There was a post of someone talking about a savings account giving 2.2% I can't remember which Thai bank it was, do some research to see what is currently available, as far I know most Thai savings accounts pay less than 1% so don't expect good rates.

@Andy ***********

that sounds like one of the more dodgy agent visas, likely done in another province, I've only heard stories from people in Pattaya, and they all say they need to go to the bank with the agent, and also attend immigration for photos, for the retirement visa, they say around ฿30k for the first time, with it being 15 months, then ฿15k for the following 12 month extension of stay for every year after that.

@Nelly *****

if you arrive on a 60 day tourist visa, or 60 day visa exempt, I have only heard of jomtien immigration, requiring two months seasoning of the ฿800k before the initial 90 day non O visa application, so you could do a 30 day tourist visa extension to give you extra time, I think many other immigration offices, only require the seasoning two months before the 12 month extension of stay, if you need to open a bank account but can't do it yourself, you would just need to contact agents, to see if any can still do it, because some of the well known agents in Pattaya, such as tik tok or mots, are currently saying it cannot be done at the moment, agents seem to deal with different Bangkok banks, in Pattaya anyway, so you might get lucky, and drop on one that can still get an account opened for you, a lot has changed in the last few weeks, you would need to get in touch, and see what the situation is as of today.

@Andy ***********

from what I've been told, you accompany the agent to the bank, the bank clerk fires the ฿800k from the agents account into your account, then prints a statement and maybe they also update your bank book, then they fire it straight back into the agents account, it sounds like it's all completed in a matter of minutes, it must just get over looked that the ฿800k, hasn't been seasoned for the two months prior to the application, I'm not sure.

@Andy ***********

I've never heard anyone suggest, agents have fake accounts before. 🤔

@Andy ***********

as far as I'm aware, agents don't leave money in peoples bank accounts for a week or two, the person who wants the visa, they could just transfer it out, and do a disappearing act, and start a new life in Cambodia or Lao 😂

@Greg **********

Brandon Thurkettle the issue with agents in Pattaya opening bank accounts, apparently it's Bangkok bank, they are now saying you can't open a bank account on a short-term visa if you are under 50 years old, I believe some agents can still open an account regardless of visa status or age, but apparently things have changed a lot even just in the past few weeks.

It depends on what you want to do, if it's just general servicing, tyres, brakes, and suspension etc, I've had good experiences with the FIT Auto service centres, they are usually situated at the back of the PTT gas stations, B quick or Bacs I've heard are also okay, see if there is any in your local area, I personally got fed up with back street garages, generally just ripping me off with over charging, or even charging for work that didn't need doing, or not doing it at all and still giving me a bill, and sometimes using cheap parts bought on Lazada, while being focused on maximum profit, I also had the same issue with the motorcycle, I now go to the honda dealership for everything, it's the same price, or slightly more than those little rip off motorcycle shops, with the car I use the above fast fit centres, and anything they can't do, its off to the main dealership, it's more than worth the extra to know it's been done correctly with genuine OEM parts and oils, the good thing with the above mentioned businesses, there is no farang price or ripping off, it's disheartening because I was always a supporter of small family run businesses.

In pattaya it seems to be around ฿4000, for a 30 day extension, just message a few agents on Facebook and get quotes, saves the leg work.

An instant access thai savings account is fine.