Very recently my bank account with K-Bank was frozen. As I don't live in Thailand anymore, what are the implications of visiting my branch? Will they...

 

(a) close my account because I don't have a long-term visa and no permanent address there (anymore), or

(b) require me to get a Thailand SIM card?

 

Also, would I be able, considering my non-resident status, to get a new debit card with another bank (BBL, SCB)? I have had bank accounts with them for years.

I think you will find your account will be subject to closer if you don't have a long term visa, less to do with not having a Thai sim. The crackdowns appear to be happening with different banks, so you may well have problems with your other accounts in the future.

 

1 minute ago, Peterw42 said:

I think you will find your account will be subject to closer if you don't have a long term visa, less to do with not having a Thai sim. The crackdowns appear to be happening with different banks, so you may well have problems with your other accounts in the future.

 

Thanks. That will be a big problem for me, as there are payments in Thailand that I can neither do in cash, nor from abroad. Guess, the times of Thailand being my on-and-off home and travel hub in SE Asia are over... 

17 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Thanks. That will be a big problem for me, as there are payments in Thailand that I can neither do in cash, nor from abroad. Guess, the times of Thailand being my on-and-off home and travel hub in SE Asia are over... 

There appears to be no consistency, people with long term accounts and visa's are getting shut down, while others, opened last month on a tourist visa are not being touched. It does appear to be Bangkok and K bank

If you move everything over to your other account, most likely be ok.

45 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Very recently my bank account with K-Bank was frozen. As I don't live in Thailand anymore, what are the implications of visiting my branch? Will they...

 

(a) close my account because I don't have a long-term visa and no permanent address there (anymore), or

(b) require me to get a Thailand SIM card?

 

Also, would I be able, considering my non-resident status, to get a new debit card with another bank (BBL, SCB)? I have had bank accounts with them for years.

This is only about getting the SIM card provider to print out a confirmation of your name that matches the provider. Take it to the bank.

Are you sure your account has been frozen, or have you just lost access to the app?

The latter may have happened because you don't have a current registration of a Thai SIM.

Since beginning this month, de registration of your Thai sim card has to match the details of your bank account.

Name - passport number etc

1 hour ago, sharot724 said:

This is only about getting the SIM card provider to print out a confirmation of your name that matches the provider. Take it to the bank.

 

Problem is, I don't currently live in Thailand. So, I have to get a new SIM card and pay monthly packages just to keep my bank account in Thailand?

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

Are you sure your account has been frozen, or have you just lost access to the app?

The latter may have happened because you don't have a current registration of a Thai SIM.

Since beginning this month, de registration of your Thai sim card has to match the details of your bank account.

Name - passport number etc

 

I don't use an app. But (authorised) withdrawals by a third party were declined, and my debit card was suddenly not accepted anymore. (Everything was still fine in late June.)

 

Maybe I will have to get a SIM card just for that. Will a Tourist SIM do?

Do I need a Thailand address and phone number to keep my account with K-Bank?

On 7/17/2025 at 8:35 AM, sharot724 said:

This is only about getting the SIM card provider to print out a confirmation of your name that matches the provider. Take it to the bank.

I think the sim card issue only affects those who want or have the "App"  After all It's not a legal requirement to possess a mobile phone.  I don't use the app or internet banking in connection with my Bangkok bank account  I only provided the wife's phone number as a contact number ,  neither have I ever provided a COR as proof of address , No problems so far ,he said , whilst hurriedly touching wood 

16 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Do I need a Thailand address and phone number to keep my account with K-Bank?

No point in asking on here, even asking different branches of the same bank will probably generate different answers to the same question,   You need to ask your own branch 

On 7/17/2025 at 7:47 AM, StayinThailand2much said:

Very recently my bank account with K-Bank was frozen. As I don't live in Thailand anymore, what are the implications of visiting my branch? Will they...

 

(a) close my account because I don't have a long-term visa and no permanent address there (anymore), or

(b) require me to get a Thailand SIM card?

 

Also, would I be able, considering my non-resident status, to get a new debit card with another bank (BBL, SCB)? I have had bank accounts with them for years.

Why not ask the bank ????😳

30 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Why not ask the bank ????😳

 

I'm not currently in Thailand, and not keen on extended international phone calls, where they most probably would ask me to 'visit a branch'...

I sent an email though, asking what possible reasons there could be, but did not get a reply.

2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

I'm not currently in Thailand, and not keen on extended international phone calls, where they most probably would ask me to 'visit a branch'...

I sent an email though, asking what possible reasons there could be, but did not get a reply.

There will not be any reply. However, they will pick up the phone. Call the head office. They speak good English.

International calls are not expensive.

Use mytello.com

Call your bank and ask

On 7/17/2025 at 3:38 AM, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Problem is, I don't currently live in Thailand. So, I have to get a new SIM card and pay monthly packages just to keep my bank account in Thailand?

A PAYG SIM would do - you can top it up with a couple of hundred Baht every few months - still annoying though.

19 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Do I need a Thailand address and phone number to keep my account with K-Bank?

It might be the case.

 

I've read of the same thing happening in UK - some banks closing long-held accounts when the owner moves out of the country.

I believe it's because of how they interpret the so-called money laundering regulations.

On 7/17/2025 at 8:06 AM, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Thanks. That will be a big problem for me, as there are payments in Thailand that I can neither do in cash, nor from abroad. Guess, the times of Thailand being my on-and-off home and travel hub in SE Asia are over... 

 

 

Why can't you use WISE to pay directly to a Thai beneficiary?

3 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Why can't you use WISE to pay directly to a Thai beneficiary?

 

It's a company that doesn't use WISE.

3 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Call your bank and ask

 

I doubt that they will give me detailed information over the phone. (How would they know it's my bank account?)

1 hour ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

It's a company that doesn't use WISE.

 

 

I have to follow up and ask why?

37 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I have to follow up and ask why?

 

Up to them how they accept payment. 

12 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Up to them how they accept payment. 

 

 

That is not an answer. There is no reason whatsoever why someone cannot make a payment to your WISE account.

On 7/17/2025 at 2:35 AM, sharot724 said:

This is only about getting the SIM card provider to print out a confirmation of your name that matches the provider. Take it to the bank.

Poster said  As I don't live in Thailand anymore,

Seems like simplest solution would be to persuade the bank to transfer the balance to his account where he is now

3 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

Poster said  As I don't live in Thailand anymore,

Seems like simplest solution would be to persuade the bank to transfer the balance to his account where he is now

 

How to you "persuade" a Thai bank to transfer a bank balance overseas (without visiting the branch), esp. if the account is frozen? 

21 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

That is not an answer. There is no reason whatsoever why someone cannot make a payment to your WISE account.

 

The payment is to them, not to me. 😆 

9 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

How to you "persuade" a Thai bank to transfer a bank balance overseas (without visiting the branch), esp. if the account is frozen? 

One way although risky - power of attorney to Thai Lawyer

1 minute ago, Negita43 said:

One way although risky - power of attorney to Thai Lawyer

 

The bank balance is too small for that, and my bigger concern is loss of my debit card. 

On 7/17/2025 at 8:24 AM, Peterw42 said:

There appears to be no consistency, people with long term accounts and visa's are getting shut down, while others, opened last month on a tourist visa are not being touched. It does appear to be Bangkok and K bank

If you move everything over to your other account, most likely be ok.

Very few have been able to get a bank b k account open on a tourist visa for a while. Many agents don't even offer that service anymore. Maybe so gossip has crept in?

 

10 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

I'm not currently in Thailand, and not keen on extended international phone calls, where they most probably would ask me to 'visit a branch'...

I sent an email though, asking what possible reasons there could be, but did not get a reply.

What do you mean frozen? 

Most all banks have stopped app  usage until you provide proof the sim card info matches the bank acct info.

 

I had to get a letter from DTAC confirming. The debit card still worked and I could remove money at a machine or in the bank just not use the app until I provided proof.

 

Each bank is a bit different so contact them to find out your option of activation is .  I wouldn't  tell them I'm wasn't living here just not currently in the country for an extended period. But they may only be i fmterested in the sim info match to " unfreeze" your account