Does anyone have any idea whether accounts held by people who regularly visit Thailand on visa exemptions are likely to be frozen at some point?

I've had an account with SCB for the last 19 years, including a seven-year period living in Thailand with annual extensions of stay. Since then I have continued to visit Thailand a couple of times a year. I've regularly updated my details at the bank, which include my home address outside Thailand. Never had any problems so far.

Is the convenience of having a bank account in Thailand to manage expenses while visiting in jeopardy? Has anyone in a similar situation had their account frozen?

 

16 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

I said "some", not all... plenty of foreigners have these under the table visa approvals that they pay for with cash to grease the wheels... not saying you are one of them, but if you think this situation doesn't exist and no-one does it, then you are either deluded or very noob to Thailand.

And you are showing zero knowledge of why BBL introduced this "new requirement" 

Posting usual drival regarding legality of agent assisted extension irrelevant. 

Krungsri in EmQuartier. Very accommodating to foreigners on both the regular and VIP sides.

1 minute ago, Sir Dude said:

.. I know perfectly well about how stuff works here.

Then stick to topic of the OP which is not legality or otherwise of agents. 

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Great. Stick with BBL and your foreign currency account. 

For your next extension, if you use money in bank method be prepared to sign a bogus BBL form. 

Not me. 

Sorry, I don't need to sign a bogus BBL form. I have a LTR-WP visa. When I was on yearly extensions, I used my Kasikorn acct. I also have SCB FCD & THB accts. I have not had any problems with any of my banks.

 

I have had excellent servcie from Bangkok Bank. In fact, they called this past Sat, and said they were reviewing all of their foreigner's files, and they noticed I changed my address recently. They asked me to bring in a copy of my new lease. I told them I bought a new condo. They asked me to bring in the Chanote, so they could make a copy. They didn't freeze my acct. It took about 5 min in the bank. The lady was waiting for me. I call that excellent service.

12 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

Sorry, I don't need to sign a bogus BBL form. I have a LTR-WP visa.

That's great. In other words the recent introduction of requirement to sign a bogus form does not apply to holder of LTR. 

Next holder of PE visa can post same etc etc. 

Congrats on the LTR. Irrelevant to all those doing extensions that now have BBL imposing ridiculous new requirement. 

Trolling post removed

8 hours ago, Caldera said:

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.

Agree 100%. The main Thai banks work well enough, for the most part, for what we need to pay rent, buy groceries, show to immigration and other local business. But I keep my life savings far from Thailand. As the old saying goes: 'Never invest in anything in Thailand that you can't afford to one day walk away from' (or run away from).

1 minute ago, ronnie50 said:

But I keep my life savings far from Thailand

Wouldn't that go without saying. 

I mean we need funds to live off and funds for immigration requirements. 

I'm moving to using monthly transfers which can achieve both needs. 

8 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. 

Daily withdrawal limit at an ATM is 50K using Bangkok bank.

The ATM will only offer 25K max per transaction.
Just insert the card twice to withdraw 50K.

I keep over 800K baht in Krung Thai for immigration requirements, and use Kasikorn for day to day banking, bill payments, online shopping etc and to receive money via Wise.

Never had any real issues with either bank. 

On 8/26/2025 at 10:58 AM, 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?

 

I keep the vast % of my money outside of Thailand in a mix of banks and equity trading accounts. In Thailand I have multiple accounts with Bangkok bank, Krungsri,  and SCB in Thai baht and foreign currencies so to be able to live off any one bank's accounts for a short while in event others not accessible. I try hard not to put all my eggs in one basket.  This approach works for me but not everyone has the luxury of my situation.  I believe the optimal approach to adopt very much depends on each person's financial situation.

The accounts I have frozen were my Canadian accounts ( for my being a non resident to Canada) and the Canadian financial institution not having a Thai TIN from me.

On 8/26/2025 at 10:58 AM, Fabio1980 said:

Which bank do you use, and have you ever had your account freezed and why?

I sleep up the stairs of the Bangkok Bank near Soi 8. But I've never had an account.

Bangkok Bank ,both savings and fixed account, have problems in registering for

their new APP , new to me ? , I have tried to do the photo thing on the phone,

will not work for me at least 50 tries , even went to bank ,still not working ,OK

for guy in the bank , my daughter ,wife OK , not me !

 

It says " face covering detected , Open up your face " what the xxxx does that mean 

in frustration I even cut my beard off ,still not work , guy in bank says buy an iPhone,

SCB no problems , only problem with them ,they have closed the local branch and I

have to go further to do business there 

 

regards Worgeordie 

10 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

It says " face covering detected , Open up your face " what the xxxx does that mean 

You need more light for recognition.
Hold the phone above your head under a light.

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Wouldn't that go without saying. 

Yes, it should. But it's always an eye opener how many foreigners get sucked into buying a condo here when it costs most of their savings. They assume (I guess) that they will make it their home forever, without due regard for what limited financial resources they have left after the purchase, and whether that and a meagre state pension income will suffice for their remaining 10-25 years of life.

 

Having said that, many foreigners living here have significant resources and more than enough to buy a place for their primary residence here and maybe buy other smaller places to rent out - I know a few people like that. Maybe they also still have property in their home country. So I guess it depends on the individual, their personal wealth position (or lack of), their financial awareness, and their ability to think ahead.

1 hour ago, Liquorice said:

You need more light for recognition.
Hold the phone above your head under a light.

Yes, done all that even out in sunshine , 

 

regards worgeordie

On 8/26/2025 at 8:29 AM, PPGuy said:

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.

 

Be careful with this.  Within the last few days something seems to have changed with Wise transfers looking to satisfy immigration requirements.  Thread regarding it here:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1371522-65000-income-problem-with-wise/

 

and if you currently set up a transfer it shows arrival in seconds despite the reason being selected being long stay.

 

 

On 8/26/2025 at 2:43 PM, proton said:

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

 

Similar to my banking history. I have had accounts with four different banks but only opened an account with one of them

 

I have only opened one account. It was on a 30 day visa exempt entry.

 

2001 - Opened account with Bangkok Metropolitan Bank

2003 - Account transferred to Siam City due to takeover

2011 - Account transferred to Thanachart Bank due to takeover

2021 - Account transferred to TMBThanachart Bank due to merger