Bank account frozen

[Middle Aged Grouch]

First they chase away the quality foreigners with visa and tax hassles. Now they want to chase away the quality foreigners with bank hassles. At the end of the day, for those who still want to come over to Thailand, better to bring cash only. Better even, spend the 4 or 6 month winter break in Vietnam. 

[Caldera]

48 minutes ago, Steve Mee said:

I told my local BKB branch that I was hungry & had no money.  They still couldn't do anything & apologized.  I also told them I was going to another bank which I did today.

 

Out of curiosity, which documents did Kasikorn Bank ask for to open your new account?

 

I opened my account with them a very long time ago, but this could be helpful for others looking for a new bank. And I'd definitely recommend Kasikorn Bank, they've been great. 

[Celsius]

Remember guys, this is for your own safery. Thai banks have only the best intentions when it comes to farang accounts.

 

This is not about capital control at all....

[Steve Mee]

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

 

Out of curiosity, which documents did Kasikorn Bank ask for to open your new account?

 

I opened my account with them a very long time ago, but this could be helpful for others looking for a new bank. And I'd definitely recommend Kasikorn Bank, they've been great. 

 

Documents I presented to them were:

- Passport with retirement visa

- Thai Car Driver Licence

- Confirmation of phone number SIM registered in my name ( topped up at DTAC & got a receipt with my name/phone number on it.  I also had the SIM card packet with me & it had details of my phone number).  

- Receipt of Notification from Immigration (this is a small 1/4 of A4 size page at the back of my passport done by my landlord which confirms my current address).  This was important because my Thai driver licence address is in Pattaya.  I did the car driver licence myself at Sichon DLT, however, my visa was new at the time with a Pattaya address via visa agent in Pattaya which was used by Sichon DLT.  

 

I don't know if it helped but my Lao GF also set up a new bank account at the same time at a different counter at the same branch but her visa agent & the visa agent's mother were also there.  The visa agent didn't assist me. The bank staff were aware that my GF & her visa agent know me so it may have assisted me indirectly.  

 

I will also set up another account at Krungsi for back up with assistance from my landlord.  I believe if you go into the branch where your landlord has a bank account & bring your landlord, passport with retirement visa, SIm card phone number confirmation & Thai car/motorbike driver licence you should be good to set up a bank account.  

 

I showed my home country driver licence as it has a photo of me but the bank didn't require it.   Took about 30 minutes to set up the new bank account including ATM card, bank book & they also set up my phone app including face scans.  Very helpful staff with limited English but still very easy.  They do most of the set up on their tablet & you sign in a few places.  Then Manager checks everything over.  Lady made a small error - had me as Austrian but Manager realized I am Australian & rectified it.  

[gamb00ler]

2 hours ago, Caldera said:

Out of curiosity, which documents did Kasikorn Bank ask for to open your new account?

Kasikorn refused to open an account for me when I moved to CM from US because I didn't yet have a 12 month extension stamp in my passport.  After I got my extension I went back and opened an account with passport (+stamp), my Thai tax ID and a certificate of residence from Imm. 

 

I used the same documentation for SCB and also Krungsri banks.  I opened those as backup in case of difficulties with Thai banking.  Also both of those banks offer better interest in non-fixed accounts than most.

 

My first account in Thailand was with BKK bank so I stayed with them for almost 5 years.  In recent months they stopped doing "cash advance" on foreign debit cards.  I'm going to abandon them now.

 

 

[bravo19]

I don't know why so many people complain about Bangkok Bank. I have my savings account since 2016 with them, since 2017 a fixed account and since 2018 a secured credit card as well. And up to know everything works fine. 

I have also a savings account with Kasikorn and everything is going well. But Kasikorn reduced the daily  transactions limit this month. Since 15.08. the daily transfer limit was reduced to maximum 200,000 THB even with face scan.

[Fabio1980]

On 8/19/2025 at 4:43 PM, sandyf said:

You are jumping the gun a bit. When a bank says it is visa related, it 

In the last day or so a message has appeared on my phone from  TTB  that I must visit "a branch" with passport by 9th Sept 2025.

 

It appears on the TTB app, regarding face recognition, right?

[gamb00ler]

9 hours ago, bravo19 said:

don't know why so many people complain about Bangkok Bank.

They are quite erratic.  What is possible at one branch is impossible at others.  IE: "cash advance" on foreign debit card.  Their head office doesn't keep their branches updated on policy changes.

 

Staff training seems minimal.  So often the teller has to call somebody to accomplish what I ask.

 

Reams of paper need to be signed to accomplish a simple address change.... multiple copies required if you have more than one account.

 

They don't offer competitive rates on savings account compared to SCB, L&H Bank and Krungsri.

[khunJam]

18 hours ago, Steve Mee said:

 

Local BKK branch called this morning & mentioned Branch Manager cannot do anything to unfreeze bank account.  Visit to Pattaya branch required.   Will visit after 30 days or next year when it quietens down as very busy now & don't need access to minimal funds in account.  

 

Waiting on answer from visa agent in Pattaya to determine whether or not they can attend Pattaya branch with my documents on my behalf.  

 

In the meantime, went to Kasikorn Bank & opened a new bank account. 

 

Good bye Bangkok Bank!  

  

I wonder if this nonsense is coming to Chiang Mai BBL banks, I opened my account with a tourist visa.

[sandyf]

5 hours ago, Fabio1980 said:

It appears on the TTB app, regarding face recognition, right?

Yes. I think they just the message out to everyone without much of an explanation.

Back in 2014 there was no app and they contacted me about changes to  the regulations regarding online banking. That was done by email and quite specific about what was happening and who and what would be affected.

So much for progress, and thanks for the update you posted.

[OJAS]

13 hours ago, Caldera said:

 

Bangkok Bank is going to lose quite a bit of business from foreigners. Serves them right, the way they are handling this is absolutely appalling. 

 

But are any of the alternatives really any better? Thai banks are a pretty rum lot IMHO, and switching accounts between them appears in effect to be tantamount to jumping from the frying pan into the fire. They all seem hell-bent on ramming their lousy apps down our throats, whether we want anything to do with them or not, together with facial scanning/recognition nonsense also being thrown into the mix for good measure.

 

Even the much-praised (relatively speaking) Kasikorn Bank are now gleefully hitting their account holders with 50k maximum daily spending limits with zero advance notice!

 

[Fabio1980]

9 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Yes. I think they just the message out to everyone without much of an explanation.

 

This "face verification", its just for the app, right? No need to do it if i just use the ATM (under the 50.000 thb limit)?

[JohnnyBD]

10 hours ago, bravo19 said:

I don't know why so many people complain about Bangkok Bank. I have my savings account since 2016 with them, since 2017 a fixed account and since 2018 a secured credit card as well. And up to know everything works fine. 

I have also a savings account with Kasikorn and everything is going well. But Kasikorn reduced the daily  transactions limit this month. Since 15.08. the daily transfer limit was reduced to maximum 200,000 THB even with face scan.

I've had no problems with Bangkok Bank so far. It's my primary Thai bank now. I like that I can use their web-based banking, and that I can convert USD acct to my THB acct online without having to go into the bank. I closed my UOB (was Citibank TH) accts, and Kasikorn (used for marriage) acct. I have a LTR-WP visa now, so I didn't need Kasikorn anymore, and there was no reason to keep small amounts of money sitting in accts I didn't use anymore. Also, it was a lot of work to report those extra accts to the US gov't every year. I still have SCB accts. Good luck to those having problems.

[david555]

1 hour ago, Fabio1980 said:

This "face verification", its just for the app, right? No need to do it if i just use the ATM (under the 50.000 thb limit)?

if not liking the face scan ..... just go slightly under the set limit for it ..... so much difference a few hundred baht under can not make on this ridiculous 50 000 limit , and it should NOT trigger the face scan need ...

[Caldera]

3 hours ago, OJAS said:

But are any of the alternatives really any better?

 

That's the one million baht question, I guess we are about to find out in the coming months.

[Everyman]

14 hours ago, bravo19 said:

I don't know why so many people complain about Bangkok Bank. I have my savings account since 2016 with them, since 2017 a fixed account and since 2018 a secured credit card as well. And up to know everything works fine. 

I have also a savings account with Kasikorn and everything is going well. But Kasikorn reduced the daily  transactions limit this month. Since 15.08. the daily transfer limit was reduced to maximum 200,000 THB even with face scan.

 

Everyone had no problem with Bangkok Bank…until they did. Until they were stranded on the other side of the country because they randomly got their account frozen. Who would trust a bank like that with their money? They’re c@nts. I am getting away from them if I possibly can. My issue is I have DTV and as soon as they figure that out they’ll kick me to the kerb.

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, Everyman said:

Everyone had no problem with Bangkok Bank…until they did. Until they were stranded on the other side of the country because they randomly got their account frozen. Who would trust a bank like that with their money? They’re c@nts. I am getting away from them if I possibly can. My issue is I have DTV and as soon as they figure that out they’ll kick me to the kerb.

Sadly anyone from the UK where every bank will de-bank you on the slightest whim.

[oldcpu]

19 hours ago, Steve Mee said:

FYI - from a Reddit poster.

 

"I went to close my account and they wanted me to sign a form but weren't happy with my signature on one of the documents because it didn't match my signature when I opened the account.  I'm like, you have me on camera, you have my passport which has my photo, I think we're good. They weren't happy so I said let me see the signature on file and they SHOWED it to me. So I just copied it and that was fine."

 

 

I have a number of different personal accounts with Bangkok Bank, most opened in 2016 timeframe (and with a lot of money transferred to Thailand around that time-frame).

 

Recently (in mid-July this year) I transferred 30k-euro from a Bangkok Bank foreign currency account to a SCB foreign currency account.

 

I ran into the signature matching " shenanigans (?) "  where the local Bangkok Bank branch advised the Bangkok HQ branch (which had to approve the transfer) did not like how I signed my signature (and hence local branch could not proceed with the transfer of 30K-euros). 

 

I ended signing and resigning 1/2 dozen times, until my signature almost precisely matched the one I originally signed back in 2016.  ... We are talking VERY VERY VERY minor differences here.  

 

So yes - Bangkok Bank can be fussy at times, to the point of annoyance.

 

OK - its a bit off topic, but i think it relevant to the Redit post that you noted.

 

 

[OJAS]

20 hours ago, oldcpu said:

 

I have a number of different personal accounts with Bangkok Bank, most opened in 2016 timeframe (and with a lot of money transferred to Thailand around that time-frame).

 

Recently (in mid-July this year) I transferred 30k-euro from a Bangkok Bank foreign currency account to a SCB foreign currency account.

 

I ran into the signature matching " shenanigans (?) "  where the local Bangkok Bank branch advised the Bangkok HQ branch (which had to approve the transfer) did not like how I signed my signature (and hence local branch could not proceed with the transfer of 30K-euros). 

 

I ended signing and resigning 1/2 dozen times, until my signature almost precisely matched the one I originally signed back in 2016.  ... We are talking VERY VERY VERY minor differences here.  

 

So yes - Bangkok Bank can be fussy at times, to the point of annoyance.

 

OK - its a bit off topic, but i think it relevant to the Redit post that you noted.

 

 

 

In fairness to Bangkok Bank (says he through gritted teeth), I should say that I had an identical experience at my local Krungsri branch a couple of years ago when obtaining an account confirmation letter and 12-month statement for my (then) latest retirement extension application.

 

[JohnnyBD]

It's funny. Bangkok Bank Emporium branch in BK just called, and said they been checking all the foreigners files, and they need our marriage certificate & Chanote. Seems they misplaced the ones i gave them earlier this year. We are on the way there now. Will go for dinner & drinks afterwards. At least they called. 😁

[JohnnyBD]

37 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

It's funny. Bangkok Bank Emporium branch in BK just called, and said they been checking all the foreigners files, and they need our marriage certificate & Chanote. Seems they misplaced the ones i gave them earlier this year. We are on the way there now. Will go for dinner & drinks afterwards. At least they called. 😁

All done. Less than 5 min in bank. Lady was waiting. She said each branch in Thailand was pulling all the foreigners accts, and checking them to make sure they had all the correct docs. 

[Rob Browder]

On 8/19/2025 at 8:53 PM, Hellfire said:

Educate yourself on stable coins like USDT.

I would not trust that either.  Seems to me, it's a trick to print more USD, without putting it on the Fed's balance-sheet - though, maybe that means the bad-guys are supporting it, which makes it more reliable (since bad-guys run the "global financial system"). 

 

And, one needs "the internet" for any crypto to work - no "local branch" exists at all - where to go with your proverbial "torch and pitchfork" if things go sideways?  That seems scary to me.  Having multiple-options is generally good, though - why I have accounts at multiple banks here - one more added when BKB started screwing with people a couple months back. 

 

I do wish you the best getting YOUR money back ASAP.  Thanks for the report.

[Caldera]

3 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

It's funny. Bangkok Bank Emporium branch in BK just called, and said they been checking all the foreigners files, and they need our marriage certificate & Chanote. Seems they misplaced the ones i gave them earlier this year.

 

That really fills you with confidence, doesn't it?

 

On previous occasions, I was actually impressed that they still had the photocopy of my passport that I had originally used to open my account with them 20 years ago. But with all that paperwork they've collected over the years or decades, they might not see the forest for the trees. 

 

So far, I've heard nothing, probably because it's an old account that might take quite some digging to get to.

[Lorry]

6 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

It's funny. Bangkok Bank Emporium branch in BK just called, and said they been checking all the foreigners files, and they need our marriage certificate & Chanote. Seems they misplaced the ones i gave them earlier this year. We are on the way there now. Will go for dinner & drinks afterwards. At least they called. 😁

 Why does a bank where I have just a simple savings account want my marriage certificate,  chanote and certified history of my last 7 defecations?

That alone would be a reason for me to switch banks (actually,  I did cancel all my BBL accounts, at the same branch,  some time ago for similar reasons).

Or are there special reasons,  like a mortgage, special conditions for spouses, whatever

[JohnnyBD]

59 minutes ago, Lorry said:

 Why does a bank where I have just a simple savings account want my marriage certificate,  chanote and certified history of my last 7 defecations?

That alone would be a reason for me to switch banks (actually,  I did cancel all my BBL accounts, at the same branch,  some time ago for similar reasons).

Or are there special reasons,  like a mortgage, special conditions for spouses, whatever

When I opened my accounts at Bangkok Bank, I used my lease agreement to prove my residence & address. A few months ago, I went into the bank and changed my address. They called and asked about a lease agreement for my new address. I explained to them we bought a new condo, so we no longer have a lease. They asked for a copy of our marriage certificate & Chanote to prove my residence. My wife is an authorized user on my accounts. I thought we had given them those docs before, but maybe not. It wasn't a problem for me. It only took 5 min in the bank. At least they called and didn't freeze my accounts.

[Lorry]

3 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

When I opened my accounts at Bangkok Bank, I used my lease agreement to prove my residence & address. A few months ago, I went into the bank and changed my address. They called and asked about a lease agreement for my new address. I explained to them we bought a new condo, so we no longer have a lease. They asked for a copy of our marriage certificate & Chanote to prove my residence. My wife is an authorized user on my accounts. I thought we had given them those docs before, but maybe not. It wasn't a problem for me. It only took 5 min in the bank. At least they called and didn't freeze my accounts.

Just as I thought.  My home country is extremely bureaucratic (and quite xenophobic), but it would be unheard of for a bank to ask for the rental agreement of its customers.  Neither for a marriage certificate for authorized users of an account - the authorization is the important thing,  my personal relationship to the authorized person is none of the bank's business. 

 

There are no laws in Thailand requiring these things.  This is just making up ways to harass the most vulnerable customers,  foreigners. 

I smelled this attitude at BBL years ago, staff and forms were sometimes a bit off.  

I am glad I left them. After all, I am one of those criminals who dared to open an account on a visa waiver, by now I would "shiver with anticipation" of what might happen to my money. 

[SongSomSoda]

On 8/19/2025 at 11:01 AM, Hellfire said:

This is more or less what I was told to do. Just in my case I need to travel 1500 km (two ways) to my branch. Even more embarrasing is the fact that I just returned from a trip to Pattaya 2 days ago.

your life must be truly a hellfire. 

 

i opened account last year oct had nothing but my passport but i just follow the rules and fintio.  did all the face scan thing, my tax id everything my own sim card my name never blocked. i love bangkok bank even bought shares at 3,70€ recently.

 

i am german btw, they dare to block my account, we donated 100 MILLION doses of Pfizer vaccine to thailand when covid soared.  

 

where do you come from @Hellfire

[SongSomSoda]

and my thai driving license! this was VERY important for them opening a bank account, Don know why!  and my german TAX ID was also VERY important!! 

 

this face scan thing inside the branch was driving she crazy. man start 3 times again.

 

Why shoudl they block my account she and me put so much effort in, makes no sense.

 

just follow the rules and you should be fine. 

 

 

[Lorry]

7 hours ago, SongSomSoda said:

just follow the rules and you should be fine. 

 

Did it ever occur to you that this attitude explains a lot of German history? 

[topt]

8 hours ago, SongSomSoda said:

 

i am german btw, they dare to block my account, we donated 100 MILLION doses of Pfizer vaccine to thailand when covid soared

Ah, another entitled foreigner........