6 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That is not true. Every time a passport is submitted and copied, for whatever reason, the bank staff check and copy the visa/extemsion page also. If the visa/extension has expired, service will be denied.

Last week I went over to Thailand from Laos to do the face scan at Kasikorn. I saw quite clearly that they did not check for a long-term visa/extension. I no longer have any type of Thai visa and service was not denied. They asked a few questions to update their system and were fine with me living in Laos. My wife (Lao) did the face scan and was also able to get a new debit card without any problem. My own experience but, of course, another branch, another day and who knows.

BBL notified me about a month ago that my debit card will expire at the end of this month. As I was in BKK today I decided to pop into their HQ on Silom Rd and get a new card.

After presenting my card and bank book to the clerk and asking for a new card, the clerk requested my passport which she promptly took to the photocopier. I noticed that she appeared to look closely at my extension pages. Upon her return she gave me the photocopy and asked me to sign it. The page contained a copy of my passport biograhical page and a copy of my last extension (Non O based on retirement).

After signing several other forms and entering my card PIN, the clerk gave my my new card.

Before leaving I asked her, if l only had a tourist visa in my passport would she have issued me with a replacement card ? Her answer was a catagorical no. She said that BBL had changed its rules last year concerning issuing accounts and cards to tourists, in line with the Bank of Thailands directions.

11 hours ago, mlkik said:

12 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Valid points - given the ease digital payments (PromtPay / QR codes etc), I can't remember the last time I actually withdrew Thai cash from an ATM - its been at least 6 months.

Thus: In the Ops shoes - IF he has concerns - does he really need a card at all ???

Yes I need a card to withdraw cash.

A card is not essential for a cash withdrawal.

Obviously a card is more convenient as you can withdraw cash at any bank ATM.

You can make 'card-less' withdrawals via at your Bank ATM - you need to be running your Bank App on your phone.

Thus: the question begs - do you have the Bank app installed in your phone (and is it functioning) ?

11 hours ago, mlkik said:

I will be entering visa exempt and don't have a Pink card or yellow tabien baan.

I provided my example using the Pink Card to highlight that the Bank are checking ID not your visa status when you show your Passport / ID for an over-counter transaction (when it was already registered to my account).

I also provided an example where I had used an expired passport as a form of ID (this was rejected at one branch, accepted at another).

The Bank are interested in matching your ID to your account - thats all.

On 1/5/2026 at 5:48 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

On 1/5/2026 at 10:02 AM, richard_smith237 said:

The Bank just want to 'tie your ID' to you and your account, thats all

I don't think that you know that to be factual.

Anecdotal I know - I have not had Bank's check my Visa status (as exampled) when showing ID.

9 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

I know that to be factual -

No, you do not, you're speculating about the bank's reason in this case.

I know it to be factual that at least a year ago, banks I've used (SCB, KTB, BKK Bank) do not check visa status on the over counter transactions I have made.

Another poster has also stated the same.

The realities are, each branch, and even individual staff in each branch may behave differently as some regulations are applied, understood with each branch managers and individuals interpretation.

In MY experience - Visa status is not a concern of the Banks except for when opening the account.

1 hour ago, 007 RED said:

Before leaving I asked her, if l only had a tourist visa in my passport would she have issued me with a replacement card ? Her answer was a catagorical no. She said that BBL had changed its rules last year concerning issuing accounts and cards to tourists, in line with the Bank of Thailands directions.

Thats good information - there may have been additional restrictions placed on Banks.

The 'key' point is - would they close or suspend the account if your visa status has changed to a visa exempt ?... I can't say for sure - but I don't think so.

If the Op has significant he has many options without having to visit a branch.

- Request a new card through his mobile App.

- Use Mobile Transactions for Payments (PromptPay QR code).

- Use Cardless withdrawals at his branch ATM to get cash.

In the Ops shoes - I'd simply visit the Branch, ask for a new card - see what happens.

Some people in this thread - they're not going to close his account due to an altered visa status that they may or may not check.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

The Bank just want to 'tie your ID' to you and your account, thats all

I don't think that you know that to be factual.

Anecdotal I know - I have not had Bank's check my Visa status (as exampled) when showing ID.

If you present your passport, which is then usually photocopied, the staff check it and they also check your visa status, even though they do not announce that. How can you say that your bank has not done that?

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

I provided my example using the Pink Card to highlight that the Bank are checking ID not your visa status when you show your Passport / ID for an over-counter transaction

You provided your example to falsely claim that the Bank "are checking ID not your visa status when you show your Passport / ID for an over-counter transaction". They do check visa status, how can you claim that they did not look at it?

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thats good information - there may have been additional restrictions placed on Banks.

The 'key' point is - would they close or suspend the account if your visa status has changed to a visa exempt ?... I can't say for sure - but I don't think so.

If the Op has significant he has many options without having to visit a branch.

- Request a new card through his mobile App.

- Use Mobile Transactions for Payments (PromptPay QR code).

- Use Cardless withdrawals at his branch ATM to get cash.

Regrettably for the OP your first suggestion (Request a new card through Mobile App) is a no goer.

There is an option in the Mobile App to request a new debit card e.g From the Home page click down:  More Services – Card Management – Manage Debit Card – Request Replacement Card.

If you get that far, a pop-up message appears as follows:

Unable to proceed.  This service is not available for foreign customers.  To request replacement debit card, please visit bank branch (RE03).

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

In the Ops shoes - I'd simply visit the Branch, ask for a new card - see what happens.

Some people in this thread - they're not going to close his account due to an altered visa status that they may or may not check.

Would you really take the risk of going to the bank with a tourist visa in your passport and asking them for a new debit card?

As you are no doubt aware BBL has imposed a number of unique rules recently, that other major banks have not, for example:  Locking some customer’s funds for 4 months when they have requested a bank letter confirming their account in order to support renewal of Non-O based on marriage.

Personally, I would not risk requesting a new card if I only had a tourist visa in my passport.  You can bet your bottom dollar that BBL will active Murphy’s Law and then you could well be up the creek without a paddle.

Something else to possibly consider, although he has not mentioned it, he OP might have his 400K funds in that account in order to support his Non O Marriage application. If BBL locked/closed that account, he would be well and truly shafted.

The OPs best option, if he is able to do so, is to use the other suggested alternatives and wait for a couple of months until he gets his Non-O stamp in his passport before requesting a new debit card.

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

If the Op has significant he has many options without having to visit a branch.

- Request a new card through his mobile App.

- Use Mobile Transactions for Payments (PromptPay QR code).

- Use Cardless withdrawals at his branch ATM to get cash.

As mentioned in an earlier post of mine , I use online banking via the Bangkok Bank website.

I do not have the App. I downloaded the App a couple of days ago and when I had entered my account details and passport details a message appeard to visit the branch as my details needed updating and confirming in the branch.

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

If the Op has significant he has many options without having to visit a branch.

- Request a new card through his mobile App.

- Use Mobile Transactions for Payments (PromptPay QR code).

- Use Cardless withdrawals at his branch ATM to get cash.

He doesn't have the required app. Or at least it won't work until he goes to the bank to verify himself😅

1 minute ago, mlkik said:

As mentioned in an earlier post of mine , I use online banking via the Bangkok Bank website.

I do not have the App. I downloaded the App a couple of days ago and when I had entered my account details and passport details a message appeard to visit the branch as my details needed updating and confirming in the branch.

Ahh (I missed that)... and you will need a card and ATM access to activate your Mobile Banking App with Bangkok Bank.

The bank are not going to freeze your account - the 'worst' that could happen is that that they reject your request for a new card - but thats unlikely to happen - your passport is valid.

17 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Ahh (I missed that)... and you will need a card and ATM access to activate your Mobile Banking App with Bangkok Bank.

The bank are not going to freeze your account - the 'worst' that could happen is that that they reject your request for a new card - but thats unlikely to happen - your passport is valid.

I hope that is the case as I have read many reports of people not having a Non O visa or extension being told their visa status no longer satisfies Thai banking rules.

Maybe I will get the mrs to ask in the Kumphawa branch if I can get a new card on visa exempt.

26 minutes ago, mlkik said:

I hope that is the case as I have read many reports of people not having a Non O visa or extension being told their visa status no longer satisfies Thai banking rules.

Maybe I will get the mrs to ask in the Kumphawa branch if I can get a new card on visa exempt.

Thats correct - it no longer satisfies Banking rules for 'new applicants'.

I've not read anywhere of people having existing accounts frozen because they are here on a visa exempt.

IMO - this one is being over-thought - the Bank will either give you a new card or they won't - thats about it.

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thats correct - it no longer satisfies Banking rules for 'new applicants'.

I've not read anywhere of people having existing accounts frozen because they are here on a visa exempt.

IMO - this one is being over-thought - the Bank will either give you a new card or they won't - thats about it.

As mentioned above, my Lao wife was issued with a new card even though she no longer has a Thai visa (not BBL though).

In my case, they definitely did not even look for a visa as they would have been wading through pages of stamps looking for something current (takes immigration officers a while). They simply checked the passport details with the information on their own system.

I don't know exactly what is shown on their screen but I got the impression from questions they asked that they were probably looking at transaction records or a summary. Interesting if that is something they're being trained to do.

They mentioned I'm not working for my Thai employer any more and I said I'd retired (the Thai SSO pension goes into that account). They would have seen some Lazada and Shopee payments, a monthly subscription, the odd small transaction in and out to Thai accounts.

It's a longstanding account of 20+ years, no suspicious activity, identity confirmed. The issue of living outside the country and not having a Thai visa didn't appear to raise any red flags.

2 minutes ago, KhaoNiaw said:

As mentioned above, my Lao wife was issued with a new card even though she no longer has a Thai visa (not BBL though).

In my case, they definitely did not even look for a visa as they would have been wading through pages of stamps looking for something current (takes immigration officers a while). They simply checked the passport details with the information on their own system.

I don't know exactly what is shown on their screen but I got the impression from questions they asked that they were probably looking at transaction records or a summary. Interesting if that is something they're being trained to do.

They mentioned I'm not working for my Thai employer any more and I said I'd retired (the Thai SSO pension goes into that account). They would have seen some Lazada and Shopee payments, a monthly subscription, the odd small transaction in and out to Thai accounts.

It's a longstanding account of 20+ years, no suspicious activity, identity confirmed. The issue of living outside the country and not having a Thai visa didn't appear to raise any red flags.

I'm not even really sure why this is a question in the first place...

There has never been any news of a story or comments on here of a bank closing someones account due to visa status.

47 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I'm not even really sure why this is a question in the first place...

There has never been any news of a story or comments on here of a bank closing someones account due to visa status.

I've seen many report the exact opposite, so I'm not sure where your information, or lack thereof, is coming from. It has mostly affected people with DTV, but a tourist is a tourist.

5 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

I've seen many report the exact opposite, so I'm not sure where your information, or lack thereof, is coming from. It has mostly affected people with DTV, but a tourist is a tourist.

You have seen reports that Bank Accounts have been frozen because someone has changed their visa type to a visa exempt or tourist visa ?

I'm surprised I've never seen any such information in that case which I may well have missed - I've never heard of this but you seem quite confident that this has occurred any links (other than Hellfire's thread - which was more about seasoning money).

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

You have seen reports that Bank Accounts have been frozen because someone has changed their visa type to a visa exempt or tourist visa ?

I'm surprised I've never seen any such information in that case which I may well have missed - I've never heard of this but you seem quite confident that this has occurred any links (other than Hellfire's thread - which was more about seasoning money).

Yes. Some people were able to talk their way out of it, by showing proof of marriage to a Thai, or proof of condo ownership. But others were not.

2 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

Yes. Some people were able to talk their way out of it, by showing proof of marriage to a Thai, or proof of condo ownership. But others were not.

In which case I now understand the Ops concern.

IF the bank were to 'freeze' his account - he could still access his money with proof of ID, its not as if he'd lose is money. Then when he has his retirement visa he could 'un-freeze' his account - although that would be an irritation.

Either way - the money is still accessible - but if its being used to 'season' money for a retirement visa - then thats another facet.

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

In which case I now understand the Ops concern.

IF the bank were to 'freeze' his account - he could still access his money with proof of ID, its not as if he'd lose is money. Then when he has his retirement visa he could 'un-freeze' his account - although that would be an irritation.

Either way - the money is still accessible - but if its being used to 'season' money for a retirement visa - then thats another facet.

If the account is frozen then there is no accessing the funds. Not going to happen.

5 minutes ago, novacova said:

If the account is frozen then there is no accessing the funds. Not going to happen.

Not true - there is a process to access the funds (same day to 3 working days) with passport and bank book (if the account has not been frozen for suspicion of fraudulent activity).

Your implication is the bank would hold on to the money indefinitely - which is rubbish.

11 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Not true - there is a process to access the funds (same day to 3 working days) with passport and bank book (if the account has not been frozen for suspicion of fraudulent activity).

The process is typically three days to weeks.

11 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Your implication is the bank would hold on to the money indefinitely - which is rubbish.

Never mentioned indefinitely, that is your insertion. If the account is frozen then there’s no access to funds. The process of unfreezing the account with a tourist visa would essentially entail closing the account, not as simple as waltzing into the bank and getting the funds and leaving with a wad of cash. Don’t think your advice is in the best interest of the op as it can stir a load of problems.

1 hour ago, novacova said:

13 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Not true - there is a process to access the funds (same day to 3 working days) with passport and bank book (if the account has not been frozen for suspicion of fraudulent activity).

The process is typically three days to weeks.

13 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Your implication is the bank would hold on to the money indefinitely - which is rubbish.

Never mentioned indefinitely, that is your insertion. If the account is frozen then there’s no access to funds. The process of unfreezing the account with a tourist visa would essentially entail closing the account, not as simple as waltzing into the bank and getting the funds and leaving with a wad of cash. Don’t think your advice is in the best interest of the op as it can stir a load of problems.

OK - so we're on the same page - in the event of a frozen account funds can be accessed - but it would take 3 days to a week (typically as per your comment) and involves closing the account - so no risk of loss of money (just to clear things up).

Worst case scenario: Op 'could' then open an account when he has his retirement visa etc.

Op is married - when he goes to replace his card - IF the situation were to get sticky (I don't think it will)

he can show proof of marriage etc - there is precedence for the banks showing leniency to 'some' people' in this situation as per BrandonJT's post.

Scenarios:

1) Op sits still and does nothing until he gets his retirement visa (out of concern that his account my be frozen).

2) Op takes documentation to bank, bank renews his card without issues.

3) Op takes documentation to bank, bank refuses / marriage cert swings them into renewing.

4) Op takes documentation to bank, bank freezes account - Op waits unfreezes with retirement visa.

5) Op takes documentation to bank, bank freezes account - Op closes account and recovers money (up to one week).

What matters:

- IF Op needs the money seasoned for his retirement visa.

- IF Op needs access to his money in the account.

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

What matters:

- IF Op needs the money seasoned for his retirement visa.

- IF Op needs access to his money in the account.

I have only one Thai bank account and need to transfer funds from my UK bank account for the extension of the 90 day Non O that I will need to do when it is due.

Can not withdraw the money and open another account as I was under the impression that the deposit has to come from abroad.Therefore a cash deposit would not meet this rule.

33 minutes ago, mlkik said:

I have only one Thai bank account and need to transfer funds from my UK bank account for the extension of the 90 day Non O that I will need to do when it is due.

Can not withdraw the money and open another account as I was under the impression that the deposit has to come from abroad.Therefore a cash deposit would not meet this rule.

I understand the reason for the thread now... as this is the account in which you are seasoning money for your Non-Imm-O Visa you can't take 'any' risk as your visa approval hangs in the balance.

For the Non-Imm-O (based on retirement) - 800,000 baht seasoned ? or monthly income method ?

If based 800,000 baht seasoned - I don't think the money needs to come from abroad.

If based on monthly income - then 'generally' that has to be seen as stable income from overseas.

Which option are you doing ?

7 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

If based 800,000 baht seasoned - I don't think the money needs to come from abroad.

If based on monthly income - then 'generally' that has to be seen as stable income from overseas.

For extension (retirement) using money in bank method the funds do not need to be shown as international transfer.

Using "income method" the monthly transfers need to be shown as funds from abroad.

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I understand the reason for the thread now... as this is the account in which you are seasoning money for your Non-Imm-O Visa you can't take 'any' risk as your visa approval hangs in the balance.

For the Non-Imm-O (based on retirement) - 800,000 baht seasoned ? or monthly income method ?

If based 800,000 baht seasoned - I don't think the money needs to come from abroad.

If based on monthly income - then 'generally' that has to be seen as stable income from overseas.

Which option are you doing ?

I am getting married next month and will be applying for a Non O based on marriage.

12 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I understand the reason for the thread now... as this is the account in which you are seasoning money for your Non-Imm-O Visa you can't take 'any' risk as your visa approval hangs in the balance.

For the Non-Imm-O (based on retirement) - 800,000 baht seasoned ? or monthly income method ?

If based 800,000 baht seasoned - I don't think the money needs to come from abroad.

If based on monthly income - then 'generally' that has to be seen as stable income from overseas.

Which option are you doing ?

Non O based on Marriage to a Thai Spouse ฿400,000.

2 hours ago, mlkik said:

I am getting married next month and will be applying for a Non O based on marriage.

Where do you plan to obtain the Non O.

In OP you mention entering Thailand with a Non O in May.

On 1/7/2026 at 2:02 AM, mlkik said:

Yes I need a card to withdraw cash.

As you can use Internet Banking, is there somebody you could transfer the money to so they can withdraw it for you until you get your new long term visa?