What is the new Bangkok Bank policy regarding visa-related funds and how does it affect expats?

@Stephan **********

wrong again. Thats why so many have trouble getting the correct information. My money was in the bank 3 weeks when I got my bank letter. And I only waited that long because of the wrong information I got here. They were willing to issue the bank letter the day I signed to freeze it. So no 6 or 7 months.

@Jay ******

I have no idea what you talk about... but with just 3 weeks seasoning before application you won't get your extension... so you don't need any bank statement. The requirement (Immigration) for the 800k is 2 month before, 3 month after, the other time not under 400k.

@Stephan **********

wrong once again. I already got my year extension with 3 weeks of seasoning. Left the bank, went straight to immigration in Jomtien. Im not sure the reason, but i would guess because I had the paperwork for immigration showing my money was frozen. But I was told when I froze my money that I could go to immigration immediately and I did.

@Jay ******

immigration rules are the money must be in your amount for 2 months before the date you apply for your extension.

@Brandon ***********

I hear what you are saying, I'm telling you what happened

@Jay ******

Just because it supposedly happened to you (which is hard to believe, especially in Jomtien) doesn't mean the rest of us are totally wrong. But that's exactly what you keep saying... that's a somewhat strange attitude...

Never mind... I agree to disagree... have a good day... 🙏

P.S.: You might (or might not) have a look here, at Section 22:

@Martyn **********

It's 4 months instead of 2 months. Thats the only difference, and only for the first year. The second year it's back to normal as long as you have kept those 800k in your account as required. As a retiree and on long term stay, you won't even notice a difference.

@Max ************

Bangkok bank should have no extra requirements... They aren't immigration.

@Martyn **********

FIGHT the POWER ✊👊

They did make the changes to satify immigration, they made the changes because they got in trouble with the law.

@Martyn **********

You're still not getting it. Bangkok Bank wants serious customers,they don't want accounts with 800k popping up and then after 2 months the balance is down to zero. I won't be surprised if other banks like for example KBank will do the same. You can always change bank if you're not satisfied. Bangkok Bank won't care the least.They don't want whining clueless customers. You must be a rookie in Thailand.

@Max ************

you don't get it... Immigration requirements and what money is in the account and for how long is nothing to do with them..

As for rookie.. Been coming for 25 years lived here 10... So no.

@Mark *******

tellers aren't doing anything. It's the bank managers that make these arrangements with agents. There's a reason the agents in Pattaya are now putting customers on buses to Bangkok to get their bank letters. They just found new bank managers that aren't under the microscope like the ones in Pattaya are currently. Once it blows over in a couple months everything will be back to normal for agents and things will be more difficult for people who want to do it on their own.

@Brandon ***********

I realise you represent a visa agent so of course you will push the agent barrow, but you can't explain how it's going to make things more difficult for the honest people

@Mark *******

I don't represent anyone. I'm just here as a volunteer to help people. New rules always inconvenience people who have to follow those rules.

The requirements of a marriage extension are that you have to have the money in your Thai bank account for 2 months before your extension and no requirement after that. That means 2 months in the bank.this new rule means if you only put the money in 2 months before your extension, the bank will freeze it for 4 more months. That's 6 months total instead of 2. And if you put the money in 4 months early so it isn't frozen, that's still 2 months longer than immigration requires.

For retirement, the bank account must always be at least 400,000 and must be at 800,000 for 2 months before the extension and 3 months after. This means if you just raise it to 800,000 the 2 months before, you'll have to freeze for 4 months, which is 1 month longer than required by immigration.

It also means you can't use that money if an emergency happens which normally you could, but it would just affect your next extension. Now you don't have access to it at all if the bank freezes it.

It would be better for everyone if this rule wasn't implemented at all because it's not going to achieve anything except inconveniencing people who follow the rules, because agents pay to not have to do so.

@Brandon ***********

The reports are saying it's Bangkok Bank only. Is that the only bank in Thailand?

@Mark *******

Yes. Best advice for anyone using Bangkok Bank is to speak with your feet, and get a new bank. Kasikorn is probably the best, but SCB is also popular

@Brandon ***********

I understand your position, this group is owned by an agent, so obviously you will be encouraging people to go to other banks, as Bangkok Bank no longer offers the "agent services" as it used to. But I'm ok with BB, I get good service and have had no problems in many years, so contrary to what you're saying (and I understand your position) I'm sticking with it. I do everything above board so I have no fear

@Mark *******

There are plenty of Bangkok Bank branches that still work with agents. Just not in Pattaya because of the headlines. As I said, that's why the agents in Pattaya are putting their customers on a bus and taking them to Bangkok Bank branches in Bangkok. Those branches will still happily take the agent money and hand out the letters.

The reason I'm opposed to Bangkok Bank is because they are punishing EVERYONE for something a few people are doing. Collective punishment is stupid in this case. It would be trivial for the headquarters to find accounts where 800,000 are deposited and then removed immediately, and punish those specific bank managers where this is happening. Instead they make a policy that only punishes those following the rules and doesn't stop a single thing.

@Brandon ***********

Personally I don't know of anyone using Bangkok Bank being "punished". I've got a huge number of old fart buddies in Bangkok who use BB and no-one has reported any issues with their accounts. I think you'll find it's only those with suspicious transactions who are being flagged.

@Mark *******

No one is being "flagged." The rule is clearly posted at the branches. If the money you want a letter for immigration has not been in your account for 4 months, then you must sign a letter that allows them to freeze the money for 4 months after that date. It literally makes no sense, since that's not the immigration requirement. And it's actually the exact opposite of the intent of the immigration requirement, which is to prove you has the funds to support yourself in an emergency. Frozen funds are useless for that purpose.

If someone puts the 800,000 in their account and then never touches it, this policy will not affect them at all. But many do not do it that way, they drop it down as needed then bring it back up just for their extension. Even then it barely affects retirement extensions, but greatly affects marriage extensions.