Just awaiting return of passport after my first renewal of retirement extension - with Maneerat.

First retirement extension they were using Bangkok Bank, but now changed to Krungthai.

I've never used that Bangkok Bank account during the year since it was opened (for the purpose of depositing funds - by agent.)

Obviously it's of no use to me now.

Bangkok bank charges 400 baht as an annual account fee, but my balance is 320 baht (as of January 2025), and as I haven't used the account ever, that must be the balance now.

Bangkok bank won't be able to deduct the 400 baht fee, and I'm fairly sure they won't be able to contact me, seeing as I don't have a smart-phone and therefore no mobile banking.

(On application, they had to remove the SIM card from my ordinary phone, then insert it into one of their own smart-phones in order to download the mobile app.)

I'm just thinking that if I go into a branch to close the account they might find some reason to slap on some charges.... plus of course the 400 baht annual fee.

Just to be clear, I'm no extreme penny-pinching miser, but I have good reasons not to feel especially friendly towards Bangkok Bank.

Opening the account was extremely time consuming and over-complicated, - even with the agent in attendance - and they charged 3,500 baht "accident insurance" on top of an excessive 700 baht for the ATM card issue.

Then they screwed up, resulting in all the agents switching to other banks, leaving customers who need extensions with the inconvenience of having to open new accounts with other banks, - although with Krungthai there was no charge for opening the account, and the only fee was for the ATM card - 500 baht.

Considering the fact that Bangkok Bank have inconvenienced a lot of people seemingly as a result of practices which have drawn unwanted attention from the government, and charged what appears to be a rip-off fee of 3,500 baht for opening the account, I think I'd prefer not to give them any more money out of principle.

In summary then.... bearing in mind the scenario described, - could I just leave it open and untouched without any negative consequences, or would it be wiser, for whatever reason, to simply go in and close the account?

If you've ever closed an account with Bangkok bank, please let me know what that entails, with particular reference to any fees they may charge......

... (the 3,500 baht opening fee gives me good reason to regard them as somewhat over zealous in their ambition to chase profits.)

Thanks all....

My guess is many will advise keep it.

My reply to that is Why?

Not needed and have shown to be rubbish bank making up rules.

Boot em

Keep the account, it's free it you cancel the ATM card, you may need it in the future, that's why i keep my BB account.

What goes around comes around, Krungsri could be the next bank targeted

Forget it. If there's only a small balance they will eventually deduct a monthly fee till it's empty, then close it themselves. No need to waste your time with them.

I keep both banks now Krungsri and BKK bank, just in case. One is longterm savings, and one is daily bank, since it is convinient with my Norwegian bank. Just hours to transfer during night from Norway, while Krungsri can take up to 3 days from my bank in norway

For a balance of 320 baht (as of January 2025) ... AND as you note, you are paying 400 baht to keep that convenience.

So per your question - why keep Bangkok bank account? You may be the ONLY person who can answer that as it depends on your finances.

I would NOT keep Bangkok bank for the purpose of proving to Thai immigration you have adequate funds in Thailand (ie via 800k THB (retirement reason) or 400k THB (marriage reason)).

One might wish to keep Bangkok Bank if one gets monthy deposits into the account to meet immigration requirements ( ie 40k THB/month (for marriage reason) or 65k THB/month (for retirement reason). But typically Bangkok Bank is IMHO a PIA to quickly obtain the immigration paperwork. So i would not keep BKK bank for that. Years back (when on either a type-O or type-OA visa - I can't recall which) i switched from using Bangkok bank to Krungsri as Krungsri was much faster and less painful to get the paperwork immigration required. So I would say, NO - do NOT keep a Bangkok Bank account for that.

I am on an LTR-WP visa, and I have a Bangkok Bank account and some others. Why? Two reasons which are specific to me ... and before I give you the reasons, let me qualify by saying most of my money is kept outside of Thailand ... and despite what i say next , believe me.

I prefer to spread my money (that is in Thailand) into a number of different Thailand banks, so to spread the risk in case one goes under. This is likely NOT applicable to you. I transferred a bunch of money into Thailand about a decade ago when I was not a Thai tax resident (ergo it was Thai tax exempt) and I have mostly , when in Thailand, been living off of that money ... which is not to say I have not brought small amounts more in since, but such was not needed. (I note when outside Thailand I typically (not always) do not use my Thai funds).

I prefer Bangkok Bank over some others for exchanging currency (when I want to do so within Thailand, which is not all that often) as I have different currency accounts with Bangkok Bank. Also Bangkok Bank is better than some (not all) Thai banks for receipt of Wise transfers. There are some Thai banks that Wise won't transfer money too (at least that was the case a couple of months back).

Also, i was able to buy Thai government savings bonds via Bangkok bank. Two other Thai banks (SCB & Krungsri) would not let me buy Thai government bonds though them. I needed the bonds for my LTR visa application. Bangkok Bank would ONLY let me buy bonds thru them if I had an account with them.

But if one does not have my situation ... and if you only have 320 Thai baht in Bangkok Bank, and if you don't have millions of Thai baht that you plan to transfer to Bangkok bank, and if you have other accounts , and if Bangkok bank is not massively more convenient in regards to location from where you live, then ...

... then yes - I would say, close the account.

In order to balance things, I have used a Bangkok Bank account for decades, no cost to set set up, I can't remember if I pay 200 or 400 baht a year for the service, I don't care as it is peanuts.

I pay 100 baht a year when I go to my local bank to get the so called retirement visa extension letter to support the 800k baht in my account, it takes ten minutes to do that including the queuing time.

I transfer money from my WISE account from the UK, never a problem, at the most it takes one business day to arrive.

The transfer limit per transaction is two million baht but that is way above my usual transactions.

A great bank and a great service.

21 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

A great bank and a great service.

All the things you list in your post are possible with other banks.

Mine happens to be Kasikorn who BTW issue 12 month bank statement on the spot unlike BBL.

The other thing BBL does is to freeze account amount (800/400) for 4 months (in some instances) via their own made up nonsense form.

Granted does not really trouble retirement extensions as many just have dedicated account for that.

Marriage different.

Rogue bank

On 2/5/2026 at 4:13 PM, scubascuba3 said:

What goes around comes around, Krungsri could be the next bank targeted

Krungthai may also be in on the act, based on the OP's experience:

On 2/5/2026 at 3:58 PM, raysunshineray said:

First retirement extension they were using Bangkok Bank, but now changed to Krungthai.

55 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

A great bank and a great service.

IMHO their sole redeeming feature is their internet banking service. But even that is no longer available to new applicants who are, instead, forced to use their cumbersome app complete with facial (or, more to the point, I think, farcical) scanning nonsense!

I would suggest leaving it open. My Thai spouse remarked the other day that it is getting more difficult for expats to open bank accounts, something that a number of posters here have also posted about. You never know when you might need a second bank account. I have accounts at BK Bank, Yellow, Green, and GH. I use all but the Green but keep it open, too.

8 hours ago, OJAS said:

IMHO their sole redeeming feature is their internet banking service. But even that is no longer available to new applicants who are, instead, forced to use their cumbersome app complete with facial (or, more to the point, I think, farcical) scanning nonsense!

Many don't seem to like BBL anymore due to the difficulties with yearly extensions. I never had a problem, but I don't use it for yearly extensions. I use it mainly for USD acct to THB acct conversions. It's the only Thai bank I found that let's me convert USD to THB using their App or their web based internet banking. All the other Thai banks I use requires me to go in the bank to make the conversion.

Never say never.

It's very hard to open new accounts now and who knows it might get even harder.

Coincidentally I posted here long ago considering closing my BB account as I have other accounts at two other Thai banks.

I was advised may as well keep it and that was way before the opening problems now.

So I took that advice.

Well, I kept it and for personal financial reasons now I use my BB account pretty much every day, much more than the other two banks.

50 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Well, I kept it and for personal financial reasons now I use my BB account pretty much every day, much more than the other two banks.

Think some folk could read the OP again.

He has deep feelings towards BBL as in principle bad behavior from BBL.

While I've never had an account with BBL if I did then I would close it on principle alone.

OP also stated has zero intention of using that account in future.

OP close it.

18 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Think some folk could read the OP again.

He has deep feelings towards BBL as in principle bad behavior from BBL.

While I've never had an account with BBL if I did then I would close it on principle alone.

OP also stated has zero intention of using that account in future.

OP close it.

Fair enough.

In a sense I was speaking GENERALLY about accounts in general.

I probably should have emphasized that.

I say in GENERAL don't close them.

I understand the issues with BB. I think quite horrible but in my situation , there have been no issues.

I also at the time I was considering closing the BB account. I really had no need for it at that time and didn't imagine that I would need it later.

That changed a lot.

You never know.

13 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

In a sense I was speaking GENERALLY about accounts in general.

I'm slightly off topic here....

I cannot imagine how this rogue action from a bank would be acceptable in other countries.

In my case Oz.

Emphasize that the freezing of certain funds by BBL was not driven by Thai immigration.

It's down to one bank making up rules on the run.

19 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I'm slightly off topic here....

I cannot imagine how this rogue action from a bank would be acceptable in other countries.

In my case Oz.

Emphasize that the freezing of certain funds by BBL was not driven by Thai immigration.

It's down to one bank making up rules on the run.

I totally agree.

Happily, I don't use them for immigration though.

I would also add to the you never know category; you never know what other banks will eventually do that is similarly offensive.

Another reason in my book to not be closing accounts here and if you've got multiple ones as I do, hold on to them unless the bank itself forces closure.

19 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I'm slightly off topic here....

I cannot imagine how this rogue action from a bank would be acceptable in other countries.

In my case Oz.

Emphasize that the freezing of certain funds by BBL was not driven by Thai immigration.

It's down to one bank making up rules on the run.

In fairness to BBL (And I'm no fan of theirs after the dramas I had moving money from my FD account to my Savings account), the "Rogue Action" that the OP is complaining about is they no longer participate in what is at best the "Grey Area" of "Agent Assisted Financing" which feels a bit risable if I'm being honest.

Granted for some BBL's freezing of Retirement funds for 4 months & their inability to provide 12 month statements immedietly on demand can cause problems, but these aren't relevant in the OP's case as they don't have the money in the bank to begin with.

1 minute ago, SamSpade said:

Rogue Action" that the OP is complaining about is they no longer participate in what is at best the "Grey Area" of "Agent Assisted Financing" which feels a bit risable if I'm being honest.

Say what. BBL froze accounts for all customers applying for extension with or without use of agents.

It was unilateral and in the main caught out folk on marriage extensions using money in bank method.

Not so much extension retirement.

Deplorable behavior

Just now, DrJack54 said:

Say what. BBL froze accounts for all customers applying for extension with or without use of agents.

It was unilateral and in the main caught out folk on marriage extensions using money in bank method.

Not so much extension retirement.

Deplorable behavior

I agree with you, though my FD account wasn't frozen when applying for my extension in July, it was only frozen when I tried to move money to my savings account and once I provided additional address verification it was immediately unfrozen, and as I've posted before, it p1ssed me off so much that I'm switching to using KBank for my extensions going forward.

But the OP wasn't complaining about that (They had no money in the account to freeze), they were complaing about BBL no longer taking part in the "Agent Assisted Financing" route to extensions which I find a bit rich to be complaing about if I'm honest.

1 minute ago, SamSpade said:

But the OP wasn't complaining about that (They had no money in the account to freeze), they were complaing about BBL no longer taking part in the "Agent Assisted Financing" route to extensions which I find a bit rich to be complaing about if I'm honest.

True.

3 minutes ago, SamSpade said:

it p1ssed me off so much that I'm switching to using a KBank for my extensions going forward.

My bank is Kasikorn.

Only negative for me is no branch at CW.

Just be careful how you switch banks for banking requirements.

Suggest you wait till in 400k window and do it in two steps.

As others wrote.

If you do nothing the account will be closed due to insufficient balance anyway.

I had trouble with Bangkok Bank regarding bank letter for immigration.

Moved most of the funds to Kasikorn (account opened as a tourist! in 2009).

Closed fixed deposit at Bangkok Bank.

Opened a new account at Krungsri "just in case".

But still maintain the Bangkok Bank account again "just in case".

I wouldn't close just to save some xxx Baht per year.

Opening a new account can be very annoying these times.

Three banks, three cards, three apps. Never a headache to get cash or pay bills/orders in one way or the other 😁

6 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Three banks, three cards, three apps. Never a headache to get cash or pay bills/orders in one way or the other

As apposed to?

One bank one card = never a headache to get cash pay bills

50 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

As apposed to?

One bank one card = never a headache to get cash pay bills

About 8 years ago, I reviewed my then "one bank" status in the UK, and opened two new accounts with different banks. As it turned out, that was a good move, especially with more banks enforcing non-resident restrictions on new and existing accounts and one popular bank actively closing the accounts that don't comply. My only regret is not doing the same in Thailand back when it was easier than it is now.

I still have my long-standing Bangkok Bank account which is still used for overseas remittances but not for immigration business. The fact that it was the easiest to open all those years ago leads me to advise the OP to keep his BBL account open as you don't know how or when the current hot favorite alternative banks are going to be told to "review" their foreign customer accounts by the Bank of Thailand or the Finance Ministry.

Always have a Plan B (or C, or D).

9 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Always have a Plan B (or C, or D).

Have another read of the OP

He wants to close the account.

He is asking about option to just let the bank close it due to insufficient balance or physically go to BBL branch and close it.

On 2/5/2026 at 4:13 PM, DrJack54 said:

My guess is many will advise keep it.

My reply to that is Why?

Not needed and have shown to be rubbish bank making up rules.

Boot em

if the balance is not high enough to cover the yearly fees , the account will be closed, so just do nothing
happened to my wife and her Bangkok bank account

I would advise that you have two bank accounts in Thailand since problems can arise at any of the banks. I have a Bangkok Bank account because my Kasikorn account got hacked. Bangkok Bank is my primary account but I recently opened a new Kasikorn bank account as a backup.

When I closed my first Kasikorn account there were no problems. It took about 10 minutes. I wouldn't worry about going into Bangkok Bank and closing the account. I personally wouldn't want to have an unused account in my name out there.

18 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

23 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Always have a Plan B (or C, or D).

Have another read of the OP

He wants to close the account.

He is asking about option to just let the bank close it due to insufficient balance or physically go to BBL branch and close it.

I did. He seems more upset about having paid a small amount, via the agent, to open the BBL account and paying the annual maintenance fee for an account he has chose not to use in the interim and is now proscribed by agents.

If he closes the account, or lets BBL close the account for him, he no longer has a Plan B (or C, or D).

However, from what he also says, the account doesn't have any mobile phone number associated with it as he doesn't have one. Since that's very unusual, I assume it may have a Maneerat mobile number attached to it, it could possibly be seen as a mule account? So maybe best to let it go, but not before he opens an account on his own, non-agent assisted, at a second bank.

Also note the requirement for proof of ownership of a mobile phone number linked to a bank account being used for immigration purposes.

Keep it.Next year could be different again with Maneerat.

Immigration rules with an agent alter every year.

On 2/8/2026 at 6:23 AM, KhunBENQ said:

three apps. Never a headache to get cash or pay bills/orders in one way or the other

Getting to grips with at least 1 of the bloody apps which Thai banks are determined to ram down our throats at the behest of their regulators in the Bank Of Thailand is, I think, headache-inducing, let alone 3 of them!