Bangkok Bank in Thailand

[brucegoniners]

These people have policies that come from the 1970's in the rest of the world.

 

Everything is paper. Everything you want to change is hard to do.

 

Many things you need to do have to do at your original branch, which is in Bangkok and I'm in Pattaya.

 

After my next visa I am so out of there.

 

We already closed one account there and went to SCB. Very happy there.

 

If you're looking to open a bank account stay away. It will just be an ongoing pain in your butt.

[Phoenix Rising]

You should really ask the mods to remove your post, or do it yourself if there's still time. There are draconian defamation laws protecting the high and mighty (and the owners of BB are) in Thailand from inconvenient truths uttered by the little people so a post like yours might actually land you in jail.......seriously.

Edited December 15, 2021 by Phoenix Rising

[mtls2005]

My BBL complaints:

 

Everything has to be done at your branch. (SCB allows you to do most things at any branch).

 

Getting a new passbook involves at massive document dump, dozens of signatures, even more garuda stamps and on average 15 minutes.

 

Changing anything, like phone number or address also requires a similar deep dive into the thai penchant for paperwork.

 

The people at my branch know me, and are very helpful (esp. at extension time), and keeping multiple accounts is prudent, IMO. I guess I'm just inured to the follies and foibles after 20-ish years.

 

 

[KhunLA]

Sadly, the only one USA SS accepts for DD

 

Although my local branch is excellent come visa ext. time.  Fair trade.

[Halfaboy]

To be honest, despite the paperwork I am very happy with the services of the Bangkok Bank on second Road in Pattaya. I don't mind the paperwork, it's all up to them as long as I get what I want.

[Liverpool Lou]

"Bangkok Bank in Thailand"

 

Thankfully just the opinion of one anonymous Thaivisa poster who, as per usual for most TV moaners, provides no evidence for his thread title's  assertion.

 

Most normal changes are easily made at any branch, through the app or through iBanking.   What was it that proved so difficult for you to do that you provided no evidence for?

 

I've banked with BBL for 20-odd years, never had any issue with it.   My account is held at their Head Office and any change I've needed to be made could be done at a branch in a local mall.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

My BBL complaints:

 

Everything has to be done at your branch. (SCB allows you to do most things at any branch).

 

Getting a new passbook involves at massive document dump, dozens of signatures, even more garuda stamps and on average 15 minutes.

 

Changing anything, like phone number or address also requires a similar deep dive into the thai penchant for paperwork.

"Everything has to be done at your branch".

That is incorrect, most things can be done at any branch.  Do you have examples of the "everything" that you have had to have done at your own branch exclusively?

 

"Getting a new passbook involves at massive document dump, dozens of signatures..."

Completely false. Getting a new passbook to replace a full one requires nothing except the old book and, maybe your ID.

 

Edited December 15, 2021 by Liverpool Lou

[scubascuba3]

All banks have tons of paperwork, a bit like immigration, maybe straight in a skip out back

[EricTh]

All banks in Thailand have tons of photocopying and signature.

 

Thai people just love paperwork not knowing that we are in the digital age and not 100 years ago when paper was the norm.

 

 

[JustAnotherHun]

53 minutes ago, Halfaboy said:

To be honest, despite the paperwork I am very happy with the services of the Bangkok Bank on second Road in Pattaya. I don't mind the paperwork, it's all up to them as long as I get what I want.

Same with my Banglamung branch.

"Everything has to be done at your local branch"?

BS. When I needed a new ATM card urgently and Banglamung was closed for some reason, I got it at BKK Bank in Lotus on North Pattaya Rd.

When I needed a 1-year-statement a couple of years ago, I got it here too.

Never had any problem with BKK Bank.

One minus there might be the exchange rates. I think there are better offers for money transfer from abroad.

[86Tiger]

 

 

I have to disagree with OP.  BBL has been very easy and convenient for me.  Have used several different branches, all very helpful and never been turned away or directed to original branch.

 

TIT so I am sure there is or are problem individuals or branches out in the world but I am yet to encounter any.

 

 

YMMV

[flexomike]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Sadly, the only one USA SS accepts for DD

 

Although my local branch is excellent come visa ext. time.  Fair trade.

not true anymore, can use any bank you want now ACH is for Bangkok Bank only IDD is for any bank

[timendres]

2 hours ago, brucegoniners said:

We already closed one account there and went to SCB. Very happy there.

Credibility gone.

[Pravda]

3 hours ago, brucegoniners said:

We already closed one account there and went to SCB. Very happy there.

You think SCB is different? Wait until you get a new passport and try to prove it's your account.

[bbko]

3 hours ago, brucegoniners said:

We already closed one account there and went to SCB. Very happy there.

I'm just the opposite, my wife and I had a joint account with SCB and because it was a joint account we couldn't use their app. I wasn't happy with that so I opened a single account with BB and I'm happy with them.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, brucegoniners said:

We already closed one account there and went to SCB. Very happy there.

What is the procedure for closing an account with BBL?   Did you have to go to your own branch in Bangkok to do that?

[Farmerslife]

To be honest, this doesn't reflect my dealings with Bangkok Bank at all. I have always found them very helpful. 

Pak Chong branch was happy to open an account for me when SCB refused.

 

They issued a new passbook for me in Bangkok when my existing one was full without any problems. 

 

The branch in Korat supplied me with a 6 month statement for immigration on a walk-in with no notice.

 

You take as you find, I guess but, to date, they've not let me down so they get a thumbs up from me.   

 

[JackGats]

1 hour ago, Halfaboy said:

To be honest, despite the paperwork I am very happy with the services of the Bangkok Bank on second Road in Pattaya. I don't mind the paperwork, it's all up to them as long as I get what I want.

Same for me. Happy with either 2nd Road or Central Festival. Kind and efficient face-to-face service (compare that to EU banks where everything has to be done online and any mishap can lock you out of your account for weeks). I wish I could date those Bangkok Bank employees! 20 years ago such girls were in go-gos, not in banks.

[CharlieH]

I dont think it is very fair to berate the OP. If that is HIS experience, then its his experience, just because it may not be yours doesnt make him wrong.

We all know things are NOT consistent in this land and experiences can and do vary greatly. Vary by Bank, by Office, and dven by who you see on the day,

 

The title has been adjusted.

Incorrect format post removed.

Troll remark removed.

[KhunLA]

50 minutes ago, flexomike said:

not true anymore, can use any bank you want now ACH is for Bangkok Bank only IDD is for any bank

OK, good to know, though I'll stick BkkBank for now, as visa time, excellent.  My bank book show 3 or 4 transactions a month, 1 in 2 or 3 out.  Pretty much all of my Thai banking.

 

At the time submitted Thanachart account for USA Social Security dir dep, and SS said BkkBank only.  

[flexomike]

19 hours ago, KhunLA said:

OK, good to know, though I'll stick BkkBank for now, as visa time, excellent.  My bank book show 3 or 4 transactions a month, 1 in 2 or 3 out.  Pretty much all of my Thai banking.

 

At the time submitted Thanachart account for USA Social Security dir dep, and SS said BkkBank only.  

Best to keep the way you are doing it, wife has hers sent IDD, and it doesn't show as a foreign transaction, mine comes ACH to BKK bank and always shows foreign transaction code, only advantage to the IDD is you can have a debit card linked to it

[userabcd]

''These people have policies that come from the 1970's in the rest of the world.'' -  Nope

 

"Everything is paper. Everything you want to change is hard to do." Nope

 

"Many things you need to do have to do at your original branch, which is in Bangkok and I'm in Pattaya." Nope again.

 

"Getting a new passbook involves at massive document dump, dozens of signatures, even more garuda stamps and on average 15 minutes.

 

Changing anything, like phone number or address also requires a similar deep dive into the thai penchant for paperwork." Quite an exaggeration.

[brucegoniners]

On 12/15/2021 at 10:37 AM, Phoenix Rising said:

You should really ask the mods to remove your post, or do it yourself if there's still time. There are draconian defamation laws protecting the high and mighty (and the owners of BB are) in Thailand from inconvenient truths uttered by the little people so a post like yours might actually land you in jail.......seriously.

I would, but there's nothing untrue here.

[CRUNCHER]

On 12/15/2021 at 1:35 PM, bbko said:

I'm just the opposite, my wife and I had a joint account with SCB and because it was a joint account we couldn't use their app. I wasn't happy with that so I opened a single account with BB and I'm happy with them.

There we are then. BBL is superior. Wife and I have joint account and I use  the app regularly with no problems.

[phetphet]

On 12/15/2021 at 10:42 AM, mtls2005 said:

My BBL complaints:

 

Everything has to be done at your branch. (SCB allows you to do most things at any branch).

 

Getting a new passbook involves at massive document dump, dozens of signatures, even more garuda stamps and on average 15 minutes.

 

Changing anything, like phone number or address also requires a similar deep dive into the thai penchant for paperwork.

 

The people at my branch know me, and are very helpful (esp. at extension time), and keeping multiple accounts is prudent, IMO. I guess I'm just inured to the follies and foibles after 20-ish years.

 

 

A lot of bank staff here seem wary of doing something outside the scope of day to day banking. I don't know if it is the language barrier,  fear of making a mistake and getting into trouble (they may have cover any losses made due to their mistakes), or if it just the Thai loss of face thing.

I have found that the staff seem much more knowledgeable and helpful in the areas where they deal with many foreign customers.

As for the paperwork thing. it is everywhere. Not just the banks. I think it is the government just collecting information on everyone in the country. 

[rimmae2]

On 12/15/2021 at 8:35 AM, bbko said:

I'm just the opposite, my wife and I had a joint account with SCB and because it was a joint account we couldn't use their app. I wasn't happy with that so I opened a single account with BB and I'm happy with them.

One of the joint account holders can use the App. Not very inconvenient.

[Phoenix Rising]

On 12/16/2021 at 12:47 PM, brucegoniners said:

I would, but there's nothing untrue here.

In don't doubt you but the truth doesn't matter when it comes to Thai defamation laws. Plenty of people are in jail in Thailand for speaking the truth