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What are the common experiences and solutions regarding frozen bank accounts at Bangkok Bank's Central Pattaya branch for expats?

Sep 18, 2025
2 months ago
Is anyone else still waiting on a frozen account with Bangkok Bank Central Pattya Branch? I went to the branch on the 28th last month, they copied my passport with current retirement visa, my driver's license, my lease agreement, and my SIM card receipt. I was told they would get back to me in 2 weeks and it's now been 3 weeks. My account was opened last year on a tourist visa and with the help of an agent however I always funded it myself with the 800,000 baht being my own funds and the balance has never dropped below that.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is experiencing a delay in unfreezing their Bangkok Bank account, which has been frozen for over three weeks despite submitting necessary documentation, including their retirement visa and lease agreement. Several commenters share similar experiences with account freezing at the same branch, suggesting prolonged waiting periods and varying requirements for document submissions. Some have opened accounts with other banks in response to these issues.
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Jesper *******
So basically foreigners who have their acct frozen have one similarly.....pattaya branch....

alot of foreigners acct was not affected when they opened elsewhere
Mark *********
@Jesper ******
mine was frozen at The Chiang Mai airport Mall, so it's not just Pattaya
Lim ***********
@Jesper ******
few of my friend's accounts were from BBL Bangkok. Still frozen after 2 mths.
Jesper *******
@Lim **********
I believe the raid by bangkok bank (mass freezing) started 19Aug....your friends accts I believe its for different reasons
Lim ***********
@Jesper ******
wonder what the real reason is.. They all have retirement visa, they transferred money to Thailand to build their house and have been paying their builder.. Totally mind boggling...
Jon **********
@Lim **********
It could be it was opened on a tourist visa or visa exempt, by an agent or the phone number attached to the account didn't match their name.
Tree *******
We finally were able to get to the Central Pattaya branch on Monday. We moved to Chiang Mai last month so had to make a special trip to try and sort things out. Still told us we’d need to wait 2-3 weeks to access funds. But the woman who took my paperwork actually gave me her WhatsApp line for whatever it’s worth. At least I have a contact person to check in with (I’ll have to see if she actually responds if I write to her). Seems ridiculous that in this technological age it would take as long as it’s been taking to verify accounts and unfreeze them. I know TIT, right? 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️
Marcel ***********
The teller phoned me at my home chiang mai told me my account was unlock today
Tree *******
@Marcel **********
Is your home branch the one in Pattaya? We’re in Pattaya this week but live in CM now. Had to make the trip down here just to deal with this mess.
Robert ********
My BB bank was frozen for o my a week I just went and had my us passport certification copy at us embassy for 50.oo dollars, went to bank they released the acct same day, I think it's different for many people , crazy lost trust in Thai banking
Phil *********
I just went to kasikorn and opened another account as I had just been frozen 2 months earlier so did not want to go through all the crap,, was told to copy passport which I did then told take every page including blank pages,, enough is a enough Bangkok bank
Ishbel ***********
@Phil ********
okay thankyou.
Ishbel ***********
@Phil ********
can you let me know is that all they asked just a copied passport? Thanks
Phil *********
@Ishbel **********
hi it was Bangkok bank that wanted all pages copied I just could not be bothered with all they wanted to see again as had done this 2 months earlier, so we're they going to freeze my account again in 2 months ,, I went kasikorn to open account, passport, rental agreement, residence certificate from immigration, had new account in 1 hour, and transfers take seconds so more than happy
Paul *****
Your journey is practically identical to mine
@William **************
. Different branch of BB however.

I went through the same process on 28th August, and was told within a week it would be Un-frozen after BB head office had seen all the photocopied proof and read my form.

20 days later and still frozen. I went back to my branch this morning and saw the same employee as before. I was basically told to wait another week (maybe two) because their head office worked slowly and there were a lot to process!
Matt ************
Mine is still frozen. 31 days and counting. It’s a 5 hour drive each way to Pattaya but I have the total visa amount in the bank there. I just opened a Kasikorn bank account here, so I am planning a road trip after this big storm that’s headed our way. I hope they will let me pull the money and close the account. Thank goodness I don’t need the money to survive like some I read about.
Mark *********
@Matt ***********
let me know if you're successful in pulling your money out
Matt ************
Bill **********
@Matt ***********
similar to me, 29 days today, total visa amount in bank,long drive 3.5 hours each way and opened kasikorn account this week, planning to transfer from bkkbk when it comes online...good luck to all
Jay ******
Mine was finally released after the 22nd working day… they eventually wanted a one year lease instead of a six month lease, even though mine was a renewal from a one year lease… when I finally gave them that yesterday they released my account in one hour at the original bank that I started it at…
Chris ********
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He talks all about it and gives you a number to supposedly the banks are suppose to sort it out in less than 24 hrs.
Ant ***********
Are you local to Pattaya ?

I suggest you go and follow it up closely .
Niel *************
@Ant **********
no unfortunately not 9bhour drive each way 😔
Robert *********
@Ant **********
I visited and my account unlocked overnight
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