Opening a Bank account in Thailand

When opening a bank account in Thailand, ensure to do it at a Thai bank or a bank located within western Thailand that has an operation that can be relatively simple if you are able to produce all documents which will be required.

The complexity of the procedure varies of course depending on the bank and the type of account desired. Of course, possession of a permit to work things much easier but this is not essential. For savings accounts and accounts in foreign currency, your audience will generally accept a simple letter of recommendation from your embassy.

This account type is relatively easy to obtain even without a work permit. The minimum deposit is usually 500 THB to 1000 THB. Once opened, you will be given a debit card you can deposit and withdraw money from ATM (ATMs) and a booklet describing the history of account transactions (to update the counter or the distributor when you want an update on the status of your account).

If you hold a work permit, you will also have access to online banking as well as telephone support and can apply for a credit card that you will be issued under certain conditions (see the details with your bank).

Documents required for opening a savings account:

Passport with valid visa

Thailand Work permit (not necessarily required)

Letter of recommendation from your embassy in Thailand.

The current account in Thai baht

This account is much more difficult to obtain since a checkbook will be issued in addition to a credit card. No hope to open one without a work permit.

The deposit account in foreign currency

This account type allows foreigners to have a deposit in foreign currency directly to Thailand.

Company Account

To open a business account in Thailand, you definitely need all documents relating to the creation of your business and your passport, your visa and work permit.

You will understand, for an expatriate standard savings account in bath with his credit card and its book operations monitoring is the classic formula.

Cash withdrawals

The cash withdrawals are made from vending machines commonly known as ATM. A small fee may be levied if you withdraw in ATM competing banks or outside your home province.

At the counter, withdrawals may be made upon presentation of your passport.

The ceiling depends on the chosen bank.

Note: Keep a safe service contact manager statements of loss and theft of bank cards in order to react quickly to incidents.

Opening Hours

Banks are generally open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays and vacation periods. Remember to check the schedules of your bank the day of the year you open your account.

Transfers

Banks in Thailand do not use ID numbers but IBAN SWIFT code for managing international transfers.

As in the deadlines and fees deduction, depending on the bank you have chosen and the amounts transferred.

Other means at your disposal:

The international mandate

Western Union

Located between Shanghai and Suzhou, Zhouzhuang is an ancient town near Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, where the natural environment abounds with rivers and lakes. Charming Zhouzhuang is over 900 years old, and has kept intact its history. The typical style and features of an ancient town and even the way of life of its inhabitants remain unchanged. All the houses in the town are built near streams with sidewalks along. The murmuring streams under small bridges and courtyards, each surrounded by dwelling quarters, are the typical features of Zhouzhuang and even the whole area of East China.

The Twin Bridge

It consists of the Shide and Yong’s an bridge built between 1573 and 1619, and is situated to the northeast of the town. The area is crossed by the Yinzi and Nanbei rivers, and the bridges are built in one meridional and the other transmeridional, with one quadrate and one round openings. The resemblance to an ancient key has earned the bridge the nickname of Key Bridge.

Chen Yifei, a young artist residing in the U.S., created a picture of “Memories of Hometown” based on the Double Bridge in 1984. The painting, along with other works by Chen, was exhibited and bought by Dr. Amond Hammer, an American oil tycoon, and later presented to the late Deng Xiaoping. The painting symbolizes the friendship, cooperation and peace between the two countries. In 1985, the painting was used on a first day cover issued by the UN, so that more and more people can come to appreciate Zhouzhuang’s beautiful scenery.

Heritages of the Ming and Qing Dynasities

Zhouzhuang has about 1,000 households who live in the old dwelling quarters. More than 60% of the houses were built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the early Republic of China, and all are well preserved. Among which there are 100 houses each with a courtyard and 60 with arch gateways made from carved bricks. The houses of both the Zhang and Shen families remain intact and are rated as the best examples in Zhouzhuang for their ancient style.

Shen’s House is located to the southeast of Fu’an Bridge, on Nanshi Street. Built in 1742 during the Qing Dynasty by Shen Benren, a descendant of Shen Wansan who was a man of wealth in southern China in the late Yuan (1206-1368) to early Ming Dynasties, the house consists of seven courtyards, five archways, more than 100 – m – long axis road, covering an area of 2,000 sq. m., offering a unique traditional Chinese architectural style. Zhang’s House is located at the south of the Twin Bridge on Beishi Street. Built between 1436 and 1449 by the offspring of Xu Kui, brother of Zhongshan King Xu Da, it was sold to the Zhang family in the early Qing Dynasty, after which it was called either Yuyan (Jade Swallow) Hall or Zhang’s House. It has six courtyards and more than 70 rooms, covering over 1,800 sq. m.

Delicious food of the Land of Waters

Granny Tea

When visitors come to Zhouzhuang, they often see old women drinking tea. All people in the town are fond of tea, but they are fastidious about the way of tea – making. Tea sets must be old and the water is required to be boiled in a pottery jar. The fuel should be bamboo or tree branches. The tea-making ritual is as follows: put some tea leaves in a teapot or cup and pour a little hot water into it and wait for a few minutes, then add more boiled water. When people in Zhouzhuang sample tea, they often as drink as eat melon seeds, crisp beans, candid fruits and pastries etc.. Tea made in this way is known as Granny Tea.

Wansan Pig’s Upper Leg

Zhouzhuang’s most famous dish is Wansan’s Pig Upper Leg. The leg of pork is chosen from among the best and the meat is slowly stewed in a brown sauce over a fire. The cooked pork is very tender and easily boned, and although it looks fatty, it is not greasy, thus suiting to the tastes of all people.

Getting to Zhouzhuang from Shanghai

Shanghai Visitors Bus Line 4

All the buses are air-conditioned and the bus ticket covers the first admission fee and passenger insurance.

Departure times from Shanghai Stadium: 07:00, 09:00,12:00, 14:00. The journey takes approximately one and half hours. (More buses run during holiday periods.)

The last bus back to Shanghai departs Zhouzhuang at 16:30

Contact point & telephone:

Shanghai FIT center (21)6426-5555