Mobile banking limited for all foreigners livingin Thailand?

[Dasekel]

I am living in Thailand for more than 20 years and have a bank account with SCB. Now I am informed that after 12.06.2025 I will not be able to transfer more than 50.000 THB per day with my mobile App due to new regulations. Is that the same with all banks in Thailand now? Having an account in my name, but being no longer able to do transaction as I want?

[Peter Crow]

18 minutes ago, Dasekel said:

I am living in Thailand for more than 20 years and have a bank account with SCB. Now I am informed that after 12.06.2025 I will not be able to transfer more than 50.000 THB per day with my mobile App due to new regulations. Is that the same with all banks in Thailand now? Having an account in my name, but being no longer able to do transaction as I want?

Have the same BS with K Plus, we are all reputedly money launderers.

[Dasekel]

I just checked with UOB and they told me that they have no such limits and no plans for it. If that is true and it depends on the banks what they decide to do, I will move my account to UOB.

It is ridiculous what the Government is doing with foreigners living here. They want more money from us by taxing money transfers from abroad and potentially even global income, but at the same time limiting our ability to use our money as we wish.

[couchpotato]

32 minutes ago, Dasekel said:

I am living in Thailand for more than 20 years and have a bank account with SCB. Now I am informed that after 12.06.2025 I will not be able to transfer more than 50.000 THB per day with my mobile App due to new regulations. Is that the same with all banks in Thailand now? Having an account in my name, but being no longer able to do transaction as I want?

This is their base limit for all accounts. But do you realise that you can change your daily transaction limits yourself (either as a 'one time' payment or forever in some of the the Bank apps. I do it regularly my for BBL and Kasikorn accounts.

[Ani Koras]

52 minutes ago, Dasekel said:

I am living in Thailand for more than 20 years and have a bank account with SCB. Now I am informed that after 12.06.2025 I will not be able to transfer more than 50.000 THB per day with my mobile App due to new regulations. Is that the same with all banks in Thailand now? Having an account in my name, but being no longer able to do transaction as I want?

The transfer over 50.000 is indeed possible after you provide your face ID. The first installation can be done in person at a bank counter. However you might have to provide them again with all your paper, visa, TM30, certificate of residence etc.

[Dasekel]

16 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

This is their base limit for all accounts. But do you realise that you can change your daily transaction limits yourself (either as a 'one time' payment or forever in some of the the Bank apps. I do it regularly my for BBL and Kasikorn accounts.

No, I had already changed everything limits long time ago and I could transfer much more per day (500.000) using my SCB App. But this will not be possible anylonger after 12.06. without requesting their permission! 

[Dasekel]

Just now, Ani Koras said:

The transfer over 50.000 is indeed possible after you provide your face ID. The first installation can be done in person at a bank counter. However you might have to provide them again with all your paper, visa, TM30, certificate of residence etc.

No, it is no longer possible after 12.06.2025, just call them and check 02 777 7777.

[walailak]

Hi, I rang scb and since there were no English speakers staff available I left my number for thrn to call me bsck. Apparently if you need to transfer an amount over 49,999 or 200,000 (per day) baht you need to ring them before you do it. They will then activate the exemption within 10 minutes then inform you by msg or scb app. You will then have only 1 hour to transfer the funds thrn the exemption gets deactivated. 

 

A lonely operator explained all in perfect English and she also mentioned that they are working on a permanent solution /implementation of the system /for the face recognition for foreigners to be same as Thais 👍

[Dasekel]

8 minutes ago, walailak said:

Hi, I rang scb and since there were no English speakers staff available I left my number for thrn to call me bsck. Apparently if you need to transfer an amount over 49,999 or 200,000 (per day) baht you need to ring them before you do it. They will then activate the exemption within 10 minutes then inform you by msg or scb app. You will then have only 1 hour to transfer ....

They should develop the face recognition BEFORE changing the rules. I do not want to ask the bank for permission if I want to make a larger transaction. I consider this very bad customer service and bad management and will move my money to a bank that enables me to do what I want to do.

[Phulublub]

2 hours ago, Dasekel said:

I just checked with UOB and they told me that they have no such limits and no plans for it. If that is true and it depends on the banks what they decide to do, I will move my account to UOB.

It is ridiculous what the Government is doing with foreigners living here. They want more money from us by taxing money transfers from abroad and potentially even global income, but at the same time limiting our ability to use our money as we wish.

 

If some banks but not others are doing this, then it is cleary NOT the Government.  

Are these restrictions for foreigners only, or bank policy for all customers?

 

The foreign income remited here applies to ALL.  Thais are more likely to be remitting money on which they have not paid tax, unlike most foreigners, and will ceratinly not have any DTA, unlike many foreigners. 

 

Global income taxed?  Like the Good 'ol USA then?  Maybe that's where they go the idea, if it is even an idea in Government as poososed to come internet conspiracy drummed up to foster ill- feeling towards the Thais, or their Government, or both.

 

PH

[No Forwarding Address]

1 hour ago, Dasekel said:

No, it is no longer possible after 12.06.2025, just call them and check 02 777 7777.

Is that December 6th or 12th of June??

[treetops]

4 minutes ago, Phulublub said:

If some banks but not others are doing this, then it is cleary NOT the Government.

 

I'm pretty sure it was the government via the BOT and all banks have been forced to take these extra precautions.  The difference is that some have already implemented the likes of facial recognition and some haven't.  Those that haven't are now restricted.

 

couchpotato mentioned above it can be done on the Bangkok Bank app and I can verify that as I changed mine just a couple of days ago after 10 mins of smiling and blinking at the camera.

[topt]

2 hours ago, Phulublub said:

Global income taxed?  Like the Good 'ol USA then?  Maybe that's where they go the idea, if it is even an idea in Government as poososed to come internet conspiracy drummed up to foster ill- feeling towards the Thais, or their Government, or both.

Was first suggested 18 months plus ago by the then RD director (a woman) under PM Sretha. mentioned again by her before she disappeared to another post.

It has been mentioned in many threads including more recently where a specific poster suggested it was potentially back on due to "their" interpretation of some news articles.....Potentially it could still happen but hopefully not.

 

I thought you had been involved in some of those threads but maybe I am mistaken.........

[Dasekel]

On 6/10/2025 at 1:39 PM, No Forwarding Address said:

Is that December 6th or 12th of June??

I am using European systems, which means it it is tomorrow, 12th June.

[Bday Prang]

8 minutes ago, Dasekel said:

I am using European systems, which means it it is tomorrow, 12th June.

Some european geniuses (my accountant for example) are now quoting dates the other way.   very annoying and confusing . nearly as annoying as their  opening line being "i hope this email finds you well" in all correspondence

[arick]

On 6/10/2025 at 11:38 AM, Ani Koras said:

The transfer over 50.000 is indeed possible after you provide your face ID. The first installation can be done in person at a bank counter. However you might have to provide them again with all your paper, visa, TM30, certificate of residence etc.

Yes after doing face ID you can do over 50,000 you can do millions a day.

[thjames007]

On 6/10/2025 at 11:13 AM, Dasekel said:

I just checked with UOB and they told me that they have no such limits and no plans for it. If that is true and it depends on the banks what they decide to do, I will move my account to UOB.

It is ridiculous what the Government is doing with foreigners living here. They want more money from us by taxing money transfers from abroad and potentially even global income, but at the same time limiting our ability to use our money as we wish.

Silly rant against the government.   

[sandyf]

On 6/10/2025 at 1:45 PM, treetops said:

I'm pretty sure it was the government via the BOT and all banks have been forced to take these extra precautions.  The difference is that some have already implemented the likes of facial recognition and some haven't.  Those that haven't are now restricted.

Banks world wide are changing their ways and have been for some years. Some changes seem to bother some more than others.

Getting hot under the collar over transfer limitations seem a bit petty compared to things like FATCA and CRS.

[TigerandDog]

19 hours ago, Dasekel said:

I am using European systems, which means it it is tomorrow, 12th June.

slight correction, it's international date system, except for stupid USA.

[ronnie50]

On 6/10/2025 at 10:42 AM, Dasekel said:

I am living in Thailand for more than 20 years and have a bank account with SCB. Now I am informed that after 12.06.2025 I will not be able to transfer more than 50.000 THB per day with my mobile App due to new regulations. Is that the same with all banks in Thailand now? Having an account in my name, but being no longer able to do transaction as I want?

This is my understanding (I also have an SCB account for 20 years) - I could be wrong:

 

Some months ago, most big banks introduced facial recognition into their apps  (or you went into a branch to do the facial scanning) to clarify: this was in addition to the facial recognition that simply opens the app on your phone (Thais would use their ID cards to register).  Last year, or at least prior to that, an announcement was made that 50,000 THB would be the largest single amount that could transfered. However, multiple transactions were possible - indeed SCB, still hasn't developed/installed software for facial-recognition-transfers in the app or at the branches for foreigners.  Instead they offered waivers that you could sign that let you transfer more than 50k. But another poster with SCB account said they were ending the waivers last week. SCB still hasn't found a way for foreigners to use a passport instead of Thai ID card to register for that second facial recognition.

 

 

 

[crazykopite]

On 6/10/2025 at 10:42 AM, Dasekel said:

I am living in Thailand for more than 20 years and have a bank account with SCB. Now I am informed that after 12.06.2025 I will not be able to transfer more than 50.000 THB per day with my mobile App due to new regulations. Is that the same with all banks in Thailand now? Having an account in my name, but being no longer able to do transaction as I want?

I am K bank I can transfer with Wise up to 2 million baht  yes there are banks that only allow 50,000 per transfer

[crazykopite]

16 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

This is my understanding (I also have an SCB account for 20 years) - I could be wrong:

 

Some months ago, most big banks introduced facial recognition into their apps  (or you went into a branch to do the facial scanning) to clarify: this was in addition to the facial recognition that simply opens the app on your phone (Thais would use their ID cards to register).  Last year, or at least prior to that, an announcement was made that 50,000 THB would be the largest single amount that could transfered. However, multiple transactions were possible - indeed SCB, still hasn't developed/installed software for facial-recognition-transfers in the app or at the branches for foreigners.  Instead they offered waivers that you could sign that let you transfer more than 50k. But another poster with SCB account said they were ending the waivers last week. SCB still hasn't found a way for foreigners to use a passport instead of Thai ID card to register for that second facial recognition.

 

 

 

Thats why i no longer use SCB i just keep a bare minimum to keep the account live I now use Kasikorn 10 out of 10

[ChaiyaTH]

I have no issues with any of my Thai bank accounts, all works as it always did.

[KhunLA]

Default setting is 50k, and I upped it to 300k, to avoid the FBAR requirement.  Of course when I tried it, after smiling & blinking 10 times in the app It still didn't work.  So still had to go into the bank to transfer from my BBL account to wife's BBL account.  

 

No prob, as only have to visit every 3 or 4 months, depending on exchange rate 🙄

[bluemoon58]

3 hours ago, arick said:

Yes after doing face ID you can do over 50,000 you can do millions a day.

Correct, very simple to do and zero hassle. Don't know what all the fuss is about. My UK bank has a similar system and the limit is set lower than 50,000thb.

[bluemoon58]

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

Banks world wide are changing their ways and have been for some years. Some changes seem to bother some more than others.

Getting hot under the collar over transfer limitations seem a bit petty compared to things like FATCA and CRS.

Correct. See my reply to arick. 

[Andycoops]

On 6/10/2025 at 11:38 AM, Dasekel said:

No, I had already changed everything limits long time ago and I could transfer much more per day (500.000) using my SCB App. But this will not be possible anylonger after 12.06. without requesting their permission! 

Other banks have initiated this 50k limit some time ago, it's allegedly to conform with money laundering laws.

 

As others have stated you can change the limit at your branch in person.

[treetops]

2 hours ago, TigerandDog said:

slight correction, it's international date system, except for stupid USA.

 

To be pedantic, the international date format per ISO is YYYY-MM-DD, but I do wish the USA would change to the most commonly used format that almost everyone else uses.

 

 

1 hour ago, crazykopite said:

I am K bank I can transfer with Wise up to 2 million baht  yes there are banks that only allow 50,000 per transfer

 

Not any longer with Wise.

[NanLaew]

On 6/10/2025 at 11:58 AM, walailak said:

Hi, I rang scb and since there were no English speakers staff available I left my number for thrn to call me bsck. Apparently if you need to transfer an amount over 49,999 or 200,000 (per day) baht you need to ring them before you do it. They will then activate the exemption within 10 minutes then inform you by msg or scb app. You will then have only 1 hour to transfer the funds thrn the exemption gets deactivated. 

 

A lonely operator explained all in perfect English and she also mentioned that they are working on a permanent solution /implementation of the system /for the face recognition for foreigners to be same as Thais 👍

 

It is quite strange that SCB chose to not implement the facial recognition feature in their app for everyone, like most other banks were instructed to do by the government.

 

My friend has personal and business accounts with SCB and was hamstrung by this 50,000 baht limitation, especially on that latter account. He visited a branch and asked how he could get around this. They called 'head office' and the person he spoke with said he could get a waiver on his account as long as he "fully understood it was less secure, and he should think hard about it."

 

He waited half-a-second and told them he was willing to assume the risk. Since he's had no restrictions placed on subsequent transactions, he assumes that they flagged his account in their system as being 'compliant'. 

 

He's been here (and in business) long enough to appreciate that it could suddenly all change or otherwise stop working tomorrow.

 

TiT

YMMV

[Quack]

2 hours ago, bluemoon58 said:

Correct, very simple to do and zero hassle. Don't know what all the fuss is about. My UK bank has a similar system and the limit is set lower than 50,000thb.

 

As far as I'm aware, Kasikorn doesn't let you do the face ID thing. I tried to do it in the app, it says not available to foreigners.