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Understanding is Everything
We know it can be frustrating to have to explain yourself every time you visit the bank, so we have produced this guide to help make it easier for you to get the most out of the products and services offered by Bangkok Bank.
As a foreigner in Thailand, we want to make it easy for you to manage your finances. This guide contains useful information that will help save you time, such as the types of documents that are required to open an account and how to apply for our products and services.
welcome to
Bangkok Bank
CONTENTS
Opening an account Quick guide to products and services Accounts at Bangkok Bank Debit and credit cards Convenient ways to bank with us International funds transfer Domestic funds transfer Paying bills Buying a home Investments Insurance Retiring in Thailand Safe banking in Thailand Contact information
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Opening an account
At Bangkok Bank, weve had a lot of experience helping foreigners do their banking. We can open a savings account for people who are permanent residents, or who have a valid work permit, long-stay visa or tourist visa, at any of our branches nationwide. The documents required when opening a basic savings account are as follows:
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Passport One of the following: a. Certified copy of passport from embassy; or b. A reference letter of recommendation from your home bank addressed to Bangkok Bank or a SWIFT message sent to Bangkok Bank via the SWIFT financial messaging network (your home bank must be a bank which is acceptable to Bangkok Bank); or c. A reference letter of recommendation from a person or organization acceptable to Bangkok Bank, such as a reputable company, an embassy or an international organization located in Thailand; or d. Driving license with photo and address Copies of standard forms (a-c) may be downloaded from www.bangkokbank.com/webforms or ask at one of our branches. Note: The bank requires evidence of your address in Thailand. Hotel addresses and P.O. boxes are not acceptable. An address from your home country is also required. If the documents above (a-d) do not include an address, then additional evidence is required such as ownership of a property unit, lease agreement or recent utility bill.
(Subject to conditions)
1. Description of customer types is shown on the previous page. 2. The maximum limit for daily cash withdrawals and funds transfers from electronic channels is Bt 50,000 and the daily limit for spending is Bt 50,000. 3. Evidence of income and other documents may be required in order to comply with Bank of Thailand regulations. 4. Evidence of income and a deposit account required. Customers may be required to deposit collateral. Credit card approval is solely at the banks discretion. Terms & conditions of products and services are subject to change at the banks discretion. Thirty days prior notice will be given at the branch.
A Guide to Bangkok Bank Products & Service
Current accounts
With a minimum deposit of Bt 10,000 you can open a Bangkok Bank current account and be issued with a cheque book of personalized cheques. Note: While cheques can be a useful way to pay bills where there is an established relationship, very few retailers in Thailand accept cheques. It is also an offence in Thailand to write cheques without sufficient clear funds. To avoid this Bangkok Bank offers an overdraft protection service. Available for foreigners who are permanent residents and people with a work permit or long-stay visa.
Fixed-term deposits
Make your money work for you with a Bangkok Bank fixed-deposit account. All you need is a minimum deposit of Bt 2,000 to receive competitive rates for terms of 3 months or up to three years. Deposits to fixed accounts may be made via Cash Deposit Machine, Internet Banking, ATM and Phone Banking. Tax is automatically deducted from interest paid to customers.
Credit cards
Bangkok Bank offers VISA, MasterCard and American Express cards that are accepted around the world. Our credit cards feature chip technology, contactless payment and BTS Sky Train travel card options, and provide added confidence when shopping online through our additional Bualuang iPay security password (see below). A Bangkok Bank credit card will allow you to take advantage of regular retail promotions, prize draws,discounts and loyalty programs, as well as savings on foreign exchange fees that are charged when you use foreign-issued credit cards. For more information about credit cards please contact a marketing officer at one of our branches.
ATMs
Bangkok Bank has a nationwide network of over 5,900 ATMs. Theres more to ATMs than just making cash withdrawals as you can also: Check your account balance Transfer funds to your own accounts or accounts at other banks in Thailand Pay over 100 types of bills, including topping up your mobile phone. You can pay bills by scanning the barcodes under the barcode readers attached to most of our ATMs Buy and sell mutual fund units Note: Most transactions using Bangkok Banks ATMs in the region where your Bangkok Bank card was issued are provided free of charge.
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Branch banking
There will always be a time when nothing other than across-the-counter, face-to-face banking will do, and most of our branches in Thailand have English-speaking staff on hand to help you. Bangkok Bank has more than 890 branches nationwide, including around 84 micro branches which are opened for extended hours and are conveniently located in department stores, malls and shopping centers across the country (micro branches feature a reduced range of services and are not always able to accept large-value transactions). Standard branch opening hours are 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Monday to Friday Micro branches are open for extended hours up to seven days a week All branches provide 24/7 self-service facilities Foreign exchange booths are available in convenient locations
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Fees
International funds transfers incur fees that are deducted from the transferred funds. We are often asked why the sum received was less than the sum sent; this is because of the fees charged for the transaction by the sending and receiving banks. Bangkok Banks fee when receiving international funds is 0.25% of the transfer amount, with a minimum of Bt 200 and a maximum of Bt 500. Bangkok Bank will deduct the fee from the transfer amount before crediting funds to the beneficiarys account. For sending fees abroad, our fee is Bt 400 per transaction. If you send the funds abroad via Bualuang iBanking the fee is lower at only Bt 300 per transaction.
Notifications
All international funds transfers are notified to the Bank of Thailand. Transfers of Bt 5 million or more are also notified to the Anti-Money-Laundering Office.
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Self-service transfers
Self-service banking channels are a cost effective and convenient option to transfer funds: ATMs: transfer funds to your own accounts or accounts at other banks in Thailand. Phone banking (Bualuang Phone): transfer funds between your Bangkok Bank accounts Internet banking (Bualuang iBanking): transfer funds to your own accounts or accounts at other banks in Thailand. We recommend Bualuang iBanking as the most convenient option.
Fees
Fees are charged when funds are sent within or between regions in Thailand, to Bangkok Bank accounts or to accounts at other banks. For more information on this and other transfer fees, visit www.bangkokbank.com or your nearest branch.
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Paying bills
You can pay a wide range of bills through Bangkok Banks bill payments service, including telephone and internet providers, utilities companies, insurance companies and car leasing agencies. You can even top up your pre-paid mobile phone.
Self service
The most convenient way to pay bills is via Bangkok Banks ATM network, Bualuang Phone telephone banking and Bualuang iBanking internet banking service. Making bill payments at an ATM is very easy to complete so long as you have your bill with you. To do this, select the other services option on the ATM screen, then select bill payments, identify the type of bill you wish to pay and then follow the instructions which are clearly laid out on the screen. You will need to input a reference number which is printed on the bill statement. You can also pay bills by scanning the barcode on your bills via most of our ATMs. You can call Bualuang Phone on 1333 or +662 645 5555 to pay your bills quickly and simply. Have your PIN and Be1st card number handy, select the English option when prompted and follow the instructions to make your payments. With Bualuang iBanking, you can pay your bills online and you can even set bill payments to occur in advance it couldnt be easier. You will need to register for Bualuang iBanking but once this is completed you can use it to pay your bills without having to visit the bank again. To find out more about the service and to download an application form, visit www.bangkokbank.com/ibanking.
Direct debit
You can set up a direct debit service which is a very useful and reliable way of paying for recurring bills such as telephone and electricity expenses. Bills are paid automatically on the payment date, so you dont have to worry about late payment fees. A direct debit can be set up for anyone with a savings or current account.
Standing order
A standing order is another option for making recurring payments and is suitable for paying bills such as to your landlord who you might want to pay automatically, but to whom you dont want to give the authority to direct debit your account each month. A standing order can be set up for anyone with a savings or current account.
Cheques
Personalized cheques are a useful way of covering bills where you have an established relationship with the person you are paying. However, very few retailers in Thailand accept cheques.
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Buying a home
One of the most commonly asked questions we get from foreigners is how to buy property in Thailand. In general, Thai law prohibits foreigners from owning land in Thailand, however, there are viable alternatives that allow foreigners to purchase a home.
Leasehold Agreement
Another option is to purchase a leasehold agreement for all types of titled land. Leases cover a maximum period of 30 years and can be renewed once.
Thai spouse
If you are married to a Thai, then you have the option of acting as a guarantor for a mortgage loan taken out in your spouses name, provided that (1) you are a permanent resident or you have a work permit and have worked and stayed in Thailand consecutively for more than one year; and (2) your spouse is the owner of the property.
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Investments
Many foreigners working and living in Thailand repatriate funds back to their home country to make investments or repay loans. Often overlooked is the opportunity to invest surplus funds in Thailand at rates of return that may be more attractive than those available offshore.
Mutual Funds
Bangkok Banks mutual funds are provided by our award-winning subsidiary BBL Asset Management Limited and offer a range of choices including fixed income, equity, mixed, retirement funds and funds that invest overseas. As well as providing the opportunity to earn higher returns than a normal savings account, mutual funds can also provide tax benefits for foreigners paying income tax in Thailand. Bangkok Bank offers several Retirement Mutual Funds and Long-Term Equity Funds that provide maximum tax deductions of 15 percent of total annual income and not more than Bt 500,000 per fund per year. You can link open-end funds to your Bangkok Bank Be1st debit card so they can be traded via ATM or purchased and sold at an ATM, or via Bualuang Phone telephone banking service. Selected funds can also be linked to our internet banking service, Bualuang iBanking, where standing, recurring instructions can also be established. A dollar-cost averaging service is also available. To begin your investment in any mutual fund, please consult with one of our licensed staff (at every branch) an Investor Contact who can assist with a risk assessment profile and who has information about each of the funds available. When subscribing to a fund you will receive a passbook which can be used to record transactions. Once you have opened the fund you can buy and sell units at any Bangkok Bank branch or via ATM or call center (link the fund to your ATM card) or Bualuang iBanking (register your fund for access via ibanking). You can also update your passbook at a Passbook Update machine in any branch. When you sell fund units, the money will be deposited into your Bangkok Bank savings account. This will occur on the next business day following your sell instruction.
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Share trading
Bangkok Banks Introducing Agent service enables customers to open a securities trading account to trade stocks via Bualuang Securities PCL, our capital markets arm, which offers a full range of equity investment options and internet and mobile phone trading services. To open a securities trading account, you will need to have a savings or current account with Bangkok Bank and bring along the same documentation required for investing in mutual funds.
Bonds
Foreigners who are permanent residents can buy and sell government bonds and corporate debentures at any Bangkok Bank branch nationwide, except micro branches, making it easy to invest in Thailands bond market. Government bonds offer a very secure investment with reasonable returns while normally corporate debentures offer higher returns but carry higher risk. Bond holders receive regular interest payments and you can choose to have these paid automatically into your account or to be paid as a cheque. Bangkok Bank does not provide a secondary market for every type of bond or debenture. Normally we provide a secondary market for every Government Saving Bond and some debentures which are sold on the primary market.
Bills of Exchange
For foreigners who are permanent residents Bills of Exchange offer a secure investment with higher returns than normal fixed-term deposits with similar maturities. Bills of Exchange are not transferrable but can be redeemed by Bangkok Bank prior to maturity and can also be pledged as collateral for loans. Bills of Exchange are available at any Bangkok Bank branch nationwide.
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Insurance
If something were to happen to you in Thailand, would your existing insurance policy from your home country provide cover? If you dont have any insurance, how would you or your family cope financially? At Bangkok Bank, we find that many of our foreign customers understand the value of being insured, but remain exposed to sudden loss or financial setbacks by having only limited cover. Bangkok Bank offers a range of personal insurance policies including Gain 1st life insurance, Cancer Protection Insurance 1st, PA 1st personal accident and Home 1st home loan Insurance.
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Retiring in Thailand
Thailand is becoming a popular retirement destination for foreigners looking favorably on the climate, low cost of living, and high quality healthcare services. You might be asking yourself - how do I join them and retire in Thailand to spend my golden years basking in the sunshine? If you are over the age of 50 and can bring the equivalent of Bt 800,000 or more in foreign currency into the country, or have a monthly income of Bt 65,000 or a combination of saving and annual income totaling not less than Bt 800,000, you can apply to the Thai government for a Non-Immigrant OA visa or O visa, otherwise known as a retirement visa. As part of the governments application process for the retirement visa, you will need to show evidence that the funds have been deposited into a bank account in Thailand in your name. Bangkok Bank can help you open a bank account to transfer in the funds even if you are still waiting for your retirement visa or havent started the application process. For more information, see Opening an Account on page 6. Opening a savings account with Bangkok Bank will make paying bills and transferring funds extremely convenient. It will also enable you to use a Be1st debit card. You can use your savings account to send and receive funds from abroad, but you may also find it convenient to open a foreign currency deposit account if you have income in a foreign currency or wish to hold your funds in foreign currencies. For more information, see Accounts at Bangkok Bank on page 8.
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Taking a few simple and common sense precautions will make all the difference to protecting your finances:
1. Memorize your PIN, never write it down, and never share your PIN or internet banking password with another person. Not your family, not your friends, and absolutely never with a stranger. 2. Never hand your bank card over to a stranger for any reason and be extremely wary of anyone who approaches you when you are using an ATM. 3. Protect your PIN when using an ATM. Shield the key pad with your hand or body when you are entering your PIN and if the next person in the queue is standing too close to you, dont be embarrassed about asking them to step back. 4. Be wary of ATMs that may have been tampered with. If an ATM malfunctions or if your card is stuck or retained, call Bangkok Bank on 1333 or (66) 0 2645 5555 immediately to cancel your card. Do not accept anyones assistance to help retrieve your card and never enter your PIN where anyone else can see it.
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5. When you have completed your ATM transaction, collect your transaction slip and dispose of it securely. 6. When shopping, keep your credit or debit card in sight at all times when a transaction is being processed. If the retailer takes your card to a different counter or vendor for processing, then go with them. 7. Always check the value of the transaction printed on credit card receipts before signing. In some restaurants, your receipt will have a space for you to write in a tip for staff. If you do not intend to tip, be sure to put a line through the tip section and write the final total in the appropriate section.
Note : The bank reserves the right to amend the rate of fees, charges and expenses described in this guide, and such amendment will be publicly announced at the banks branches 30 days prior to the effective date of the amendment. Foreigners with a Non-Immigrant LA visa are not covered by the services described in this booklet and should contact a branch for further information.
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Contact information
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For more information on any of the products and services For more information on any of the products and services featured in this guide, please see the following: featured in this guide, please see the following: Bangkok Banks website http://www.bangkokbank.com Bangkok Banks website Bualuang Phone Dialhttp://www.bangkokbank.com 1333 or +662 645 5555 Bualuang Phone Dial 1333 or +662 645 5555 E-mail: expats@bbl.co.th or visit your nearest Bangkok Bank branch. or visit your nearest Bangkok Bank branch. Bangkok Banks SWIFT code for international funds transfers is: BKKBTHBK Bangkok Banks SWIFT code for international funds transfers is: BKKBTHBK Bangkok Bank Bank Public Public Company Company Limited Limited Bangkok Head Office: 333 Silom Road, Bangkok 10500, Thailand Tel. 662 353 353 5585-7 5585-7 Tel. + +662
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www.bangkokbank.com