The wife and I opened separate bank accounts at the Pink bank (GSB). 'Farang are not allowed to have the phone app'...

[jack71]

Its hard to believe but the Government savings bank will not allow westerners to have access to their banking phone app. My wife can as a Thai national but not me. I could only laugh when this was translated to me. Is it a joke. The bank lady said that farang are only allowed to have the LINE app which is all in Thai. She could not work out if it was possible to revert to English language. 

 

Is this true or bs? If you have an account at this bank and have the phone app can you write a comment below. 

thanks

 

 

[Chris.B]

Their website has a chat function, try that.

 

Can you access the account online?

[emilyarin]

tell them to poke there account and go to SCB I pay all my bills transfer money on my phone app easy, ????????

 

[johng]

1 minute ago, emilyarin said:

tell them to poke there account and go to SCB

Before taking the "Nuclear"  option it might be worth going to a/some different GSB  branch and ask them..often the employees are in "drone" mode can not think outside the box at all.

[BangkokReady]

10 minutes ago, johng said:

often the employees are in "drone" mode can not think outside the box at all

 

Just a "mode", huh?  As soon as they leave work they're back to independent and critical thinking?

[HB9CPW]

Visit main office could be an option.

Same happened to me with Bangkok Banc. After visit their main office in BKK (Silom) all was OK. Can pay all with app, QR etc.

NEVER GIVE UP !

Good luck.

Marc

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Try another branch or another bank.

 

Kasikorn (the green one) is good. Their mobile app is excellent. 

[JayClay]

What exactly is the issue. What happens when you try to install and launch the app on your phone?

[daveAustin]

Yep, might be bank policy, but very often down to the individual and their level of competence/enthusiasm. Try another branch. 

[Scott]

An off-topic, troll post reported and removed.

 

[soi3eddie]

13 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Try another branch or another bank.

 

Kasikorn (the green one) is good. Their mobile app is excellent. 

 

 

I've had online banking with Kbank since 2004. Their mobile App is super too. Very easy.

 

[tonray]

4 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

 

 

I've had online banking with Kbank since 2004. Their mobile App is super too. Very easy.

 

Yeah...Kasikorn even installed two apps on my phone...one for SME (because the girl appareently thought I was a business owner) and the regular app. Both work to this day.

Edited June 8, 2021 by tonray

[Kerryd]

What visa/extension are you on ? 

When I first asked about online banking with Bangkok Bank, I was told I couldn't get it as I wasn't on a "year long" visa.

After I did get my "year long visa" they set me up no problem (within minutes actually). (I don't do banking on my phone though.)

And if they still say no, there's no reason you can't simply tell them "Thank you, I will now close my account(s) and open new ones at one of your competitors." 
Smaller branches may not want to lose too many accounts as it looks bad for the manager.

[cjinchiangrai]

You need a Thai ID number to activate the phone apps. This includes LinePay. No idea if the pink ID cards work.

 

I feel your frustration after years in China with WeChat Pay. Nobody had cash and even little street carts had a QR code on the front. It was great.

[DUNROAMIN]

Change to KTB Krung Thai Bank. blue. Farang friendly, great service, internet access and phone app. 

[Beckham Beach]

1. Governments have absolutely no business being in any business, let alone banking!! The first banks to go bust in any crisis are the state owned ones because their deposits are suborned by politicians. You only have to take the poor old Krung Thai bank. Yes, its got a stock market listing but the government still owns a controlling stake in it. I have been here since 1987 and it has been recapitalised 3 times because it has gone broke. Every picture tells a story. Same as Thai International. This airline should be a crown jewel but state control has led it to being a dumping ground for the idle kids of powerful, connected families. Overmanning, over pay, you name it. TG has it. With hugely bigger overheads like wages etc., Cathay and Singapore Air can make good profits. Why can't TG? Privatise ALL government owned businesses.

[wwest5829]

22 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

You need a Thai ID number to activate the phone apps. This includes LinePay. No idea if the pink ID cards work.

 

I feel your frustration after years in China with WeChat Pay. Nobody had cash and even little street carts had a QR code on the front. It was great.

No Thai ID numbers for either my Bangkok Bank nor Kasikorn Bank account apps on my iPhone. Just sayin ...

[Centrum]

CIMB has done the same I believe. It no longer accepts my ID name

 There was an announcement some time ago that they were withdrawing the service to non-Thais.

 

 

[JonnyF]

I have accounts with KBank, Bangkok Bank and SCB and they all gave me the phone app. Never questioned it at all.

 

I reckon you just met some angry clerk who probably got offended by a farang at some point and simply made up the rule to annoy you. Try another branch/bank.

[NCC1701A]

19 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

No Thai ID numbers for either my Bangkok Bank nor Kasikorn Bank account apps on my iPhone. Just sayin ...

my Bangkok Bank app had to be activated by the woman in the bank while opening account.  

 

same SCB. 

 

Do you remember doing anything like that? 

[jomtienisgood]

22 hours ago, johng said:

Before taking the "Nuclear"  option it might be worth going to a/some different GSB  branch and ask them..often the employees are in "drone" mode can not think outside the box at all.

i.o.w., they are confined in the box... very appropriate considering the present sanitary situation.  ????????

[NanLaew]

22 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

22 hours ago, johng said:

often the employees are in "drone" mode can not think outside the box at all

 

Just a "mode", huh?  As soon as they leave work they're back to independent and critical thinking?

 

Sure they are.

 

I've lost count of how many times I've seen the office worker riding their scooter on the evening commute suddenly brake and cut across three lanes of traffic without looking or signalling just to get to their favorite khao man gai stall?

[Cake Monster]

22 hours ago, emilyarin said:

tell them to poke there account and go to SCB I pay all my bills transfer money on my phone app easy, ????????

 

I have a KTB Bank App and a K Bank App.

Pay Bills, Transfer Etc on both no problem.

You can also apply to get a True Money App. Its like a debit card for small amounts to about 5K I think is the limit.

Tell GSB you no longer require their excellent service, and bank else where.

[wwest5829]

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

my Bangkok Bank app had to be activated by the woman in the bank while opening account.  

 

same SCB. 

 

Do you remember doing anything like that? 

Afraid it was too long ago. Kasikorn account opened 2010 on a Visa exempt entry (friend here in Chiang Mai let me use his address). Bangkok Bank account opened 2011 upon retiring here (O-A Visa).

[ThailandRyan]

7 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

 

 

I've had online banking with Kbank since 2004. Their mobile App is super too. Very easy.

 

+1, and I also had SCB which I dumped as I always had issues with their app and website locking me out while I was in the US, and could never get ahold of a customer service agent because it was after hours.  K-Bank does a super job and I have never had any issues with them, even changed my phone number and address with no problems.  Many functions also available at the ATM with even card less withdrawal being available if all you have is your phone and need cash.  Mobile banking, bill pay, topping up phone for the GF, paying my condo juristic fees by transfer and such......

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

my Bangkok Bank app had to be activated by the woman in the bank while opening account.  

 

same SCB. 

 

Do you remember doing anything like that? 

K-bank needs to be activated using wifi before you can use the app in 4g or 5g mode.  Yes the bank can do it for you, but you can also use the KBank ATM to register and add features as well.

[recom273]

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

my Bangkok Bank app had to be activated by the woman in the bank while opening account.  

 

same SCB. 

 

Do you remember doing anything like that? 

 

And back in the day, before people had iPhones and mobile apps, Bangkok Bank wouldn't activate the internet banking facility without a work permit. It seemed absurd at the time.

 

I guess it takes a bit of time for some banks to come around. I doubt GSB will ever come around, I think I tried contacting them once on about some kind of joint account and it was difficult to communicate.

 

 

 

[rwill]

I use them with SCB and KTB.  Plus get the alerts whenever my account has a transaction.

[phetphet]

 Perhaps you might need to get internet banking authorisation first. Then download the App and see if you can get it to work .

[SomchaiCNX]

2 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

You need a Thai ID number to activate the phone apps. This includes LinePay. No idea if the pink ID cards work.

 

I feel your frustration after years in China with WeChat Pay. Nobody had cash and even little street carts had a QR code on the front. It was great.

While would Chines Government hackers hack their own stuff? They only do this to those who do not agree ????