuse DTV.
- Best bank for retirement visa holders?
- Bangkok Bank (largest branch network + 32 overseas branches for pension routing) or SCB (Wealth Centers + SCB PLANET debit card with 0% FX and USD 8M travel insurance).
- What is an FCD (Foreign Currency Deposit) account?
- An account that holds funds in a foreign currency directly, avoiding FX loss on remittance. Interest paid per currency (USD ~4%, EUR ~2%, JPY ~0.1%). Required for condo purchases and Thai LLC investment via the FET certificate.
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Official sources
The information on this page follows the official sources below. Always check the latest version before you file.
- กรมการกงสุล — บริการรับรองเอกสาร (นิติกรณ์)— กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
- สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง — วีซ่า รายงานตัว 90 วัน TM.30— Immigration Bureau
- กรมการปกครอง — ทะเบียนราษฎร ทะเบียนครอบครัว— Department of Provincial Administration
- สภาทนายความในพระบรมราชูปถัมภ์ — ทนายความผู้ทำคำรับรองลายมือชื่อและเอกสาร— Lawyers Council of Thailand
- สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา — ฐานข้อมูลกฎหมายไทย— Office of the Council of State
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Frequently asked questions
- Can a foreigner own 100% of a Thai company?
- Generally no for activities listed in the Foreign Business Act, where majority foreign ownership requires a Foreign Business Licence, a BOI promotion, or treaty rights such as the US–Thailand Treaty of Amity. Manufacturing and certain export activities are largely open, and BOI-promoted activities can permit full foreign ownership together with land-holding and visa privileges, so the right structure depends on the specific activity.
- What is the minimum registered capital for a Thai company?
- There is no general statutory minimum for a Thai-majority company, but practical thresholds apply: THB 2 million of paid-up registered capital per foreign work permit, or THB 1 million if the foreigner is married to a Thai national, and THB 3 million per foreign shareholder for a Foreign Business Licence. Capital should therefore be planned around the visa and work-permit outcome you need, not the incorporation minimum.
- How long does company registration take?
- Registration at the Department of Business Development can be completed within one to three working days once the name reservation, shareholder documents and company objectives are ready, and the VAT registration and social security registration follow afterwards. The realistic end-to-end timeline including bank account opening is two to six weeks, with the bank account usually being the slowest step for foreign directors.
- What ongoing accounting obligations does a Thai company have?
- Every Thai company must keep statutory accounts, file monthly withholding tax (PND 1, 3, 53) and VAT (PP 30) returns by the middle of the following month, file the half-year corporate income tax return (PND 51) and the annual return (PND 50), and have its financial statements audited by a Thai CPA and filed with the DBD each year. Dormant companies are not exempt — nil returns and an audited statement are still required.