Retirement extension via agent, change of bank.

[jimn]

I don't know if anyone is aware, I certainly wasn't. I visited my normal agent on Soi Baukau today to do my yearly extension. They informed me that since to problems a few weeks ago, they have had to stop dealing with Bangkok Bank. They now deal with Krungsri Bank. Therefore I have an appointment to meet them at the bank in Central next Tuesday to open a new account and then it's as before. No charge for opening a new account. So this is either a heads up for people or an opportunity to put me straight and tell me it's been like that for a while.

.

[DrJack54]

50 minutes ago, jimn said:

So this is either a heads up for people or an opportunity to put me straight and tell me it's been like that for a while.

First I have heard of it. 

Thinking has not been "like that for a while" 

[jimn]

28 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

First I have heard of it. 

Thinking has not been "like that for a while" 

The agent said its the same with all agents. Maybe why the Bangkok Bank outside Jomtien Soi 5 immigration which normally has hoards of people waiting to go in outside was very quiet today when I passed by.

[Rob Browder]

1 hour ago, jimn said:

The agent said its the same with all agents. Maybe why the Bangkok Bank outside Jomtien Soi 5 immigration which normally has hoards of people waiting to go in outside was very quiet today when I passed by.

I didn't know agents used that BKB branch.  My guess, is they are often busy due to:

1) BKB closed a ton of branches, so the remaining ones are packed often, now.

2) It's a convenient branch for those getting their legit-paperwork for Immigration.

 

But, thanks for the heads-up that some agents are switching banks - best if folks don't put off their extensions until the last-minute.

[Caldera]

That's interesting news, that Bangkok Bank mess seemed to be quite a stumbling block for agents in Pattaya. 

[DrJack54]

Thinking chill pill in order.

Agents will update shortly.

Personally doubt it's an issue. 

[JB300]

3 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

I didn't know agents used that BKB branch.  My guess, is they are often busy due to:

1) BKB closed a ton of branches, so the remaining ones are packed often, now.

2) It's a convenient branch for those getting their legit-paperwork for Immigration.

 

But, thanks for the heads-up that some agents are switching banks - best if folks don't put off their extensions until the last-minute.

My experience with maneerat is that they use the Branch on Beach Road 

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VTvT1X2oYQZEBTxs6?g_st=ic

 

 

 

 

[jimn]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Thinking chill pill in order.

Agents will update shortly.

Personally doubt it's an issue. 

It's not an issue, but if agents are unable to use Bangkok Bank you will need to open an account at another bank ie Krungsri, I will then have 3 accounts. My agent Cambodia Travel which many on here use said its an issue for all agents, that will include Maneerat. It will be interesting to here from people who use them if this is the case.

[BrandonJT]

7 hours ago, jimn said:

It's not an issue, but if agents are unable to use Bangkok Bank you will need to open an account at another bank ie Krungsri, I will then have 3 accounts. My agent Cambodia Travel which many on here use said its an issue for all agents, that will include Maneerat. It will be interesting to here from people who use them if this is the case.

Of course they will say it's all agents. They don't want the appearance they were singled out for bad behavior.

[thebigchu]

Did mine just over a week ago with Maneraat, same Bangkok bank branch, no issues

[NoshowJones]

13 hours ago, JB300 said:

My experience with maneerat is that they use the Branch on Beach Road 

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VTvT1X2oYQZEBTxs6?g_st=ic

 

 

 

 

Yes, I go along with that. Maneerat is easily the best agent I have used. Their service and the helpfulness of the young assistant was brilliant. The bank is just around the corner and the young assistant turned up there a little later and guided me very easily and quickly along with a couple of other guys.

[Liquorice]

Plenty of news articles concerning changes to opening a Thai bank account in Thailand.

 

One Stop Services (agent) in Pattaya.
Watch from 08.45 minutes.

 

 

And from Tim Newton.

Watch from 45 seconds in.

 

 

[jimn]

2 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Plenty of news articles concerning changes to opening a Thai bank account in Thailand.

 

One Stop Services (agent) in Pattaya.
Watch from 08.45 minutes.

 

 

And from Tim Newton.

Watch from 45 seconds in.

 

 

The topic is not about problems opening a bank account it's about my agent not now using Bangkok Bank.

[jimn]

9 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

Of course they will say it's all agents. They don't want the appearance they were singled out for bad behavior.

What bad behaviour do you base your comment on? 

[jimn]

3 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

Yes, I go along with that. Maneerat is easily the best agent I have used. Their service and the helpfulness of the young assistant was brilliant. The bank is just around the corner and the young assistant turned up there a little later and guided me very easily and quickly along with a couple of other guys.

I know Manerrat is a reputable agent, is your experience recent? ie in the last week

[jimn]

6 hours ago, thebigchu said:

Did mine just over a week ago with Maneraat, same Bangkok bank branch, no issues

OK thanks for that. Maybe it's only the branch of Bangkok bank in Pattaya Klang that Cambodia Travel uses. I still suspect not. In the past 2 days I have noticed no queues outside the Jomtirn soi 5 branch  usually  it's rammed, so something is going on.

[NoshowJones]

4 minutes ago, jimn said:

I know Manerrat is a reputable agent, is your experience recent? ie in the last week

No it was about 6 weeks ago, but there is a post from some else saying he dealt with them last week and everything was fine.

[Liquorice]

14 minutes ago, jimn said:

The topic is not about problems opening a bank account it's about my agent not now using Bangkok Bank.

Doh!

They open a new account every year, deposit 800K, obtain a statement, then withdraw and close the account.

Repeat the following year. 

[jimn]

4 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Doh!

They open a new account every year, deposit 800K, obtain a statement, then withdraw and close the account.

Repeat the following year. 

Don't be silly of course they don't. They use my existing bank account. deposit 800K, obtain a statement, then withdraw. I then carry on using the account.

[Liquorice]

8 minutes ago, jimn said:

Don't be silly of course they don't. They use my existing bank account. deposit 800K, obtain a statement, then withdraw. I then carry on using the account.

Then I would suggest your Bangkok bank branch don't want to be investigated for money laundering, as those types of deposits and withdrawals are often the tactics used by criminals to launder money.

[DrJack54]

I contacted Maneerat today re BBL. 

Reply: No issue.. 

[chang50]

21 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I contacted Maneerat today re BBL. 

Reply: No issue.. 

So just another scare?...

[safarimike11]

23 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

I didn't know agents used that BKB branch.  My guess, is they are often busy due to:

1) BKB closed a ton of branches, so the remaining ones are packed often, now.

2) It's a convenient branch for those getting their legit-paperwork for Immigration.

 

But, thanks for the heads-up that some agents are switching banks - best if folks don't put off their extensions until the last-minute.

(Not directly related to the subject). I have used the Bangkok Bank branch - on Second road Jomtien, about 75 metres before you turn left into soi 5, for years to get my "proof of funds" letter for my annual Retirement extension (although the sum is invested with another BKB branch). The problem with this branch is that it is just too small. The tellers are totally switched on and provide an excellent service, but tensions sometimes arise when you get the type of customer who either hasn't got the documents needed or is unable to deal with the staff in a courteous manner.

[BrandonJT]

3 hours ago, jimn said:

What bad behaviour do you base your comment on? 

The fact that they lost access to their bank branch.  They did something that soured the relationship, so now they had to change. If they didn't, then they wouldn't have had to change. The only agents in Pattaya that had problems were the ones that were doing sketchy stuff (like opening dozens of bank accounts per day).  Every other agent in other cities, and in Pattaya, never had any issues despite what the news said.

[jimn]

14 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

The fact that they lost access to their bank branch.  They did something that soured the relationship, so now they had to change. If they didn't, then they wouldn't have had to change. The only agents in Pattaya that had problems were the ones that were doing sketchy stuff (like opening dozens of bank accounts per day).  Every other agent in other cities, and in Pattaya, never had any issues despite what the news said.

So you are the self appointed expert on this are you? 2 of the biggest agents Tick Tock services can't remember the other, temporarily stopped. Are you saying they did dodgy stuff? You are just guessing

[BrandonJT]

20 minutes ago, jimn said:

So you are the self appointed expert on this are you? 2 of the biggest agents Tick Tock services can't remember the other, temporarily stopped. Are you saying they did dodgy stuff? You are just guessing

That's exactly what I'm saying.  You are exactly right, the biggest agents are the ones that had this happen.  Because they were opening so many accounts at the same bank branch. It threw red flags to the government and those bank branches stopped dealing with those agents as the government started looking at them as to why they were having so many foreign bank accounts opened daily.  There's a reason it was ONLY the large agents that had to stop providing that service.  And now they are getting back up and running with new bank branches.'

 

All the other agents never had any problems, never had to stop, and are still using their same banks.

[DrJack54]

This issue was discussed in this thread earlier this year.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1351851-visa-services-limited-now/

 

This thread has one report of an issue with one agent.

Previously it was Tik Tok and Mots.

As I stated early on. Take chill pill and look for follow up reports. 

Anyone concerned best advice is to contact agent. 

[roobaa01]

On 3/26/2025 at 10:51 PM, jimn said:

It's not an issue, but if agents are unable to use Bangkok Bank you will need to open an account at another bank ie Krungsri, I will then have 3 accounts. My agent Cambodia Travel which many on here use said its an issue for all agents, that will include Maneerat. It will be interesting to here from people who use them if this is the case.

Gdy

Which kungsri branch is Cambodian int using now ? 

 

Wbr

Roobaa01

[DrJack54]

I just contacted another agent in Pattaya.

Me: Any issues currently for 12 month extension.

Agent: No problem. You must have BBL a/c.

 

As stated earlier if anyone has concerns contact agent rather than guessing games. 

[brianburi]

Used Maneerat last Tuesday for retirement extension renewal. 

A few changes from previous year.

Go to immigration first in Jomtien, have photo taken,

Go to Central shopping mall AIS shop and get mobile account in my name.

Go to Bangkok Bank in mall and get daily allowance changed to 1 mill Baht on mobile banking app. Lady at desk very helpful,  a few forms to sign and photo taken.

Go to Beach Road Bangkok Bank, Bank seating area packed with foreigners, Wait to be called to counter........

I waited two hours., I'm not writing about what happens next, its all smoke & mirrors....., but no charges for bank transfers,  save 1800B from last year.

Passport gets mailed back to you

Spend two days with wife chilling on the beach.

Go back to the boonies....