Nine years ago I was in Thailand and had a bank account. When i left I had a small amount of money in it maybe 3- 5 thousand baht.

I still have the book and atm card I am sure the atm card would be expired.

My question is do they close these accounts from lack of usage. I am not worried about the money but will be returning to Thailand shortly

and would like to go and deposit cash and use my atm while I travel. 

 

Thank you

Sometimes.

thanks this may be a subject that is not experienced that often 

Oct 27 the Other Newspaper

 

The Finance Ministry's Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has drafted a bill providing for the transfer of money from people's bank accounts left idle for 10 years or longer to the government coffers. The bill was aimed at making use for the public interest of money left idle in accounts with banks and specialised financial institutions for a long time, at least 10 years. It would cover deposits in savings and current accounts, money in Thai and other currencies, held in the names of people living in the country and abroad. The bill was aimed at making use for the public interest of money left idle in accounts with banks and specialised financial institutions for a long time, at least 10 years. It would cover deposits in savings and current accounts, money in Thai and other currencies, held in the names of people living in the country and abroad.

15 minutes ago, thaitot said:

thanks this may be a subject that is not experienced that often 

Wife and I experience it with Thai Farmers Kasikorn Bank to the tune of around 5000 Baht.

 

If you have it activated or get a new account be sure to get Internet Banking all our accounts are Ayudhya and their Internet Banking is good.

 

Visa debit cards last 2 years.

 

If you have anyone else on the account "Joint" or not must be with you. I wasted a trip to LOS because I thought banking would be like in Oz.

You may wish to post this question in the Thaivisa "Banking" forum.

 

I inquired about this at my local Bangkok Bank because I suspect there are cases where elderly expats pass away without a Final Will and no one knows about their 800,000 baht account for their retirement visa.  I asked if the money reverts to the Thai gov't where it is "held" in the owners name where it can be claimed by heirs, as is done in the U.S.  They said, no the money stays on deposit at the bank (forever) and can be claimed by legal heirs with an appropriate court order.  

 

The newspaper article mentioned above tends to substantiate this practice, implying the Thai gov't would like to get ahold of this idle money rather than letting the banks keep it.

 

In the case of smaller accounts, there is a 200 baht annual fee for an ATM card and once the account balance becomes too low to pay this annual fee, the account is closed.

thanks for the replies