Which bank, besides Krungsri, allows foreign currency deposit (FCD) account to Thai baht (THB) exchange via mobile banking/ without going to bank counter?

Kasikorn's app does handle the FCD to THB exchange once the account is open, but the initial setup is the real hurdle. I opened mine at a branch near Asok and they wanted a stack of documents showing where the foreign currency came from, so be ready for that. If you're dealing with euros specifically, KBank's app shows both USD and EUR balances clearly, and the exchange rate is live, though not always the best. One trick I've found is to compare the app's rate against the board rate on the bank's website before confirming, since the app sometimes lags by a few satang. Also, if you travel a lot, check if the bank you pick has a waiver on the FCD account maintenance fee, because Krungsri charges me a monthly fee when the balance drops below a certain amount, and that can eat into small exchanges.

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Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn (KBank) both let you do FCD to THB exchanges in their apps, but only if you set up the FCD account first at a branch. After that, the app handles it fine, no counter needed. I've used Bangkok Bank's app for USD and EUR, it's straightforward, but they do charge a spread that's slightly worse than Krungsri's, so check the rate before confirming. One thing to note, unlike Krungsri, Bangkok Bank lets you hold multiple foreign currencies under one FCD account, which might be handy if you're juggling EUR and USD. For Kasikorn, the app works too, but I've heard their FCD opening process is stricter about proof of source of funds, so bring your paperwork if you go that route.

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tbh you might wanna look at CIMB Thai. their app has an FCD section that lets you flip USD or EUR to THB without a branch visit, as long as the account's already open. the catch is they're picky about the initial deposit, needs to come via wire transfer, not cash. also their app is a bit clunky compared to Krungsri's, but the spread on EUR/THB is actually decent, sometimes better than KBank's. another option is TTB, they let you do FCD exchanges in the app too, but only for a few currencies and the minimum balance fee kicks in fast if you drop below like 5k USD equivalent. if you're mostly doing euros, CIMB's been solid for me, just set it up at a branch first and bring proof of where the money's from, they're strict about that.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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