Which bank do you use?

[Fabio1980]

I read that many people are having problems with Bangkok Bank. Which bank do you use, and have you ever had your account freezed and why?

[brewsterbudgen]

I've used Bangkok Bank for 20 years.  Apart from the hassle of confirming my details for online banking and dealing with face scanning for lareg transactions, I've never had any issues with any of my accounts.

[Fabio1980]

9 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I've used Bangkok Bank for 20 years.  Apart from the hassle of confirming my details for online banking and dealing with face scanning for lareg transactions, I've never had any issues with any of my accounts.

I think many people have encountered problems depending on the type of visa they used to open their bank account and how long they opened it. But I could be wrong.

[KhunBENQ]

Bangkok Bank accounts (savings and fixed) in sole name since about 14 years.

(before that joint account with wife)

Kasikorn since 2009. Opened on visa exempt at the time.

Had SCB for about 10 years

 Closed recently due to their incompetence about facial recognition.

 

Problems?

Never anything blocked/lost.

 

Now using Bangkok Bank mainly for transfer from abroad, ATM withdrawals and transfer to Kasikorn.

Few transactions on the statement makes it easier to use at immigration.

Kasikorn for day to day payments/bills etc.

[scubascuba3]

Bangkok Bank have been fine, i initially used it for a retirement extension, small balance now, not received any account frozen messages.  5 years

 

Krungsri been fine also, use for retirement cash. 4 years

 

Kasikorn, fine, used for day to day living expenses. 10 years.

 

Problems seem to be with more recently opened accounts.

 

Moral to the story, have 3+ bank accounts

[Patong2021]

Initially relied on SCB since it is correspondent bank to my anchor home bank. This changed to Bangkok Bank a few years ago and I have few issues. My credit cards rely on the  Bangkok Bank verification authorization and it usually goes well. However, I prefer Krungsri or TMB for ATM withdrawals as I can take 30,000 baht, v. Bangkok Bank which can limit me to 20,000 baht. 

[Caldera]

I've been using Bangkok Bank since 2004, Kasikorn Bank and Krungsri since 2007. All accounts opened on visa exempt initially, by the way.

 

I've never had a major issue with any of them, but I think the time when banking in Thailand was a joy is well and truly over with the new regulations and the banks' interpretations thereof that we've been seeing since last year.

 

I'll keep using those three banks for the time being, but Bangkok Bank's recent shenanigans served as a reminder that Thai banks are best used for day-to-day spending within Thailand, not to keep your life savings. They are a law to themselves, and I wouldn't rate my chances fighting their nonsense in court if that ever became necessary.