8 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Saving loads I see.

 

You shouldn't comment if you know nothing about me Fritsie. It's an account I never use, because it pays a similar interest as a current account, but I have 2 more different SCB accounts, which are both maxed out up to the level that the interest rate decreases.

In fact I have 14 savings and term accounts in 6 different banks, and the only purpose of me posting the screenshot was to prove it doesn't attract a fee for been inactive while having a balance of less than 2000 Baht as claimed in the post I replied to

How about you?

Let the bragging games begin, like in most other topics you enter.

4 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

You shouldn't comment if you know nothing about me Fritsie. It's an account I never use, because it pays a similar interest as a current account, but I have 2 more different SCB accounts, which are both maxed out up to the level that the interest rate decreases.

In fact I have 14 savings and term accounts in 6 different banks, and the only purpose of me posting the screenshot was to prove it doesn't attract a fee for been inactive while having a balance of less than 2000 Baht as claimed in the post I replied to

How about you?

Let the bragging games begin, like in most other topics you enter.

I have 2 accounts, enough for me.

Just now, FritsSikkink said:

I have 2 accounts, enough for me.

 

Sure if your total assets are less than 1 million baht, as that is what BoT guarantees in case of bank failure, then there is no need for more accounts

3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Sure if your total assets are less than 1 million baht, as that is what BoT guarantees in case of bank failure, then there is no need for more accounts

Not total assets but money in 1 bank account. 

2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

Sure if your total assets are less than 1 million baht, as that is what BoT guarantees in case of bank failure, then there is no need for more accounts

Splitting money between different banks can help you take better advantage of the Bank of Thailand’s limited guarantee in the event of a bank failure. However, this strategy can also increase your exposure by spreading your funds across more institutions, some of which may be less stable during an economic crisis where multiple banks fail. In many cases, keeping your money in the largest and most secure bank may actually lower your overall risk, especially if several second tier banks are affected. It is also important to note that having multiple accounts at the same bank does not increase your coverage, since the government guarantee applies per account holder per bank, not per account.

13 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

 

Yes, that does make practical sense. But what I believe is true is that when your account has almost a zero balance, they’re not going to charge you any fees and risk driving the account into a negative balance. In fact, I think you might actually be more likely to get charged a monthly fee if your balance is slightly under the minimum required, say if it's at ฿1500, simply because there’s more there to deduct from. So perhaps in this case, “less is more.”

 

That aside, I’ve never actually been charged a fee with these two ฿20 balance accounts. One of them had a fairly sizable balance up until about two-three years ago when I withdrew everything and moved the funds to another bank. Since then, it’s stayed at a very low balance and I’ve had no problems.
 

The other account I haven’t used in many years, it's been so long that I honestly can’t remember how long it’s been. And they have never charged me any fees. That’s the one that they froze temporarily several years ago when I went more than a year without any account activity. I think they just wanted to verify that I was still alive. But as long as I make a couple of small transfers in and out of the account each year, I don't think there will be any issues with either fees or closure.

 

In fact, based on everything I’ve read in the various responses above, it seems like the key factor isn’t the balance itself but maintaining at least a little bit of account activity. Most of the people who’ve been hit with monthly service charges or account closures seem to have run into those problems mainly because of dormancy.

 

It’s 2025. Fees are imposed by computer programs. Their logic is mathematical.

 

If you have less than a ฿2,000 balance and no activity for a year then they charge you the fee until there is account activity, the balance goes over ฿2000, or there are insufficient funds to pay the fee and they close the account.

 

Simple. 

1 hour ago, FriscoKid said:

Splitting money between different banks can help you take better advantage of the Bank of Thailand’s limited guarantee in the event of a bank failure. However, this strategy can also increase your exposure by spreading your funds across more institutions, some of which may be less stable during an economic crisis where multiple banks fail. In many cases, keeping your money in the largest and most secure bank may actually lower your overall risk, especially if several second tier banks are affected.

 

Completely wrong opinion.

Spreading over as many banks as possible always lowers your risk, and that is not only with banks, it is pure logic.

Do you know which is the most secure bank, do you have insight in their books, other than what is made public?

De biggest bank is not always the most secure, which was proven with the failure of Bangkok bank of commerce

who would admit to this here,   only to be told to "go home" by the usual AN suspects

Bangkok Bank charge me  30 baht a month fee, it is not a low balance, i assume it is a fee for no transactions 

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

 

Completely wrong opinion.

Spreading over as many banks as possible always lowers your risk, and that is not only with banks, it is pure logic.

Do you know which is the most secure bank, do you have insight in their books, other than what is made public?

De biggest bank is not always the most secure, which was proven with the failure of Bangkok bank of commerce

 

Bangkok Bank of Commerce, never heard of it. But I wouldn't keep money in any Thai bank besides the Big 4. Forget about that small BoT guarantee. If things come really undone here then good luck trying to get your money back from a government agency. 

6 minutes ago, howerde said:

Bangkok Bank charge me  30 baht a month fee, it is not a low balance, i assume it is a fee for no transactions 

 

If no transactions then Bangkok Bank might have put your account on dormant status and the account could also be locked now. I would contact them to make sure the account is still active and in good status.

 

If and account remains dormant for 2 years they might decide to close the account and then it would be a lot of headache.

 

5 hours ago, CallumWK said:

In fact I have 14 savings and term accounts in 6 different banks

 

Hopefully, you never have to leave the country on short notice with all your assets. It’s unlikely you’d have time to clean out all those accounts at six different banks that quickly. And whenever you do eventually expire, having that many banks and accounts will be a lot of extra work for someone else to try and deal with.

SCB the min is 2,000 baht,   Had the bank account 24 years.. there new policy re Apps means cannot use SCB App any more, to pay the monthly bills.  so there was no movement this year, resaved  a EMS letter 6 weeks ago  stating as my balance was below 2,000 baht there was a weekly 200 baht FEE  went to the Bank, the balance was 1,960 baht. less 2 x 200 baht FEE

 

I was told 25 years ago at Bangkok Bank min balance was 2,000 baht  - no idea if there are FEEs as account is used weekly/

 

HSBC min balance was 500,000 baht. if below there was a monthly FEE    Yes 2 different months the balance dippd just below  [late payment arriving] and had to pay the fee.

14 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

 

Hopefully, you never have to leave the country on short notice with all your assets. It’s unlikely you’d have time to clean out all those accounts at six different banks that quickly. And whenever you do eventually expire, having that many banks and accounts will be a lot of extra work for someone else to try and deal with.

 

You really like to argue, on nonsensical subjects, don't you? Is it just to show you consider you have a superior knowledge to everyone else?

 

Firstly, I have lived here for more than 30 year, so have no intention to leave, and specifically not in a hurry.

Secondly to clear out the accounts would take a few hours at most, because every bank has an app, so I can transfer the balance from all accounts to just a few, then withdraw it in cash at 1 or 2 banks.

Even if transferring to just 2 or 3 banks doesn't work out, I can visit all 6 banks and clear the accounts in a single day, since they are all within a 5km range.

Thirdly, when I expire, as you like to call it, it will be the least of my worries what happens with the assets left.

6 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

You really like to argue, on nonsensical subjects, don't you? Is it just to show you consider you have a superior knowledge to everyone else?

Not at all. Was just trying to be helpful. Next time I won't bother.

Just now, FriscoKid said:

Not at all. Was just trying to be helpful. Next time I won't bother.

 

Please, and thanks

19 minutes ago, ignis said:

my balance was below 2,000 baht there was a weekly 200 baht FEE 

That sounds very high. Most banks charge 50 Baht monthly, I believe. The 200 Baht fee is often the annual fee deducted for ATM card. 

3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Please, and thanks

 

Ironic, really, all those things you accused me of while I was just trying to be helpful, on your off-topic post about all your banks and bank accounts that nobody asked for. And yet it was you, in that same long post, saying ‘Let the bragging games begin.’ I guess that’s what you’re really here for.

Just now, FriscoKid said:

 

Ironic, really, all those things you accused me of while I was just trying to be helpful, on your off-topic post about all your banks and bank accounts that nobody asked for. And yet it was you, in that same long post, saying ‘Let the bragging games begin.’ I guess that’s what you’re really here for.

 

Welcome to my ignore list

7 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Welcome to my ignore list

Ditto. Done. This way I won’t have to see your off-topic rambling the next time you try to hijack one of my topics to brag about how many banks and accounts you have that nobody cares about.

39 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

That sounds very high. Most banks charge 50 Baht monthly, I believe. The 200 Baht fee is often the annual fee deducted for ATM card. 

Sorry  - Just looked in my Bank book shows FEE 4 x 50 baht so each week for June 2025,,, the letter says 200 month

12 minutes ago, ignis said:

Sorry  - Just looked in my Bank book shows FEE 4 x 50 baht so each week for June 2025,,, the letter says 200 month

 

Understood, thanks for the clarification. I don’t think you’re being charged a fee just because your balance is under ฿2000. It’s more likely due to having no activity on the account for over a year, combined with the low balance.

 

To avoid the fee going forward, you could try transferring ฿100 in and out of the account twice a year. That should help keep the account looking active and allow you to maintain it without the weekly charge or needing to increase the balance.

 

Also, since they’ve already started charging an inactivity fee, there’s a chance the account could be flagged as dormant or even locked by the bank. If the balance drops to zero, it might even be closed. It would be a good idea to check with the bank just to make sure you still have full access to the account.
 

But if you don't care about the account then you could also just do nothing. 

Avoiding non acctivity is not so difficult 

Example ,online checking the account,asking statement acc.,paying your Thai sim card by the bank app...

etc...etc..

1 hour ago, david555 said:

Avoiding non acctivity is not so difficult 

Example ,online checking the account,asking statement acc.,paying your Thai sim card by the bank app...

etc...etc..

Yes, very easy to do. Just send the wife some money, and get her to send it back. Just joking. I never get money back from the wife. 😪

On 7/30/2025 at 2:54 AM, FriscoKid said:

Has anyone here had a different experience with Thai banks charging low balance or inactivity fees?

@FriscoKid Yes, there is a minimum balance fee.  I am not exactly sure what the minimum balance is, but I let my Kasikorn Bank account drop below B300 and bada-bing, bada-boom there was an extra ฿135 withdrawn from the account last night.   Same thing happened last month and the previous.  I'm a little forgetful, but seem to remember the same thing happen to my Bangkok Bank account, also.  I have no excuse for letting it drop that low...  I have money in my US account.  It's just easier to tell my son and wife 'no' when there is none in the Thai accounts. 😢....  😆🤣

My wife went into Kasikorn to make a large xfer to SCB at the counter, but the man said there was a fee. He told her better to increase the limit on her app to make the xfer. He saw she had 1,000 baht left after the xfer, so he told her she needed to get the balance back above 2,000 baht within the next 12 mths or they would charge a monthly fee.

On 8/2/2025 at 9:48 AM, CallumWK said:

 

Sure if your total assets are less than 1 million baht, as that is what BoT guarantees in case of bank failure, then there is no need for more accounts

GSB ( pink ) offers unlimited protection, all your money is fully protected.

4 hours ago, DrJoy said:

GSB ( pink ) offers unlimited protection, all your money is fully protected.

 

I know as I have a few GSB fixed accounts and a regular savings account, but no web banking or mobile banking for foreigners. And I hope it never happens, but we'll wait and see what happens in regard to foreigners savings guarantees, if it ever happens.