Finance Foreign Nationals Face Account Bans in Bangkok Bank Crackdown

[Tomtomtom69]

4 hours ago, SamSaraburi said:

I work here but was refused an account at Bkk Bank Siloam last month.

i went to Kasikorn.

 

If you hold a work permit, there should be no reason to get refused. All banks will open an account for a work permit holder. 

[Tomtomtom69]

On 5/30/2025 at 5:01 PM, sandyf said:

My bank TTB(previously TMB) does that. I have been using online banking since 2009 and only update the book once a year, the majority of entries are consolidated, for some reason not all.

It has been that way for many years, probably before immigration started the monthly transfers or checking on balances.

You canot blame the banks if immigration change their ways.

 

I almost never update the book because I rarely use it. I'm not on an extension that requires funds in the bank, hence why I don't bother. You still have those machines where you can do it yourself though. 

[scubascuba3]

14 minutes ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

 

No, they can't. Agents are part of the reason why this crackdown is occurring. Agent assisted accounts are being closed now, as they should be. 

Unlikely, no news on social media on agents not being able to open accounts for non imm O retirement people

[Tomtomtom69]

6 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Unlikely, no news on social media on agents not being able to open accounts for non imm O retirement people

 

Firstly, whether or not there is "news" doesn't mean that agents aren't restricted.

Secondly, you don't need an agent to open an account if you're on a non-imm O visa. You just go into the branch and do it and they'll open one for you. 

[scubascuba3]

4 minutes ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

 

Firstly, whether or not there is "news" doesn't mean that agents aren't restricted.

Secondly, you don't need an agent to open an account if you're on a non-imm O visa. You just go into the branch and do it and they'll open one for you. 

The reason people often need an agent is you can't open a bank account until you have a long stay visa, see the problem? 

[Tomtomtom69]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

The reason people often need an agent is you can't open a bank account until you have a long stay visa, see the problem? 

 

A non-imm visa IS considered a long term visa. If you hold a 90-day non-imm O or B or other similar initial entry visa, you CAN get a bank account. With a tourist visa, you can't.

 

This means that for most people, who intend on retiring here or coming to stay with their wife, they should be applying for their 90 day single entry non-O marriage/retirement etc visas BEFORE coming to Thailand. No more of this convert in country from a tourist visa. Get the right visa BEFORE you arrive. You can easily apply for a 90 day non-O retirement or marriage visa in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar or any other neighboring country. 

[ukrules]

17 hours ago, Celsius said:

Bank accounts in foreign countries are used to evade taxes.

 

They're also used for those who purchase holiday homes, apartments as a winter getaway, etc

Thailand should think of itself and not care if someone is avoiding tax in some foreign country that does nothing for them - why should they care at all, costs Thailand nothing and increases remittances by non residents.

Places like Jersey, the Isle of Mann and a few other Countries spring to mind - like these - all of whom seem to be doing ok : Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Anguilla, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica

They're in it for themselves, not subjugated by others for foreign interests.

[cracker1]

There is still the "catch 22" situation that to apply for a long term visa it is a requirement to have money in the bank ! Si if the banks don't allow long term visitors to open accounts, then how can they complete the visa application ?

[sidneybear]

1 hour ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

 

Not difficult at all. Thailand has been having lots of problems with call center scammers and all sorts of criminals, hence part of the reason for the increased scrutiny. 

 

Neighboring countries might have problems with call center scams such as Myanmar and Cambodia, but these scammers tend to use Thai accounts for their shady dealings for a number of reasons, which is why it's still very easy to open a Burmese bank account on a simple tourist or business e-visa. It's dead easy to apply for a business e-visa for Myanmar via an agency (can be done online). While a tourist visa is sufficient to open an account, a tourist might pose as a business traveler by getting a business e-visa and using that to open the account, just in case. 

 

Scammers don't use Burmese accounts as it's more difficult to wire funds into Myanmar from abroad and to get them out, hence I don't see Burmese banks purging foreign customers who don't reside in the country as they simply don't have the issues Thai banks have when it comes to fraud. They also don't have a large volume of foreign customers either. Not to mention the Burmese Kyat isn't a convertible currency like the Baht is and exchanging Kyat to USD or another foreign currency isn't as straightforward as in Thailand. 

 

I hold a Burmese bank account I opened on either a tourist or business visa obtained abroad (think I decided to open it on a tourist visa, but later on, had a business visa when I had dealings with the bank). Had to get it re-activated on my first post Covid trip to the country last year, as it was dormant for more than 4 years but that's understandable. Got myself a new ATM card as the old one had expired.

 

Cambodia is another easy one - technically, most banks want a minimum 6 month ordinary category (E) extension of stay to open an account (such extensions are easily obtained by agents without any paperwork) but there are banks, which reportedly open up accounts for tourists or those on the initial one month E category visa. 

Interesting. But as you say, Burmese or Cambodian bank accounts aren't as useful as Thai accounts, due to challenges transferring funds in and out, insolvency risk, etc. The fact remains that Thailand, as an established member of the global financial system, has been quite slack on eligibility requirements. 

[Lorry]

My friend's account has been blocked for a week now.

2 year visa and WP - not enough for Bangkok Bank. 

So much for the smug people who think they are safe. 

[Cabradelmar]

23 hours ago, Lorry said:

 

Could you please explain to me why a tourist should NOT have a bank account?

What's so dangerous about if?

(And please don't give me the cr@p abot mules. Mules are Thai. )

Anyone can be a mule if the person allows it, or falls for the scam. But there are other risk too... Money laundering. Hiding assets. Illicit money movement. Unofficial remittances. All valid risk to any county's financial system. And those are just a few of the reasons/risk not to let every random tourist open accounts. Why does a tourist need a bank account anyway? Tourists can manage money without needing a local bank account. Most tourist financial needs can already be met with existing tools. 

[Lorry]

2 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

Anyone can be a mule if the person allows it, or falls for the scam. But there are other risk too... Money laundering. Hiding assets. Illicit money movement. Unofficial remittances. All valid risk to any county's financial system. And those are just a few of the reasons/risk not to let every random tourist open accounts. Why does a tourist need a bank account anyway? Tourists can manage money without needing a local bank account. Most tourist financial needs can already be met with existing tools. 

 

"Why does a tourist need a bank account?"

If it's that unnecessary,  I wonder why this thread is so busy.

[alw22]

48 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

Money laundering. Hiding assets. Illicit money movement. Unofficial remittances. All valid risk to any county's financial system.

 

No, they're not.  In fact, they're a big boost to the economies of many "offshore" countries and territories.

 

The real reason countries crack down on these things is giving in to pressure from the US and EU, who want to maintain their control over global financial systems.

[BigBrosMo]

2 hours ago, Cabradelmar said:

 Why does a tourist need a bank account anyway? Tourists can manage money without needing a local bank account. Most tourist financial needs can already be met with existing tools. 

As a "tourist" with a Thai home who holidays there every year for several months on a tourist visa, having a bank account is extremely useful. There are thousands of us such "tourists". Not really a tourist in the traditional sense but only eligible for a tourist visa.

[scubascuba3]

5 hours ago, Cabradelmar said:

Why does a tourist need a bank account anyway? Tourists can manage money without needing a local bank account. Most tourist financial needs can already be met with existing tools. 

 Bank accounts enable people to avoid Atm fees and pay via QR code, plus if moving to non imm O retirement you need a bank account, not sure why you don't understand that. I was a tourist coming 6 months a year

[KhunBENQ]

15 hours ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

they should be applying for their 90 day single entry non-O marriage/retirement etc visas BEFORE coming to Thailand. No more of this convert in country from a tourist visa.

Absolutely.

I used the conversion after a border run in 2022 to cancel my Non O-A.

From visa exempt to regular Non O. Wouldn't work now for those who come without having bank account.

[KhunBENQ]

6 hours ago, BigBrosMo said:

As a "tourist" with a Thai home who holidays there every year for several months on a tourist visa, having a bank account is extremely useful. There are thousands of us such "tourists". Not really a tourist in the traditional sense but only eligible for a tourist visa.

Agree.

And now such hassle because of Chinese and Russian gangsters. That happens if you open borders too wide.

 

From a blog I learned that the thing started this year from a specific BB branch in Pattaya with Chinese call center scammers.

Must be THAT branch where agents could make you 800k rich in a day, get extension and off the money is.

 

They said that so far accounts have been blocked back to opening date in 2022.

 

[Ohyesuare]

11 hours ago, Lorry said:

My friend's account has been blocked for a week now.

2 year visa and WP - not enough for Bangkok Bank. 

So much for the smug people who think they are safe. 

 

2 year visa and a WP means he can open a bank account at any bank he wants. If it's blocked, it's either for doing something shady with his account or just needs to go in and do a facial scan, passport update etc.. The block on his account has nothing to do with why people on tourist visas are having their accounts blocked.

[John Drake]

A question: if you do have your account blocked and it turns out to be a bank mistake, how does this effect your requirement to maintain 400k/800k year round for the retirement extension? Would a block be seen by immigration as an interruption in your year round holding requirement?

[Cabradelmar]

11 hours ago, Lorry said:

 

"Why does a tourist need a bank account?"

If it's that unnecessary,  I wonder why this thread is so busy.

Because Thailand has failed. Failed to stop what should have never been started. 

[Cabradelmar]

11 hours ago, alw22 said:

No, they're not.  In fact, they're a big boost to the economies of many "offshore" countries and territories.

 

How would you know? And sure, tourist are a boost. But they don't need bank accounts to be so. Just look at all the places with more tourist than Thailand (France, Spain, Turkey, etc). Not every tourist needs a bank account. Stop it.

[Cabradelmar]

9 hours ago, BigBrosMo said:

As a "tourist" with a Thai home who holidays there every year

You own a home. Different situation.

[Cabradelmar]

6 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

moving to non imm O retirement you need a bank account

Get a O-A in your home country. Not sure why you can't understand that. Why should Thailand make your life easier. Get use to it. 

[Ohyesuare]

53 minutes ago, John Drake said:

A question: if you do have your account blocked and it turns out to be a bank mistake, how does this effect your requirement to maintain 400k/800k year round for the retirement extension? Would a block be seen by immigration as an interruption in your year round holding requirement?

 

No, a block doesn't affect or reduce the funds that are in the account or show on bank statements. I used to work for a bank and would put and remove holds on people's accounts.

[scubascuba3]

25 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

Get a O-A in your home country. Not sure why you can't understand that. Why should Thailand make your life easier. Get use to it. 

Most people understand why an O-A isn't wanted

[Cabradelmar]

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Most people understand why an O-A isn't wanted

yeah, because only an ignorant (or rich) person would not have health insurance. again, thailand does not care how hard they make the life of foreigners who want easy long-stay visas, or bank accounts with tourist visas. get over it.

[sandyf]

12 hours ago, Lorry said:

 

"Why does a tourist need a bank account?"

If it's that unnecessary,  I wonder why this thread is so busy.

It is not about the needs of a tourist.

There is an argument from those that want to use the "tourist" umbrella to remain in the country for longer than that a tourist would normally require.

[Naus71]

On 5/28/2025 at 6:16 PM, webfact said:

What Foreigners Need to Know

 

Currently, Bangkok Bank stipulates that only those with long-term residence, such as retirees, foreign workers, or individuals married to Thai nationals, can open new accounts. These individuals typically hold work permits or non-immigrant visas issued for employment, study, or family reasons.

One of the requirements mentioned is to be married to a Thai citizen, I believe however that one must still be resident in Thailand, or for married people do they also open the account with a tourist visa?

[John Drake]

22 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Most people understand why an O-A isn't wanted

 

So you think that, effectively, this is a way to cut off retirement extensions using non-O in Thailand, because of health insurance? I  hadn't thought of that. If so, then this policy certainly will spread to other banks.

[scubascuba3]

29 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

So you think that, effectively, this is a way to cut off retirement extensions using non-O in Thailand, because of health insurance? I  hadn't thought of that. If so, then this policy certainly will spread to other banks.

Not just the health insurance which may be a waste of money but also the criminal record check. Personally I'm in favour of that part because of the riff raff that are coming