Which is the best bank for my wife and I

[mike]

Before I give my requirements just a bit background information.

We live in Europe and expect to come and live permanently in 9 years 3months and 12 days near Nong Din Daeng

We will come every year for a holiday between time.

We currently both have accounts in Bangkok with Bangkok Bank, they would not give me internet access as I do not currently have a visa.

We both work and we keep our finances separate.

My wife's ATM card is currently with her mother, and will most probably stay with her as she transfers money each month to it for the family. My wife will open a second account and then deposit money into this and transfer each month a small sum to her original account for her mother.

So what are we after :-

1. A bank where someone speaks English to a reasonable level.
2. In either Nang Rong or Buriram City or anywhere else closer to Nong Din Daeng.
3. A bank where they will give me internet access on my account even though I don't have a Visa.
4. A bank account where my wife and I can have interest on the money deposited.

Finally do the banks in Buriram exchange Foreign Currency (Euros) and are they competitive ?

Any advice on finding the right bank for us would be appreciated.

Cheers

Mike

[Admin]

When I first came to Thailand on Tourist visa I opened a bank account in Siam Commercial Bank and it wasn't a problem to get an access to the Internet.
*Be aware you will have to sign on separate papers for the Internet access permission.

I used to send money to my bank account from overseas and check balance in the bank system on the Internet no problem.

I do remember I tried to open a bank account that time in Bangkok Bank but they refused because of my visa status (Tourist).

I would advice you to opt for Siam Commercial Bank as they are more foreigner/farang friendly system/website,services,etc.

Foreign Currency Exchange:
Compare between the banks through the Internet, there aren't any big differences so I don't think it should be an issue when choosing the bank to open an account right now.

All banks list and addresses:
Interest on the money deposited:
Compare using the first link below.
http://www.bankthailand.info/
http://www.buriramexpats.com/forum/index.php/topic,968.0.html

Bank branches BURIRAM+ SWIFT CODES
http://www.buriramexpats.com/forum/index.php/topic,13.0.html

[Vombatus]

I recommend Kasikorn.

The Prakhonchai branch is particularly Falang friendly.

Where are you in Europe - or, where are your bank accounts in Europe ? This information may be useful in giving specific advice to fit your circumstances.

[Dave the Dude]

I find K Bank to be slightly more proffesional than the rest, but thats not hard.

[nookiebear]

Kasikorn or Krung Thai  are the 2 for me

[manni]

Mike,
You may have better luck if you try to get access to internet banking at the Bangkok Bank branch in Buriram. I have done this previously with only a tourist visa, but it must be done in person at the branch and it is not a quick process as they will need to mail the password to your local address.

[urleft]

I tried to open an account at Siam Commercial, the girl did not want to open it because I only had a tourist visa.  However, the manager saw I had a large deposit and told her to do it.  I keep my TG with me to handle translations.

Went to the Bangkok Branch at Big C to open a account with just 10,000 baht.  No hassle on visa, but no one spoke English, would have been lost without my TG. 

The reason I opened an account at the Bangkok bank is they have a branch in New York that I can have direct deposit, get funds transferred at no fee, using the higher ATM rate. 

I have consistently found Siam Commercial to give the lowest exchange rate for USD :  http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx

[manupete]

The best one is the one where your wife doesn't know how much is in it and where she doesn't know the pin number to your card

[Dave the Dude]

The reason I opened an account at the Bangkok bank is they have a branch in New York that I can have direct deposit, get funds transferred at no fee, using the higher ATM rate. 

That is something I investigated prior to my final move over here 5/6 years ago. Bangkok Bank, London suggested I would have to pay a higher than average transfer fee between London and Surin, so thats why I wrote that idea off. Maybe things have changed now, I do not know?

[Admin]

Just a thought.

What about HSBC ?
It is also an International Bank.
Some English guys I know are using this bank for this reason.

[Vombatus]

Just a thought.

What about HSBC ?
It is also an International Bank.
Some English guys I know are using this bank for this reason.

OK if you are of Premier status but otherwise I can't see any benefits for someone living in Isaan.

Still need to look at each individual's circumstances and Mike has not provided enough information.

[Dave the Dude]

HSBC require a very high regular Balance figure and that shy's many people away from them. A great shame as they used to give good expat services

[mike]

First of all thanks for your replies, very useful. Sorry I have not replied sooner but life is a bit busy at the moment....

I recommend Kasikorn.

The Prakhonchai branch is particularly Falang friendly.

Prakhonchai is a bit further than I wanted to go for a bank, how about Kasikorn in Nang Rong or Buriram City - are they Falang Friendly?

Where are you in Europe - or, where are your bank accounts in Europe ? This information may be useful in giving specific advice to fit your circumstances.

I have bank accounts in UK (Lloyds) and France (Credit Agricole), income at the moment is all in France and I expect it to stay that way for the time being.

Note you should know that the money being transferred is mostly my wifes - she wants to build me a house - and about 50% will be cash I guess (she's a great poker player )

Mike,
You may have better luck if you try to get access to internet banking at the Bangkok Bank branch in Buriram. I have done this previously with only a tourist visa, but it must be done in person at the branch and it is not a quick process as they will need to mail the password to your local address.

OK - I will bear this in mind, when you say local address you mean local Thai address I guess ?

Went to the Bangkok Branch at Big C to open a account with just 10,000 baht.  No hassle on visa, but no one spoke English, would have been lost without my TG. 

Did you get internet banking with them as well without the Visa ?

The best one is the one where your wife doesn't know how much is in it and where she doesn't know the pin number to your card

True if I had money, but it's her who is rich

Still need to look at each individual's circumstances and Mike has not provided enough information.

Basically I am not bothered about transferring money or best rates etc, I've got that pretty much covered. What intersets me the most is, and in this order.

1. A bank I can communiate with - not my wife communicating for me. At this moment I speak Thai like a 1 year old kid .
2. A bank that will give me internet access even though I do not have a Visa. I guess I could get a tourist visa if neccesary.

From what I have seen above I guess Kasikorn followed by BK Bank seems to be coming out winners.

I Also need to know that the banks in Buriram exchange Foreign Currency.

Once again, thanks for the replies so far, very much appreciated.

Mike

[Vombatus]

Mike,

Nang Rong looks favourite in terms of location.

Nang Rong has all the main banks. I opened a SCB account there 3 years ago (in connection with land purchase) but don't use it now. I speak Thai like a 6 month old so I took the better half. No problems and although I had a visa I don't recall this being a requirement.

Whilst there are quite a few Falangs around Nang Rong it doesn't strike me as somewhere geared to Falangs - I think the acid test is to go and try them. They will exchange cash and also do cash withdrawals over the counter against debit card and passport.

I have a soft spot for Kasikorn in Prakhonchai because they seem to make an extra effort to help Falangs - I also prefer K Cyber Banking to SCB online banking. I have no knowledge of nang Rong Kasikorn.

You know your own skills but unless you have any reason not to, then take your wife with and visit a couple of the banks there.

Nang Rong: Has a simple but pleasant Vietnamese restaurant, Lucky bar, Pop Suk (sort of bar where a few expat reprobates gather), KFC! Good new hotel on the Chamni Road, Phanum Rung Hotel and, of course, it is only 28km from Coffee Corner.

[manni]

Mike,  I did mean your Thai address  when I said local address. It was either the user ID or a temporary password that must be mailed to you. It isnt mailed immediately either. I believe it took about two weeks or so.

The visa I had when I opened the Bangkok Bank account and added internet banking was just the 30 tourist visa.

I think you will find that communicating at any the various banks will be equally frustrating to some extent. 

Internet banking was not as important to me as I only really use the BKK Bank account for the three months or so we are in Thailand each year. The main reason I opted for BKK Bank, as urleft stated, is that as an American it is extremely convenient and cost effective for me to transfer money to the New York branch of BKK bank for further deposit into my Thai account. I have no insights at all into what bank would be best for you from that standpoint.