SCB, no more exemption from facial recognition in app

[KhunBENQ]

Just got this goody via LINE connect:

[KhunBENQ]

Exemption was one of the reasons why I still have this account.

When I tried to setup at the branch (last year?) they were incapable to do for foreigners.

At Bangkok Bank installed but working terribly unreliable.

Stupid grinning.

The due date of June 9 is also brazen. Today and tomorrow to fix.

Will visit branch and decide on the spot whether setup or close accounts.

[KhunBENQ]

Just closed both accounts.

They tell me that they can not Install facial recognition for foreigners.

Useless, avoid.

 

Now cross my fingers that Kasikorn will not make similar move. No facial requested ever.

[gamb00ler]

6 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Just closed both accounts.

They tell me that they can not Install facial recognition for foreigners.

Useless, avoid.

 

Now cross my fingers that Kasikorn will not make similar move. No facial requested ever.

Krungsri has functioning facial recognition for foreigners but SCB has better account choices.

[CallumWK]

18 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

They tell me that they can not Install facial recognition for foreigners.

 

So they remove the exemption, but at the same time are unable to activate it, so the only way to access your accounts will be visiting the branch.

Did I understand that correct?

[John Drake]

So they take away online banking, close branches, reduce the ATMs. The next thing you know SCB will require you to go to North Korea to get your money. At least Bangkok Bank still has online banking.

[cjinchiangrai]

6 minutes ago, John Drake said:

So they take away online banking, close branches, reduce the ATMs. The next thing you know SCB will require you to go to North Korea to get your money. At least Bangkok Bank still has online banking.

Bangkok Bank only uses the facial recognition for large transactions and profile changes. I think I have used it four or five times over the last four years. When does SCB require the facial recognition confirmation?

[CallumWK]

21 minutes ago, John Drake said:

So they take away online banking, close branches, reduce the ATMs. The next thing you know SCB will require you to go to North Korea to get your money.

 

Until recently I had multiple accounts in 6 different banks. Then I started to realize that the 1.5 - 2% (minus withholding taxes) that I received  as interest was just tea money.

So beginning this year I started closing accounts as soon as they matured, and put the money in gold bars, as I was confident that I could beat that, and no risk of the bank going tits up, and me losing my deposits.

So far I'm more than 15 years ahead with the interests.

More accounts will be closed during the rest of the year, as I will only keep my immigration money and some necessary funds in the banks.

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

When does SCB require the facial recognition confirmation?

Same like Bangkok Bank:

50'000 Baht

 

Fortunately facial scan at BB worked today. Did a test by raising limits.

[Briggsy]

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

 

Until recently I had multiple accounts in 6 different banks. Then I started to realize that the 1.5 - 2% (minus withholding taxes) that I received  as interest was just tea money.

So beginning this year I started closing accounts as soon as they matured, and put the money in gold bars, as I was confident that I could beat that, and no risk of the bank going tits up, and me losing my deposits.

So far I'm more than 15 years ahead with the interests.

More accounts will be closed during the rest of the year, as I will only keep my immigration money and some necessary funds in the banks.

Even though I won't be copying you, I liked your reasoned post. 

[lamyai3]

8 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Same like Bangkok Bank:

50'000 Baht

 

So the SCB app will still work, but for transfers over 50k it will need to be done in multiple transactions? 

[GanDoonToonPet]

35 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

 

So the SCB app will still work, but for transfers over 50k it will need to be done in multiple transactions? 

 

We can only hope but the message in the OP suggests it's for all transactions.

 

I was at my local branch a couple of weeks ago to update passport and mobile number. They guided me (basically watched me do it) through the installation of the app and everything OK. I did mention something like 'sacan naa' but they didn't seem to understand so I left it for dead.

 

No notifications about it in the app and nothing online about it that I can find. If true, the app becomes nothing more than a tool to check your balance. 🤔 

[CallumWK]

41 minutes ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

We can only hope but the message in the OP suggests it's for all transactions.

 

The OP has clarified already that it is for transactions over 50K only, but since staff said they couldn't enable facial recognition, that mean everything over 50K is off limits for foreigner

[KhunBENQ]

4 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

 

So the SCB app will still work, but for transfers over 50k it will need to be done in multiple transactions? 

Can't tell for sure because the general limits (daily) would have to be raised.

Doubt this will work but

I have uninstalled the app and closed accounts.

So can't help.

 

[Crossy]

I've not received said message, yet!

 

When I do i'll be off to the bank to try to turn it on, we shall see. I don't often do transfers over 50k anyway.

 

It took several attempts to get it to work in Bangkok Bank a couple of weeks back but it worked eventually.

[gamb00ler]

I just sent 55K from my SCB EZ Savings to BBL acccount....easy peasy instant success.

 

On the return trip, BBL wanted me to stare at my phone and blink 3 times.  I'm glad I didn't have to click my flip flops 3 times.

[OJAS]

18 hours ago, John Drake said:

So they take away online banking

 

And replace it with an app called SCB EASY🤣

[rogergbkk]

just visited my SCB branch today to address this notice.  They did not know anything about this change but were helpful in that they contacted SCB HQ and HQ was able to clarify it for us.  Here is my understanding based on HQ info:  As mentioned already in this group, the main change for foreigners is that single transfers over 50K are no longer possible via the SCB Easy App (the old exemption method will no longer be available) since SCB currently does not support passport level IDs for photo ID (maybe in the future).   If you need to transfer over 50K with SCB the two choices as of June 9th are (my understanding):  

1) do multiple transfers below 50K until you reach the amount desired (but not going over your daily limit which is typically set to 200K).

2) visit an SCB branch and bring your bank book and passport to have the transfer done in the branch.

3) Close the SCB account and open an account with a bank that supports facial ID with passport.

 

Cheers!

[OJAS]

2 hours ago, rogergbkk said:

2) visit an SCB branch and bring your bank book and passport to have the transfer done in the branch.

 

Might they levy some charge for this (particularly for transfers to non-SCB accounts), though?

 

[KhunBENQ]

10 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

I just sent 55K from my SCB EZ Savings to BBL acccount....easy peasy instant success

Changes go in effect from Monday 

[rogergbkk]

38 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

Might they levy some charge for this (particularly for transfers to non-SCB accounts), though?

 

Good question for SCB.  I would hope that there will be no fees since we (foreigners) do not have any other options within SCB.   

[tomazbodner]

Checked my app - no such message. The phone itself requires facial unlock and it was registered at a branch ... at least a year ago. This account was opened several decades back so it's treated as non-resident account. But I'll keep checking if anything pops up.

[RocketDog]

On 6/5/2025 at 3:49 PM, CallumWK said:

 

Until recently I had multiple accounts in 6 different banks. Then I started to realize that the 1.5 - 2% (minus withholding taxes) that I received  as interest was just tea money.

So beginning this year I started closing accounts as soon as they matured, and put the money in gold bars, as I was confident that I could beat that, and no risk of the bank going tits up, and me losing my deposits.

So far I'm more than 15 years ahead with the interests.

More accounts will be closed during the rest of the year, as I will only keep my immigration money and some necessary funds in the banks.

Agreed. I'm keeping some in two banks but most of the money I transfer to LOS now goes into gold.

Anything else is realistically just virtual numbers that can evaporate overnight.

 

That said I'm getting 4% interest in funds I keep at Wise. I play the forex market and convert some to the thb 'jar' when the baht weakens.

 

I also have metals in two other countries.

Check out Silver Bullion vault in Singapore and gold pool at Kitco in Canada.  Both fully manageable online 7/24/365.

[Crossy]

17 hours ago, rogergbkk said:

just visited my SCB branch today to address this notice.  They did not know anything about this change but were helpful in that they contacted SCB HQ and HQ was able to clarify it for us.  Here is my understanding based on HQ info:  As mentioned already in this group, the main change for foreigners is that single transfers over 50K are no longer possible via the SCB Easy App (the old exemption method will no longer be available) since SCB currently does not support passport level IDs for photo ID (maybe in the future).   If you need to transfer over 50K with SCB the two choices as of June 9th are (my understanding):  

1) do multiple transfers below 50K until you reach the amount desired (but not going over your daily limit which is typically set to 200K).

2) visit an SCB branch and bring your bank book and passport to have the transfer done in the branch.

3) Close the SCB account and open an account with a bank that supports facial ID with passport.

 

Cheers!

 

I wonder if a pink ID number would work since they seem incapable of handling passports.

[tomazbodner]

7 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

I wonder if a pink ID number would work since they seem incapable of handling passports.

My account from another bank is linked with pink ID, although it starts with 8 so unsure about whether this is option for all, but it certainly was for me. Actually, I've had their credit card for ages before, which was registered against my passport, and despite taking a couple of weeks, they've moved my credit card into the same bucket with the bank account, so they are all under "resident" account tied to pink ID.

 

Never tried to do this at SCB, though.

[Peterphuket]

On 6/5/2025 at 3:49 PM, CallumWK said:

 

Until recently I had multiple accounts in 6 different banks. Then I started to realize that the 1.5 - 2% (minus withholding taxes) that I received  as interest was just tea money.

So beginning this year I started closing accounts as soon as they matured, and put the money in gold bars, as I was confident that I could beat that, and no risk of the bank going tits up, and me losing my deposits.

So far I'm more than 15 years ahead with the interests.

More accounts will be closed during the rest of the year, as I will only keep my immigration money and some necessary funds in the banks.

That is a very wise decision, I am in a similar dilemma, and have also already invested some of my money in gold.
But it is a fact that now in many countries around the world, banks are becoming increasingly difficult towards their customers, but they feel supreme, still.

[Andyfez]

Personally, I'm getting fed up with this because the instructions they put on the face recognition page are too small for me to read without my glasses. And they tell me to take my glasses off!

[gamb00ler]

5 hours ago, Andyfez said:

Personally, I'm getting fed up with this because the instructions they put on the face recognition page are too small for me to read without my glasses. And they tell me to take my glasses off!

yeah... same here... If my Mac hardware was upgradeable to the latest OS release, I could mirror my iPhone screen on my desktop so I could magnify it  ... but my iMac is too long in the tooth to support the new OS. 

 

I guess the only solution is to have my wife read the instructions to me.

[keithcresswell]

After receiving the message I went to my nearest branch who,  surprise surprise, weren't interested. They told me to come back when I need to do a transfer over 50k. SCB also no longer have Internet banking, so maybe it's time to move on.

 

[Magictoad]

I recently had this dilemma.  And in the end just gave up till I was at immigration office and the helpful IO held my phone for me and moved it backwards and forwards that is; towards me and away from me until we got it perfect in a few seconds. Next time I have to do anything again with facial recognition; I'm gonna use a pal to hold my phone.