It seems Bangkok Bank are still making rules with the intent to drive customers away? I usually send money to my sister-in-law from my pension every month. She banks with BKK bank. They are poor and for both of us it is a struggle as my UK pension is not very large, my government are very mean to the elderly in spite of us paying in our entire lives.

Apparently BKK bank are getting selective with customers because apart from their draconian rule locking my 400,000 for 4 months (I'm 80, what happens if I get sick?) they have now imposed a minimum balance of 2000 baht.

Now, this doesn't affect me but it does affect my SIL as to her, like many poor people, 2000 baht is big money. So it seems BKK Bank are using these rules to drive away small account holders and also those of us with slightly more funds. I am still angry at their blackmail before Christmas, "either accept a 4 month freeze on your 400,000 or we won't give you the letter for immigration" they said. My wife says stay with them as I use Kasikorn for all day to day banking but I would like to close my BKK account and open one with, say, Siam Commercial or one of the others. My wife insists BKK are safer, but with these arbitrary rules ignoring customers rights and opinions I am not so sure.

What do you guys think?

For SIL we are telling her to close the BKK account and open with Kasikorn as UK direct transfers with WISE usually take seconds (not today though - 2 hours!) but BKK bank can take up to 3 days so they have no advantages anymore.

If your sister-in-law can't afford to leave 2,000 in her acct, then better for her to open an account at SCB or another bank that doesn't have a minimum balance requirement.

As for your situation, Kasikorn would be a a great bank to use for your yearly extensions. I used them when I was on yearly extensions.

As far as I know, the ฿2000.- balance rule applies to E-Savings accounts, which aren't the same as Savings accounts. The balance for Savings accounts required is ฿500.-. I went under that and received notice of the fact and was told to replenish, no penalties. Bangkok Bank recently let me know that I was limited to withdrawing the maximum sum of two million Baht in one day, which was nice of them.

Do we know ANYONE that has an E-Savings account?

38 minutes ago, cooked said:

As far as I know, the ฿2000.- balance rule applies to E-Savings accounts, which aren't the same as Savings accounts. The balance for Savings accounts required is ฿500.-. I went under that and received notice of the fact and was told to replenish, no penalties. Bangkok Bank recently let me know that I was limited to withdrawing the maximum sum of two million Baht in one day, which was nice of them.

Do we know ANYONE that has an E-Savings account?

Told my wife to get SIL to check but we both feel she needs to change banks anyway, BKK seem to be in anti-customer mode.

There's no minimum 2000 baht balance requirement for Bangkok Bank savings accounts. Mine, which I mainly use for inbound SWIFT transfers which I then send on to other banks in due course, goes below 2000 baht on a regular basis for a few weeks time without any issues.

If an account is dormant, on the other hand, having less than 2000 baht in it will result in its closure long-term.

What AI says. There was some plan for 2000 minimum. Quickly revoked.

As of March 10, 2026, Bangkok Bank has indefinitely postponed its planned 2,000-baht minimum balance requirement for e-Savings and Bualuang Extra Digital accounts. Standard savings accounts typically require a 500-baht minimum to open, while basic banking accounts have no minimum balance requirements.

Bangkok Bank +4

Key Details on Bangkok Bank Balances:

• Digital Accounts (e-Savings/Bualuang Extra): The proposed 2,000-baht minimum was delayed due to customer inconvenience.

• Standard Savings: A minimum deposit of 500 baht is needed to open a standard savings account.

• Current Account: Requires a minimum deposit of 10,000 baht at opening.

• Basic Banking Account: Offers no minimum opening balance or maintenance fee.

  Bangkok Bank +5

Note: It is advisable to check with the bank directly for the most current, account-specific requirements, as policies can change.

If SIL belongs to the poor peasants she could try BAAC.

The agricultural bank.

Ok, thanks for the updates, looks like SIL is behind the curve on this. She doesn't want to change banks anyway according to my wife but now seems there is no problem.

My main account is with Krungsri (Ayudhya) Bank. I've had it for over 20 years now and have never had any problems with it.

I also have a Bangkok Bank account because about 6 years ago, when I got a COVID payment from the US, a was paid by a paper check. I tried several banks, but Bangkok Bank was the only bank that would cash the check for me because my name on it was truncated. The only reason they accepted it was that one of the tellers had previously worked in Bangkok and had seen truncated names on US checks before.

I recently had a "problem" with a Bangkok Bank ATM. It was outside a 7-11, and the sun was shining on the display, so I could barely read it. I put in my Krungsri Bank card, entered my PIN, and went to the WITHDRAW page to withdraw a couple of thousand baht. I then pressed the "Withdraw" button, and the ATM began dispensing money onto the output shelf. When I opened it up and took out the money, I found I had been given 25 1,000-baht notes! So, now I have to make a trip to my Krungsri Bank and redeposit 20,000 baht.

Asked Krungsri branch I just visited... in summary - if your SIL has balance below 2k in her account, and has no withdrawals or deposits over a period of time, her account could be suspended, requiring branch visit to activate it again, by face ID and depositing something again.

20 hours ago, cliveshep said:

Ok, thanks for the updates, looks like SIL is behind the curve on this. She doesn't want to change banks anyway according to my wife but now seems there is no problem.

I have been with BKK Bank since 2002 and never and issue

Regarding the 400k being locked for 4 months, I viewed a video yesterday where they showed the letter a person received from Bangkok Bank explaining why the funds will be locked for 4 months. The letter claimed it was required by the Thai Central Bank. According to the letter it is the government requiring this. The letter presented was in Thai so I can not verify this claim.

It was in a YouTube video posted by Integrity Legal.

1 hour ago, statman78 said:

Regarding the 400k being locked for 4 months, I viewed a video yesterday where they showed the letter a person received from Bangkok Bank explaining why the funds will be locked for 4 months. The letter claimed it was required by the Thai Central Bank. According to the letter it is the government requiring this. The letter presented was in Thai so I can not verify this claim.

It was in a YouTube video posted by Integrity Legal.

Strange that it's only BBL and not other banks.

On 3/19/2026 at 10:24 AM, cliveshep said:

we are telling her to close the BKK account and open with Kasikorn as UK direct transfers with WISE usually take seconds (not today though - 2 hours!) but BKK bank can take up to 3 days so they have no advantages anymore.

Just had the same problem with Wise.
First instant " arrive in 46 minutes " , second instant before hitting send " arrive Monday 23rd March " .
Spoke to WISE support and they sent me this .

3 hours ago, garygooner said:

Strange that it's only BBL and not other banks.

I agree. I wonder if the other banks are ignoring the requirement hoping it will be cancelled.

16 minutes ago, statman78 said:

I agree. I wonder if the other banks are ignoring the requirement hoping it will be cancelled.

There is no such mandatory requirement from BOT. The 4-month freeze amount to get a bank certificate for visa renewal is pure independent, voluntary policy of Bangkok Bank.

On 3/19/2026 at 12:50 PM, KhunBENQ said:

If SIL belongs to the poor peasants

Ouch!

11 hours ago, flexomike said:

I have been with BKK Bank since 2002 and never and issue

I've had both BBL and KBank accounts since 1990. Worked here (legally) for 30 years and have credit cards from both since early 90's. Had mortgages from both. While I agree that BBL has deteriorated in the last few years, it is only its in-bank processes that have gone downhill. However, their online banking was market leading (better than my US/AUS/SIN/HKG banks) for many years. Now, KBank is clearly leading in this space. If you've ever dealt with AUS banks, you'll understand what I mean.

On 3/20/2026 at 2:07 PM, pdinbkk said:

I've had both BBL and KBank accounts since 1990. Worked here (legally) for 30 years and have credit cards from both since early 90's. Had mortgages from both. While I agree that BBL has deteriorated in the last few years, it is only its in-bank processes that have gone downhill. However, their online banking was market leading (better than my US/AUS/SIN/HKG banks) for many years. Now, KBank is clearly leading in this space. If you've ever dealt with AUS banks, you'll understand what I mean.

You are quite the silverback expat grinder!