Hi guys hope I can get some feedback.
I'm currently in Singapore going around doing the rounds to try open an account.

My situation:
Malaysian Resident no Singpass no work permit in SG

Today I visited
DBS MBFC
DBS South Bridge
DBS Singapura Plaza

I might have just visited the branches on a bad day because I noticed all 3 branches have staff with Trainee badges on at the front.

DBS MBFC told me they can't open the account without approval from Vickers team, went to check with someone else on the team.
Vickers team say they can't open an account without a Savings account open first and don't communicate with branch team...
Stuck between 2 groups that don't want to make a move...

DBS South Bridge staff said its not possible went to check with someone else 2-3 times, she was very helpful offered to submit the documents but needed to go photocopy ID and docuents which made no sense?
Why not just scan ID or take digital copies from my email. So I left.

DBS Singapura Plaza was the most helpful... same thing front staff said not possible. Went away twice to speak to someone. Finally got introduced to the Team Head of the branch and he said yes we could potentially open an account it's subject to approval and want to understand what your plans are for the account.

He introduced me to a colleague who started to offer me a product called "Manulife Invest Ready" which seems like a forced savings scheme.
I needed to deposit $1,000SGD a month for 10 years with the option to stop at 10 years and withdrawal at 13 years.
I was told I would get a transaction account, option to open a Vickers but would need to commit to depositing each month to this fund.
If i stopped this fund then the savings account would be closed.

Any suggestions on how to word my enquiry when I arrive at the branch?

I'm here for another day, but I can extend the trip if needed.

I also just chanced my luck at OCBC and UOB.

UOB said they have a product available but it requires $20,000 SGD to open and that someone would call me to discuss.

Same with OCBC, they took my details down and someone will reach out to discuss options.

Hey everyone just a heads up.
There may be a way to open an account with UOB now too.

If you search on Google "I am a foreigner. I would like to know the requirements of opening a personal account with UOB."

It outlines what you need.

I went into a UOB branch and the front door person told me repeatedly it's not possible must have Singpass, need address here must be working here. All the usual default responses.

She then referred me to the security guard who also told me it's not possible.

I just kept showing them this link on their site. Eventually they referred me to another member of the team.

Short answer is, it looks like it's possible.

Seems like they want me to start a fixed deposit for 5 years or invest into a mutual fund that can be withdrawn at my choosing.

Can split between the two.

The bank staff gave an example of investing into their mutual fund made up of US stocks + other countries. Then if the market does well she said some clients withdraw in 1 - 2 years.

At the same time she said you get a bank account with a minimum $1,000 SGD balance required. Sounds like their "UOB One" product.

I haven't got the amounts to invest yet.

But maybe there's an option with UOB now too?

Will report back when I find out more.

Thank you, sound advice regarding the FD vs mutual fund

Haven't got the fine print yet but at least I got past the front door and talking to someone who isn't just saying "can't can't can't"

No amount yet, she's going to get back to me on this. But will report back when I get an update.

But I'm hopeful it's not something crazy, at least it isn't one of those premier banking accounts that needs to maintain 20K - 100K+ on the account.

I went into another UOB branch last week and they told me they have an option for foreigners but it's 20K and someone would call me to discuss options (no call yet).

That's okay I can live with $1K in the account, the alternative is leaving it in Ringgit and potentially seeing it depreciate in terms of global purchasing power.

When I went into the branch they really bring up that point. So I haven't got that far into the process yet.

The other option on the site says OR "A Letter of Reference from a Bank whereby the customer is currently having an existing banking relationship with the Bank itself"

The language would seem to suggest a letter from a bank where the foreigner resides eg. if you bank at Maybank MY then would need a letter from Maybank.

No worries, to each their own.

If it's an option, it's good to have that choice in case other people get rejected from DBS.

It seemed like reading the past replies that only DBS was an option for an SG bank so just wanted to let everyone know there is potentially an alternative.

I also opened the CIMB SG account.

Took me just under a month from start to finish.

Took me about a week to deposit the $1,000 SGD
So 3 weeks from when they received the deposit to account opening.

They also asked for my purpose of account opening.

Take a trip yourself or if she's really a long-term gf then she needs to understand.

This is about your potential financial future either together or with someone else.

It's better to be overprepared now than later be in a tough position and thinking "I should have opened that account in 2023 when I had the chance"

Haven't tried but curious to know this.

I'm guessing it would trigger an investigation based on the amount.

I believe AUS banks have to report > $10K transactions to the central bank and Malaysia reports transactions over 30K RM

The process in the app really is a pain in the ass... So it's 1 shot of the IC front on.

THen 2 of the front at an angle?
Then 1 of the back.
I'm really struggling to the get the 2 shots at an angle...

Did you just keep getting the "Sorry, we are unable to scan your ID card" error.

haha I'm the same... I want to throw my phone out the window.

Why is the tech so badly executed, so many other apps like trading and crypto apps have no problems verifying ID.

Did you find a scenario that worked best? Bright room? Dark background?

What phone are you using? Have any tips?

I've tried so many times and I still get rejected

Haha agreed. I've used 2 Android phones to try and apply with no success. I'm going to try with an iPhone. I'm thinking they might have been lazy and only built the system to work properly with iOS because it covers the most users?

Updated on opening the OCBC account.
I happened to have a trip to go to SG so I dropped into the branch asking if I could get some assistance with getting the broken app to work.

I swear I'd probbaly tried at least 20 times.

Magically the IC scan worked on the 1st go in front of the staff member.

Branch magic...