Report Thailand to Verify 700,000 Foreigner-Registered Phone Numbers for Mobile Banking Use

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

Brace yourselves, foreign mobile users in Thailand! A sweeping verification is in motion, targeting 700,000 mobile numbers registered since January 1, 2022.

 

The checks, ordered by Thailand’s minister of digital economy and society, Prasert Jantararuangtong, could lead to the termination of mobile banking services unless certain criteria are met.

 

The Thai government plans to scrutinise names linked to these mobile numbers and their mobile banking accounts. The aim is to clamp down on technology-related crimes by ensuring that the names on mobile banking services align perfectly with those on corresponding phone registrations.

 

A striking 1.8 million numbers currently lack registration, adding to the urgency of these checks.

 

 

 

Introduced on February 1, this regulation requires mobile banking service users to have their information sorted by April 30—this very Wednesday.

 

Failure to comply could see their mobile banking services suspended come June. Banks have been instructed to communicate directly with customers whose numbers don’t match up, urging them to update their registration information promptly.

 

Those who don't receive such outreach can continue with their banking activities without worry.

 

This initiative throws a spotlight on Thailand's stringent efforts to stamp out technology crimes, tightening the noose around inconsistent mobile-registration pairs. As the deadline looms, affected users should act fast to avoid disruptions in their digital banking life.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-04-28

 

 

[Pouatchee]

Geeez... I am back in my motherland till july... what options will those in my situation have?

[lordgrinz]

Still haven't gotten any warning from SCB bank, and my wife contacted True and they told her not to worry if the number was registered before a few years ago. The number is registered in my wife's name. Have had this sim/number on my phone for probably 7-8 years now. We got it as part of our True cable and internet package. I'm just going to wait it out, not worth stressing out over.

[Ralf001]

Yeah BKK Bank have not sent me any messages yet.

[FritsSikkink]

Got a company phone registered (a long time ago) and no message from the bank.

[LosLobo]

30 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

Still haven't gotten any warning from SCB bank, and my wife contacted True and they told her not to worry if the number was registered before a few years ago. The number is registered in my wife's name. Have had this sim/number on my phone for probably 7-8 years now. We got it as part of our True cable and internet package. I'm just going to wait it out, not worth stressing out over.

Obviously, you haven't tried phoning them!

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, Pouatchee said:

Geeez... I am back in my motherland till july... what options will those in my situation have?

How hard is it to understand. They have been talking about this for about a year now. There is no Geez, what do I do. By now everybody must know they just need to go in to their bank and check that the phone number connected to the account is in the same name as the name on the account. That´s the only thing they ask for. There is no need to make it complicated.

Instead, I say Geez, haven´t you fixed this yet? Just fix it and everything will be ok.

[Pouatchee]

4 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

How hard is it to understand. They have been talking about this for about a year now. There is no Geez, what do I do. By now everybody must know they just need to go in to their bank and check that the phone number connected to the account is in the same name as the name on the account. That´s the only thing they ask for. There is no need to make it complicated.

Instead, I say Geez, haven´t you fixed this yet? Just fix it and everything will be ok.

 

Gee wiz... why is this a problem for you that I am wondering about what to do about it. I've been away for nearly a year and even if I wanted too (instead of scoffing at me) I will have to wait till june and I am wondering if it'll be too late to do anything about it by then... is that ok with you?

[Gottfrid]

3 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

Gee wiz... why is this a problem for you that I am wondering about what to do about it. I've been away for nearly a year and even if I wanted too (instead of scoffing at me) I will have to wait till june and I am wondering if it'll be too late to do anything about it by then... is that ok with you?

So, you can´t call your bank, and check what phone number is connected, or maybe you know that. Most people do. Same do you know if the phone number is in your name? If not, can you call the phone company and check, or log in to app and see? If you know all is okay, you don´t have to do anything. They check, and if ok you will pass.

[Pouatchee]

12 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

So, you can´t call your bank, and check what phone number is connected, or maybe you know that. Most people do. Same do you know if the phone number is in your name? If not, can you call the phone company and check, or log in to app and see? If you know all is okay, you don´t have to do anything. They check, and if ok you will pass.

 

I'm in my country right now. You try calling a thai bank and talking to the people in english... lemme know how it goes

[impulse]

I got an SMS from AIS in Thai, mentioning ID.  I figured that it was related to this.  So this month when I came to Bangkok, I went by an AIS shop in T21 and asked.  They told me it was only for Thai people.

 

Go figure...

 

 

[dinsdale]

27 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

How hard is it to understand. They have been talking about this for about a year now. There is no Geez, what do I do. By now everybody must know they just need to go in to their bank and check that the phone number connected to the account is in the same name as the name on the account. That´s the only thing they ask for. There is no need to make it complicated.

Instead, I say Geez, haven´t you fixed this yet? Just fix it and everything will be ok.

KTB did the initial contact whenever that was. Couple of months ago? Haven't heard from them since and haven't been into the bank to deal with it. 

[Upnotover]

9 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

I'm in my country right now. You try calling a thai bank and talking to the people in english... lemme know how it goes

In my experience it always goes very well.  They are streets ahead of my home country banks.

[Gottfrid]

11 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

I'm in my country right now. You try calling a thai bank and talking to the people in english... lemme know how it goes

No, it works very well, but you need to make something so simple, so hard.
 

5 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

KTB did the initial contact whenever that was. Couple of months ago? Haven't heard from them since and haven't been into the bank to deal with it. 

If no more messages or contacts, one would assume al is checked and ok.
 

1 minute ago, Upnotover said:

In my experience it always goes very well.  They are streets ahead of my home country banks.

You are perfectly right! Just sad so many feel the need to complain over everything.

[seajae]

never have and never will use my phone to do any sort of banking

[sharot724]

BKK Bank did and all I needed was to go to my profile where phone number is just  verified 

[petedk]

17 minutes ago, impulse said:

I got an SMS from AIS in Thai, mentioning ID.  I figured that it was related to this.  So this month when I came to Bangkok, I went by an AIS shop in T21 and asked.  They told me it was only for Thai people.

 

Go figure...

 

 

 

I use AIS and about 5 months ago I went in to change the number registration to my name. I needed a copy of my wife's ID. It took 3 or 4 minutes. No problem.

[Moonlover]

1 hour ago, lordgrinz said:

Still haven't gotten any warning from SCB bank, and my wife contacted True and they told her not to worry if the number was registered before a few years ago. The number is registered in my wife's name. Have had this sim/number on my phone for probably 7-8 years now. We got it as part of our True cable and internet package. I'm just going to wait it out, not worth stressing out over.

I recall from the announcement last year on this issue that a common family name, sharing the same address is acceptable. I'm the same situation as you and I've not heard from either of my 2 account holders.

[watchcat]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Failure to comply could see their mobile banking services suspended

 

But that's what I wan't, don't wan't a obile banking service

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, LosLobo said:

Obviously, you haven't tried phoning them!

 

Reading comprehension isn't your strong suit, is it?

[robz]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Banks have been instructed to communicate directly with customers whose numbers don’t match up, urging them to update their registration information promptly.

 

Only applies to those not using their own phone number.

 

[lordgrinz]

47 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

I recall from the announcement last year on this issue that a common family name, sharing the same address is acceptable. I'm the same situation as you and I've not heard from either of my 2 account holders.

 

Which is why I'll just wait it out, not super concerned, I mainly use my wife's Credit Card for everything, she wants the points. I use SCB mainly for little items from Lazada, some QR code payments on the street, and for immigration. I could live without it for a short time if needed. In a pinch I could use my Wise debit card too, so no biggie. SCB bank and True didn't seem to be too concerned, so why should I?

[Mr Meeseeks]

I registered my Thai sim over 20 years ago and was in my ex-gf's name. About 5 years ago I went to DTAC with her and swapped it over to my name. It is the number that I have used for 20 years for WhatsApp, mobile banking etc.

 

Just in case I went to True/DTAC over the weekend and lucky I did, as it wasn't properly registered and needed to go through some process again. At least now I have peace of mind that it is done correctly.

[PJ71]

2 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

 

I'm in my country right now. You try calling a thai bank and talking to the people in english... lemme know how it goes

BKK help line in English is actually very good, if you'd bother to try.

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

So, you can´t call your bank, and check what phone number is connected, or maybe you know that. Most people do. Same do you know if the phone number is in your name? If not, can you call the phone company and check, or log in to app and see? If you know all is okay, you don´t have to do anything. They check, and if ok you will pass.

The bank have no idea about the name holder of the SIM.

They want you to go to your SIM provider, pay for a certificate stating the SIM owner, an then taking the certificate to the bank.

[Gottfrid]

24 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

The bank have no idea about the name holder of the SIM.

They want you to go to your SIM provider, pay for a certificate stating the SIM owner, an then taking the certificate to the bank.

Oh dear! I know for a fact that you are talking total rubbish. I have 3 bank accounts in Thai banks. I have 2 of them connected to my true phone number and 1 to my AIS phone number. All banks have accepted my personal verification that all is correct. Stop making thing more complicated than it is.

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

Geeez... I am back in my motherland till july... what options will those in my situation have?

Go to your fatherland maybe?

[BritManToo]

41 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Oh dear! I know for a fact that you are talking total rubbish. I have 3 bank accounts in Thai banks. I have 2 of them connected to my true phone number and 1 to my AIS phone number. All banks have accepted my personal verification that all is correct. Stop making thing more complicated than it is.

All my SIMs are in my wifes name, when I went to my bank to change the number to a SIM in my name they wanted a certificate and said it would take 7 days to process.

So still using the SIM in my wifes name, and BKB said all OK now.

 

Looks to me like the usual Thai bank foulups, where all the staff insist on different requirements.

REALLY what the lazy Thai bank staff in BKB wanted me to do, was get another branch to deal with it.

 

TMB (now TTB) didn't care about phone numbers at all, but did insist on verifying my email on the app by typing in a code from an email they sent me.

 

But like everything in this country, problem will go away after a while.

7-11 and Big-C now handing out free plastic carrier bags again, that no bag 'new edict' lasted the longest of any.

[Aleksey75]

So, if my both numbers were registered before 2022, and two of the three bank accounts also before that time, I won't be verified?! Though, everything is under the same name and passport. 

[Drumbuie]

4 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Yeah BKK Bank have not sent me any messages yet.

Had a message from Bangkok Bank last week. I'm in the queue at my branch right now to show them that the bill is aid by my son ( but you can do it at any branch).