Mobile banking customers will need to prove ownership of number used

Users of mobile banking services, who are notified by their banks that their names do not match the name of the owner of the SIM card in their smartphone which is registered with the bank, are to be required to contact their banks to correct the issue by April 30th, or their mobile banking services will be suspended.

 

This measure became effective today. It is aimed at curbing the use of “mule” bank accounts by online scammers.

This new measure is not to be applied, however, to phone numbers registered by government agencies, private companies or organisations for use by their staff, phone numbers used by family members or phone numbers used by the disabled.

Family members will, though, be required to show official documents to prove that they are members of the same family

https://world.thaipbs.or.th/detail/mobile-banking-customers-will-need-to-prove-ownership-of-number-used/56384

 

 

 

Checks underway on 700,000 Thai mobile phone numbers of foreigners

Only numbers registered since Jan 1, 2022 affected; banks will contact users for verification

 

Authorities will verify the names of foreign subscribers of 700,000 mobile phone numbers before deciding whether to terminate their mobile banking services in Thailand in June, according to the minister of digital economy and society (DES).

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3012266/checks-underway-on-700-000-thai-mobile-phone-numbers-of-foreigners

 

 

6 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

A friend of mine had his long-standing BBL account frozen for a couple of weeks.

What visa is he/she on and is his phone number SIM card linked to his bank account registered in his name being the same name as his bank account?

47 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

What visa is he/she on and is his phone number SIM card linked to his bank account registered in his name being the same name as his bank account?

 

I stand corrected, it was locked for four weeks and the account was about 2 years old, opened personally at the Beach Road branch in Pattaya to support a personally filed, properly funded, no agent retirement extension. No idea about passport and mobile phone registration. I don't recall when they started doing the passport/visa checks. The mobile phone/selfie stuff is relatively new.

NO Vote for me, wasn’t a choice, so I made my own.

I'm glad I never opened a bank account here. My Usa bank has been working for over a decade living abroad.

 

I remember people telling me how crazy I was to not have a local bank account. I always said why, all I need is cash.

 

I tried it once in pattaya and got the worst employee ever, just a total bit@h. I walked out and figured they don't deserve any deposit and never tried again. Imagine trying to withdraw money and having to deal with someone like her.

 

If my Usa account ever has problems on residency I'll just open an international account at the same bank, problem solved.

3 minutes ago, Mark1969 said:

I'm glad I never opened a bank account here. My Usa bank has been working for over a decade living abroad.

Do you live here in Thailand? If so what kind of a visa or extension are you on?

3 minutes ago, marin said:

Do you live here in Thailand? If so what kind of a visa or extension are you on?

Dtv, O-A.

7 hours ago, vinny41 said:

Mobile banking customers will need to prove ownership of number used

Users of mobile banking services, who are notified by their banks that their names do not match the name of the owner of the SIM card in their smartphone which is registered with the bank, are to be required to contact their banks to correct the issue by April 30th, or their mobile banking services will be suspended.

 

This measure became effective today. It is aimed at curbing the use of “mule” bank accounts by online scammers.

This new measure is not to be applied, however, to phone numbers registered by government agencies, private companies or organisations for use by their staff, phone numbers used by family members or phone numbers used by the disabled.

Family members will, though, be required to show official documents to prove that they are members of the same family

https://world.thaipbs.or.th/detail/mobile-banking-customers-will-need-to-prove-ownership-of-number-used/56384

 

 

It is nearly the end of September and my BBL account is still operational, my sim is not registered in my name. Not sure if these checks are implemented nationally by the head offices or the branches themselves, the people in the branch know me personally.

7 hours ago, vinny41 said:

Mobile banking customers will need to prove ownership of number used

Users of mobile banking services, who are notified by their banks that their names do not match the name of the owner of the SIM card in their smartphone which is registered with the bank, are to be required to contact their banks to correct the issue by April 30th, or their mobile banking services will be suspended.

 

This measure became effective today. It is aimed at curbing the use of “mule” bank accounts by online scammers.

This new measure is not to be applied, however, to phone numbers registered by government agencies, private companies or organisations for use by their staff, phone numbers used by family members or phone numbers used by the disabled.

Family members will, though, be required to show official documents to prove that they are members of the same family

https://world.thaipbs.or.th/detail/mobile-banking-customers-will-need-to-prove-ownership-of-number-used/56384

 

 

I had this message in my Bkk Bank app ,a  small screenshot referring to the number. 

I went to the bank recently,i was instructed to go to the sim card carrier to get a letter with the name registered to the card. I brought the letter back to the Bank for them to record on their records. All in all it was a simple procedure.

 

Originally the sim card carrier had my GF name ,who is my wife now. They changed it accordingly to meet the bank latest  issues.

Silly but true. My BBK called me and asked me to bring in the House Book. I did and they returned it right away. The office had my enrollment documetation and was auditing. The issue was that they thought my Certificate of Residency was not on file. The audit package has the photo of a TM16 icon collored red and they went searching hoping to find the icon in the files.

They told me it needed to be there

I went and had another one at the expedited fee of 500 B.

I presented that and they said it was not the red icon.

Frustrated I left and called the compaint line. The bank manager was put on the phone who quickly pointed out she was aware of the situation

So I said to her go to the internet and ask to see the actual TM16

 

No appology but the issued was solved. 

 

 

1 hour ago, gearbox said:

It is nearly the end of September and my BBL account is still operational, my sim is not registered in my name. Not sure if these checks are implemented nationally by the head offices or the branches themselves, the people in the branch know me personally.

As the instructions to Banks to perform these checks came from the Bank of Thailand I assume these checks would be carried out by the head office

According the Bangkok Post article it only applies to Foreigners where the sim has been registered from 2022 onwards and use mobile banking services

On 9/26/2025 at 3:17 PM, simon43 said:

I'm mainly using my Lao bank, UK bank accounts and $$ under the bed in Myanmar....

 

Would be nice to hear about your experiences with banking in Laos. Best in another topic though. 

On 9/26/2025 at 10:11 AM, bbi1 said:

It all apparently started with some Bangkok Bank employees opening up many accounts for some Chinese people who ended up defrauding some people, running those funds though those accounts and withdrawing those funds then fleeing back to China. Since then there's been a crackdown on foreigners who hold bank accounts, with many foreigners getting their accounts closed down. Not sure if it's only a Bangkok Bank thing and/or only accounts opened in Pattaya?

I just had 400k frozen in my BKB account for 4 months after getting an immigration letter.

Apparently it's because BKB are so corrupt immigration now don't trust their letters or statements without them agreeing to freeze the funds.

 

Apparently not a problem with other banks as they weren't so corrupt.

My debit card stopped working a few days ago, my bank (BKB) is in Pattaya, I'm not.
Went into the local branch here and I was told I need to take my documents back the the branch in Pattaya and give them to the bank and the will unfreeze the account thats 11 months old

No, and I have two bank accounts. One with Bangkok Bank and the other with Krungsri Bank. Both accounts are in banks in Phetchabun. 

On 9/28/2025 at 1:27 PM, Mark1969 said:

I'm glad I never opened a bank account here. My Usa bank has been working for over a decade living abroad.

 

I remember people telling me how crazy I was to not have a local bank account. I always said why, all I need is cash.

 

I tried it once in pattaya and got the worst employee ever, just a total bit@h. I walked out and figured they don't deserve any deposit and never tried again. Imagine trying to withdraw money and having to deal with someone like her.

 

If my Usa account ever has problems on residency I'll just open an international account at the same bank, problem solved.

 

The problem is some people need a Thai bank account to get a visa extension. I wouldn't have a Thai account if not for that requirement

Chiang Mi, Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn Bank Accounts for 14 years. Currently being asked to supply additional information to Bangkok Bank to update valid immigration status. I view the current Thai bank actions as carrying out the government cracking down on scam accounts and other foreign accounts held for getting around international money movement. Not an issue to supply info for me. Sabai, sabai …

On 9/26/2025 at 10:40 AM, FolkGuitar said:

If you opened your bank account years ago when on a tourist visa, your account will be frozen until you provide the bank with an updated, non-tourist type visa.

If your mobile phone app is on a phone whose SIM card was bought under a name different (Bob instead of Robert, Ed rather than Edward) from your Passport name (your visa name). In that case, your account will be frozen until you first go to your phone provider, change the name to match your passport, get a letter from the SIM provider, and take that to the bank to unlock your account.

A pain in the butt, but collars and cuffs have to match.

not true in my case (Kbank), opened on a tourist visa, to date nothing has happened nor have they asked me for anything, so i guess it "depends" (on what I have no idea)

2 hours ago, Quack said:

The problem is some people need a Thai bank account to get a visa extension. I wouldn't have a Thai account if not for that requirement

Change your visa. Do an O-A or the DTV.

47 minutes ago, Thjames said:

not true in my case (Kbank), opened on a tourist visa, to date nothing has happened nor have they asked me for anything, so i guess it "depends" (on what I have no idea)

Perhaps the important words are ‘to date.’ If it were me, I’d certainly check with my bank first so there are no surprises. It’s embarrassing to not be able to pay the dinner bill when it arrives.