10 hours ago, OJAS said:

Because they are slow, cumbersome and awkward to use when compared to a bank card. Back in my home country (UK), all you need do to make a contactless payment of up to the equivalent of ฿4,200 is by holding your card against a scanner and listening out for a beep. Little need there for the relatively complex process of setting up your phone to fire an e-pot shot against that scourge of the 21st Century known as the QR Code!

Unfortunately, the Bank of Thailand, through their actions as regulators of the Thai banking sector, have clearly demonstrated a steadfast determination not to sanction the introduction of similarly straight-forward methods for making electronic payments here in Thailand, through (1) restricting the maximum amount of a contactless card payment to ฿1,500 and (2) their abject failure to include in the shed-load of diktats which they periodically issue to Thai banks one which specifically forbids the levying any fee or charge for the use of Thai bank cards (no fees or charges are levied by UK banks for their credit and debit cards).

I feel that the Bank of Thailand have much to answer for here. In particular, any claims on their part that they are solely motivated by an overwhelming desire to make the banking process here in LOS just as secure and convenient for local account holders as it humanly can be is IMHO clearly a load of hogwash BS.

If the app is slow you probably have a crappy phone.

The cardless withdrawal feature alone makes the app useful. I’ve probably saved thousands of baht on ATM fees since I discovered it, especially since I am rarely in Bangkok anymore (where my account is) so I am dodging the interprovincial ATM fee.

Now that most ATMs can be used with a variety of accounts I almost never use my debit card. If I use a card I use one of my excellent foreign credit cards that have no fees, but do have reward kick backs.

Scan pay helps me to avoid tipping, since I am a cheap charlie and also hate the principle that I have to pay the staff salaries. It’s also annoying in a bar since they often don’t have change, “forget” to give you change, or try to charge you multiple times if you look drunk. Scan pay defeats all that.

The Bangkok Bank app could be better optimized and faster, but it’s not terrible if you have a decent phone.

Regarding contactless payments, I have more than a dozen cards loaded on Apple Pay, so I just use my phone. Android has a similar system. Plastic cards are obsolete technology and prone to fraud.

I signed up for my last credit card from Thailand. I loaded it up using the banking app onto Apple Pay minutes after approval. I’ve been using it since November and I’ve never had the plastic card. It’s sitting on an envelope somewhere at a family members house in my passport country.

2 hours ago, Caldera said:

Thailand Post (EMS).

Will it have your name on it?

8 hours ago, daejung said:

Would they also have closed your account otherwise?

Yes.

4 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Will it have your name on it?

Yes they do, "Privileged Member" no more...

On 2/17/2026 at 2:52 PM, SamSpade said:

I take it you don't need the 12 month Bank statement when you go to Immigration then?

There are many reported problems with Bangkok Bank including:-

1. 7 days to produce a 12 month Bank statement that would be acceptible to Immigration.

2. Freezing of monies in Bank Account or refusal to provide letter for immigration if it hasn't been in there for at least 4 months

3. Freezing of monies in bank account pending additional proof of ID (without informing the customer)

4. Closing of accounts for people who aren't on a long term visa (Including DTV holders).

I've personally only had experience of #3 and luckily enough only had to go to Jomtien 3 times (total cost 1,200 THB in Taxis), if it would have been my other account opened in Bangkok it would have been a lot more expensive.

Their service used to be great but seems to have gone down in recent years...

1. Our closest branch told my GF they could only offer her .05% pa interest on an FD account despite putting 1Million, went to the Branch in Central and got (IIRC) 1.7%.

2. When trying to move money from my (Jomtien homed) FD account to my (Bangkok homed) Savings account, they wanted 1,200 THB in chargest, central wanted 600 THB (but couldn't do it because it was then that we found out the account was frozen) as did Jomtien.

Not for me, I've opened a Kasikorn FD account, transferred another 400K for BBK and another 400K from the UK to top this up to 800K and will hopefully switch to this when I do my next extension but will keep the BBL account for day to day spends.

I can only state my experience with the bank so far after about 25 years with them.

I use my local Bangkok branch which is just around the corner from me and never really busy.

I download my bank statements via the Bangkok Banking App, the statements arrive in my email account in a few minutes, the longest you can do is one year so I download the first three months after my one year visa extension has been given, I then get the rest of the year with the app near the start of the next visa application, I then go to the bank on the morning on the day I go to the immigration office, withdraw 1000 from the ATM, print out my bank savings book, then get the last days statement downloaded via the app, that means it is all update on the day I apply for the biss extension.

I print the statements out on my own printer as they look exactly the same as the real bank statements, the bank asked me if I needed bank statements and I said I print them myself so I showed them to the bank bloke and he said all is OK.

I get a letter from the bank, it takes ten minutes normally but took twenty minutes this time as I had a new passport issued recently.

Yesterday at the immigration office in Phuket it took me 15 minutes from walking into the office to having my paperwork checked and then pay the 1900 baht, I will pick the passport up today with the visa extension. The staff were chatty and friendly.

I made sure the money is over 800k in my bank four months before my visit to the immigration office as rules can change in Thailand so that is my way of doing a defensive action just in case.

So it has all been easy, as this is my fourth year with a visa extension so far.

On 2/18/2026 at 1:46 AM, Everyman said:

If the app is slow you probably have a crappy phone.

The cardless withdrawal feature alone makes the app useful. I’ve probably saved thousands of baht on ATM fees since I discovered it, especially since I am rarely in Bangkok anymore (where my account is) so I am dodging the interprovincial ATM fee.

Now that most ATMs can be used with a variety of accounts I almost never use my debit card. If I use a card I use one of my excellent foreign credit cards that have no fees, but do have reward kick backs.

Scan pay helps me to avoid tipping, since I am a cheap charlie and also hate the principle that I have to pay the staff salaries. It’s also annoying in a bar since they often don’t have change, “forget” to give you change, or try to charge you multiple times if you look drunk. Scan pay defeats all that.

The Bangkok Bank app could be better optimized and faster, but it’s not terrible if you have a decent phone.

Regarding contactless payments, I have more than a dozen cards loaded on Apple Pay, so I just use my phone. Android has a similar system. Plastic cards are obsolete technology and prone to fraud.

I signed up for my last credit card from Thailand. I loaded it up using the banking app onto Apple Pay minutes after approval. I’ve been using it since November and I’ve never had the plastic card. It’s sitting on an envelope somewhere at a family members house in my passport country.

It is funny how you got a thumbs down for such a straightforward post, there are a lot of dinosaurs active on this blog it seems. I just laugh when I get one. 😃

I am a belts and braces man when it comes to systems, I have my Bangkok Banking App on my iPhone and so can pay with that in many ways, I have UK credit cards just in case there is a problem with the phone which has never happened, I also have an ATM card just in case.

How do the dinosaurs transfer cash over from their own country in order to live, do they fly to their home country each month in order to bring in cash in a plastic carrier bag I wonder?

I use the WISE app and the money is in my BKK Bank the next day.

You mentioned ATM charges, I have never had a single one when using my card in an ATM, I just get a 300 baht a year charge from BKK bank once a year.

24 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

How do the dinosaurs transfer cash over from their own country in order to live, do they fly to their home country each month in order to bring in cash in a plastic carrier bag I wonder?

Age wise I'm a dinosaur.

I don't need bank app.

I transfer funds from my Oz bank every month using WISE.

BTW it's not next day for me rather it's instant.

Personally find zero use of having app for my Thai bank account.

Having my bank ATM in my building is handy.

People opt to do finances in their own way that suits them.

Never had a problem with BKK Bank here in Prasat Surin, over 9 years. Always friendly, we know a couple of the girls and can ring them up for advice. Instant service most times, even when there's a queue (somewhat to my embarrasment).

As to the rules re the annual print out & other items, you just accept what's possible and organize yourself accordingly. No sweat.

23 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Age wise I'm a dinosaur.

I don't need bank app.

I transfer funds from my Oz bank every month using WISE.

BTW it's not next day for me rather it's instant.

Personally find zero use of having app for my Thai bank account.

Having my bank ATM in my building is handy.

People opt to do finances in their own way that suits them.

True, people do as they wish, they chose the system which fits in with their lifestyle or technical ability, I have no problem with that, my comment also stated that people leaving thumbs down just because they do not agree is wrong.

I think the thumbs-down icon should be taken away, if people can not state why they disagree then they should be encouraged to say why and not just leave a thumbs down, those are dinosaurs I am referring to.

1 hour ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

So it has all been easy, as this is my fourth year with a visa extension so far.

Wow, you're very lucky with your Immigration office, Jomtien (and IIRC Bangkok) won't accept the downloaded statements (Which don't even have your address on them) so people who need them have to go order one the week before, I use an Agent so thus far have only needed to get 3 month statements for my FD account which I get on the day.

Like you I've had great experience from BBL up until a couple of years ago but it really feels like the service has gone downhill nowadays... I do like their App :)

24 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

True, people do as they wish, they chose the system which fits in with their lifestyle or technical ability, I have no problem with that, my comment also stated that people leaving thumbs down just because they do not agree is wrong.

I think the thumbs-down icon should be taken away, if people can not state why they disagree then they should be encouraged to say why and not just leave a thumbs down, those are dinosaurs I am referring to.

The way I understood it ( not sure if some bank official told me this or I read it on here ) bank statements had to be printed on a dot-matrix printer where all pages are joined ( serrated ) and the sides ( with the holes for driving the continuous paper are left on).

Normal Bangkok Banks don’t usually have these types of printers hence the necessity to order from head office and that immigration would not accept self printed bank statements or individual pages from the local branch.

Of course this may be old news or a variance on the requirements due to location or not applicable anymore but it does sort of explain why Bangkok Bank would only supply a physical 12 month statement, usually available in 3 working days, from their head office and not just print one out on the spot !

Or maybe Phuket Immigration are going against the grain and making up their own rules as they did with the OA visa mandatory insurance ?

When I moved here, Social Security told me I needed to use Bangkok Bank for my transfers. I was always wondering about that. If all Americans were told this.

I at first got a Marriage Visa, then the account at BK bank. I tried to get an ATM card but the lady at the bank said since my account was a joint one, they didn't allow it. I asked her why and she told me there were too many stories of wives and girlfriends misusing the privilege and withdrawing money without permission. Not a problem, as I've always kept my US bank open, knowing we would be returning eventually and needing it for rental cars when I visited.

When I divorced, I got a retirement Visa, and asked for an ATM card. Tried two times and both times they gave me a card and when we tried using it at the ATM, they didn't work. After that I just forgot about it, as I can still use my US bank card for most everything here that I need a card for. Wondering if any other Americans or any other expats have had this trouble.

Anyone know of ATMs located inside of the bank office? Citi had one at Asoke, and Bangkok Bank had one on Sukhumvit at Soi 71...both locations closed. Looking for something along Sukhumvit.

13 minutes ago, madisongy said:

Anyone know of ATMs located inside of the bank office? Citi had one at Asoke, and Bangkok Bank had one on Sukhumvit at Soi 71...both locations closed. Looking for something along Sukhumvit.

Kasikorn Two Pacific Place.

27 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Kasikorn Two Pacific Place.

You da man, Upnotover!! Many thanks on that. Gonna head over there today.

I prefer in-office ATMs as I think it's a bit more difficult for the scammers to play games with them.

23 hours ago, SamSpade said:

Wow, you're very lucky with your Immigration office, Jomtien (and IIRC Bangkok) won't accept the downloaded statements (Which don't even have your address on them) so people who need them have to go order one the week before, I use an Agent so thus far have only needed to get 3 month statements for my FD account which I get on the day.

Like you I've had great experience from BBL up until a couple of years ago but it really feels like the service has gone downhill nowadays... I do like their App :)

I know that Bangkok can give us six months statement on the spot, but I just stick with my routine as it fits in with the forward thinking IO in Phuket. 😃

The only time I go to the bank is once a year to get the letter showing my bank balance on the day I go for the visa extension, the rest is done via the app.

I suppose they have the sense to put the info together, the stamens states the amount in the account, the bank books shows the same transactions for the year, and the letter from the bank shows the amount as well, the printed bank statements have my name on each sheet, so they think one plus one equals two in a logical way.

23 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

The way I understood it ( not sure if some bank official told me this or I read it on here ) bank statements had to be printed on a dot-matrix printer where all pages are joined ( serrated ) and the sides ( with the holes for driving the continuous paper are left on).

Normal Bangkok Banks don’t usually have these types of printers hence the necessity to order from head office and that immigration would not accept self printed bank statements or individual pages from the local branch.

Of course this may be old news or a variance on the requirements due to location or not applicable anymore but it does sort of explain why Bangkok Bank would only supply a physical 12 month statement, usually available in 3 working days, from their head office and not just print one out on the spot !

Or maybe Phuket Immigration are going against the grain and making up their own rules as they did with the OA visa mandatory insurance ?

Going agains the grain? I see it as being sensible and seeing further than the end of their nose instead of following stupid illogical rules.

Plus I follow the method which has worked four years in a row in Phuket, I have it down to a T and so that is why it only took 20 minutes for the whole process of my visa extension plus the 30 minute drive to the IO.

Some applicants are probably a pain in the arseee to the IO as they can not follow simple procedures and fill the forms out incorrectly so many have to pay thousands for an agent to do the simple job for them

23 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

When I moved here, Social Security told me I needed to use Bangkok Bank for my transfers. I was always wondering about that. If all Americans were told this.

I at first got a Marriage Visa, then the account at BK bank. I tried to get an ATM card but the lady at the bank said since my account was a joint one, they didn't allow it. I asked her why and she told me there were too many stories of wives and girlfriends misusing the privilege and withdrawing money without permission. Not a problem, as I've always kept my US bank open, knowing we would be returning eventually and needing it for rental cars when I visited.

When I divorced, I got a retirement Visa, and asked for an ATM card. Tried two times and both times they gave me a card and when we tried using it at the ATM, they didn't work. After that I just forgot about it, as I can still use my US bank card for most everything here that I need a card for. Wondering if any other Americans or any other expats have had this trouble.

That is a very good protection service given by Bangkok Bank in my opinion, they have saved many farangs from having to sit in a bar crying into their beer as they have had all of their money stolen by a Thai woman, they deserve a medal for such a good service. 😃

I have never had a problem with an ATM card, bank account or anything else to do with Bangkok bank, my bank account is in my sole name, my partner also has her own bank accounts in her sole name too which her personal income is paid into.

Both of us are independent of each other financially so that makes for a happy partnership. 👍

2 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

That is a very good protection service given by Bangkok Bank in my opinion, they have saved many farangs from having to sit in a bar crying into their beer as they have had all of their money stolen by a Thai woman, they deserve a medal for such a good service. 😃

I have never had a problem with an ATM card, bank account or anything else to do with Bangkok bank, my bank account is in my sole name, my partner also has her own bank accounts in her sole name too which her personal income is paid into.

Both of us are independent of each other financially so that makes for a happy partnership. 👍

True that, but not being able to get a working card with my retirement visa was strange. They tried twice, but both cards didn't work.

2 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

I have never had a problem with an ATM card, bank account or anything else to do with Bangkok bank, my bank account is in my sole name, my partner also has her own bank accounts in her sole name too which her personal income is paid into.

Good to hear James. I had a Schwab card because they reimbursed 100% of ATM fees, and used it at SCB where I had an account for years. On one occasion in 2024, I processed a transaction for 20,000 baht. Screen went funny, no cash, spit the card out. Got a pic of the bizarre screen and watched the next person in line and they didn't get my 20000. later checked on Schwab and sure enough, they pulled the money out of my account. Called Schwab immediately to report it, figuring zero liability for me on this. Nope, Schwab went to SCB, SCB said "customer got the money" and Schwab said "sorry". I asked for video proof of the transaction, and of course, never got it. I've changed to Fidelity and Bangkok Bank. Fidelity reimburses 100% also, so I'm hoping to avoid the issues I had with Schwab/SCB.

2 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

Going agains the grain? I see it as being sensible and seeing further than the end of their nose instead of following stupid illogical rules.

Plus I follow the method which has worked four years in a row in Phuket, I have it down to a T and so that is why it only took 20 minutes for the whole process of my visa extension plus the 30 minute drive to the IO.

Some applicants are probably a pain in the arseee to the IO as they can not follow simple procedures and fill the forms out incorrectly so many have to pay thousands for an agent to do the simple job for them

Of course going against the grain is not necessarily a bad thing !

In the case of the OA mandatory insurance many owners of OA visas and extensions elsewhere were jealous that Phuket immigration were refusing to adhere to the ridiculous ruling that only OA visa holders pay the insurance premiums.

Likewise with the 12 months statement, Phuket immigration are facilitating an easier route for the same process, i only wish other IO’s would follow their lead.

4 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

True that, but not being able to get a working card with my retirement visa was strange. They tried twice, but both cards didn't work.

Is it all sorted out now, if so , great. 👍

4 hours ago, madisongy said:

Good to hear James. I had a Schwab card because they reimbursed 100% of ATM fees, and used it at SCB where I had an account for years. On one occasion in 2024, I processed a transaction for 20,000 baht. Screen went funny, no cash, spit the card out. Got a pic of the bizarre screen and watched the next person in line and they didn't get my 20000. later checked on Schwab and sure enough, they pulled the money out of my account. Called Schwab immediately to report it, figuring zero liability for me on this. Nope, Schwab went to SCB, SCB said "customer got the money" and Schwab said "sorry". I asked for video proof of the transaction, and of course, never got it. I've changed to Fidelity and Bangkok Bank. Fidelity reimburses 100% also, so I'm hoping to avoid the issues I had with Schwab/SCB.

What happened to the 20,000 baht?

In England a few years ago I too £100 out of a Lloyds Bank ATM but only £80 was given to me, I went straight though the door into the bank and showed them the £80 and the receipt for £100, they said it can not happen, I told them it most definitely did.

So they then opened the machine and there was a £20 note sitting in-between the cash delivery system and the place it should have been placed so they handed it over.

3 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Of course going against the grain is not necessarily a bad thing !

In the case of the OA mandatory insurance many owners of OA visas and extensions elsewhere were jealous that Phuket immigration were refusing to adhere to the ridiculous ruling that only OA visa holders pay the insurance premiums.

Likewise with the 12 months statement, Phuket immigration are facilitating an easier route for the same process, i only wish other IO’s would follow their lead.

I must admit there has been a great change, and update since I had my first non-O visa extension four years ago in Phuket.

Previously we had to wait outside in the sun for the documents to be checked, once done wait our turn to go inside with the card number we had been issued.

Inside some of the officers were a bit arrogant, pick up the passport the next day.

Since then they moved to a new office in the block, we go into the waiting room area and hand the paperwork to someone who checks the details and puts things in order, they are friendly, they politely help you if there is anything out of place or a mistake has happened, you then get a card, see the officer who is also polite. Pick up the next day, all nice and easy.

On 2/16/2026 at 11:02 AM, DrJack54 said:

Does not surprise me from rubbish bank.

only one opinion of which there will be many for each bank.

I've had a bkk bank account for more than 20 years and have zero complaints.

Personally i have found SCB ( formerly Thai Farmers ) to be the worst, by far!

23 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Personally i have found SCB ( formerly Thai Farmers ) to be the worst, by far!

Thai Farmers Bank became Kasikorn, not SCB.

16 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Thai Farmers Bank became Kasikorn, not SCB.

oh my bad.....

3 hours ago, PJ71 said:

only one opinion of which there will be many for each bank.

Name another bank that has in a rogue act frozen account for months in order for customer to obtain Bank Letter for immigration.

The only bank pulling this stunt is BBL

https://aseannow.com/topic/1368850-alert-bangkok-bank-new-rule-money-seasoning/

8 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Name another bank that has in a rogue act frozen account for months in order for customer to obtain Bank Letter for immigration.

The only bank pulling this stunt is BBL

https://aseannow.com/topic/1368850-alert-bangkok-bank-new-rule-money-seasoning/

The amount of frozen accounts are a tiny % of the active accounts, it hasn't affected me or many of thousands of others.

31 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

The amount of frozen accounts are a tiny % of the active accounts, it hasn't affected me or many of thousands of others.

Obviously you didn't bother to read the thread that I attached.

There have been several threads regarding this..

The most affected folk were those doing extensions based on marriage using money in bank method.

This only requires funds to be seasoned for two months.

Many were blindsided by this rogue freezing of account for 4 months.

Granted did not affect extensions retirement where many folk just lock away 800k ongoing.

Suggest do some research to be informed.