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Answereda year ago

What experiences have others had with frozen bank accounts in Thailand?

Datsun ******
asked Sep 11, 2025
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Like many people my Bangkok Bank was frozen and after 2 weeks it was working again.

I decided it would be prudent to open another account so I went to Kasikorn and opened an account very easily.

I thought I’ll just open 1 more for luck, so went to SCB, the lovely gentleman started the application and then advised I already had a bank account open with them! 23 years ago one hungover morning I opened a bank account whilst in Pattaya with my friend and his Thai girlfriend, deposited some money and carried on with my holiday. Got back to the UK, lost the book and didn’t come back to Thailand for another 13 years. I couldn’t remember the bank name so wrote it off as a loss.

Today he re activated my account and I had 27,000 in it 😂😂
Answer summary
The user shares their experience of having their Bangkok Bank account frozen for two weeks before it was reactivated. They decided to open additional accounts with Kasikorn and SCB banks, where they unexpectedly learned about an old account they had from 23 years ago, which contained 27,000 THB. The comments discuss reasons for account freezes, personal experiences with banks, and their feelings towards Bangkok Bank's practices.
40 repliesnewest first
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Heather ***************
Heather ***************
Thats even better than when you find money in the drier after you wash the clothes.
Chris *****
Chris *****
My BB account got unlocked on the 12th day. I opened 2 other new bank accounts to protect myself.
James ********
James ********
@Chris ****
As did many many others.
Euan ********
Euan ********
@James *******
anyone who hasn't done so needs to give their head a wobble.
Danny ********
Danny ********
Nice little story amidst all the shite Bangkok Bank stories created by their unfair and outrageous decisions to just freeze people out. Hope enough people boycott them and heads roll for their outright negligence. I too switched to Kasikorn, I personally had none of the problems associated with BKK Bank but emptied and switched in protest of their actions against many.
13
Nick ************
Nick ************
@Danny *******
I will do exactly the same on my return to Thailand. A bank that denies me access to my money with no warning is not one I wish to do business with.
Ron ********
Ron ********
@Nick ***********
And to add insult to injury, they did not even tell me in the message they sent to me about coming in to re-identify that my account was frozen until I did that!! Talk about TOTAL disrespect and disregard!!
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
@Danny *******
to be honest I can’t actually complain at Bangkok Bank, everybody had warned me to go and update my contact information, address, phone and Visa etc and I just didn’t bother until it was too late and it was frozen.

Also, my account was opened on a tourist Visa via an agent, so actually I’m not complaining.
Graham ******
Graham ******
@Datsun *****
You were lucky it happened when you were in Thailand, many are not that lucky hence the panic posts
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
@Graham *****
yes, I appreciate that.
Steve ********
Steve ********
Nice
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
I didn’t check since I opened it 23 years ago 😂
Ramses **************
Ramses **************
@Datsun *****
how much was the original amount?
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
@Ramses *************
I’m pretty sure it was 20,000, but can’t be 100% sure 😂 maybe someone can work it out backwards
Incognia **********
Incognia **********
@Datsun *****
i mean u didnt check 13 years
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
@Incognia *********
I’ve had the account for 23 years approx
Incognia **********
Incognia **********
@Datsun *****
in 13 years 35 percent interest normal
Jay ******
Jay ******
I’m at 12 working days after I gave all necessary paper
Alan *********
Alan *********
You were lucky. 3 weeks now and I am still waiting for my account to be available for me to be used!
Chris ********
Chris ********
@Alan ********
same as me 3 weeks going on 4 weeks now can't access my money.
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
@Alan ********
good luck, I was just nice to the staff
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
@Alan ********
I went into the bank on day 11 and advised them that I was building a house and it wasn’t doing my reputation any good with my builders as I couldn’t pay them, they took another photo copy of my passport, visa and my Thai driving licence and told me it would be opened on the Friday, to her credit it was. No telephone call, just tried it and it worked.
Alan *********
Alan *********
@Datsun *****
Thanks mate, I was thinking of popping in tomorrow and asking the question anyway so I will think of a good reason to try and get it pushed along :)
Peter *********
Peter *********
Result
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
@Peter ********
Yes, made up for some bad luck with car accidents recently 😂
Mark *****
Mark *****
It's a good idea to open as many bank accounts as you can now we are able to..
Scott *******
Scott *******
@Mark ****
we can? Do we still need to get proof of residence from immigration to open?
Mark *****
Mark *****
@Sc***
, I have a yellow house book and pink ID card, if not I'm guessing a residence certificate is required.
Peter **********
Peter **********
@Mark ****
👍

I am with four banks here and anxiously try to keep three accounts in Europe. Just to stay safe. On top of that have a small reserve in crypto.

Just to protect myself from banks and governments.
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
@Mark ****
yes I agree
Jesper *******
Jesper *******
What was the reason bkk bank acct being frozen?
Nick *******
Nick *******
@Jesper ******
you have to register your mobile number with them.
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
@Nick ******
they didn’t ask me for this, visa and passport, Thai driving licence, rental agreement, I took TM30 and printed my phone document and they didn’t want it, so I guess each branch different
Andrew *********
Andrew *********
So now they screwed us all
Andrew *********
Andrew *********
I've had 4 for9 yrs ya never know
Jesper *******
Jesper *******
@Andrew ********
I have bkk bank acct since 2018 never have any problems
Andrew *********
Andrew *********
@Jesper ******
due to a branch opening acctsi bkk for short time visitors doing Chinese money laundering
Chris ************
Chris ************
@Jesper ******
he had a pulse....
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
OP
@Jesper ******
1000’s of accounts were frozen, checked my visa and rental agreement, eventually opened

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