How can I close my Bangkok bank account and refund my money without returning to the original branch?

@John ********

When moving just across town I can understand you don't see any need to relocate the account to another branch, but when your new location is at flight distance as topicstarter posts, I don't understand why you not relocate the account. In Thailand you quite often need to visit the bank office I noted with the Thai account my girlfriend has.

I am happy with my foreign accounts where I don't need to visit any office at all.

Anonymous participant 354 How do you "move" your branch? It's the same bank, shouldn't really matter to be honest.

@Paul ******

You open an account at the branch closest to where you live (or at least convenient to where you live). Your new branch will close your existing account and transfer the money to your new account, and issue a new ATM/Visa card. The process takes around 30 minutes. It's clunky and bureaucratic, but it sure makes life easier in the future

Anonymous participant 354 Never needed to reopen a bank account of the same bank at a different branch and never will. Don't know anyone, Thai or non-Thai who has ever done this.

The only concern now of course are all the bank accounts held by non-Thais being closed.

@Paul ******

So tell that to the foreigners here who are complaining that they need to take a flight or a 12 hour drive to get to their branch! 😂😂😂😂

Anonymous participant 354 That's crazy. The whole system is screwed up.

@Paul ******

It's how the Thai banking system works. It's nothing new. You think it's screwed up, but it seems to work for 50 million Thai people!

@Paul ******

It could matter in some cases. I tried to close my BB Hua Hin account from Bangkok and Phuket, and was refused. Ended up with like a bunch of useless accounts 😂 Yes, that's nonsense but that's how it works.

Anonymous participant 354 Correct. I used to work for companies here, and a new account was opened for each job, even if I already had another account at the same bank (but different city).