Banking and Sending Money to Phuket: Thai Accounts, Transfers and Cards

Can you open an account?

Banks ask for a passport and, in most cases, a long-stay visa. Kasikorn states in writing that tourist visas, visa on arrival and visa exemption are not eligible, and that a non-immigrant visa of any type is required, according to a September 2026 review of the banks' own sites. Another guide says that in 2026 most banks have become stricter and often no longer accept tourist visas or even the DTV. Bangkok Bank has long been seen as the most foreigner-friendly, but it reportedly tightened its practice in January 2026 and publishes no foreigner requirements, telling applicants to ask a branch.

Because practice differs by branch, treat any list of documents as a starting point and ask the branch.

What to bring

• Your passport and your visa or extension.
• A proof of address, such as a rental contract or the TM30 receipt, since some branches ask for one.
• A work permit or education documents where the bank asks, because a work permit is commonly demanded at stricter banks.
• An opening deposit, which can be small at some banks and larger at others, with some reports of 50,000 baht at certain branches.
• A Thai phone number for the banking app.

Go early in the day to a large branch, often in a shopping mall or a main branch, where staff are used to foreign applicants. Call first and say exactly which visa you hold.

Which bank?

Guides most often name Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn for foreigners, with Siam Commercial Bank, Krungsri, CIMB and UOB as other options and SCB often described as the strictest. Kasikorn's app is frequently praised. A savings account is usually easier to open than a current account. Ask about monthly fees, ATM fees and card options, because the costs vary.

Moving money to Thailand

Bank transfers by SWIFT usually take a few business days and can carry fees at both ends plus a weak exchange rate. Many expats use a specialist transfer service that converts at or near the mid-market rate for a lower fee. Wise is the name that comes up most often, and one guide notes that it can send money into a Thai bank account, while another says its Thailand features are limited, so check the current service for your country.

• Compare the total cost, which is the fee plus the rate margin, not just the fee.
• Send a small test amount first.
• Keep records of transfers, because they can matter for visa financial proofs and for tax. See the tax guide.
• For a retirement or visa deposit, ask Immigration which proofs and how long the money must stay, as the retirement guide explains.
• Beware of anyone asking you to move money for a stranger or to receive payments for others. See the scams guide.

Cards and ATMs

Thai ATMs charge a fee for foreign cards, commonly around 220 baht per withdrawal, so withdraw larger amounts less often and check your own bank's fees. When a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, choose Thai baht to avoid a poor conversion rate. A Thai debit card linked to your account removes most of these fees.

If you cannot open an account

A multi-currency account from a non-bank provider can work as a stopgap, but it is not a Thai bank account and some landlords and services will want Thai details. Some people open an account after they obtain a longer visa, or after a visa agent confirms which branch accepts their documents. Do not pay anyone who promises an account without a visa or a visit.