My wife and I are planning to move to Chang Mai next year. She asked SCB what the procedure was to transfer our accounts to the Chang Mai branch.

Our bank replied that we can't transfer accounts. All our accounts need to be closed and new ones opened.

It seems ridiculous that we can't transfer our accounts to a new branch.

Can anyone who has moved to a different branch confirm what our local SCB said.

You have to open new accounts and close old accounts AFAIK. Has always been the procedure here - and they hate to close accounts so will likely say leave a few baht.

There are likely several dozen branch of SCB in Chiang Mai so best you set up where you want prior to move and just transfer (at a cost) or carry your funds.

Other banks are the same; When I relocated a few years ago I tried this at Kasikorn and TMB and they said they couldn't transfer to another branch. It's a minor inconvenience in the scheme of things but nothing less than I'd expect from Thai banks. I just closed the accounts and opened a Bangkok Bank account.

You can change your address which is what I have done. Same account, but home address in another province.

Bank accounts are allocated per branch per province and that is why they can't be moved.

Same experience trying to transfer an account from bangkok to Pattaya.

And when you try to open a new account they will still ask to see your Work Permit even though you have an existing account with them.

Open new accounts in new province. Only docs needed is Passport or Thai ID card

If you want to keep old accounts, make sure balance is above SCB limit to avoid monthly fees. If not withdraw every satang and bank closes in 6 months