Caldera

I think you'll find that the price is quite variable and depends on your "history".

Better ask the generals who they want.

Fight you can. Lose you will. Bye.

Again? Didn't they just revise those rules? Forgive me, I've lost track with all that flip-flopping that's been happening left, right and center...

Same in my case, my passport number changes with every new passport issued. Here's the thing though: Unrelated to the mobile banking mess, AIS asked me to redo the ID verification in March, in order to keep using their VoWiFi service. So they did register my new passport number, just before the banks' matching exercise which was due in April. Kasikorn Bank, by the way, was one of the banks which didn't require me to get written confirmation from AIS that my SIM card is in fact mine. So their matching seemed to go alright in my case.

A "retiree with funds" currently has at least FOUR different "retirement visa" options at their disposal: Non O, Non-OA, Non-OX and LTR. Living in Thailand on visa exempts or tourist visas obviously isn't among those options, but you can try and take your chances.

Option A: The agent walks away from this line of business and only offers a hand-holding service to those who have the money in the bank in the future. Option B: The agent, in collusion with their IO counterpart, will get creative and salvage the "no money in the bank" extension business. We can only guesstimate how much money they would lose by choosing option A, but I'd daresay it's enough enticement to go with option B instead. How exactly they'll do that to minimize their risk and maximize their profits remains to be seen, but I have little doubt about the outcome.

Worth noting that this topic is about Krungsri, and that they are about to get rid of their "website" banking as well - so same as with SCB, you'll have to use their app from October on. I agree with you that this is a benefit of using Bangkok Bank (and Kasikorn Bank as well). For how much longer though, I'm wondering? They may well make a similar move soon.

Thailand is just a flip-flopping nightmare to any potential foreign investor. Nobody knows what the taxation rules will look like next year and which policies they will flip-flop on next. You just cannot make any longterm plans in such an environment.

So your first sentence is obviously wrong. You don't need a Thai ID card, but you do need some (accepted form of) proof of residence. I've always used a certificate of residence from immigration in Bangkok.

You mean like bribery?

You must have been living under a rock if you find that bizarre. I had to attend two banks in person so that they could "scan my face", just because a few of their customers are too dumb to keep their accounts safe and secure. My phone number has been the same since 15 years, has been registered with my banks since then amd has been registered in my name with my passport since that became a requirement in 2015. Still, ONE of my banks was too inept to match the information and demanded to see a written confirmation from AIS. The other banks didn't, and of course, the data does match. That's more hassle judt within the last months than I had had in more than a decade before - back then, things JUST WORKED and kept working without intervention. We're not even done yet, now Kasikorn Bank just managed to roll out the "face scan" for foreigners as well, so I'm looking forward to yet another bank visit which is a complete waste of my time.

You can't seriously believe that an agent will lend EACH OF THEIR CUSTOMERS 800,000 baht for 4 months to satisfy this requirement. They'll find another way. If I had to guess, they'll omit or fake the bank paperwork outright and pay their immigration contact a bit more to overlook it. Cutting out the banks completely makes sense for both the agent and the IO.

The joys of using Thai banks... things have really gone downhill fast in recent months across the board.

Nonsense. If you have legally obtained a visa or extension (such as you with your LTR), expecting that the IO you're dealing with knows about your visa and how to process your entry isn't "entitled". It's a perfectly reasonable expectation in line with their job description. They expect me to show up at certain times, fill in certain forms and supply certain documents as well. Reasonable expectations!