The day I realised I needed two banks
It was 2019, a Saturday afternoon outside a 7-Eleven in Phra Khanong. My Kasikorn card had just been declined. Not a balance issue — a system maintenance issue. The K PLUS app was showing a lovely error message in Thai that I couldn't even read back then. I had 35 baht in cash in my pocket. Not enough for dinner.
The following Monday, I walked into Bangkok Bank and opened an account. I've been using both ever since. Not because I can't make up my mind, but because they genuinely serve different purposes in my daily life. Over seven years in Bangkok, I've wired money internationally, paid rent, collected freelance income, dealt with taxes, and had plenty of time to bump up against the limits of each bank. Here's what I've learned.
Opening an account: the reality on the ground in 2025
Let's start with the thing that stresses everyone out: can a foreigner still open a bank account? The short answer: yes, but it depends on the branch, the day, and the manager's mood.
The long answer: Bangkok Bank has historically been more welcoming to non-residents and long-stay tourists. Their Silom Road branch (head office) has a section dedicated to foreigners. I showed up with my passport, my Non-O visa, and proof of address (my lease agreement). Thirty minutes later, it was done. They even set the account up in English and configured the Bualuang app on the spot.
Kasikorn was a different ball game. My first attempt in 2018, at the Ekkamai branch, ended with a polite refusal. "Need work permit, ka." I tried again at the Asoke branch two weeks later with a freshly issued work permit, and it went through. Since then, everything I've seen on expat Facebook groups confirms it: Kasikorn remains stricter, especially if you don't have a work permit or a long-stay visa.
Practical tip: If you've just arrived on a tourist visa or a student visa, try Bangkok Bank first. Go to the main Silom branch. Bring your passport, your visa, proof of address (even a long-term Airbnb booking can work), and be polite. If they turn you down, calmly ask to speak with the manager. Don't make a scene — that never works in Thailand.
Mobile apps: this is where Kasikorn crushes it
I'll be blunt: K PLUS (Kasikorn's app) is probably the best banking app I've ever used, across all banks, across all countries. And I don't say that lightly — I've had accounts with BNP, Boursorama, and Revolut.
K PLUS is fast, intuitive, fully available in English, and lets you do pretty much everything: transfers, bill payments, QR codes for in-store payments, savings account management, even mutual fund purchases. The interface is modern, notifications arrive in real time, and face recognition works without a hitch.
Bualuang ibanking, Bangkok Bank's app? Let's say it gets the job done. The interface feels dated, the navigation can be confusing, and some functions still require you to go through the desktop website. They've made progress over the past two years, but it's still nowhere near Kasikorn's level. For daily QR payments — at the market, at a restaurant, in a taxi — K PLUS is so much smoother that it's become my default card (well, my default QR).
Head-to-head comparison: the numbers that matter
| Criterion | Kasikorn Bank (KBank) | Bangkok Bank (BBL) |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of opening for an expat | Moderate — work permit often required | Easier — Silom branch used to dealing with foreigners |
| Mobile app (quality) | ★★★★★ — K PLUS, excellent | ★★★☆☆ — Bualuang, decent |
| Account maintenance fees | Free (standard savings account) | Free (standard savings account) |
| Incoming international transfer fees | 0.25% of the amount (min. 200 ฿, max. 500 ฿) | 0.25% of the amount (min. 200 ฿, max. 500 ฿) |
| Outgoing international transfer fees | From 400 ฿ + SWIFT charges | From 350 ฿ + SWIFT charges |
| ATM network in Thailand | ~11,000 machines | ~9,000 machines |
| International debit card | Visa / JCB — works well abroad | Visa / UnionPay — Visa reliable abroad |
| English customer service | Decent by phone, good in branch | Good by phone, excellent at Silom |
| International transfers via Wise | Compatible (receive into THB account) | Compatible (receive into THB account) |
| Joint account available | Yes, in branch only | Yes, in branch only |
The fees are broadly similar. The real difference lies elsewhere.
International transfers: why I use Bangkok Bank for that
I receive part of my income from France, in euros. For the first two years, I used Kasikorn for everything, including SWIFT transfers. It worked, but every time I had to call the hotline to confirm receipt, and once my money was held up for three business days because the "compliance department" wanted proof of the source of funds. For a 2,500-euro transfer from my own Boursorama account. Great fun.
Bangkok Bank, on this front, is well-oiled. They have solid correspondent banking relationships, including branches in New York and London. My SWIFT transfers land in 1 to 2 business days, consistently. The exchange rate they apply is visible on their website in real time (just Google "Bangkok Bank exchange rate"), and it's generally a touch better than Kasikorn's.
These days, my setup is simple: I receive larger transfers into Bangkok Bank, then move what I need over to Kasikorn for daily spending via PromptPay (instant, free, 24/7).
Wise tip: Since 2023, I mostly use Wise (formerly TransferWise) to send money from my European account to my Thai account. The rate beats the banks' SWIFT rate, the fees are transparent, and the money arrives within hours. Wise works with both banks, but I send to Bangkok Bank out of habit. BBL's SWIFT code (BKKBTHBK) goes through without a hitch.
Day-to-day spending: Kasikorn, and it's not even a debate
For everyday life — paying for somtam at Khlong Toei market, settling a restaurant bill, paying for a Grab, the electricity bill, rent via bank transfer — Kasikorn is my main bank. K PLUS is just too well-made not to use. The QR code generates in a second, scanning a merchant's QR is instant, and I get the debit notification before the vendor has even finished smiling.
I also pay my rent through K PLUS. Automatic transfer on the 1st of every month, 15,000 baht, to my landlady's account (who's also with Kasikorn — like half of Bangkok). Zero fees, zero friction. Bangkok Bank could technically do the same thing, but the user experience just isn't as pleasant.
Another thing: Kasikorn ATMs are everywhere. Literally everywhere. There are three within a 200-metre radius of my condo in On Nut. The nearest Bangkok Bank ATM is 800 metres away. It's a detail, but when it's 38 degrees and 90% humidity, it matters.
The annoying stuff: what neither bank does well
Let's be honest. Both banks share the same typically Thai shortcomings:
- Weekend system updates: K PLUS and Bualuang both regularly go down on Sunday mornings between midnight and 6 a.m. for maintenance. Sometimes longer. It rarely affects real life, but when it happens on a Saturday night and you need to pay for a taxi…
- Branch bureaucracy: Changing an address, updating an expired passport, requesting a balance confirmation letter — in both cases, budget at least 45 minutes and three forms to fill out by hand. In 2025. Yes.
- Credit cards: Getting a credit card as a foreigner is still an obstacle course at both banks. You typically need a work permit, a minimum salary of 50,000 baht per month backed by pay slips, and six months of tenure at your company. I ended up using a Wise card for my online purchases in foreign currencies.
- Savings interest rates: We're talking 0.25% to 0.50% per year on a standard savings account. Basically nothing. If you want your money to actually work, you'll need to look at fixed deposits or funds — but that's another article.
What I wish I'd known from the start
If I were starting from scratch arriving in Bangkok, here's what I'd do:
Week 1: I'd open an account at Bangkok Bank, Silom branch, with my passport and visa. It's the most accessible bank for a newcomer. I'd set up Bualuang ibanking and PromptPay right away.
As soon as I had a work permit or a long-stay visa: I'd open a Kasikorn account, install K PLUS, and shift all my daily spending onto it.
For international transfers: I'd use Wise from day one, receiving into Bangkok Bank. I would have saved a fair bit on SWIFT fees and bank exchange rates during my first two years.
What I would NOT have done: Stress over picking THE right bank. Both are solid, both are reliable, and having two accounts in Thailand costs nothing. It's actually a safety net. The day an app crashes or a card gets blocked, you'll be glad you've got a plan B in your wallet.
Seven years on, my money is split between the two. Bangkok Bank for receiving, Kasikorn for spending. Simple, effective, and it hasn't failed me since I put this system in place. Well, almost never — but this is Bangkok, so you should always keep a 100-baht note folded inside your phone case. Just in case.