Can I open a bank account in Thailand online?

Thai banks do open accounts inside their apps, which is why the question keeps coming up. The flow is built for Thai citizens, and the banks' own pages show where a foreigner drops out of it.

What the banks publish

1. Bangkok Bank, in its FAQ for foreign customers, answers the question directly: you cannot open an account from abroad, and you must visit a Bangkok Bank branch in Thailand in person.
2. Krungsri's guide to opening a savings account in its app asks for your ID card information, the 12 digit laser code on the back of the citizen ID card, and identity verification through Krungsri i-CONFIRM or NDID.
3. NDID is Thailand's national digital ID platform. PayPal Thailand, which uses it, states that a Thai national ID card is required to enrol, and that a foreign passport, a work permit or the pink ID card are not accepted.
4. Kasikorn lists the documents a foreigner needs (passport, non-immigrant visa, home country ID, proof of purpose) and sends you to a branch for the rest.

SCB's product page says its savings account can be opened in the SCB EASY app without a branch visit, but the same page asks a foreigner for a passport and a work permit as identity documents. It does not say that a passport holder can finish the app flow, so do not plan around it.

What you can do before you land

You cannot open the account, but you can shorten the branch visit. Get the visa first, because Kasikorn and Krungsri state in writing that tourist visa holders cannot open an account. Ask your landlord to file the TM30 on day one, since some branches ask for a certificate of residence that depends on it. Buy a Thai SIM in your own name for the banking app. The full list is in what documents do I need to open a Thai bank account as a foreigner.

Beware of remote opening services

Websites that promise a Thai account opened for you without a visit are selling something the banks say they do not offer. An account opened on paperwork that does not survive a compliance review can be frozen with your money inside it, as our Thailand banking and money guide explains.

If what you need is baht, not a bank

A Wise account or a foreign card covers rent transfers and cash without any Thai account. Can I scan Thai QR codes with Wise covers the QR side, and can I open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa covers the visa rule.