I personally just opened an account at ACLEDA with a 30-day tourist visa. It only took one day, and the bank agents even came to my hotel—I didn’t have to go to the branch.
Maybe this was a special case because it was arranged through a good friend of a very close friend of mine (who lives there and is Khmer-European). They have good connections, so it might not be that easy without special help or local contacts.
Don't know yet how I will use it, but for now, as a TH resident:
- You can use the QR code for payments (Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam) without needing an account in each of these countries. In my case, with the DTV visa (5 years) in Thailand, opening a bank account is still a mess—even in Pattaya now, as they have added more restrictions. It’s kind of unbelievable.
- No CRS reporting.
- The app and e-banking services are honestly very good and comprehensive—probably better than many Western banking apps. Plus, there’s additional security with a separate authentication app, along with SMS/email OTP verification.
- Supports both Riel and USD accounts. Debit card costs range from $6 per year for the basic version to $70 for the Platinum.