Bank America Bangkok Bank

[Swelters]

As of June 16 new chapter seems to have opened: bank America has now instituted a gismo called safepass needed for all transfers over $1000. This appears to block most useful international use of transfers via computer....or is there a workaround?

For example can transfers be done by phone?

Swelters

Edited June 16, 2009 by Swelters

[Electra]

Surely it's just another security feature that will benefit you and allow higher amounts to be transferred ?

Looking at their website it's simply a matter of registering whereupon online banking instructions are further safeguarded by you inputting a unique code automatically sent to your mobile phone.

[grantbkk]

I just used the Bank of America yesterday to transfer money to my Thai account at SCB. This is done via the telephone to the bank's wire room operation. You need to set up the wire transfer process with B of A. the 800 number I use on Skype is +1(800)7299473 and the direct number is +1(925)6758696. Using Skype there is absolutely no charges for the telephone call. Once you get a PIN from the bank you're in business. The process takes 8 to 10 hours from the time you call B of A until the money is in your account here. The time it takes to get your money may vary because I know SCB and B of A have a special relationship.

[Spee]

As of June 16 new chapter seems to have opened: bank America has now instituted a gismo called safepass needed for all transfers over $1000.

From external appearances, it appears to just be an implementation of "two-factor" security. My US bank implemented online two-factor security 2 or 3 years ago. Some UK and other banks did it before then. Most large corporations have been using it for VPN authentication for many years. As long as you aren't paying any extra for it, be thankful for the added security and don't lose any sleep over it.

[thaihome]

The problem with the safepass is it appears it will only send the code to a US phone and not to an international number. There is an option to get a safepass card for $20 that will generat the PIN. I assume that will work overseas.

TH

[Swelters]

The problem with the safepass is it appears it will only send the code to a US phone and not to an international number. There is an option to get a safepass card for $20 that will generat the PIN. I assume that will work overseas.

TH

Yes, my concern is for those of us who have been using the $3 online transfer operation to BB New York which has offered good albeit very erratic service. Needless to say, Safepass mobile will not text to overseas phone numbers (7 digits only) and I can hardly imagine that the $20 safepass gizmo is going to work overseas so it seems to me that we are out of business. Hard to believe BofA, stupid as they seem to be, would dump all their international business this way.

I wonder if there is a way to set up skype with a dummy US telephone number so that text messages are forwarded to skype, or....??? I suppose you could have them text a friend's number and then retrieve the code but they probably put a short expiration time on it.

I'm not thankful at all, I don't ever accept any of these bright corporate assurances that "it's all for the customer's good" Just look at the sneaky way they introduced this "service" made you re-sign their security agreement before letting you on the site--without telling you what was up.

Swelters

Edited June 17, 2009 by Swelters

[autonomous_unit]

If it's a normal SecureID card, it will work anywhere. It basically is a small high-accuracy clock running on internal battery, and produces psuedo-random numbers based on the clock and a unique key assigned to the user and installed in the card. The bank will run the same psuedo-random generator using their own high-accuracy clock (and their record of your unique key) so they can they see that you're providing the correct key for "you" at the time of the transaction request.

[Swelters]

If it's a normal SecureID card, it will work anywhere. It basically is a small high-accuracy clock running on internal battery, and produces psuedo-random numbers based on the clock and a unique key assigned to the user and installed in the card. The bank will run the same psuedo-random generator using their own high-accuracy clock (and their record of your unique key) so they can they see that you're providing the correct key for "you" at the time of the transaction request.

That's a big help, thanks. Interesting technology, I guess you have two random number generators that mimic each other. Does it have a time limit on it? For can you get a code from the card then use it a week later?

[MeetJohnDoe]

I don't understand anything you guys are talking about...seems like a big hassle to me. Why not just switch banks? With Citibank, I can do such transfers online (no telephone charges) and the international wire fee ranges from free to US$ 20 depending the the value of your bank balance. Citi instituted additional security a couple years ago for wire-transfers too...you have to request that a code be sent to your email address (from the wire-transfer page) and then when received (usually a couple seconds) input that code to complete your wire-transfer request. Simple.

[Swelters]

I don't understand anything you guys are talking about...seems like a big hassle to me. Why not just switch banks? With Citibank, I can do such transfers online (no telephone charges) and the international wire fee ranges from free to US$ 20 depending the the value of your bank balance. Citi instituted additional security a couple years ago for wire-transfers too...you have to request that a code be sent to your email address (from the wire-transfer page) and then when received (usually a couple seconds) input that code to complete your wire-transfer request. Simple.

I think some people like to make small say weekly transfers and resist paying wire fees which I thought were in the $50 plus range. maybe Citibank rates are much better, worth investigating.

[autonomous_unit]

That's a big help, thanks. Interesting technology, I guess you have two random number generators that mimic each other. Does it have a time limit on it? For can you get a code from the card then use it a week later?

Yes, the codes are limited in time. Normally to a scale of a few minutes. The idea is that possessing the current code more or less proves that you have control of the card. It shows the code on LCD, and you type that code back into the request form. The SecureID card looks a lot like those pocket/credit-card style calculators you used to see around.

[Pib]

The SafePass system only works with 10 digit U.S. cell phone numbers (i.e., won't work on your overseas cell phone service since adding the additional country/city codes takes you beyond 10 digits...plus the BOA web site/customer service responses state the SafePass service only works with certain cell phone services and not in all states...only works mostly on the big cell service carriers)....and you can't get a SafePass Card ordered/shipped to an address outside the U.S., to include U.S. APO addresses (during the last stages/clicks of the online SafeCard ordering process you get an error message to try later...but trying later over and over does not help...I guess military and civilian customers of BOA stationed overseas will just have to suck it up, live with the online banking limitations created by the inability to use SafePass, or cancel their account(s) with BOA). This SafePass info per my telephone calls and emails to/from BOA Customer Service over the pass few days--a very frustrating interchange--BOA is definitely "servicing" customers stationed/traveling outside the U.S.!

[Heng]

Still great that they are coming out with new security protocol. Some of my banks (smaller Texas banks) have yet to even adopt paperless statements (a security issue in itself).

[farangene]

The SafePass system only works with 10 digit U.S. cell phone numbers (i.e., won't work on your overseas cell phone service since adding the additional country/city codes takes you beyond 10 digits...plus the BOA web site/customer service responses state the SafePass service only works with certain cell phone services and not in all states...only works mostly on the big cell service carriers)...--a very frustrating interchange--BOA is definitely "servicing" customers stationed/traveling outside the U.S.!

A possible solution would be to get a Magicjack gizmo. That way you would have your own US telephone number and could call from anywhere in the world to the US for free. You would have to have someone from the US forward the Magicjack to you as they do not mail them to foreign countries.

Search on Thaivisa as there was a thread about it in the last 6-8 months.

[thaihome]

The SafePass system only works with 10 digit U.S. cell phone numbers (i.e., won't work on your overseas cell phone service since adding the additional country/city codes takes you beyond 10 digits...plus the BOA web site/customer service responses state the SafePass service only works with certain cell phone services and not in all states...only works mostly on the big cell service carriers)....and you can't get a SafePass Card ordered/shipped to an address outside the U.S., to include U.S. APO addresses (during the last stages/clicks of the online SafeCard ordering process you get an error message to try later...but trying later over and over does not help...I guess military and civilian customers of BOA stationed overseas will just have to suck it up, live with the online banking limitations created by the inability to use SafePass, or cancel their account(s) with BOA). This SafePass info per my telephone calls and emails to/from BOA Customer Service over the pass few days--a very frustrating interchange--BOA is definitely "servicing" customers stationed/traveling outside the U.S.!

Many people working or living overseas maintain a US address with a relative or mail forwarding company just for cases such as these.

TH

[delmersomsri]

As of June 16 new chapter seems to have opened: bank America has now instituted a gismo called safepass needed for all transfers over $1000. This appears to block most useful international use of transfers via computer....or is there a workaround?

For example can transfers be done by phone?

Swelters

I use CHASE. My internet banking with them so far has worked quite well for us, stateside and now here in Bangkok. BOA it appears to have just added another line of security to your wire transfer process. It does seem very inconvient though. Chase wire transfer via internet is just a matter of intering the from and to info and clicking send. They ALERT me via email of the transaction. No response means I confirm. To respond will stop the action. Their wire transfer fee is $40USD for any amount. The process is a lot more complicated if I try to do any banking with them on another computer. My accounts recognise this IP address. Any other IP will reqiure telephone confirmation and pass code set up. Thankfully I have Skype International calling service($36/yr) if needed. Chok dee krap.