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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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. 

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.

BBL as required at the time.  Think I've had an account at most at one time or another.

SCB no issues.

I use Bangkok Bank and have never had any problems.

As long you are up to date and also in later time visited your bank with all your updated information you should be fine. But you need a phone number in your name to have the app, and also show a valid visa for legal stay

6 minutes ago, Hummin said:

 show a valid visa for legal stay

Never understand what the visa status has to do with the bank account. 

Don't use Bangkok Bank !

Have had my BB account for about 10 years. Only use it for transferring the monthly 65k from UK for Immigration purposes. Now use Wise and these arrive, like clockwork, around 2pm on next working day, or same day if sent prior to 9am. A few years back there was a problem with international transfers from Wise but soon resolved. Only recent issue was setting up facial recognition which needed a visit to my branch. 

 

Also have SCB account, this for over 30 years. Use for expenses plus additional transfers from UK. Wise transfers take seconds, working day or not. Never a problem.

 

More than happy with both BB and SCB.

26 minutes ago, Fabio1980 said:

Never understand what the visa status has to do with the bank account. 

If you are a short therm visitor with no or short therm Visa you are not allowed to have a Bank Account. This is not  only in Thailand, it is in other Countries as well.

Had BB since 2016, no issues at all.

 

The recent decision by BB that threatening to freeze your account if you don’t have the 400/800 k in your account for 4 months previous to extension application is worrying.

Others also don’t like having to wait a few days for their 12 month statement.

 

As i said i have had no problems but if required to open another account would probably choose a different bank.

27 minutes ago, Fabio1980 said:

Never understand what the visa status has to do with the bank account. 

If you do not have EU security number and move out from EU or do not have valid visa, you will lose your bank accounts, so no difference from Eu

 

 

Siam city, closed, Tanachart, taken over, Krungsri for now

I never had any problems with Bangkok Bank, SCB, Kasikorn or UOB. Of course, I keep my personal information up-to-date whenever something changes. For example; passport, visa status, address and phone number. I use Bangkok Bank as my primary because they still have web-based banking, and I can convert from my USD acct to THB acct without having to go into the bank, the min. incoming wire fee is only 200 Baht, and I was able to add my wife as an authorized user on my accts in case of my absence.

3 hours ago, Fabio1980 said:

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?

Bangkok Bank... and my account has never been frozen.

Krungsri... and my account has never been frozen.

UOB... and my account has never been frozen.

KTB... and my account has never been frozen.

Kasikorn... and my account has never been frozen.

3 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

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. 

Bangkok Bank does not "limit ATM withdrawals to B20,000".  An ATM may limit each withdrawal to B20k but they do not limit it to one transaction.

3 hours ago, Caldera said:

Thai banks are ... a law to themselves

B0llocks.

Had a joint acct with BB since 2005, then the immigration indicated that they wanted an account soley in my name, so did that, at the same time they indicated they needed other personal information for the FATCA reporting so I had no problem with that and understood why they needed that info.  I have never had my acct closed or suspended for any reason, used the letter for income until Embassy stopped doing that and then I did the monthly deposit.  Never any problem with the documentation needed for immigration extension of stay.  Actually, all things considered, life here has gotten easier to stay.  Not sure what if anything will change by 2027 as that might depend on Friday.

 

56 minutes ago, Fabio1980 said:

Never understand what the visa status has to do with the bank account. 

Gawd... Why should illegals have access to domestic banking facilities?

52 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

Don't use Bangkok Bank !

Why?  It is apparent from this thread alone that everyone disagrees with that daft advice in isolation.

13 minutes ago, Presnock said:

Had a joint acct with BB since 2005, then the immigration indicated that they wanted an account soley in my name, so did that, at the same time they indicated they needed other personal information for the FATCA reporting so I had no problem with that and understood why they needed that info.  I have never had my acct closed or suspended for any reason, used the letter for income until Embassy stopped doing that and then I did the monthly deposit.  Never any problem with the documentation needed for immigration extension of stay.  Actually, all things considered, life here has gotten easier to stay.  Not sure what if anything will change by 2027 as that might depend on Friday.

 

 

Wait…what happens on Friday?

22 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Bangkok Bank... and my account has never been frozen.

Krungsri... and my account has never been frozen.

UOB... and my account has never been frozen.

KTB... and my account has never been frozen.

Kasikorn... and my account has never been frozen.

Wow, there are some weirdos here, my personal, factual experience, not opinion, of Thai banks in response to the OP's question gets "Thumbs downs"?

7 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Wow, there are some weirdos here, my personal, factual experience, not opinion, of Thai banks in response to the OP's question gets "Thumbs downs"?

 

Some weirdos here even quote their own posts.

1 hour ago, Fabio1980 said:

Never understand what the visa status has to do with the bank account. 

Could say same for TDL but it does. 

Back to the thread. Avoid BBL. 

Recent actions have shown not a credible bank (IMO) 

Other options fine. 

I like Kasikorn

Kasikorn and Krungsri work fine for me