Thailand answers, banking and money
Which is the best bank in Thailand for foreigners?
We do not rank Thai banks, because nobody publishes approval rates for foreigners and the scores quoted online are guesses. What can be compared is what each bank prints on its own website, which we read on 2 October 2026.
What the four banks publish
| Bank | What its own page says about foreigners | Opening deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok Bank | Open at any branch in Thailand, in person; an account cannot be opened from abroad; for the documents a foreigner needs, the savings page says to contact a branch | 500 THB |
| Kasikorn (KBank) | Passport, a non-immigrant visa of any type, an identity document from your home country and proof of your purpose (work permit, school certificate); no tourist visa, visa on arrival, visa exemption or DTV | No minimum |
| SCB | Identity check with a passport and a work permit | 500 THB |
| Krungsri | On its foreign currency deposit page: passport plus documents matching your purpose of entry, such as a work permit or a non-immigrant visa; foreign customers with a tourist visa cannot open an account | 500 THB for the Thai Savings Account, which its page reserves for foreigners resident in Thailand |
How to choose between them
- Start from your visa. Kasikorn, SCB and Krungsri all name the work permit among the documents they accept, and Bangkok Bank publishes no list. On a Non-O retirement or an ED visa, Kasikorn's published rule (any non-immigrant visa) is the clearest fit, while SCB's page names only the work permit.
- Read the fee sheet. Krungsri's Thai Savings Account charges 100 THB a month when the average balance falls under 20,000 THB, and its debit card costs 350 THB a year.
- Pick the branch you can reach. You will go back for a replacement card or a passbook update, so on an island the best bank is the one with a counter there.
- Think about closing day. Bangkok Bank states that an account cannot be closed without coming to the bank in person.
What no bank will do
Kasikorn and Krungsri state in writing that tourist visa holders cannot open an account, and Kasikorn adds the visa on arrival, the visa exemption and the DTV to its refusal list. SCB and Bangkok Bank publish no such line, but our banking guide reports the same refusal at their counters. If that is your status, the comparison stops here, and can I open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa explains what to do instead.
Kasikorn, Krungsri and Bangkok Bank add that they may ask for more documents, so the published list is a floor. Our Thailand banking and money guide covers the certificate of residence, the TM30 and living without a Thai account.
Sources
- Bangkok Bank, FAQs for foreign customers (open at any branch in Thailand, in person only, no opening from abroad, closing in person), accessed .
- Bangkok Bank, savings account (open an account with 500 THB; foreigners are told to contact a branch for the required documents), accessed .
- Kasikornbank, savings account (documents required for foreigners, any non-immigrant visa, tourist visa, visa on arrival, free visa and DTV refused, no minimum opening deposit), accessed .
- SCB, general savings account (a foreigner verifies identity with a passport and work permit, 500 THB minimum opening balance), accessed .
- Krungsri, Thai Savings Account (for individual foreigners resident in Thailand, 500 THB opening deposit, 100 THB a month under a 20,000 THB average balance, debit card 350 THB a year), accessed .
- Krungsri, foreign currency deposit (passport and documents matching the purpose of entry such as a work permit or a non-immigrant visa, foreign customers with a tourist visa cannot open an account), accessed .
Facts in this answer last verified .
Read the full guide
- Banking and money in Thailand: who can open an account in 2026, Wise, PromptPay and ATM fees
Foreigners can open a Thai bank account in 2026 on a long stay visa, not a tourist entry or DTV. Documents, 220 THB ATM fees, PromptPay and Wise changes.