Bangkok Bank: No internet banking for Thailand Elite card holder

[simon43]

These guys suck big time.

I have had a savings account with BB for 14 years, but without internet banking because I never required this.

I own businesses in Phuket, but reside here on an Elite visa - because I do not need to work...

I asked BB to add an internet banking facility to my account and they refused. Apparently, if I had a work permit and received a few baht in monthly salary, then they would do this. But because I don't work and only invest in the country (> 30 million baht in investment capital in my hotels), I can't get internet banking...

Toerags the lot of them - anyone suggest a more friendly bank that offers ibanking?

[gerry1011]

Strange... I have internet Banking with BB since years...

[Crossy]

Have you tried signing up via an ATM (apply for service)?

All fully automagic, never asked for any documentation (was a while back mind).

[richard_smith237]

With so much time and money invested in Thailand I'm surprised at your naivety.

Try another branch and / or others options.... Staff here don't give two hoots about giving a negative response.

A 'not sure' or 'don't know' most often turns into a cannot simply because staff are too lazy to get involved....

[Briggsy]

Siam Commercial's SCB Easy Net.

Very good.

No need to ask the bank. Customers register themselves.

[simon43]

With so much time and money invested in Thailand I'm surprised at your naivety

...Try another branch

Yes, I'm aware of that option. Perhaps surprisingly to you, I am not going to spend my time going from bank-branch to bank-branch, in the hope of finding one who is willing to bend the rules.

I'll contact Thai Panit - thanks Briggsy for the suggestion.

[yankee99]

You can have a bkk bank account opened on soi bukhao in pattaya with internet banking on a 30 day exemption entry

[gudtymchuk]

Unless the rules have changed the OP is getting the run around. I've had BKK I-Banking for several years. Bit of a hassle as I cannot have my wife on the account but I get around that by transferring from the i-bank account into a joint account... which by the way on the joint account we can not have internet access... go figure.

Edited December 24, 2015 by gudtymchuk

[yankee99]

bk bank even gave my business internet banking https://bizibanking.bangkokbank.com

[lopburi3]

If account is joint or they have you listed as a tourist you must visit a branch to open internet banking with Bangkok Bank - but it is easy once you file the application - but most branch offices do not know the rules so you my have to tell them.

You hold a tourist visa or non-immigrant visa e.g. ED, EX, F, IB, IM, M, O, O-A, R, RS, D, F, SE, MT, S

(except non-immigrant L-A visa)

1. Valid passport, and
2. ONE of the following documents:
   
   2.1 An identity card with your photo issued by a government institution or university as such as:
   
   - Your driver’s license, Foreign Identification Card, University Student/Professor Card
   
   2.2 A letter of recommendation from
   
   - Embassy, International Organization, Customer’s home bank to Bangkok Bank via the SWIFT message, a person acceptable to Bangkok Bank (such as BBL staff, customer, government officer, company executive, private firms), or home country institutions (such as pension receipt)
   
   2.3 Other documents issued in Thailand showing your name such as:
   
   - Bank Statement, lease agreement, utility bill, documents showing owners of a fixed asset Condominium e.g. Sale/Purchase Agreement

[Don Mega]

With so much time and money invested in Thailand I'm surprised at your naivety.

To be fair he has married, built hotels for the wives and divorced.... 4 times now I think it is.

so that 30 million is spread over a few ladies.

[simon43]

I've vented my anger by email at BB's customer service department.

Yes, I know they will do sweet F.A. about my complaint, but it has helped to reduce my blood pressure

4 times now I think it is

How dare you?! It is no more than 3 times

Edited December 24, 2015 by simon43

[steve187]

I've vented my anger by email at BB's customer service department.

Yes, I know they will do sweet F.A. about my complaint, but it has helped to reduce my blood pressure

4 times now I think it is

How dare you?! It is no more than 3 times

the most important thing ' low blood pressure' but not as low as single digits.

[WhizBang]

Oh please. I am retired and have been in Thailand almost 15 years. I do not work. I got an internet account access years ago. When I asked about it all they asked me was what kind of visa I had. At the time it was a one year non-O multi entry. No problem. Fill out a form and was signed up immediately.

I would suggest trying at a different branch. By the way, I am on a Thai Elite visa now. Still evaluating it.

[simon43]

I got Thailand Elite Customer Service to contact BB as well and they got the same message from them ==> no WP, no ibanking.

[Pib]

Go to a Bangkok Bank ATM and apply. Here's the Bangkok Bank weblink which gives instructions/ATM screen shots of the application process. Link

[poohy]

Strange! got internet banking on all my/our accounts including the Joint accounts

Branches service and knowledge do differ however........ just opened a company US dollar account with my local BKK bank and not at my main branch in Bangkok and OH GOD was that excruciatingly painful!

[4evermaat]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/260738-opening-a-new-bank-account-in-thailand/?p=10187812

Some one with means such as yourself should look hard at your network of thai or foreigner friends/clients. I'm sure one of them knows someone who works at a bank. Open the acct or internet banking with that person. That is probably the LEAST stressful approach. Mention that you do not have work permit, but you have a long stay visa. Say "non-immigrant" (closest resemblance to PE/TE). Bring a copy of a utility bill (phone/internet) in your name, other bank books, a thai child, etc. to establish a long term connection to thailand. Be calm, smile, and show some polite persistence (humility), even if they are being an <deleted>

Even if it means some travel once or twice INITIALLY to set it up....even in a different province.

I know you may feel like with the TE visa and/or xxx million baht, it should be a no-questions-asked thing. But internet banking is something you just have to do ONCE. Then you just "add" other accts of the same bank to it. If you can convince your ego that you will have the last laugh when you can easily check your accts online and get some quick/free online transfers, you'll get it done. The MORE you can do online and at ATM/CDM, the LESS you have to deal with banking staff.

But the suggestion to initiate iBanking at the atm for any existing accts is also helpful. Try that first.

[gamini]

Unless the rules have changed the OP is getting the run around. I've had BKK I-Banking for several years. Bit of a hassle as I cannot have my wife on the account but I get around that by transferring from the i-bank account into a joint account... which by the way on the joint account we can not have internet access... go figure.

A bit strange. I have my bank account, my wife's bank account and a joint bank account, all linked on Internet banking. I can transfer large amounts between them without any fee. I use SCB because I think they're better than BKK. But I had exactly the same facility with BKK. So I can't understand your problem

[jphasia]

Yes bit strange. I don't have work permit. I am on non O visa (not extension) and I have 2 saving bank accounts with internet banking. One is Bangkok Bank and one is SCB. Both in Phuket. Last month went to Kasikorn and asked them if i can open a saving account with internet bangking and debit card. No problem, non o visa + 500b deposit. Went also to another Branch of Bangkok Bank. No problem, non o + Thai Driving licence + the usual 500b first deposit on the account

[alant]

no work permit required, use it all the time

[Naroge]

Unless the rules have changed the OP is getting the run around. I've had BKK I-Banking for several years. Bit of a hassle as I cannot have my wife on the account but I get around that by transferring from the i-bank account into a joint account... which by the way on the joint account we can not have internet access... go figure.

I've had internet access to a joint account in BKKBank for many years.

[lopburi3]

You can not set up a joint account on-line or by ATM - but if you visit the branch a joint account can be set up for internet access - have done so.

[Sawan Chan 7]

Walk in with your police volunteer hat on

Seriously, if you don't know the poo yais after being here so long there is something strange.Go in with one of them and it will go smoothly.

[NanLaew]

For the OP, it must be one of those exclusive Phuket exclusions.

Unless they have recently changed their banking regulations to specifically prohibit non-WP holders from iBanking, I would still take it 'upstairs' with BB (think way beyond local branches) and ask why an account holder of 14 years in good standing, as a businessman and investor with an enhanced Thai Immigration status, is prohibited from having iBanking.

[TheCruncher]

Simon43, since you are 56 years old, why would you oay such a huge sum of money for an elite visa if you can have a similar visa for next to nothing?

[bangkapi]

Siam Commercial's SCB Easy Net.

Very good.

No need to ask the bank. Customers register themselves.

SCB Easy Net website is a maze when you try to see your balance and deposits into the account.

I have that and the BBL online and Bangkok Bank online banking is so intuitive by comparison.

[sendintheclowns]

Siam Commercial's SCB Easy Net.

Very good.

No need to ask the bank. Customers register themselves.

Same- same., been Internet banking with SCB for years. The trick is to not ask uninformed bank staff.

Simultaneously, your opinion of Thais ( considering you are a guest in their country and also considering, no doubt, that you make lots of money out of the Thais working for you - you are an embarrassing to those of us long termers who have learned to have respect and jai yen. My reaction to you having several hotels and declaring you don't need a work permit is to turn you in for attitude adjustment. Just joking. Seriously, have you never heard of all of the benefits before now ? Example, monthly auto debits for your electric, Internet, etc.

[Sharp]

Very odd Simon I have the Elite card and Internet banking with Bangkok Bank which I originally set up in Phuket.

Although it was an hour of my time it was no hassle when I applied

[sendintheclowns]

Walk in with your police volunteer hat on

Seriously, if you don't know the poo yais after being here so long there is something strange.Go in with one of them and it will go smoothly.

More important, in these dealings, is to realize that you are not important - at all.