Bangkok Bank Won't Give Me Access To My Bank Account Without The Bank Book?

[rainman]

I have a foreign currency account at the Bangkok Bank Sukhumvit branch since a little over a year. Everything has been going fine with it, except for last time I tried to withdraw about 30,000 Baht from it and forgot my bank book at home. I thought I would give it a try anyways, but the lady responsible for foreign accounts on the 2nd floor said that without the bank book, she could not give me access to my funds and that I always had to bring the bank book. I was about to leave and return the next day when I asked her the question of what would happen if I lost my bank book and if I could have her make a new one.

A simple question, I thought. Don't ask me why I asked it, but to my shock, she answered that if I lost the bank book I would lose access to my account and that she could not make a new bank book without me bringing the old one. That stuck like a rock inside my throat, since I have quite a large sum of foreign currency in this bank account.

I asked her once again and she confirmed that I would not have access to it anymore and that she recommends me, in her own words, not to lose the bank book. That was followed by a smile (which didn't make me feel any better).

I'm now seriously considering closing this foreign currency account at Bangkok Bank and moving the funds to another bank, perhaps Kasikorn Bank, which I've been very satisfied with. I can't believe that a bank would deny you access to your funds if you lost the bank book, but considering that this came from one of the higher bank employees gets me worried.

Has anyone experienced something like this?

[pampal]

Check with her manager to get a second opinion

[ironhut]

Yep.

Our bank book isn't something that we exactly carry around with us either...everything is done using direct deposit and the ATM card. So when we were downtown the other day, my wife went to withdrawal money at the bank when her card broke in half while removing it from her purse and placing it in the machine (fortunately I had my card and we got the cash out).

Well, my wife decided to go ahead and get the card replaced right then since we were at our normal branch. She was promptly denied by the bank employee while sitting at her desk! Now my otherwise reserved wife is kind of bent and exclaimed "It's my money. I have my broken card and plenty of ID. I don't have my bank book with me, but I've been in here plenty of times. Now make me a new card!". At this point, I was scared and wanted to make her a new card.

Anyway, the girl wasn't budging...but the manager who witnessed the ordeal knew better and had also seen my wife many times before. He basically made the girl make a new card and that was that.

Here is what I don't get: Nearly everything in Thailand can be copied while there is no attention paid to any type of patent protection...items are run out the back door of factories and sold for nearly nothing with minimal penalties or enforcement...traffic laws basically don't exist (even the police don't always wear helmets on their motorcycles)...payoffs are common for almost anything as Thailand was recently voted at the top in corruption of all Asian countries. BUT try to get a Thai employee to go against a procedure (regardless of how much it may or may not make sense) and it's almost impossible.

[JRinger]

Your comment about moving your funds to Kasikorn Bank is a good idea. They are very courtious and allowed me to withdraw funds without my bank book..they have on record and in their files a copy of my passport and driver's license.

The last time I was in Bangkok bank to update my book the teller had to print two pages on regular paper as my book was full. She told me to go over to the desk and they will make me a new book. The guy at the desk asked me for my passport and told him I only had my driver's license with me and he said he could not do it without my passport.....I was a bit upset so I told him to close my account and proceeded to fill out the withdrawal slip and took my book and gave me all my funds, several hundred thousand baht.........I found it somewhat amusing that they gave me all the money in my account with a passport but wouldn't make a new passbook......Duh

Edited March 12, 2008 by JRinger

[JRinger]

Your comment about moving your funds to Kasikorn Bank is a good idea. They are very courtious and allowed me to withdraw funds without my bank book..they have on record and in their files a copy of my passport and driver's license.

The last time I was in Bangkok bank to update my book the teller had to print two pages on regular paper as my book was full. She told me to go over to the desk and they will make me a new book. The guy at the desk asked me for my passport and told him I only had my driver's license with me and he said he could not do it without my passport.....I was a bit upset so I told him to close my account and proceeded to fill out the withdrawal slip and took my book and gave me all my funds, several hundred thousand baht.........I found it somewhat amusing that they gave me all the money in my account WITHOUT a passport but wouldn't make a new passbook......Duh

....too late to edit my last post.....corrected above in last paragraph, "without a passport"....

[haybilly]

Your comment about moving your funds to Kasikorn Bank is a good idea. They are very courtious and allowed me to withdraw funds without my bank book..they have on record and in their files a copy of my passport and driver's license.

The last time I was in Bangkok bank to update my book the teller had to print two pages on regular paper as my book was full. She told me to go over to the desk and they will make me a new book. The guy at the desk asked me for my passport and told him I only had my driver's license with me and he said he could not do it without my passport.....I was a bit upset so I told him to close my account and proceeded to fill out the withdrawal slip and took my book and gave me all my funds, several hundred thousand baht.........I found it somewhat amusing that they gave me all the money in my account WITHOUT a passport but wouldn't make a new passbook......Duh

....too late to edit my last post.....corrected above in last paragraph, "without a passport"....

Don't you just love it--that's exactly what I would have done--sometimes they are so short sighted that they can't see past the end of their nose--that's just cost them.

[jasreeve17]

Bangkok bank have a bad reputation with some people. My missus had similar problems with them when she lost her atm card. Now she has changed to K Bank, and is much happier.

Bangkok Bank seem to have procedures which are difficult to get around at times whilst other banks have simplier and more customer friendly procedures. Safety of your money is a good thing, so procedures are required, but BB do seem to lose sight of the bigger picture whilst being wrapped up in petty procedures, at times.

JRinger's example is typical of Bangkok Bank. Ridiculous to not make a bank book, but give out cash.

Siam Commercial have always been good to me...

[sleepyjohn]

Which bank book are you talking about?

Your baht account? There is no book for a foreign account is there? If there is I've never been given one and therefore never present it.

[ironhut]

...bank book issued by the Thai bank where you have your Thai account. The Thais don't typically let you do anything without it. But who carries their bank book around everywhere they go? How many of us can even find it?

These are the days of photo ID and/or ATM machines...unless, of course, you're residing in Thailand.

[barky]

I have a foreign currency account at the Bangkok Bank Sukhumvit branch since a little over a year. Everything has been going fine with it, except for last time I tried to withdraw about 30,000 Baht from it and forgot my bank book at home. I thought I would give it a try anyways, but the lady responsible for foreign accounts on the 2nd floor said that without the bank book, she could not give me access to my funds and that I always had to bring the bank book. I was about to leave and return the next day when I asked her the question of what would happen if I lost my bank book and if I could have her make a new one.

A simple question, I thought. Don't ask me why I asked it, but to my shock, she answered that if I lost the bank book I would lose access to my account and that she could not make a new bank book without me bringing the old one. That stuck like a rock inside my throat, since I have quite a large sum of foreign currency in this bank account.

I asked her once again and she confirmed that I would not have access to it anymore and that she recommends me, in her own words, not to lose the bank book. That was followed by a smile (which didn't make me feel any better).

I'm now seriously considering closing this foreign currency account at Bangkok Bank and moving the funds to another bank, perhaps Kasikorn Bank, which I've been very satisfied with. I can't believe that a bank would deny you access to your funds if you lost the bank book, but considering that this came from one of the higher bank employees gets me worried.

Has anyone experienced something like this?

There has been umpteen threads here in the past about Bangkok Bank and its dis-service.

I have a number of accounts with a few different banks, but I unfortunately have to have one also with Bangkok because my company uses them. However, I only leave a minimum amount in the account with them because of the poor and shody treatment I have received from them in the past. I would suggest to anyone if they have a choice, don't touch Bangkok bank with a barge pole.

[Ijustwannateach]

I've run into the same problems with them myself, and as a result I do as little business there as possible.

[makavelithedon]

I'm afraid this and all Thai banks epitomise a country with no outside retail banking competition and stinking of another Thai cartel club. Everday I see customers queued out the door and then some with this bank and most others. Their pathetic 2 teller branch model is a joke and their waste of paper and form filling excesses borders on a disgrace.

They couldn't give a toss! No choice except the next muppet bank down the road either for Thais or expats!.

Edited March 12, 2008 by makavelithedon

[libya 115]

I have a foreign currency account at the Bangkok Bank Sukhumvit branch since a little over a year. Everything has been going fine with it, except for last time I tried to withdraw about 30,000 Baht from it and forgot my bank book at home. I thought I would give it a try anyways, but the lady responsible for foreign accounts on the 2nd floor said that without the bank book, she could not give me access to my funds and that I always had to bring the bank book. I was about to leave and return the next day when I asked her the question of what would happen if I lost my bank book and if I could have her make a new one.

A simple question, I thought. Don't ask me why I asked it, but to my shock, she answered that if I lost the bank book I would lose access to my account and that she could not make a new bank book without me bringing the old one. That stuck like a rock inside my throat, since I have quite a large sum of foreign currency in this bank account.

I asked her once again and she confirmed that I would not have access to it anymore and that she recommends me, in her own words, not to lose the bank book. That was followed by a smile (which didn't make me feel any better).

I'm now seriously considering closing this foreign currency account at Bangkok Bank and moving the funds to another bank, perhaps Kasikorn Bank, which I've been very satisfied with. I can't believe that a bank would deny you access to your funds if you lost the bank book, but considering that this came from one of the higher bank employees gets me worried.

Has anyone experienced something like this?

You are worrying about nothing. A lost book will be replaced once the matter of its loss is reported to police, and you get a written police report (for a fee), then with your original passport and the police report and more paper work and signing forms etc. you will get a new bank book. at ANY bank.

I have been through all this (although not with Bangkok Bank). It is just a matter of demanding to see someone senior, being authoritative, well dressed (smart) and firm.

Don't worry about what some insignificant snotty female high & mighty Bangkok Bank employee tells you; she is just jealous of your wonga, while she works a 40 hour week for 9,000 baht.

Edited March 12, 2008 by libya 115

[Ijustwannateach]

It's true that at many banks (here) the main objective of the teller is to avoid work. I have had to solve certain problems (at various banks) by demanding to speak to higher level managers. For example, once when I tried to transfer money to the account of a member of my family I was told I needed to present a copy of the passport of the recipient!!!

[spasticated]

When I first came here I went to BKK Bank an opened an account. it took 5 hours, firstly told couldnt but after about1.5 hours with the wife I could. I also arranged at the same time so she could withdraw money form this account to pay for a condo as I WOULNT be in the country, she had to sign various paers and me too. On the day of the condo purchase she went to the bank and you guessed it........... they wouldnt let her withdraw any money. She got it eventually after some heated words. Thats was the end of BKK Bank for me , then I tried SCB with 1 million baht to go in first, manager said farang cannot without work permit visa etc. Walked down the raod to Kasikorn no problem and the guy there said when we go in just call him first no need to wait in line with all the other customers.

Kasikorn now for me!!

[spasticated]

<br />

I have a foreign currency account at the Bangkok Bank Sukhumvit branch since a little over a year. Everything has been going fine with it, except for last time I tried to withdraw about 30,000 Baht from it and forgot my bank book at home. I thought I would give it a try anyways, but the lady responsible for foreign accounts on the 2nd floor said that without the bank book, she could not give me access to my funds and that I always had to bring the bank book. I was about to leave and return the next day when I asked her the question of what would happen if I lost my bank book and if I could have her make a new one.<br /><br />A simple question, I thought. Don't ask me why I asked it, but to my shock, she answered that if I lost the bank book I would lose access to my account and that she could not make a new bank book without me bringing the old one. That stuck like a rock inside my throat, since I have quite a large sum of foreign currency in this bank account.<br /><br />I asked her once again and she confirmed that I would not have access to it anymore and that she recommends me, in her own words, not to lose the bank book. That was followed by a smile (which didn't make me feel any better).<br /><br />I'm now seriously considering closing this foreign currency account at Bangkok Bank and moving the funds to another bank, perhaps Kasikorn Bank, which I've been very satisfied with. I can't believe that a bank would deny you access to your funds if you lost the bank book, but considering that this came from one of the higher bank employees gets me worried.<br /><br />Has anyone experienced something like this? <img src="style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="ohmy.gif" />

<br /><br />There has been umpteen threads here in the past about Bangkok Bank and its dis-service.<br />I have a number of accounts with a few different banks, but I unfortunately have to have one also with Bangkok because my company uses them. However, I only leave a minimum amount in the account with them because of the poor and shody treatment I have received from them in the past. I would suggest to anyone if they have a choice, don't touch Bangkok bank with a barge pole.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Theres no doubt now the they will voted "bank of the year" here now then!! Theyr'e sh!te!!

[wasabi]

I cannot understand why they use passbook/bankbooks here in Thailand? They do just fine in the USA without them. It seems like a relic of the 70s to have this d clunky machine with ot matrix printer scanning a barcode and filling out your transactions in a general ledger. Why? All this information is in their computers, why do we need to carry it around?

[TheAceFace]

What I can not understand with BKK bank is that, why do you have to go to the actual branch where you opened your ccount to get a new bank book, mine is know full and I have been told that I need to go back to BKK (we now live in Pattaya) just to get a new book?....madness??

Can anybody confirm this to be true or will the main branch in Pattaya be able to do this? Surely they must have access to each account to make a replacement book.

[IMA_FARANG]

I have a foreign currency account at the Bangkok Bank Sukhumvit branch since a little over a year. Everything has been going fine with it, except for last time I tried to withdraw about 30,000 Baht from it and forgot my bank book at home. I thought I would give it a try anyways, but the lady responsible for foreign accounts on the 2nd floor said that without the bank book, she could not give me access to my funds and that I always had to bring the bank book. I was about to leave and return the next day when I asked her the question of what would happen if I lost my bank book and if I could have her make a new one.

A simple question, I thought. Don't ask me why I asked it, but to my shock, she answered that if I lost the bank book I would lose access to my account and that she could not make a new bank book without me bringing the old one. That stuck like a rock inside my throat, since I have quite a large sum of foreign currency in this bank account.

I asked her once again and she confirmed that I would not have access to it anymore and that she recommends me, in her own words, not to lose the bank book. That was followed by a smile (which didn't make me feel any better).

I'm now seriously considering closing this foreign currency account at Bangkok Bank and moving the funds to another bank, perhaps Kasikorn Bank, which I've been very satisfied with. I can't believe that a bank would deny you access to your funds if you lost the bank book, but considering that this came from one of the higher bank employees gets me worried.

Has anyone experienced something like this?

Yes...basically you won't get access to your account if you have lost your bank book. It's never happened to be but you won't even be able to deposit mony into your account without that bank book.

I have a joint account, on time went to the bank to take out about 10,000 baht. My Thai girlfriend had left the bankbook in her purse, and she wasn't available at the time. She had the ATM card also.

However, if you have identification (a passport will do) you can go to the Main Bangkok Bank (It used to be on Silom road I believe, altough it's been years since I went there). When you filled out your account information (when you first open your account) they should have taken your info. If you can identify yourself properly, you may be able to get your account verified at the head Bangkok Bank office.

Now it wil also cost you a fee and a penalty to renew that bankbook. And be warned, if you have lost the bankbook, it will take a a day or twobefore the process of canceling that bankbook, and getting a new one to you. I was told until the old bankbook was canceled, I would be reponsible for any money that was taken out with the old bankbook.

One other thing, although most branches won't do this, if you can prove a regular series of deposits coming in (i.e. foriegn wire transfers and one of the senior branch managers happens to know you (the senior foriegn transfer clerk in one of the Sukhumvit branches knows both me and my Thai girlfrind by sight). That teller may call the main branch and start the proceedure of canceling thw old bankbook. You will still have to go to the main branch to pick up your new book.

So the upshot is don't lose your bankbook.

P,S. I think you will find most banks will not let you withraw money without your bankbook.

[IMA_FARANG]

Yep.

Our bank book isn't something that we exactly carry around with us either...everything is done using direct deposit and the ATM card. So when we were downtown the other day, my wife went to withdrawal money at the bank when her card broke in half while removing it from her purse and placing it in the machine (fortunately I had my card and we got the cash out).

Well, my wife decided to go ahead and get the card replaced right then since we were at our normal branch. She was promptly denied by the bank employee while sitting at her desk! Now my otherwise reserved wife is kind of bent and exclaimed "It's my money. I have my broken card and plenty of ID. I don't have my bank book with me, but I've been in here plenty of times. Now make me a new card!". At this point, I was scared and wanted to make her a new card.

Anyway, the girl wasn't budging...but the manager who witnessed the ordeal knew better and had also seen my wife many times before. He basically made the girl make a new card and that was that.

Here is what I don't get: Nearly everything in Thailand can be copied while there is no attention paid to any type of patent protection...items are run out the back door of factories and sold for nearly nothing with minimal penalties or enforcement...traffic laws basically don't exist (even the police don't always wear helmets on their motorcycles)...payoffs are common for almost anything as Thailand was recently voted at the top in corruption of all Asian countries. BUT try to get a Thai employee to go against a procedure (regardless of how much it may or may not make sense) and it's almost impossible.

Another whinging Pom complaining about Thailand. Seriously unless you had:

1. A photo id which was on file with the bank

2. Your bankbook

3. Signature verification (in which the bank has your signature on file, and they can verify it by having you sign a blank piece of paper.

then you would'nt get a cent of of a U.S. bank. Would you really be able to withdraw mony in London without the proper I.D. checks?

ATM cards are different.

[kudroz]

I somewhat understand why she told you could not -ever- access your funds without showing your bankbook. Customer service jobs in Thailand teaches "common robotic" instead of common sense. The bank obviously does not trust their clerks to use judgement, but instead will force upon them strict procedures - a series of steps they must follow in every situations.

I had unpleasant encounters with Bangkok Bank and Ayudhya clerks. I once was at a Bangkok Bank service counter asking for a "Bank Draft". After repeating a dozen time, one of the nearby clerk shouted loudly: "Ahh! you sir want Bank Drapt!" followed by laughter and the word farang repeated profusely among the 5 nearby clerks laughing for a good minute. I suppose they found it amusing that I was pronouncing it "Draft" and not "Drapt". It was rather embarrassing.

We now bank with Standard Chartered and United Overseas Bank (UOB). We get to deal with bilingual account managers who have more wisdom and power in their functions. They visited our office quite a few times to accommodate our new employees to open their bank/payroll account. We are moderately happy, it is definitely a huge improvement from the customer service we received from common Thai banks.

Edited June 11, 2008 by kudroz

[thaihome]

I cannot understand why they use passbook/bankbooks here in Thailand? They do just fine in the USA without them. It seems like a relic of the 70s to have this d clunky machine with ot matrix printer scanning a barcode and filling out your transactions in a general ledger. Why? All this information is in their computers, why do we need to carry it around?

This is why they are called developing nations. You cannot have it both ways…

TH

[bratpack]

I use siam commercial bank in Pattya,the one by Tops and the service is brilliant there.Female employees are at the door and invite you in,ask what you need and even fill in paperwork for you if you are not sure what to do.Last week i went in to get a new savings account book,and the lady asked for my passport which i had forgotten.She accepted my thai driving license no problem.A new book was done and i just had to sign to say the money transfer from the old book was correct.The manager came to me a few months ago and saw i was putting money into my account and he asked me if i wanted to take advantage of a fund which will give me 3.2% over a 3 month period providing i didnt withdraw any,so i accepted this and 3 months later i got 32,000 baht profit.

Listening to many expats,including myself regarding the poor service in thailand i have the highest regard for the staff at siam bank.

[Samuian]

the story behind the "Bank Book" (Savings Account) whatever and changes, issuing a new ATM Card etc. only at the branch where your account is registered, is some sort of safeguard against fraud!

Easy...!

If one's not happy with this service at a particular bank, try another one!

It is as it is!