How to open a Bangkok Bank account for foreigners: Requirements, restrictions, and more
Here’s everything you need to know about opening a Bangkok Bank account as a foreigner including restrictions, requirements, and more.
Krungsri Bank¹ has a good range of products and services for Thai citizens, and some for foreign residents or foreign non-residents of the country. If you want to use Krungsri Bank to open an account as a foreigner it’s important to note that not all accounts are available for foreigners, and the account products offered can depend on your personal situation and residency.
This guide looks at how to use Krungsri Bank to open an account for a foreigner - including requirements and fees, as well as the Krungsri Bank exchange rate that applies when you transact internationally. We'll also introduce Wise, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.
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Yes. Foreigners can open a Krungsri Bank account but you’re likely to find your options are somewhat limited compared to those offered for Thai citizens.
The key account offered for foreign residents of Thailand is the Krungsri Thai Savings Account. This account offers a linked debit card and access to online and mobile services including bill payments. That allows you to manage your money in THB effectively when you’re in Thailand. There are some important fees to know about with this account, as well as a minimum balance you will need to maintain in order to avoid monthly fall below fees. We’ll look at these common costs in more detail later.
Thai citizens can usually choose from a broader range of account types including savings deposit, time deposit and currency accounts. There are also some foreign currency deposit account products which include options for Thai residents and some options for non-resident foreigners who want to save or invest with the bank.
The two specific Krungsri Bank accounts for foreigners which are marketed online are:
If you’re a Thai resident foreigner you may find the savings account is useful as it is interest bearing but also offers a linked card so you can easily access your money for day to day use. Your account comes with a passbook, and a minimum balance may apply to open your account and avoid ongoing fees. Here’s a summary:
| Service/feature | Krungsri Thai Savings Account fee |
|---|---|
| Minimum opening deposit | 500 THB |
| Fall below fee (20,000 THB balance) | 100 THB |
| Debit card issuance or replacement | 100 THB |
| Debit card annual fee | 350 THB |
| ATM fees | No Krungsri fees - ATM operators may have their own fees |
*Details correct at time of research - 5th January 2026
As well as this account foreigners can also open a Krungsri Foreign Currency Deposit account - but this is for non-resident foreigners only. The account is offered in 14 major currencies and has a linked debit card for some non-resident customers.
The Krungsri Foreign Currency Deposit account is marketed for both personal and business customers looking to hold a balance in a foreign currency, earn interest or invest, make payments for things like tuition fee abroad, and to mitigate risk exposure by holding funds in a foreign currency rather than converting bank to THB unnecessarily.
To open a Krungsri Bank account you’ll need to visit a bank branch in person - this gives you a chance to talk through the eligibility for account services, and complete the verification steps needed. You can expect to be asked for:
- Valid passport
- Valid non-immigrant visa allowing you to reside in Thailand
- Details of your reason for being in Thailand, such as a work permit
The bank may also need to ask for additional documents depending on the situation, but the service staff can talk you through what’s needed when you’re in the branch.
It is not usually possible to open a Krungsri Bank account for foreigners online. Instead you’re asked to visit a branch in person to discuss your needs and complete the application. Bank staff can help you review the account information and complete verification by checking your ID and other essential documents.
Make sure you've read through all the account terms and fees, before applying.
Not all Krungsri Bank accounts are offered to foreigners. Instead, Krungsri markets its savings account specifically as a suitable product and also offers foreign currency deposit accounts for foreign non-residents.
Before you apply to any given account make sure you're eligible based on the account information and documentation needed for regulatory checking. This will help save time once you arrive at the bank to complete your application.
You can find Krungsri Bank account exchange rates⁴ on the bank’s website, or when you log into your online or mobile banking service. Rates are displayed as ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ rates which can vary depending on the type of transaction you’re making. When you’re checking, make sure you’re looking at the correct column for your transaction type so there are no surprises.
It’s also worth comparing Krungsri Bank account exchange rates against the mid-market rates which you can find on Google or by using a currency conversion tool. The mid-market is generally considered to be a good benchmark for a fair rate as it’s the mid-point between the buy and sell rate for a currency pair on global markets. However, banks may add a percentage markup - which is a fee - onto the mid-market rate to calculate the rate offered to their retail customers. This can mean you’re paying more than you have to when you send or receive an international payment, without even knowing.
Before choosing Krungsri to receive or send a payment in a foreign currency, compare their rates to other providers, to see if there’s a better deal out there which could save you money in the end.
Looking for a quick and easy way to send money to Thailand? Consider using Wise to manage your international transfers.
Converting money to Thai baht and transferring it from abroad can get very expensive when using traditional banks and remittance services. On top of transaction fees, you might end up paying more due to hidden charges like conversion fees and exchange rate markups.
Wise transfers use the mid-market rate, also known as the rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees that are shown to you upfront. This makes it easy to see how much you’ll be sending or receiving at a single glance.
See how Wise compares with other providers:
No. You can not usually open a Krungsri Bank foreigner account online. Instead you’re asked to visit a branch in person with your ID document and proof of your right to reside, work or study in Thailand. Branch staff will talk you through the account options available to you based on your specific situation, and help you to complete your application and verification, and get your account and card arranged.
There is not a specific Krungsri Bank credit card for foreigners - there are card options available⁵ but they all come with their own eligibility requirements and fees. Check with the bank directly to see if you’re eligible for a Krungsri credit card before you apply.
Online, Krungsri Bank markets auto loans⁶ only. There are no advertised general purpose loans. To apply for a Krungsri Bank auto loan you will usually need to provide a Thai ID card which is only available to Thai nationals - check the details before you apply to see if there’s a suitable product for your situation.
If you have an eligible Krungsri account you can receive inward remittances by giving the sender your account information including the bank’s SWIFT code. Bear in mind that there’s a fee of 0.25% of transferred amounts, with a minimum of 200 THB and a maximum of 500 THB for each payment⁷.
Sources:
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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