Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing banking in Thailand specifically the issue of foreign checks. Now I know checks are something of a throwback these days, it's almost antiquated, especially in the younger viewers who are watching this can be like "Checks? who is still using checks? what is this, like 1989?" Well the fact is Thailand still uses a great number of checks; we use checks every day just for business operations and things here in the Kingdom. It is not unheard of to continue using checks here in Thailand.

That said, the thrust of this video pertains to foreign checks, that's a check, you may have brought in a check from the United States and you are looking to put it in to your Thai bank account or something. I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: British Expats in Thailand bemoan Barclay's latest debanking moves. Quoting directly: Quote "He said he was contacting the providers to see if they would transfer directly to his Thai Bank Account but had been warned that some pension companies charged extra, or used poorer exchange rates, or even insisted on sending a check which was impossible to cash here." So yeah, that's not strictly speaking true. Practically speaking, dealing with foreign checks in Thailand can be a real pain. I've dealt with it myself actually when I've gotten things like tax returns and stuff. 

Yes it is possible to cash a foreign check here in Thailand. You can take your foreign check to a bank; you are going to fill out a bunch of paperwork; they will oftentimes take it, they will deposit it and then they will negotiate it with the issuing bank. So it's pretty old school, it is sort if Banks talking to each other over their banking network. If I recall right, the last one of those I actually did do, I took a paper check, this is probably going back 2 or 3 years ago but I took a paper check, put it into my personal account, and just waited for it to process. If I recall right, I think it was 45 days, I think it took about a month and a half for that check to clear and for the money to actually be usable here in my account here in Thailand. So while it is not impossible per se to utilize a foreign check here in Thailand and I urge those who are watching this, check out that article in detail again, pattayamail.com, the article is titled: British Expats in Thailand bemoan Barclay's latest debanking moves. Yeah, for a retiree or whatever it is really not going to be feasible. I see the author's point there that as a practical matter, no a retiree is not going to want to try to put checks into a Thai bank account in lieu of just having their money transferred here via bank wire whatever. 

The point I am trying to make though is strictly speaking, it is not impossible to cash a foreign check in Thailand. Just be prepared for a lot of internal paperwork from the bank and a lot of waiting time to be able to see that check actually clear and to be able to use your funds here in the Kingdom of Thailand.