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Answereda year ago

What are the challenges of opening a bank account with Bangkok Bank in Thailand?

Dave ***********
asked Sep 19, 2025
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So as some of you know bangkok bank has frozen accounts. Here is my story. Arrived here in thailand Jan 8 went to visa agent in order to open a bank account because i was moving here June1 so wanted bank account in order to have money here when i landed .

Got a bank account opened on a tourist visa with bangkok bank just like everyone else moved about 300 thousand baht into the account. Landed june 1 shit hit the fan a couple of days before , Talked to my visa agent he said get it out of there so i took most of it out leaving about 20 thousand , account got locked went to bank go it unlocked, thought that would be the end of it, were good to go. Visa agent said no longer able to supply 800 thousand for retirement visa, so i transferred 800 thousand thru wise to my bangkok bank account. Visa agent said no one is dealing with bangkok bank anymore to get retirement visa had to open a different account , No problem done cost me more baht.

Had to take the 800 thousand out of bangkok bank in order to put into new bank in order to get rertiement visa, no problem (not). Thought i would be smart about it and not take all 800 thousand out at once so as not to raise red flags, first day get 400 thousand cash no problem , next day went to get the other 400 thousand Holy crap the teller drilled me like the FBI. Said she would have to send report to head office she would not give it to me went to visa agent explained the situation agent transfers it thru the app no problem. Now all money required in new bank perfect.

Have about 16500 left in bank , account gets locked again ( back in this time with rental agreement , accounts gets unlocked Golden everything should be fine .

Wrong LOL being proactive i take out 15 thousand leaving about 1500 hundred in the account .Now account gets locked with everyone else , Go in on a wed my number is 561 they are calling 506 so go for breakfast with a buddy i make while waiting, were gone for a hour come back they are calling 511 and its now 12.30 so I am out of there.

Come back the following wed get to the bank for 7 bank opens at 830 first in line get in first served, out in 15 all documents required sent off to whoever , Told will open in 2 weeks now 3 and a half weeks later , go to bank see whats going on. wait a hour to see teller, she now tells me need proof i am paying my rent . I tell her I have been living here for 4 months now you think im living on the streets i have a rental contract. So now im pissed i say just close the account give me my 1500 baht , No can do come back monday.

So 4 months in thailand bank account locked 3 time 5 visits to the bank and still unlocked

Im not saying dont move to thailand if you do open a account with any bank other than bangkok bank
Answer summary
An expat shares their frustrating experience with Bangkok Bank in Thailand, detailing a series of account lockouts and the complicated process of maintaining access to their funds while transitioning to a retirement visa. The narrative highlights the challenges of opening a bank account under a tourist visa, the necessity of transferring large sums for visa requirements, and the difficulties encountered with bank personnel, which reflect wider issues faced by many expats in Thailand regarding banking regulations.
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Bom *********
Bom *********
Same here. Got DTV visa and opened a Bangkok back account via agent. First time they froze it . Visited to the bank and showed my owned property documents.

Because I have owned property in Bangkok , they unfroze my account.

It was what they said.

And in aug they froze my account again. They took all documents from second visit again .

On next day someone from bank sent email me ( using personal gmail ) to come and sign one more document as they missed out to ask me.

Then I visited to the bank for 4th time to sign.

And after about one week they called me to close the account. So I asked them why did they unfroze my account second time. What did they say.

They can’t communicate in English and they could explain they don’t know only.

It really made me to lose trust to the bank and don’t wanna invest or stay longer in Thailand.
Roberto *********
Roberto *********
@Bom ********
When are people going to accept you can't have a bank account when on a tourist visa?
Mark *********
Mark *********
@Bom ********
I have found it very common in Asia that in order to avoid conflict no explanation is given. you want to know why they are re-locking accounts when it is probably out of their hands. they can't blame someone else for making you uncomfortable and they can't tell you directly that someone forced them to do something they didn't want to do so they just say nothing. Giving you an answer you do not want to hear is worse than giving you silence in Asia.
Jay ********
Jay ********
Good post

This is Thailand

You arrived when Bangkok bank got there spanking from bank of Thailand

Bad timing
Steve **********
Steve **********
Don’t feel bad, Thais get the runaround these days as well. Currently obsessed with mule accounts and fake QR codes
Maureen ********
Maureen ********
What is going on. ?
Ef ****
Ef ****
Do we feel safe leaving 800K in a Thai bank for the retirement visa?
Mark ****
Mark ****
@Ef ***
Not Bangkok Bank for sure. I am in the process of getting the retirement visa extension but this does have me worried.
Tamara ***********
Tamara ***********
Jesus Christ they should pay you just for the run around. You couldn’t make this shit up. I’ve had bad experiences with Bangkok bank myself I know how you feel.
J **************
J **************
Where did you open the account? Bangkok bank is a bank set up by regions…some regions have had employees allow cause account for laundering and scams …they have been fired….abd now they are reviewing accounts…other regions not so much
Phil ********
Phil ********
@J *************
Worldwide banking fraud, not just Thailand. In the USA there is a big deal with KYC...know your client/customer.Everyone wants ID and fixed address, ad nauseam. Too bad about BKK Bank. They just got hit hard.
Dave ***********
Dave ***********
OP
Bob **********
Bob **********
Come on a long stay visa open account legally and shouldn’t have problems,you cannot open an account on a tourist visa period ,I went to Kbank yesterday 20 minutes in an out new account opened
Fabio *******
Fabio *******
@Bob *********
Kasikorn never had problems...
Mark ****
Mark ****
@Bob *********
Which K Bank branch did you go to?
Bob **********
Bob **********
@Mark ***
Big C extra
Dave ***********
Dave ***********
OP
so did you read the rest of it retirement visa rental contract all have
Dave ***********
Dave ***********
OP
i opened it in january when there was no issues have all the required documents now So thats all you saw
Bob **********
Bob **********
@Dave **********
this is all being done by a computer not a human and the fact is it was opened illegally just go an open another account
Marc ********
Marc ********
@Dave **********
the issues started last year already
Wayne *********
Wayne *********
Sorry to hear of your experience. Mine total opposite. Arrived back from Australia with frozen account. Went to branch were i open my bb account walked out less than an hour and all opened and app working. Obviously had all the required paperwork they wanted to see, did face recognition and sorted.
Bob **********
Bob **********
@Dave **********
yes I also read you opened it on a tourist visa through an agent that’s a no go nowadays
Scott *********
Scott *********
Your third sentence explains everything.
Dave ***********
Dave ***********
OP
@Scott ********
so did you read the rest of it
Scott *********
Scott *********
@Dave **********
yes. The 'agent' part adversely affected the rest of your short story.
Roger ********
Roger ********
So far, no app = no problem. So far.

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