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All You Need To Know About Banks in Thailand

Learn about the top banks in Thailand, what services they provide, and which Thai banks are best for foreigners with PropertySights Real Estate.

  • Managing transaction cash and mortgage receipts through leading Banks in Thailand.
Published: August 20, 2025

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Whether you’re stashing away savings or making mortgage payments, you’ll need a bank account in Thailand. There’s a range of well-regulated options, the top 6 of which make up 80% of the Thai banking sector’s assets. They are Kasikorn Bank, SCB Bank, Bangkok Bank, UOB Bank, CIMB Thai, and Bank of Ayudhya.

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Overall Information About Banks in Thailand

The government of Thailand established the Bank of Thailand (BOT), its central bank, in 1942. Since then it has supervised all financial institutions within the country according to Section 8, Article 7 of the Bank of Thailand Act, amended B.E. 2561 in 2018. As of April 2023, the central bank’s total assets were roughly $700 billion USD.

Under the central bank are a wide range of secure financial systems and services including reputable commercial and retail banks. As the BOT is dedicated to 21st century banking, most Thai banks have digital banking and mobile apps associated with them.

Here are some of the tools you can expect to have at your disposal:

  • National Digital Identity Platform (NDID). A highly secure self-ID method for Thai citizens.
  • Methods for bill payment and money transfer
  • Easy insurance policy setup
  • Investment accounts.
  • Loan setup
  • Home loans (mortgages)

When setting up a bank account in Thailand, there are 4 account types to choose from:

  • Savings
  • Current
  • Fixed-term
  • Foreign currency

The Top 10 Thai Banks

1. Bangkok Bank

Established in 1944
$129 billion in assets
1,167 branches domestically

Bangkok bank is the number one Thai bank in terms of assets and with more than 300 international branches they’re the 6th largest bank in Southeast Asia. They offer personal and business banking services including personal and home loans.

Bangkok Bank also offers a wide range of other services:

  • Digital banking
  • Business management
  • Investment banking
  • Various insurance and loan plans

2. Kasikorn Bank

Established in 1945
$120.9 billion assets
887 branches domestically

Trailing Bangkok Bank’s total assets by a small margin is Kasikorn Bank. Originally established as the Thai Farmers Bank, Kasikorn focused on helping out that segment of the population after World War 2. Now, it’s one of the biggest banks in Thailand, offering the following services:

  • Credit and debit cards
  • Overseas remittance
  • Digital banking
  • Various insurance and loan plans

3. Siam Commercial Bank (SCB)

Established in 1907
$97.5 billion assets
More than 1,100 branches

Established via royal charter, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) was the first bank established in Thailand. It continues to have one of the highest total asset count and offers many services for personal and business accounts. Here are a few of SCB’s offerings:

  • Home loans
  • Personal credit
  • Credit cards
  • Currency exchange
  • Overseas remittance

4. CIMB Thai

Established in 1998
$15.3 billion assets
53 branches domestically

14 financial institutions combined to form CIMB Thai after the 1997 financial crisis in Asia. Since 2009, CIMB Group (a larger bank based in Malaysia) has been the majority stakeholder. Here are a few of CIMB Thai’s offerings:

  • Personal and business banking
  • Life insurance
  • Personal, multi-purpose, and home loans
  • Foreign currency exchange
  • Thai debit cards

5. United Overseas Bank (UOB)

Established in 1999
$23.4 billion (2022)
155 branches domestically

The larger United Overseas Bank (UOB) brand was established in Singapore in 1935 under the name “United Chinese Bank.” It began operations in Thailand in 1999, offering corporate and business banking services.

UOB is also one of the only banks offering home loans to foreigners.

6. Krungthai Bank

Established in 1966
$102.8 billion assets
Over 1,200 branches domestically

The third largest Thai bank by total assets, Krungthai offers personal, small-business, and corporate banking. For personal accounts, they offer the following services:

  • Personal and home loans
  • Debit and credit cards
  • Various insurances such as life and motor
  • E-banking

7. TMB Bank

Established in 1957
$51.9 billion assets (2022)
More than 450 branches domestically

TMB Bank was originally established as a bank for Thai military servicemen and has been around for more than 60 years. In 2019 TMB merged with Thanachart Bank to form TMBThanachart (ttb). The combination led the newly formed bank to reach 6th place in the ranking of Thai banks by total assets. Ttb offers the following services:

  • Various insurances such as health, accident, and travel
  • Auto, home, and personal loans
  • Credit cards
  • Personal, SME, and corporate banking

8. Bank of Ayudhya

Established in 1945
$73.7 billion assets (2022)
700 branches domestically

Bank of Ayudhya is currently the fifth largest bank in Thailand by loans and deposits and in 2013 the Japanese bank MUFG became the major strategic shareholder. Ayudhya offers the following services:

  • Digital banking
  • Auto loans
  • Credit and debit cards
  • Travel insurance

9. Thanachart Bank

Established in 2002
$4.5 billion assets (2022)
More than 600 branches domestically

Though Thanachart Bank merged with TMB Bank in 2019, they still operate many separate physical branches. They’re considered Thailand’s leading automobile lender and formerly were part-owned by Scotiabank, one of Canada’s leaders in the automotive space. Their banking accounts are linked to the larger TMBThanachart brand.

10. Kiatnakin Bank

Established in 1971
$14.4 billion (2022)
64 branches domestically

Kiatnakin Bank offers personal, small business, and large business banking. They pride themselves on their Biz e-Banking that offers 24/7 assistance such as payment services and loan information retrieval. Here are some of Kiatnakin Bank’s other offerings:

  • Several different insurance types
  • Several loan types
  • Digital banking
  • Auctions on used cars organized by the bank

How To Open a Bank Account Online in Thailand?

To open a bank account online in Thailand, you’ll likely need to register the necessary documents for the application in person first. This may vary depending on the bank, but generally it will include your passport, visa, and possibly a house registration book if you’re registered to one.

If you hold a Thai citizen ID card, opening a bank account in Thailand is even easier. For example, you can authenticate yourself via Be My ID service points or using the Bangkok Bank mobile app.

What Documents and Conditions Are Required To Open a Bank Account in Thailand?

To open a bank account in Thailand residency documents and proof of fulfillment of certain conditions are required. Depending on the bank, this may include Thai ID cards, passports, visas, and possibly more.

Are There Online Alternative Payment Services Available in Thailand?

Yes, there are online alternative payment services available in Thailand, sometimes known as digital wallets. These allow businesses to conveniently accept a variety of different payment methods from cash to e-wallet purchases. Here are some of the top companies in the alternative payment space:

  • TrueMoney
  • Rabbit-Line Pay
  • SiamPay
  • Wise
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Who we are

PropertySights Real Estate Company | Words from the Managing Director

Erick (Abe) Rubin, Manager of PropertySights Real Estate:
“Hello and nice to meet you,

My name is Erick and I am the Managing Director here at Rubin Global Co., Ltd. I wanted to introduce myself, provide a little information about my background and of course, my vision for the company.

My journey into real-estate began at Ariel University in Israel, where I studied a BA hons degree in Economics and Business Management, with a minor in Real Estate Appraisal. Upon graduating, I became a real estate assessor in a local Law and Appraisal firm before moving on to my employment at Anglo-Saxon, Israel’s largest real estate brokerage corporation.

With more knowledge and experience gained after learning from the best in the field, I moved to Singapore, where I began promoting Australian real-estate in the Singaporean markets. I gained a lot of real-life business experience and developed a better understanding of the business foundations and demands.

All this knowledge in tow, I then made my final move, to Bangkok. Lured in originally by the laid-back lifestyle, prominent culture, and rapid development. Bangkok quickly became a home from home. Thailand is affectionately referred to as ‘The land of smiles’ because of the friendly and approachable population. I aim to keep this tradition alive, ensuring that myself and the PropertySights Real Estate team are always happy to help and provide service with a smile.

Having worked in Israel, Singapore, and of course, Thailand, I am well-accustomed to the search for ‘The perfect property and location’ and know how tedious the research process can be. This is why I want to provide my readers with all the information they need in one place, helping them to make BIG decisions, with LITTLE effort.

What is our Vision for Real Estate Education in Thailand?

Our vision for Real Estate Education in Thailand is to share our knowledge with you and create a well-informed and empowered community of homeowners.

When looking to purchase a property in Bangkok or anywhere in Thailand, it is vital to conduct extensive research beforehand. You will need to be educated on the local property laws and tax regulations, the major developments taking place in the area, which neighborhood best suits your needs and conduct a title deed search and due diligence.

This may sound a lot, but there is power in knowledge and It is always better to be over informed than under informed when making such big life-changing decisions.

Why do we need to be educated on these topics?

  1. Property Laws and Tax regulations: Understanding the local laws helps you understand which properties you can purchase legally and allows you to foresee any planning implications.
  2. Current Major Developments: This affects the neighborhood value. Where large companies are investing and improving, home prices tend to rise. Being aware of what is up and coming, keeps you ahead of the curve, able to snap up a bargain before the prices rise.
  3. Knowledge of Neighborhoods: Bangkok is a huge city, with a population of 10.5 million. So there are, of course, many great areas to invest in. Knowing in detail what each neighborhood can offer, helps you decide which best suits your needs.

PropertySights Real Estate have done all the research for you and are ever-evolving and updating to keep you up to date with the fast-paced city that Bangkok is. We want to ensure that research, services, and real-estate options are all easily accessible and in one place. Saving you time and effort always.

Why Invest and Own Real Estate with PropertySights Real Estate?

Investing and owning real estate are solid investments that grow with time. When investing, you have both rental yield and capital appreciation.

The rental yield is the difference you make between the rental price and the price you pay for your investment.

The capital appreciation is the difference between the price you paid when you bought the property, and what it is worth when you sell it. This way, even if you choose not to rent your property, you are still able to make a financial gain. It is a win-win situation.

At PropertySights Real Estate, we have a team of experienced and well versed, local agents. We can provide you with up to date knowledge of the real estate market, the average price points and the up and coming areas. Not only can we help you make an informed decision, we can save you time and avoid costly mistakes.

Our utmost priority is ensuring that we are delivering the best possible investment for your real estate goal.

What are the Most Important Advantages and Reasons of Investing in Thai Real Estate?

Thailand emerged as the most popular real estate market amongst ASEAN countries according to data from the Thai Statistics Authority. In comparison the nearest South-East Asia country recorded 1.3 million properties sold.

Here are the seven advantages of investing in Thai real estate:
  1. Great returns increase over time
  2. Resilient economy and strong rental market
  3. Strategic location, infrastructure, and International Cooperation
  4. Thai Government support for the property market sector
  5. Solid possibility to obtain Thai residency
  6. Cheaper property prices compared to other countries
  7. Affordable cost of living for foreign investors

Here are the four reasons to invest in properties in Thailand:

  1. Enviable Lifestyle: rich and varied culture, a laid-back and friendly population, many well-established neighborhoods with ample lifestyle choices, Bangkok really has it all.
  2. Affordable: The low labor costs in Thailand make it cheaper to build, maintain and manage properties.
  3. Long Term resident Visas: Recently, Thailand introduced long-term resident visas, making it easier for expatriates to relocate to the country.
  4. World Class Education: Bangkok is home to many of the best International Schools, Colleges, and Universities.
  5. High Quality Medical Care: About 1 million people expected to visit Thailand for Medical tourism in 2024 alone, and these statistics are rising annually.

Our Agency Team

Introducing the PropertySights Team:

Our team is made up of passionate, experienced, and well-qualified Real Estate agents. With extensive knowledge of Bangkok and its real estate market, we are small but mighty, and ready to help you!

Pattama Langstan – Senior Real Estate Agent (TREBA Broker licensed)

Jirapol Boonyavinich – IT Support

Our Research Team

David Taylor – Content research

Our Values

We are a close-knit team of real estate experts, each with a shared vision for integrity and honesty. Our steadfast commitment to our morals forms the cornerstone of our operations.

For us, transparency is not just a policy, but a virtue we embody. We aim to create lasting relationships and provide authentic communication, enabling our clients to rely on us in an industry that demands trust.

Why Work With Us?

PropertySights Real Estate is a one-stop boutique agency. Our professional and personable team offer real estate services tailored to suit your individual needs in Thailand.