Mike E 12 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 I'm currently in Thailand for I'm hoping about 3 months. This will be my first extended stay here while considering moving here permanantly. While here, is my best option for access to cash to just take money out of an ATM with my debit card? I've got access to WorldRemit, Western Union, or Bank transfers. Any reason to open a bank account for a 3 month stay? I'll probably be paying for rental stays with cc if I rent through airbnd. Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post petermik 17,536 Posted January 23 Popular Post Share Posted January 23 7 hours ago, Mike E said: I'm currently in Thailand for I'm hoping about 3 months. This will be my first extended stay here while considering moving here permanantly. While here, is my best option for access to cash to just take money out of an ATM with my debit card? I've got access to WorldRemit, Western Union, or Bank transfers. Any reason to open a bank account for a 3 month stay? I'll probably be paying for rental stays with cc if I rent through airbnd. Open a bank account if you can...it will be handy for the future 4 Link to post Share on other sites
bkk6060 13,321 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 If you plan to return then try a bank account otherwise, ATM works fine. I doubt you will currently be able to open a bank account under your circumstances. But call, check around and see. Come back and post your experience. Good luck. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ThaIrish Sean 164 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 You can open up Bangkok Bank account in Soi Buakhao, Pattaya very easily. They do insist you take out their insurance (almost like a bribe) but you will get a bank account with online banking and an ATM card. You do not have to have any special visas to do this. Cost my brother 2000 baht last year, but I heard somebody else mention 8,000 baht so not sure how much they're charging for the insurance these days. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Salerno 4,529 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 13 minutes ago, ThaIrish Sean said: They do insist you take out their insurance (almost like a bribe) Given recent arrivals can't get in without US$100K (and possibly an extra covid only policy) surely that scam is dead? Link to post Share on other sites
ronaldo0 1,757 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Try open a bank account and send money to it using TransferWise is easiest option I find . 2 Link to post Share on other sites
rwill 1,404 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 If you have a bank that rebates the fee charged by Thai banks then that is the best way for sure. Just never accept the exchange rate offered by the ATM. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
scubascuba3 10,898 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 1 hour ago, ThaIrish Sean said: You can open up Bangkok Bank account in Soi Buakhao, Pattaya very easily. They do insist you take out their insurance (almost like a bribe) but you will get a bank account with online banking and an ATM card. You do not have to have any special visas to do this. Cost my brother 2000 baht last year, but I heard somebody else mention 8,000 baht so not sure how much they're charging for the insurance these days. Bangkok Bank 2nd road by Soi 6 or branch at Walking St usually open easy for zero baht. OP, If your credit card doesn't charge for use abroad you can withdraw at a banks counter, trial and error finding one, I used to take out 100k before switching to Transferwise Link to post Share on other sites
Salerno 4,529 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said: If your credit card doesn't charge for use abroad you can withdraw at a banks counter, trial and error finding one SCB where always good with that for me (unless they physically didn't have the machine in the branch). Hit and miss with the others. Link to post Share on other sites
Solinvictus 984 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 There are resorts all over the place mate.. Link to post Share on other sites
Bigz 268 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 You will be much better off with a thai account + transferwise. It could be challenging to get an account with a tourist visa though. Location matters a lot. I hear it's hard in Bangkok/Pattaya. Much easier to get a bank acc. in Isaan. Was very easy for me 3 years ago(got account from first bank I walked into with a 30 days visa exempt stamp) Today might be way more difficult. Link to post Share on other sites
Tropposurfer 1,496 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 21 hours ago, Mike E said: I'm currently in Thailand for I'm hoping about 3 months. This will be my first extended stay here while considering moving here permanantly. While here, is my best option for access to cash to just take money out of an ATM with my debit card? I've got access to WorldRemit, Western Union, or Bank transfers. Any reason to open a bank account for a 3 month stay? I'll probably be paying for rental stays with cc if I rent through airbnd. One my previous short trips months at times like you (prior to moving to LOS). I used to take out 20 or 30K (teller machine) at time and simply put the larger proportion in my safe and take out what I needed each day/week accrued a $10 - or $12 AUD bank fee. For any supermarket and mall shopping I would often use my debit card (loaded up for the holiday). This kept my bank charges down. I'd go get your Thai drivers license if staying for many months - it's easy to do, and makes any official stuff a bit easier if you've got one, least of which is being stopped at random check-points by police. They treat you far better if you have one and learn how to say where you live and where you are going in Thai. If you're going to emigrate to LOS later and lease a place, get a letter of residence from IO, go get your drivers license, then arrange a Thai bank account for your visa requirements (if a retirement 400K baht or marriage visa 800K baht), and transfer a larger (maybe years worth of living funds - up to you how much) using TransferWise (far cheaper than any other method I found, and so easy to set up - once you have a Thai bank account) to transfer into from home. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Peterw42 13,649 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 15 hours ago, Salerno said: Given recent arrivals can't get in without US$100K (and possibly an extra covid only policy) surely that scam is dead? The insurance the banks sell is usually accident insurance, not health. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mike E 12 Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 Thanks for all the suggestions! Link to post Share on other sites
possum1931 12,928 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 18 hours ago, ThaIrish Sean said: You can open up Bangkok Bank account in Soi Buakhao, Pattaya very easily. They do insist you take out their insurance (almost like a bribe) but you will get a bank account with online banking and an ATM card. You do not have to have any special visas to do this. Cost my brother 2000 baht last year, but I heard somebody else mention 8,000 baht so not sure how much they're charging for the insurance these days. The insurance is only available under a certain age, maybe 60. Link to post Share on other sites
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