How long does it take to regain access to a frozen Bangkok Bank account after providing required documents?

Mine was frozen, however my Visa agent sorted it. I went to my Bangkok bank, took about an hour.

Make sure your sim is registered to your passport

Just about all foreigners had their account frozen until they could verify their identity, the reason why because of the crap that went down in Pattaya around 18 months ago when some of the staff were knowingly opening up accounts for people with fake Id's, since then they have became real strict, mine was frozen too until it got sorted so i went an open one at SCB and will open another one and then cancel my BB one

I use my Bangkok Bank account even when not in Thailand. I've had two accounts, one for 20 years. I was afraid that it would get locked when I read about it happening. When I went to immigration in January to ask about changing from a tourist exempt to an O, first thing I was asked, is your account locked? Then had me open my banking app to prove it wasn't. Then they gave me the information I needed. ฿800,000 in my account the day of for change of visa type, two months for extension. Bangkok Bank did however lock ฿800,000 in my account from late January to almost June to give me a bank letter for the O. I then got my O extension yet again. I needed new ATM cards, first thing the bank officer did was look at my visa. I wasn't charged for new cards amazingly. Just had to sign a lot of paperwork! My money is unlocked now.

@jim Dowling

Do it this way

restore account. Find another bank

Transfer funds to new bank then close the account

At the start follow below too and make a complaint.

❄️ If Your Account Is Frozen

Call 1441 → press 2 (anti-scam/unfreeze hotline)

If unresolved, escalate via BOT hotline 1213 (Financial Consumer Protection Center).

File a complaint with BOT’s Financial Consumer Protection Center (FCC):

Call 1213 or email

Submit via BOT Helps & Complaints portal



Include passport, account number, branch, visa, proof of address, and evidence of legitimate transactions.

Visit your original branch with:

Passport & visa docs

Proof of Thai address

Thai mobile number in your name

Bank statements / recent transaction evidence

Show proof of legal status (work, retirement, marriage, long-term visa).

Ask the bank to release only the “suspicious portion” of funds (per BOT guidance).

⚠️ Reality Check

Crackdowns on mule accounts and scams are driving this — but many innocent foreigners are caught in the net.

👉 Don’t wait until your account is frozen. Build your backup plan now.

Bangkok Bank has many problems use Kasikorn

Don’t waste time with this rubbish bank. Just close account and withdraw all money deposit to another bank account. This must faster than unlocking.

I produced all the documents they requested before i left last summer. The account remained frozen. On my return went to enquire and they upped the requirement: yellow book which you have (but i do not - yet). Tell us how it went. I feel they just want to close the account but i need it for this year’s non-o extension. Been with Kasikorn for 2 years now … all good there.

I closed a frozen account on a Friday, withdrew cash following Monday, as they had to recalculate card fees.

Experiences vary but i believe they have been instructed to sort them out in quick time as Thai's also caught up. My wife was unfrozen while in the brach about 5 weeks ago.