So I've been away from Thailand longer than planned.... with all the talk of Bangkok Bank accounts being closed...

 

If I send a test amount of 1000 baht to my account via wise, and it does not bounce back is it safe to say my account is still 'live'..since in theory it must return to the sender if it's closed ?

 

Anyone experienced a funds bounce back in that scenario or a funds bounce-back in general ?

...and if you have info specific to Bangkok Bank and Wise that would help...

What was the size of the balance you left in your Bangkok Bank account before your departure from Thailand? If 2,000 THB or less it would have been subject to the bank's dormancy account procedures which would have reduced the balance further or even wiped it out completely if you had been out of Thailand for some time.

 

The following recent thread includes a discussion about banks' dormancy account procedures, including a couple of posts from @KhunBENQ specifically relating to Bangkok Bank:

 

 

On 8/4/2025 at 1:45 AM, freedomnow said:

So I've been away from Thailand longer than planned.... with all the talk of Bangkok Bank accounts being closed...

 

If I send a test amount of 1000 baht to my account via wise, and it does not bounce back is it safe to say my account is still 'live'..since in theory it must return to the sender if it's closed ?

 

Anyone experienced a funds bounce back in that scenario or a funds bounce-back in general ?

Are you able to still access the account via online banking? If not, why not call the Bangkok Bank customer service phone number and try and find out the status of your account?

 

If the account has become dormant, it might still be open but would be locked from allowing any withdrawals or transfers. In this case, the account would remain open for at least a year or two. After that, the bank might close it due to inactivity. It could still accept incoming transfers during this period, but you likely would not be able to access the funds until you visit the bank in person to unlock the account.

2 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

Are you able to still access the account via online banking? If not, why not call the Bangkok Bank customer service phone number and try and find out the status of your account?

 

If the account has become dormant, it might still be open but would be locked from allowing any withdrawals or transfers. In this case, the account would remain open for at least a year or two. After that, the bank might close it due to inactivity. It could still accept incoming transfers during this period, but you likely would not be able to access the funds until you visit the bank in person to unlock the account.

I never used online banking in all my time there or overseas back home...so doubt I can use it without my Thai SIM which has deactivated.

I have sent the odd amount to the account over the last year and I'm trying to send some money overnight to see if it does not bounce back to my UK account.

 

It is just with all the aggressive Bangkok Bank account shut-downs in the news... coming in on a tourist visa soon, I will need to use it again for inbound money....as I won't be able to open a bank account on a tourist visa in Chiang Mai easily vs 10 years ago.

 

On 8/4/2025 at 9:33 AM, OJAS said:

What was the size of the balance you left in your Bangkok Bank account before your departure from Thailand? If 2,000 THB or less it would have been subject to the bank's dormancy account procedures which would have reduced the balance further or even wiped it out completely if you had been out of Thailand for some time.

 

The following recent thread includes a discussion about banks' dormancy account procedures, including a couple of posts from @KhunBENQ specifically relating to Bangkok Bank:

 

 

Nice cross-post..thanks.

On 8/4/2025 at 1:45 AM, freedomnow said:

If I send a test amount of 1000 baht to my account via wise, and it does not bounce back is it safe to say my account is still 'live'..since in theory it must return to the sender if it's closed ?

 

But how are you going to check whether or not this test amount has been credited to your BKKB account if you don't use or have access to online banking services? Just because Wise tell you that your money is on its way to BKKB doesn't necessarily mean that it will actually end up in your account with them (assuming that it's still active, of course) - as I can vouch for on the basis of recent personal experience with a token Wise transfer I unsuccessfully attempted to make to my wife's BKKB account.

10 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

I never used online banking in all my time there or overseas back home...so doubt I can use it without my Thai SIM which has deactivated.

I have sent the odd amount to the account over the last year and I'm trying to send some money overnight to see if it does not bounce back to my UK account.

 

It is just with all the aggressive Bangkok Bank account shut-downs in the news... coming in on a tourist visa soon, I will need to use it again for inbound money....as I won't be able to open a bank account on a tourist visa in Chiang Mai easily vs 10 years ago.

 

You might be able to apply for online banking through the website, but I'm not sure. Some banks still offer Internet banking through the website using a computer and a web browser, but others have moved to just using mobile apps linked to your mobile device. But you can check out the link below.

 

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Digital-Banking/Bualuang-iBanking

 

I still say the best thing to do is give a call to their customer service center to see what you can find out about the status of your account. Otherwise you're just guessing with no definitive answers:

 

+66-2-645-5555

 

5 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

You might be able to apply for online banking through the website, but I'm not sure. Some banks still offer Internet banking through the website using a computer and a web browser, but others have moved to just using mobile apps linked to your mobile device. But you can check out the link below.

 

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Digital-Banking/Bualuang-iBanking

 

I still say the best thing to do is give a call to their customer service center to see what you can find out about the status of your account. Otherwise you're just guessing with no definitive answers:

 

+66-2-645-5555

 

Thanks. I was actually going to airmail my visa card to a friend who lives in the city to see if he could print how much is in the account at an ATM.

9 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

Thanks. I was actually going to airmail my visa card to a friend who lives in the city to see if he could print how much is in the account at an ATM.

 

I would just call the bank. I believe they’re available 24 hours a day, and there should be someone who speaks English and can answer basic questions about the account. They can tell you whether it’s active or dormant, locked or accessible, and whether you need to take any additional steps or not before using it again. 

3 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

 

I would just call the bank. I believe they’re available 24 hours a day, and there should be someone who speaks English and can answer basic questions about the account. They can tell you whether it’s active or dormant, locked or accessible, and whether you need to take any additional steps or not before using it again. 

OK, pulling up my wise transfer history I see I sent over around a combination of 7000 Baht while out the country a couple years so at least it never went sub 2000 dormant and had some acitivity inbound from me 4 times

38 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

OK, pulling up my wise transfer history I see I sent over around a combination of 7000 Baht while out the country a couple years so at least it never went sub 2000 dormant and had some acitivity inbound from me 4 times

 

Should not be a problem.

 

Wife and I were stuck in China during the covids, unable to return to Thailand.  I had dividends deposited in one account at Bangkok Bank, would occasionally log on with my laptop, spread it out amongst other accounts to show activity in all of them.

 

 

I just called the bank from here in Canada yesterday and said I do not use online/mobile/remote banking at all and just send funds through Wise and use my ATM card when I come.  They said it should be no problem then and should be active.

 

They then asked a few security questions and then I gave my account number and they said it's okay. 

 

I sent a transfer right after the call and it took Wise 9 seconds to transfer.

 

So if you do not use online/mobile/remote banking it sounds like you should be okay too.

 

But if you do, good luck with that!!

 

On 8/4/2025 at 10:18 AM, freedomnow said:

...and if you have info specific to Bangkok Bank and Wise that would help...

 

I made a Wise transfer to my Bangkok Bank account last week without any issues.
I also used it to pay for my AIS phone bill, and it worked perfectly.
You can use the Bangkok Bank app on your phone to check your account status.

 

usnig wise transfer all the time and never have ahd problems over the past 8 + years.

sometines a delay of a day or two .
in general nearly instantyl or within 12 hours.

Wise will tell you iif there is a dealy.

also when you use the same Bangkok Bank account you scan send the documenttion about the account iso they register this in hte system.
overall Wise goes smooth up to  the max transfer that is set bij the Central Bank of Thialand.

9 hours ago, mushroomdave said:

I just called the bank from here in Canada yesterday and said I do not use online/mobile/remote banking at all and just send funds through Wise and use my ATM card when I come.  They said it should be no problem then and should be active.

 

They then asked a few security questions and then I gave my account number and they said it's okay. 

 

I sent a transfer right after the call and it took Wise 9 seconds to transfer.

 

Not to Bangkok Bank though was it?

 

Different banks may have different procedures.

1 hour ago, treetops said:

 

Not to Bangkok Bank though was it?

 

Different banks may have different procedures.

 

Yes it it was.....OP stated Bangkok Bank so that is what I am referring to. 

You must keep a minimum of at least 2000 THB in BKK Bank to keep it active.

I transfer via Wise monthly and takes 7 seconds to arrive....but I've never had a transfer bounce. I've been using them for 8 or so years (previously OFX.com).

I've had a few delays where it's taken a couple of days and I've noticed a pattern that this only happens if the THB weakens since I strike the deal....I think Wise hold onto the money to see if they can recover and not lose on the FX rate.

1 minute ago, mushroomdave said:

Yes it it was.....OP stated Bangkok Bank so that is what I am referring to. 

 

That's interesting as it's been reported since May that there are no "instant" transfers to BBL any longer and all funds will arrive shortly after 2:00pm either the same day or the next working day depending on time sent. The Wise website still appears to confirm that.

 

Maybe with yours being funded with CAD there is something different happening.

6 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

That's interesting as it's been reported since May that there are no "instant" transfers to BBL any longer and all funds will arrive shortly after 2:00pm either the same day or the next working day depending on time sent. The Wise website still appears to confirm that.

 

Maybe with yours being funded with CAD there is something different happening.

 

True but even without sending any Canadian funds, they said since I do not use any form of online/mobile banking with them, that there was no problem and at all and that is was still active as always.   I simply wrote them expalaining my situation and they said in an email that is should be good and if I wanted more confirmation, to just call their info line(s). 

 

From the information you provided, this kind of regular savings account usage not employing or registered for any kind of online banking, should be operational as always. 

 

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