A dilemma: I currently live in the UK. I want to open up a Thai Baht bank account in Thailand (I am buying a place there). I went through the list of banks here – every one; each bank I have approached have told me (rather understandably) that new money-laundering rules meant I would have to travel to Thailand to open such an account. [I did have a couple of interviews lined up with their UK representative offices in London to open an account, but at the last moment they both phoned me and said: “new rules: we can’t do it – you will have to travel to Thailand”]. Oh, and for the record: HSBC aren’t interested. They were disinterested – almost hostile – as I am not a regular HSBC UK customer. Thank you, Ray

Not easy anywhere in the world these days. Easier to get married in a foreign country than open a bank account!

Is it possible to open a bank account in any other country without visiting? There are so many money laundering laws I'm not sure this is possible anywhere?!

As of March 31 2012, HSBC no longer operate acounts for individuals in Thailand. It is now a corporate bank only.

Many thanks - at least that part-explains HSBC's almost pathalogical disinterest in helping me!