JohnnyBD

Sorry, I don't need to sign a bogus BBL form. I have a LTR-WP visa. When I was on yearly extensions, I used my Kasikorn acct. I also have SCB FCD & THB accts. I have not had any problems with any of my banks. I have had excellent servcie from Bangkok Bank. In fact, they called this past Sat, and said they were reviewing all of their foreigner's files, and they noticed I changed my address recently. They asked me to bring in a copy of my new lease. I told them I bought a new condo. They asked me to bring in the Chanote, so they could make a copy. They didn't freeze my acct. It took about 5 min in the bank. The lady was waiting for me. I call that excellent service.

For heaven's sake. You said there was zero advantage to using Bangkok Bank. I just pointed out that there was at least one advantage to using Bangkok Bank. This thread is not about WISE, it's about which Thai bank to use. I use SWIFT.

One advantage, I can convert USD acct to THB online with Bangkok Bank whereas with Kasikorn, I have to go into the bank to convert USD acct to THB.

Maybe BIC and SWIFT are different types of transfers with different codes. I use SWIFT, and my code is SICOTHBKXXX.

It seems that most of the reports of frozen accounts are from people who opened their accounts while on short-term visas or visa-exempt. You're probably safe... Have a good day...

I never had any problems with Bangkok Bank, SCB, Kasikorn or UOB. Of course, I keep my personal information up-to-date whenever something changes. For example; passport, visa status, address and phone number. I use Bangkok Bank as my primary because they still have web-based banking, and I can convert from my USD acct to THB acct without having to go into the bank, the min. incoming wire fee is only 200 Baht, and I was able to add my wife as an authorized user on my accts in case of my absence.

In Step 2 of the process, you fill in all your personal information including your home address, and/or your address in Thailand (if applicable). You don't have to put a proposed address, you can list your home country address for now.

I use SICOTHBKXXX and it works for me. My bank is Chase Bank.

That really fills you with confidence, doesn't it? On previous occasions, I was actually impressed that they still had the photocopy of my passport that I had originally used to open my account with them 20 years ago. But with all that paperwork they've collected over the years or decades, they might not see the forest for the trees. I went into the bank and changed my address earlier this year. I told them we bought a new condo and that we moved. I thought we gave them copies of our marriage certificate & Chanote at that time, but now I remember, my wife applied for a loan earlier this year, so that was when we gave them the docs. That's a different desk. It wasn't a problem because we live close to the bank. At least they called and didn't freeze my accounts.

When I opened my accounts at Bangkok Bank, I used my lease agreement to prove my residence & address. A few months ago, I went into the bank and changed my address. They called and asked about a lease agreement for my new address. I explained to them we bought a new condo, so we no longer have a lease. They asked for a copy of our marriage certificate & Chanote to prove my residence. My wife is an authorized user on my accounts. I thought we had given them those docs before, but maybe not. It wasn't a problem for me. It only took 5 min in the bank. At least they called and didn't freeze my accounts.

I'm not sure how far back they are going, but I received a call today from the branch that opened my accts within the past year, and they wanted some additional docs. When I got there I asked the lady what was going on, and she said every branch is reviewing their foreigners files to make sure all their docs were in order. She needed my marriage certificate, Chanote to prove my residence and she made copies of my LTR-WP visa stamps. I hope that's the end of it. It was the Emporium branch in Phrom Phong BK..

All done. Less than 5 min in bank. Lady was waiting. She said each branch in Thailand was pulling all the foreigners accts, and checking them to make sure they had all the correct docs.

It's funny. Bangkok Bank Emporium branch in BK just called, and said they been checking all the foreigners files, and they need our marriage certificate & Chanote. Seems they misplaced the ones i gave them earlier this year. We are on the way there now. Will go for dinner & drinks afterwards. At least they called. 😁

You are correct. I will try to remember to use the full name in the future. I used to refer to Bangkok Bank as BKB, but a few posters corrected me, and said the correct acronym was BBL, so I started using BBL. ☺️

So what do "dodgy looking" foreigners look like from the bank's perspective? Is it the people who don't keep much money in their accts? I happen to be on a LTR-WP visa, so I'm sure that is sufficient for the banks.

It may be very helpful to others to know the exact reason/s your acct was closed. Was it because it was opened with an agent's assistance, or becuase it was opened when you were on a tourist visa? Did the bank ever find out you swtiched to a long-stay visa before they closed your acct? I received notices from all my banks (BBL, SCB & UOB) earlier this year to come into the banks to update my information. One of the things they made copies of were my visa stamps, so it makes me think maybe they are closing accts for people who didn't have long-stay visas.

I've had no problems with Bangkok Bank so far. It's my primary Thai bank now. I like that I can use their web-based banking, and that I can convert USD acct to my THB acct online without having to go into the bank. I closed my UOB (was Citibank TH) accts, and Kasikorn (used for marriage) acct. I have a LTR-WP visa now, so I didn't need Kasikorn anymore, and there was no reason to keep small amounts of money sitting in accts I didn't use anymore. Also, it was a lot of work to report those extra accts to the US gov't every year. I still have SCB accts. Good luck to those having problems.

I opened individual & joint savings accts with Bangkok Bank & SCB using passport, marriage certificate and lease agreement. I have LTR-WP visa.

No one reached the 5 year mark yet, so no one knows for sure what they will want to see. They may want to see 5 years worth of IRA withdrawals if that's what was used to qualify. They also may want to see that you kept up the medical insurance or the $100k in bank method in lieu of insurance if that what was used.

BBL, SCB & UOB all accepted my phone bill as proof the SIM/phone was in my name.

Sorry to hear about those having a problem. The banks really should have given people advance notice of the potential freeze. I recently moved, and went to each bank branch where I opened my accounts, and updated my passport information, immigration status, face scan, phone number & address. I did the same earlier this year when my banks sent me notices to come in and update my info. So far so good.

Did you mean you wanted to get a tax clearance certificate to show you filed a tax return? Did you end up getting one from TRD? I thought TRD stopped issuing those several years ago. I also thought it was only for those who had worked in Thailand (Thai-sourced income), and were departing the country after their assignment ended (to insure they paid their taxes). I had to get a similar certificate when I worked abroad, but not for every tax year, it was only once when my assignment ended. And, my company obtained the certificate for me.

My wife went into Kasikorn to make a large xfer to SCB at the counter, but the man said there was a fee. He told her better to increase the limit on her app to make the xfer. He saw she had 1,000 baht left after the xfer, so he told her she needed to get the balance back above 2,000 baht within the next 12 mths or they would charge a monthly fee.

Sorry to see that. Right now, my accts can still be accessed with online IBanking. I like the convenience of using IBanking as well as the app. I hope they don't discontinue it for existing accts.

I guess that specific account was opened and dedicated for SS deposits only. I didn't know they had such a thing. I bank with Bangkok Bank also, and have a savings acct with a debit card, an App on my phone, and I use their web banking.