BANGKOK, THAILAND – Foreigners seeking to open bank accounts in Thailand faced far stricter rules in 2025, leaving tourists almost entirely excluded and catching even long-term residents off guard.
Tourist’s failed rounds at major banks in Pattaya
For Max, a 40‑year‑old tourist from Bremen, a three‑week trip to Thailand turned into an unexpected confrontation with the country’s banking system. He arrived prepared with his passport and three months of account statements and headed to a branch of Bangkok Bank in Pattaya, convinced by friends that opening an account would be simple, as it allegedly had been in the past.
“The lady at the counter was friendly, looked at everything, then briefly tapped on the screen and shook her head. Tourists: not possible. Since early 2025, she said. She even looked a bit as if she was sorry.”
said Max, a tourist from Germany.
He then tried another branch, and then a third. Kasikorn Bank said no, SCB said no, and Krungsri also rejected him. After two days of going from counter to counter, he gave up on the big Thai institutions – but eventually managed to secure an account elsewhere.
Workaround at CIMB – and a nasty surprise back in Germany
A contact tipped him off that CIMB Bank, a Malaysian banking group with branches in Thailand, was at that time still somewhat more open to tourists, especially branches used to foreign customers. Max went to a branch on Pattaya Beach Road, laid out his passport, entry stamp and accommodation receipts, and waited while staff checked his case and called the branch manager.
After an hour, the account was approved with a minimum deposit of 500 baht. He received a debit card immediately, but no online banking access, only a mobile app. He left the branch relieved and enthusiastic about finally having a local account.
Four months later, back in Bremen, he tried to transfer money via the app – and could no longer log in. He had linked the account to a German SIM card and no longer had an active Thai number, which left him unable to authenticate. Around 3,000 baht remained stranded in the account.
“I’ll be back in autumn. Then I’ll go to the branch and sort it out. But it would be nice if you knew this beforehand.”
said Max.
Money-laundering scandal triggers sweeping clampdown
What many foreigners experienced as arbitrary obstruction had a specific trigger. In May 2025, Thai authorities arrested four bank employees in Pattaya who had opened accounts in the names of tourists for a Chinese crime syndicate.
These so‑called mule accounts were used to launder stolen funds, prompting the central bank to tighten controls significantly. Since then, not only new applications have been affected: Bangkok Bank also froze existing accounts held by customers on tourist or DTV visas, in some cases without prior warning.
Customers who received an SMS were required to appear in person at the branch managing their account to clarify their visa status. Those who did not receive a message were initially unaffected but were advised to check their accounts regularly as the situation continued to evolve and other banks could follow.
Long-term resident in Chiang Mai relies on three banks
Siegfried, a 68‑year‑old Austrian who had lived in Chiang Mai since 2007, viewed the uproar among newcomers with a certain distance, based on his long experience. He held accounts with Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn and Krungsri and recalled that opening his first account had never been straightforward.
“When I opened an account here for the first time, it wasn’t a walk in the park either. I failed at four branches before the fifth said yes.”
said Siegfried, a long-term resident in northern Thailand.
He noted that in the past, outcomes often depended on individual clerks, whereas now stricter rules were based on formal regulations. His main lesson for those settling permanently in Thailand was clear: never rely on a single bank.
Siegfried once had his pension proof for visa renewal routed through his Bangkok Bank account. When that account was suspended for three days due to a failed fingerprint scan and an old phone, he briefly panicked. Since then, he kept his main balance with Kasikorn Bank and used Bangkok Bank primarily for international transfers, assigning each of his three accounts a specific role.
How constant activity and a Thai SIM keep accounts alive
Siegfried said his strategy differed from that of many newcomers in three key ways. First, he always returned to the original branch where each account was opened, never to a random outlet, so staff there knew his history and visa status.
Second, he kept each account permanently active. At least once a month he made a small PromptPay payment – for an electricity bill, a market purchase, anything – to avoid automatic suspension after 12 months without movement if the balance dropped below 2,000 baht.
Third, he maintained a Thai mobile number registered in his name and never cancelled it, even when travelling briefly to Europe. In his view, the biggest mistake among new arrivals was opening an account, submitting all documents, then leaving it untouched for years.
“Then it’s time to renew the retirement visa, the officer wants to see the bank book – and the account is frozen. That’s the classic moment when people panic.”
said Siegfried.
Visa, documents and which banks still open the door
According to the current practice, foreigners with a Non‑Immigrant Visa – whether retirement (O‑A), marriage (O) or work (B) – were still usually able to open accounts at major Thai banks. Required documents included an original passport plus copies, a valid visa, proof of address such as a lease or electricity bill, or a Certificate of Residence from the immigration office, and a registered Thai mobile number.
At Bangkok Bank, the minimum deposit on the day of opening was 500 baht. Those without an appropriate visa were advised to obtain one first, as large banks no longer opened accounts without a Non‑Immigrant status.
Bangkok Bank continued to be regarded as one of the more foreigner‑friendly options, with an English‑language app, solid SWIFT connectivity for pension transfers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and a dense branch network. Kasikorn Bank was known for a strong mobile app and smooth QR payments, and both institutions consistently enforced the Non‑Immigrant Visa requirement. Specialist visa and advisory services on the ground offered assistance with both visa procedures and account opening.
What tourists and long-stayers were advised to do next
Under the tightened regime, tourists were told not to waste time visiting branch after branch in the hope of finding exceptions. The rule across the major players was clear: without a Non‑Immigrant Visa, there was no longer a regular bank account.
Visitors staying several weeks and needing local payments or PromptPay could manage with services such as Wise or Revolut as interim solutions, although these apps did not count toward visa or immigration requirements. Long‑term residents who did not yet monitor their accounts regularly were urged to change habits immediately: make at least one small monthly transaction, keep a Thai SIM active and closely track visa expiry dates.
Additional background and practical advice were available in a podcast titled “Auswandern Thailand”, in which Wolfgang Payer and Stefan Fabro discussed in episode 8 how expats and tourists could navigate documentation, bank choices and common pitfalls when dealing with Thai banks.
The names of the men interviewed were changed by the editorial team. The banking rules described reflected the situation as of April 2026 and were subject to change without prior notice, and the information did not constitute individual legal or financial advice.