Once you decide to live or do business in Pattaya and you have bought a house or condo in Pattaya. The next most important thing for you to consider is open a bank account in Pattaya so that you can transfer your money from oversea. With this in mind, we provide you the following article.
The process of opening a bank account in Pattaya is quite simple. You need to bring certain documents such as your passport with a valid visa and an address in Pattaya. The minimum sum for opening an account in most banks is 500 baht. The bank will issue a bank pass book and an ATM card, both of which can be used to withdraw or deposit money and to make bank transfers.
The types of accounts that foreigners can open in Thailand are a savings account, fixed account, business bank account, or a current account – which will all be in Thai baht. Foreigners can also open a foreign currency deposit account in a foreign currency that the bank accepts. A checking account is not available for personal use. It is very complicated to open a checking account unless you have a legitimate business in Pattaya. For business accounts, the bank needs to see a passport with a valid visa, plus all of the company paperwork. This is complicated enough that it should be prepared by an accountant.
Once a bank account is opened, the account holder will receive an ATM card that can be used for withdrawals, deposits, transferring funds, checking balance, etc. You can also request a check card (e.g. Visa Electron) or a credit card. You may qualify if you have a valid work permit, proper visa documentation, and history and proof of income and residency. You can request online banking via the Internet, as well, which is available in many banks in Thailand now.
If your ATM or credit card is lost or stolen, you should go to the nearest branch of your bank and file a report as soon as possible. Take your passport and other bank documents (if available) with you. The bank will deactivate the card and you will need to go to the band branch where the account was opened to receive a replacement card.
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