"15 May 2026"

New Feature! You can now customize your purchsse limits on your debit card for enhanced security. From July 9, 2026 you can set your purchase limits for each transaction type by yourself. the default limit for each transaction is 5,000 baht per transaction. You can change your purchase limits 24/7 via the Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking or Bangkok Bank Call Center 1333(select language and press *13 valid for debit cards and digital debit cards with a physical card only)"

Do not be fooled by this message changing anything with this bank is not easy. Last time they lowered my daily Prompt Pay purchase limit (of course I was never told) and I could not pay rent until I went into the branch and needed the assistance of a bank employee to change the limit. Also calling 1333 is not easy to change the limit as well. The entire Bangkok Bank face scan to verify the account holder to make changes to the account does not work well. It can take multiple attempt to scan an account holders face into the bank database. . I found out at the branch the previous scan of my face was not in the bank database. My face was scanned into the bank database just six months earlier when I advised the bank of my new passport. Scanning one's face into the Bangkok Bank app is not like using an iPhone or an iPad (these devices work well) but the bank app not so much.) Lastly why is the default daily limit for using the debit card set at 5,000?

41 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

I could not pay rent until I went into the branch and needed the assistance of a bank employee to change the limit. Also calling 1333 is not easy to change the limit as well

I can change my debit card limits in less than a minute using the BBL smartphone app. I keep it at zero until I am about to use the card, which is quite rare. Only used it for AliExpress once in the last year. I do occasionally need it to deposit cash otherwise I'd just cancel it. About once a year, somebody tries to use my card in the USA.... LOL. I don't bother changing my card because the thieves have about 2 minutes a year to get any of my very small balance. My BBL account is just a backup in case my 'real' accounts are inaccessible .

Edited May 15May 15 by gamb00ler

The original Thai language message mentions 'categories หมวดหมู่ '. However, it doesn't give a hint as to what those categories are so I went to my BB branch hoping they might have more info. They did have some info but even that was confusing so I left it that. The other problem was that I don't use an app on my phone (don't use mobile banking) but use my debit card for some sunbsriptions online. Were these to be treated as the same? That is, the rule change is for all debit cards or only those with mobile banking. The answer added to confusion. I was told that those with mobile banking all categories were affected while those who use the debit card as I do would have some categories affected and some categories unaffected...I didn't enquire further. Then I was told something that wasn't hinted at all in the original message, that the rule change was for all new debit cards and not for those with considerable time to expiration date.

Think I'll just wait and see😀

Edited May 16May 16 by parallelman

yeah, I have banked with them forever it seems, never had any problems then like the above, dropped the limit to 5K and I have a daughter going to college right now in Korea who needs more than that each month for rent, etc living expenses. When tuition comes around again, I need that money right now - called the bank they said oh yeah need to re-do the photo of acct holder and change to whatever level you want. Went down the street to the local bank, 5 minutes later all taken care of with zero problems, even no waiting as soon as we entered the bank. Waste of time to argue anything especially since it is so easy to fix. I expect at some point foreign banks to hesitate about doing the requirements for foreign bank account holders. Even the US has recently changed some bank rules so I guess in the future more changes will come as they seem to have us at their mercy to keep accounts if we live overseas and our money is coming from our home country. best of luck to all.

The OP's reported experiences make me all the more determined to stick with BBL's internet banking service and have absolutely nothing to do with their lousy app & related facial recognition nonsense, for as long as is humanly possible. With internet banking I have a ฿200k daily limit (albeit in ฿50k chunks), which is more than adequate for my needs.

11 minutes ago, OJAS said:

The OP's reported experiences make me all the more determined to stick with BBL's internet banking service and have absolutely nothing to do with their lousy app & related facial recognition nonsense, for as long as is humanly possible. With internet banking I have a ฿200k daily limit (albeit in ฿50k chunks), which is more than adequate for my needs.

Agreed. Long may it last! I hope they won't get rid of their internet banking anytime soon.

18 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

I can change my debit card limits in less than a minute using the BBL smartphone app. I keep it at zero until I am about to use the card, which is quite rare. Only used it for AliExpress once in the last year. I do occasionally need it to deposit cash otherwise I'd just cancel it. About once a year, somebody tries to use my card in the USA.... LOL. I don't bother changing my card because the thieves have about 2 minutes a year to get any of my very small balance. My BBL account is just a backup in case my 'real' accounts are inaccessible .

You can lock or unlock your debit card via a button on the app using Lock / unlock debit card.

44 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

You can lock or unlock your debit card via a button on the app using Lock / unlock debit card.

Thanks.... I do remember that at one time I used that feature... but then I seemed to forget it was available and went to changing the limit instead

9 minutes ago, gamb00ler said:

Thanks.... I do remember that at one time I used that feature... but then I seemed to forget it was available and went to changing the limit instead

I know what you mean, I put my limit down two years ago and then forgot about it, when I tried to buy something from Lazada, the purchase was rejected, the next day I remember why. 😄