1 hour ago, Rich the Robin said:

I’m heading to bank tomorrow morning so I’ll have to chance my arm without it. Thanks for pointing it out. How would I go about obtaining that? Just in case I have too 

Just go to any of the stores for your sim card. Tell them you need a verification letter that your sim card is registered to you for the bank. You'll need to show them your PP. They should print the letter on the spot free. 

Sounds to me like it's all to do with this thread:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1359645-does-your-sim-registration-and-bank-details-match/

 

On 8/19/2025 at 8:56 AM, Rich the Robin said:

Morning all,

 

Anybody receive a text message from Bangkok Bank requesting you attend your opening branch within 30 days for identity verification ?  Was your visit straightforward and other than passport/bank book & card/UK/Thai driving licence, did they require any other docs ?

 

Thanks very much

Ok. 4 1/2hrs at bank later. I took passport, bank book, Thai debit card & UK driving licence card. I would normally have been there for opening but hedged my bets regarding the SIM registration and got to bank at 10 as AIS didn’t open till 11. Queue was so long (serving tkt no 8, me no 39) so i went and got SIM registration.  Wasnt asked for Thai debit card or UK licence. Didn’t take my condo agreement (for reasons I mentioned earlier) and despite them not mentioning it in their email as a requirement, the bank do want it so back in tomorrow. Lady said, subject to rental agreement,  she will ask head office to speed up lifting of suspension (as condo rent expires 26/08) but weekend coming up. She mentioned usually takes up to 7 days for you to access your dough after approval of docs.

 

11 minutes ago, Rich the Robin said:

Ok. 4 1/2hrs at bank later. I took passport, bank book, Thai debit card & UK driving licence card. I would normally have been there for opening but hedged my bets regarding the SIM registration and got to bank at 10 as AIS didn’t open till 11. Queue was so long (serving tkt no 8, me no 39) so i went and got SIM registration.  Wasnt asked for Thai debit card or UK licence. Didn’t take my condo agreement (for reasons I mentioned earlier) and despite them not mentioning it in their email as a requirement, the bank do want it so back in tomorrow. Lady said, subject to rental agreement,  she will ask head office to speed up lifting of suspension (as condo rent expires 26/08) but weekend coming up. She mentioned usually takes up to 7 days for you to access your dough after approval of docs.

 

 

Why the heck would you need to rent a condo to have a bank account? That’s insane. 

On 8/19/2025 at 1:33 PM, Everyman said:

So if you have a tourist visa they will close your account?

Perhaps if no answer to their message.
Red flag. 
 

Any full bank branch can organize for you, about a 10 minute process.

They are protecting your money

On 8/20/2025 at 6:14 AM, Everyman said:

 

That is interesting. I’m trying to work out the criteria for which accounts are being called up, because it isn’t everyone. Maybe there are a few “problematic branches?” 

 

So far it’s just Bangkok Bank that are calling people in. I guess I’m hoping the fallout will be limited before the crackdown winds change.

 

Good luck at your visit to the bank, presumably today. 

This is an update if people missed it!

It is mainly Pattaya why!  Because the BB branch on Sukhumvit near Klang Num Chai appliance was illegally opening tourist accounts for sometime for mainland Chinese and other western tourist they were getting slip thousands a baht for each account. I just happen to be at that branch the days of the raid. The way this government love the Chinese they don't say it is them  Of course we get blamed so this is what it has come to. After one of the branches were close on the dark side on Nernpludwan everything moved to Soi Siam branch I saw two truck loads of boxes being unloaded weeks after anytime I visited Q's of farangs complaining the same thing their accounts frozen my guess being profiled.

On July 8th, at Central festival branch many with same problem. 

 

On 8/20/2025 at 4:23 PM, Dan O said:

Just go to any of the stores for your sim card. Tell them you need a verification letter that your sim card is registered to you for the bank. You'll need to show them your PP. They should print the letter on the spot free. 

I went to dtac on 3rd floor of central festival, Pattaya 

obtain letter .. cost B150

 

13 hours ago, Finspin said:

I went to dtac on 3rd floor of central festival, Pattaya 

obtain letter .. cost B150

 

Confirmation letters are typically to be free but 150 baht isn't any surprise considering where you are.

Morning all, 

 

Off the back of my (and many others) nightmare experience with having my Bangkok Bank account frozen for identity verification, I wondered if the experienced amongst us would think 1- having had my docs approved I'm unlikely to experience this again with BB (although I am aware they seem to cause unwanted difficulties when it comes time for visa extensions especially if an agent is to be used) and 2 - whether a change of bank would be recommended. I am in Pattaya area and will, for my upcoming visa extension be using an agent although the plan for future extensions will be to go down the DIY/non agent route. I am aware that it seems to be increasingly problematic to manage a visa extension through an agent in Pattaya area if you bank with BB.

 

Is there a more 'foreigner friendly' bank I can go to where using an agent is a more smooth process.  A couple of alternatives have been suggested to me.

 

I'd be grateful for your thoughts.

 

ta

 

6 minutes ago, Rich the Robin said:

Off the back of my (and many others) nightmare experience with having my Bangkok Bank account frozen for identity verification, I wondered if the experienced amongst us would think 1- having had my docs approved I'm unlikely to experience this again with BB

...

Is there a more 'foreigner friendly' bank I can go to where using an agent is a more smooth process.  A couple of alternatives have been suggested to me.

 

 

I don't know the answer re: foreigner friendly but in regards to getting one's annual paperwork for a type-O/OA permission to stay extension, I found Krungsri bank superior to Bangkok Bank, here in Phuket.  

 

In terms of transferring money into Thailand, I still find Bangkok bank the best (although recently SCB bank worked ok for me in that regards).

 

I confess this freezing of accounts by Bangkok Bank is a bit puzzling to me, as to whose accounts they freeze and whose accounts they didn't freeze.  What was their selection criteria?  My Thai wife tells me that Thai citizens are also having this issue to some extent (of accounts being frozen).

 

Her view (which could be wrong - but she bases it on news in Thai language that I can not read) is that the banks have a computer algorithm (?) that goes through the various accounts and flags those that come the closest to matching those of mule accounts.  They then freeze the accounts (its unclear to her nor me as to what sort of checks they do before freezing, to ensure algorithm did not make a big mistake).

 

I don't know if we will ever know the actual answer here.  I do know one-half year ago ? (possibly a year ago) when i was at Krungsri and Bangkok bank branches, they made an extra effort to get updated information from me in terms of my phone number and my latest visa / permission to stay.  Perhaps overkill by those bank branches.

.

   .

 

 

On 8/21/2025 at 4:06 PM, Everyman said:

 

Why the heck would you need to rent a condo to have a bank account? That’s insane. 

What Abt a Hut agreement? 😁 

1 hour ago, Rich the Robin said:

Morning all, 

 

Off the back of my (and many others) nightmare experience with having my Bangkok Bank account frozen for identity verification, I wondered if the experienced amongst us would think 1- having had my docs approved I'm unlikely to experience this again with BB (although I am aware they seem to cause unwanted difficulties when it comes time for visa extensions especially if an agent is to be used) and 2 - whether a change of bank would be recommended. I am in Pattaya area and will, for my upcoming visa extension be using an agent although the plan for future extensions will be to go down the DIY/non agent route. I am aware that it seems to be increasingly problematic to manage a visa extension through an agent in Pattaya area if you bank with BB.

 

Is there a more 'foreigner friendly' bank I can go to where using an agent is a more smooth process.  A couple of alternatives have been suggested to me.

 

I'd be grateful for your thoughts.

 

ta

 

 

I would open an account with a smaller bank that foreigners don’t use, like CIMB or Kiatnakin whatever it is. With the latter you can withdraw money using the app from KBANK ATMs, and they are listed by Wise as eligible for transfers.