I always read (or maybe I missed the other topics) about problems involving Bangkok Bank. But what about other banks? Has anyone had their account frozen? With which bank? Thanks.

It's many banks, although BBL seems most predominant and is seemingly being more onerous with account restrictions.

 

Dig around and you'll find reports.

I've heard similar things about accounts being frozen/locked at KBank and UOB. Many banks are probably doing it to some degree now if your cell phone number on the account isn't registered in your own name or if your personal information and documents on file with them aren't fully in order and up to date. 

It's unfortunate that reports about "frozen accounts" often don't have enough details to determine the reason and scope (app only, or the account as a whole).

 

There are at least four distinct reasons, and two of them seem to be specific to Bangkok Bank:

 

1) SIM card ownership vs. account ownership mismatch. Affects all banks, should affect the app only, not the account as such. 

 

2) Police order to freeze an account for suspected illegal activities. Affects all banks.

 

3) The infamous 4-months freeze of funds used for an extension, that only Bangkok Bank imposes in return for issuing a letter for immigration.

 

4) The infamous "document verification" account freezes Bangkok Bank did or does, especially if an account was opened recently by a tourist and/or in Pattaya.

3 hours ago, Caldera said:

1) SIM card ownership vs. account ownership mismatch. Affects all banks, should affect the app only, not the account as such. 

yeah.. this happened to me today at SCB bank.  I went in while getting my phone fixed (dropped it😢 ) to show them my new passport.  I also asked to set up facial recognition but couldn't do that task without having my phone!  She said I needed to bring in a 'receipt' showing I am the owner of the phone number listed on my account.  I asked if a monthly bill would be sufficient and she said yes.... but it needed my passport number ?? on it.  I replied that I was sure my passport number does not appear on my phone bill and then she stated that just as long as the account name matched it should be sufficient.  I'm on a prepaid plan so I can print off a copy of my bill.😓

 

Sheesh!  many signed copies of every possible document and 45 minutes.... passport # updated on both accounts!  

14 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

I also asked to set up facial recognition but couldn't do that task without having my phone! 

I did mine yesterday (facial rec that is) and I think the only reason you needed the phone was because an OTP gets sent. I say that as the phone I had with me doesn't have my banking app on it............

I didn't need any other docs other than passport and was done in less than 10 minutes.

3 hours ago, topt said:

I did mine yesterday (facial rec that is) and I think the only reason you needed the phone was because an OTP gets sent. I say that as the phone I had with me doesn't have my banking app on it............

I didn't need any other docs other than passport and was done in less than 10 minutes.

yeah... most of my paperwork was due to the passport change.... it turns out that yesterday's SCB worker messed up... today I went back in to the same SCB branch to do the facial portion and they found out my account still showed the old PP info.... another ream of paper wasted today

On 10/2/2025 at 5:34 PM, gamb00ler said:

yeah... most of my paperwork was due to the passport change.... it turns out that yesterday's SCB worker messed up... today I went back in to the same SCB branch to do the facial portion and they found out my account still showed the old PP info.... another ream of paper wasted today

Maybe you went back to early, for me when I changed PP number last time if took them 5 working days to upgrade the system with the new number.

On 10/1/2025 at 6:46 PM, Caldera said:

It's unfortunate that reports about "frozen accounts" often don't have enough details to determine the reason and scope (app only, or the account as a whole).

 

There are at least four distinct reasons, and two of them seem to be specific to Bangkok Bank:

 

1) SIM card ownership vs. account ownership mismatch. Affects all banks, should affect the app only, not the account as such. 

 

2) Police order to freeze an account for suspected illegal activities. Affects all banks.

 

3) The infamous 4-months freeze of funds used for an extension, that only Bangkok Bank imposes in return for issuing a letter for immigration.

 

4) The infamous "document verification" account freezes Bangkok Bank did or does, especially if an account was opened recently by a tourist and/or in Pattaya.

Your point 3 mentions a 4 month freeze of funds.  That may be at certain locations.  At my Bangkok Bank branch here in Chiang Rai I specifically asked about this and was told 3 months

On 10/1/2025 at 9:33 AM, FriscoKid said:

I've heard similar things about accounts being frozen/locked at KBank and UOB. Many banks are probably doing it to some degree now if your cell phone number on the account isn't registered in your own name or if your personal information and documents on file with them aren't fully in order and up to date. 

Where in the civilized world can things like this happen ? Is something changes in the rules etc of a bank, customers are notified well in advance, minimum 6 months. I’ve heard horror stories over the last few months from Phuket to Chiang Mai. Disgusting.

46 minutes ago, geisha said:

I’ve heard horror stories over the last few months from Phuket to Chiang Mai.

A CM branch of BBL that I go to has posted that nasty letter about locking up the funds for 4 months if you want to get the account verification letter.... Mae Hia branch.... bye bye BBL... you're now merely one of my backup banks!

On 10/1/2025 at 6:46 PM, Caldera said:

It's unfortunate that reports about "frozen accounts" often don't have enough details to determine the reason and scope (app only, or the account as a whole).

 

There are at least four distinct reasons, and two of them seem to be specific to Bangkok Bank:

 

1) SIM card ownership vs. account ownership mismatch. Affects all banks, should affect the app only, not the account as such. 

 

2) Police order to freeze an account for suspected illegal activities. Affects all banks.

 

3) The infamous 4-months freeze of funds used for an extension, that only Bangkok Bank imposes in return for issuing a letter for immigration.

 

4) The infamous "document verification" account freezes Bangkok Bank did or does, especially if an account was opened recently by a tourist and/or in Pattaya.

14 years of Non Immigrant O, with funds at Bangkok Bank ... never an issue, and NEVER the hint of "3) The infamous 4-months freeze of funds used for an extension, that only Bangkok Bank imposes in return for issuing a letter for immigration."  Frankly, this sounds like pure BS.

On 10/1/2025 at 2:28 PM, Mika78 said:

I always read (or maybe I missed the other topics) about problems involving Bangkok Bank. But what about other banks? Has anyone had their account frozen? With which bank? Thanks.

Bangkok Bank for me.
Local branches in Kanchanaburi would NOT unfreeze it, they told me i had to go to the branch I opened it at.
Got to Pattaya, lease, PP, Bank book, utility bill. They made copies of everything, had me sign a few things and then told me it would start working @1800
Then she says, you didn't have to come here, they could have done this at any branch.

Sounds like my branches didn't want to fix someone elses problem.  Just a guess.

@1801 it was working

.

On 10/1/2025 at 2:33 PM, FriscoKid said:

I've heard similar things about accounts being frozen/locked at KBank and UOB. Many banks are probably doing it to some degree now if your cell phone number on the account isn't registered in your own name or if your personal information and documents on file with them aren't fully in order and up to date. 

Actually the account is not frozen with KBank in this circumstance, only the Mobile APP is locked since the bank and mobile carrier's data are not the same. Happened to me at KBank, my mobile carrier passport was an old passport and my KBank account was my latest passport. While the APP on my mobile was locked, I was still able to make transactions with my debit card and withdraw via ATM. 

Went to the mobile carrier and updated my passport, they gave me a print out of the updated information and took it to KBANK whom then processed some paperwork and after a day or two my KBANK APP started working again on my mobile.

hi anyone know if i will still be able to  withdraw cash with my Bangkok Bank debit card if account gets frozen,(all which i am guessing will happen  when i return to  Pattaya for 1 month holiday ,as  will be only on VOR visa  on return from uk (after 2 years) and after selling condo , so no fixed address for Bank now either.......and will they ask me to update/confirm my old original details  the first time i go to the counter to update book or try to withdraw in person..thanks for any advice

28 minutes ago, daytraderuk99 said:

hi anyone know if i will still be able to  withdraw cash with my Bangkok Bank debit card if account gets frozen,(all which i am guessing will happen  when i return to  Pattaya for 1 month holiday ,as  will be only on VOR visa  on return from uk (after 2 years) and after selling condo , so no fixed address for Bank now either.......and will they ask me to update/confirm my old original details  the first time i go to the counter to update book or try to withdraw in person..thanks for any advice

You shouldn't have a problem. Expiry date on card? Why do you need to update bank book? Avoid going into the bank unless you really need to. Enjoy your holiday!