I recently updated my account information and was instructed to visit my local branch with my passport and visa documents.

I did exactly that and was told the bank was carrying out additional security checks due to increasing concerns about fraud, account misuse, and people attempting to access accounts that are not their own. Everything was updated, and I left with the app working normally.

A few days later, after returning from a business trip on 3 June, I discovered on 4 June that I could no longer access the mobile banking app. I received a message instructing me to return to the bank with my passport yet again.

On 5 June, I spent almost two hours at my local branch while staff worked through the issue. Branches in rural areas do not always deal with these situations as frequently as those in Bangkok, so the process took some time.

The deputy manager explained that Krung Thai was introducing stronger security measures as part of updates to its mobile banking system. She also advised that my passport needed to be recognised as an e-passport for the app's enhanced verification process. My passport does contain an electronic chip, so further checks were carried out before the registration could proceed.

Eventually, the staff deleted my banking app profile and re-registered everything from scratch, including identity verification, photographs, passport checks, and mobile banking credentials.

The result is that I can now use the app again, but there is an additional layer of security. Transactions of up to 1,000 baht process normally. For transactions above 1,000 baht, the app now requires me to complete a facial recognition check by taking a live selfie before the payment is approved.

I used the system successfully yesterday, and it worked exactly as described.

The bank advised that this requirement is temporary and that after approximately 7 to 10 successful verified transactions, the system should recognise me as a trusted user on my device and no longer require a selfie for every transaction above 1,000 baht.

While I cannot say whether every customer will experience the same process, it appears that Krung Thai is continuing to strengthen identity verification and fraud prevention measures. Particularly following account updates, app reinstallation, document renewal, or changes to customer information.

So, if you are a foreign customer and suddenly find yourself locked out of the app or being asked to revisit the branch after updating your details, don't panic.

It may simply be part of the bank's latest security and biometric verification procedures, rather than a problem with your account.

Has anyone else recently experienced similar requirements with Krung Thai or other Thai banks?

Similar hassles at KBank now, need to go in person to sort things out later I think.

All this heightened security and hyper-scrutiny of all transactions involving foreigners is resulting in a mindset taking hold among bank staff that foreigners are second-class customers who are not to be trusted and deserve to be treated like potential criminals.

I'm in the process of moving all my accounts from Bangkok Bank to SCB for this very reason, but if SCB starts doing the same thing, I'm going to keep the amount of money and level of transactions with any Thai bank down to an absolute minimum.

I'm really disgusted with the high-handed police state approach Thai banks are taking in their approach to managing foreign customers.

Edited just now1 min by Gecko123