Answered4 months ago
What should I expect when I go to Bangkok Bank to verify my identity with a tourist visa?
I have an account in Bangkok bank and it has currently been restricted to only being able to transfer 10k baht per day. They're asking me to come into the bank to verify my identity. I opened the account in 2022 when I first entered on a tourist visa. Since then, I have gotten numerous non-B teaching visas. I will be entering again on a 60 day visa exemption soon. When I go to verify my identity, what are the possibilities and chances that they fully open my account back up or close my account?
Answer summary
The post discusses the account restrictions faced by the user at Bangkok Bank, limiting transfers to 10,000 baht per day, and the requirement to verify identity in-person at the bank. Comments from the community provide insights based on personal experiences, indicating that while some users successfully reopened their accounts after verification, others faced account closures due to lacking a long-term visa. The consensus suggests that having a valid long-term visa, like a Non-B visa, is now crucial to maintain an account and avoid restrictions or closures. Users recommend being prepared with necessary documents and visiting the bank, if possible, as policies may vary by branch.
90 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Patrick *********
I love this forum.But sometimes.???There asking you to come in and verify you identity. And what are you asking us?To go not to go?Its not rocket science.You know what to do and stop putting this rubbish up here.
Dave ********
Who knows, each branch has different rules, and Bangkok bank have a habit of randomly freezing accounts, with no explanation.
Bill *******
Happened to me! Go in with passport, passbook. They want facial recognition as well. All done.
Shonn *******
Can you share companies you used for teaching visas?!! Is this on line work
Mart ********
Every time I read something like this it always seems to be the same bank
Ken *******
I've never had any problems with BBK opened my account on a tourist visa in 2013 and lived in Thailand since 2016 my account has remained normal the only retriction has been lowering my daily limit from 1 million to 50,000 which suits my needs.
Jo *******
Just go and dont let fear mongers get in the way. I had some similar happen about a year ago and there were no issues once i went in a validated myself.
Alan ********
I've just had this, went to the nearest branch who were very helpful, took a photo for facial recognition and this allowed access for me to alter the daily transfer limits,
it was painless!!
it was painless!!
Elías ********
None, you better avoid visiting the bank or else they can close the account when they realize you're visaless now
Ian **********
When BBL updated the app my transfer level was set to 10k, before it was 200k which I set on the English language support line. To change the level you have to go in to a branch to set up facial recognition. I did this in the sub branch at Central Mall Udon Thani. My visa was never checked or looked at. If you avoid tourist areas, and main branches, then the staff are not au fait with visa types. Just a tip when setting up security, smile (showing teeth) and blink 3 times (slowly) into your camera. They make you take your glasses off and then you can't read the on screen instructions :D
Taffy *******
My Thai wife has had a 10,000 BAHT daily limit on her account so I don't know what to think
Ian **********
Taffy Jonny When they updated the app everyone was moved to 10k. Mine used to be 200k
Taffy *******
Ian Morrison ok mate but she doesn't have a Bangkok bank app so I'm confused to why this has happened, thanks for the reply
William ******
Go into settings and change your limits, I raise and lower mine all the time
Rok ********
I suggest you try to open an alternative account as soon as possible - I provided all documents including the current non-o visa (extension). The goal post has now moved - the yellow book is required. Luckily i have also another bank account with another bank.
Dianne *****
Please update whether they closed your account once you went into the bank, and they could see that you were no longer on a long term visa
ALi *****
Just go in 😃
Peter *********
I had the same. No problems. Go to branch named on your bank book. I was restricted to 5000thb per day. They showed me how to increase it on the app. Take passport, bank book. And maybe a Thai friend. Also accommodation details. I hope you have a visa? Not a tourist.
Fish **********
I open mine account (BKB) also using tourist visa few years ago and when I change my iPhone, I am unable to transfer the banking app to my new iPhone. There are many people sharing that their account is closed when they turn up at the bank to update.
I went to the Khon Kaen branch and was able to transfer the app with their help. They took photo of my passport (tourist visa) again but did not close my account and I apply for a debit card at the same time. Thinking that it maybe due to its location , maybe Bkk and Pattaya branches more stringent
I went to the Khon Kaen branch and was able to transfer the app with their help. They took photo of my passport (tourist visa) again but did not close my account and I apply for a debit card at the same time. Thinking that it maybe due to its location , maybe Bkk and Pattaya branches more stringent
Devon ********
Fish Khamphou you have to do it the Thai way. Serve the bank manager with a letter of demand for an account closure Or his signature on the copy of the letter of demand for the closure and refund of the ballance in cash. Just to avoid putting his signature to the copy, you'll get your cash in 30 minutes.
Fish **********
Devon Carter there is nothing wrong with my bank account and it’s still working
Ian **********
Fish Khamphou That is my experience too. I did everything in Udon Thani without any issues. My visa was never checked.
Fish **********
Ian Morrison thanks for sharing , not sure if someone does this in BKK will the account get shut down
Allan *******
Bank with Krungsri
Craig ********
Bangkok bank are a law unto themselves! Better banks out there
Dave ********
Craig Gurden Dreadful bank
Brent *********
Craig Gurden I’ve had no problem with them .
Steven ***************
Open an account with Kasikorn move your money tell Bangkok Bank bye bye.
Todd ********
Steven L. Daugherty cant WITHOUT a long term visa. Doesnt anyone know this. No matter the bank
Steven ***************
Todd Capron He said he had a Non-B visa which can open a bank account, missed the part where he said this entry will be visa exempt.
Bob **********
They will close it if you haven’t got a long stay visa
Christian ********
They close the account. when you go there they ask you about your visa. you need a non o.
James **********
Just take your passport to the bank. But First go to your cell provider and have your passport number and your name as it appears on your passport put on your Sim card
Todd ********
James Brashear no longterm visa in that passport you tell her to bring to bank….guess what. ? Cancel account.
Mike **********
This bank in particular made many problems for foreigners. You can check all the different pages on FB. Most likely they will close you account now as you don’t have a NON Visa anymore. I wish you all the best luck 👍
Brent *********
No problem , it’s for your Saftey . They will not close your account .
Ian **********
Brent Rothsay They didn't close mine when I did it
Glyn **********
Should be very ok!
MagentaGo**********
Open another account at other banks and close Bangkok bank account.
Mark ********
MagentaGoldfish4443 as things stand, it won't be possible to open another account if the person is only on a tourist visa
MagentaGo**********
Mark Barron he got Non-B visa.
Andrew ********
With out a non-o visa it will be closed - or a student visa in a degree program / university
Robert *********
0
Cliff *********
If you are not on a proper visa, BB may close the account.
Learn to live with the 10K limit or risk losing the account.
Thats what I am doing.
It sucks….
Learn to live with the 10K limit or risk losing the account.
Thats what I am doing.
It sucks….
Peter *********
Cliff Sussman go to the app and increase your daily limit.
Glyn **********
Cliff Sussman i went in to transfer the app to a new phone. On a tourist visa and he didn't even open my passport beyound the first page...
Fish **********
Glyn Williams can share which bank branch you go to ? Not sure if different treatment in different provinces
Glennstev ***********
Cliff Sussman sorry I think that's B.S.
Ling *****
I had to verify mine and they will check for your visa as well. Luckily I have a retirement visa so no problems. Your passport is the first thing they ask for.
Jim *********
I needed new ATM cards from my BKK Bank branch. They checked my visa before doing anything. Not sure what would have happened if I didn't have an O visa. Conversely I went in to the same branch prior to getting my ATM cards to get a bank statement and letter for a change in visa type to an O visa as I entered on a Visa exempt permission to stay and they didn't say anything. But they could see I was applying to change visa types to the appropriate type. ฿800,000 was promptly locked in my account when I requested the letter. I purposely waited to get my ATM cards until after I had the O in my passport, just in case.
Neil **********
Bkk similarly limited my withdrawals via app to
*****
daily unless I managed to take the selfie , which I find nearly impossible with my oldish phone. I think if u visit branch you may fix it
Chris *******
If you are in Thailand on a tourist visa, there is a good chance that your account will be closed. I've only been in Thailand on a tourist visa, but I've been fortunate thus far. I'm aware that if I need to visit a branch for any reason, my account may be closed.
John *********
Chris Blunt main thing is to have a thai mob no registered to your home address so you can use the online banking app. SCB is very good, just have to drop into the bank and ensure all your details are up to date latest passport is registered if you have changed it recently etc
Chris *******
John Hampton I have a Thai mobile number linked to the account, but the number is prepaid and not linked to any address. I'm not sure how a bank would know what address it was linked to anyway unless it was postpaid and they asked to see a statement.
Dimitri ********
Chris Blunt it's not so bad. I have 3 accounts with 3 different banks. They asked for my visa when opening the accounts but when I visited the banks in the years after that they never asked dor it anymore. Some months ago I visited the banks because I have a new passport. They did not even look at the visa stamps, while they had the opportunity to do so easily.
Chris *******
Dimitri Visser That's good to know. I remember a couple of years ago a lot of people living in Thailand on tourist visas were getting their accounts closed down. I was fully expecting mine to go the same way at any time, but I seem to have survived the purge so far.
Dimitri ********
Chris Blunt I have an old Bangkok bank account, opened 7 years ago with a tourist visa. I heard a lot of stories about accounts getting blocked, but they ignored my account. And when I went there to tell them that I have a new passport they didn't ask for my visa.
Jay *******
Chris Blunt their first purge of tourist accounts was for accounts 2 years old or newer. If your account was older, you probably didn't get audited. Doesn't mean an older account will not be closed if they find you don't have the proper visa.
Martyn *********
Since 2024 everyone has had to reconfirm there mobile number address and I'd you just have not done so by sounds of it you just need to go in the branch where you opened account or main branch everything will be fine
Jay *******
Martyn Goddard if it's Bangkok bank, there is a 99.9% chance they will want to see a long term visa.
Jeff *************
Non, you need to be here on a real visa not a tourist visa
Frank-Steven ***********
That 10k limit only applies to their mobile app. If you have access to their web online banking, you can use that for higher transfers.
Wannikea *********
🔮🔮🔮🔮🌙🔮🔮🔮 🔮
hhhh****
They will close your account if you don't have a long-term visa.
hhhh****
No they did it to me, and I wasn't the only one. The bank was full of upset expats.
Brent *********
hhhhhlyh who told you that , or did you read it on Facebook !!!
Glennstev ***********
hhhhhlyh no need for this fear mongering..It's just an I.D check.They will just take a photo of you on their I-pad in the bank.I had it done last year(while I was on an exemption)
Todd ********
Glennstev Repairman fear mongering…..? No longterm visa account closed. Last year is not this year. Rules changed. 🤨🤨
hhhh****
Glennstev Repairman you were lucky I guess. They saw my tourist exemption and closed my account. No questions, it's automatic. So, I guess you don't know what you're talking about.
Graham ******
hhhhhlyh you ere obviously unlucky as different branches operate differently
tiemta*******
The Non-Immigrant B visa was only required to open the bank account. Once the account has been opened, whether you still hold a Non-B visa or continue working in Thailand does not affect your bank account. The bank cannot simply freeze or close your account just because your Non-B visa has expired or you are no longer working in Thailand.
Jay *******
tiemtaphoabkk total bullshit! They can and will and did to thousands of people
Gerar ********
Yes they can, they will have to confirm that he still has a valid long stay visa.
Mike **********
tiemtaphoabkk wrong
Andrew ********
tiemtaphoabkk wrong - tourist visas have been restricted a year ago - if you dont have a non-o visa or student at university you will not have one
tiemta*******
Andrew Romine You're right, and I fully understand your point. However, a valid work visa and work permit are only required when opening a new bank account. Once the account has been opened, it doesn't need to be maintained by someone who continues to hold a work visa and work permit afterwards.
Gerar ********
That’s not correct anymore, they have tightened the requirements for a bank account a lot. Now you need to be in the possession of a valid long stay visa.
It all depends when the bank is doing an audit before you will get any issues.
It all depends when the bank is doing an audit before you will get any issues.
Colin **********
tiemtaphoabkk this is not true under Know your our customers a long term visa is required to maintain a bank account, if the bank checks the they may restrict or close it.
Greg ***********
tiemtaphoabkk oh, what are you saying? The bank can do what they want. They can say you cannot keep a bank account with us if you are not on a Non-Imm visa type and the extension of the stay permit out of it, anymore.
tiemta*******
Greg Alexander i have scb acc. my non b is expired. they said i need to put only 2000 baht in my acc and i can use it forever
Greg ***********
tiemtaphoabkk lucky you
Azim ********
OPtiemtaphoabkk I opened it on a tourist visa.
Wayne ********
Azim Jivani in my opinion since you can no longer open a bank account with a tourist visa perhaps they are going back into old accounts that were opened with a Tourist Visa and seeking more information about the Account Holder .IMO
John **********
Nobody can say
Jita****
They asked me to reverify twice and did open it up again
Azim ********
OPJitae929 were you on a tourist visa or visa exemption?
Jita****
Azim Jivani non-o retirement
ScenicB*******
Have you opened another account on ur Non B’s? It may be worth shutting the BB down.
Azim ********
OPScenicBeet5068 no, I haven't.
ScenicB*******
Azim Jivani If you get another WP open a Kasikorn account. For safety.
Activity
56 joined56
people
Related
25What challenges have expats faced when trying to update bank account details with Bangkok Bank in Thailand?
8.2k341843mo
Why is Bangkok Bank considered unreliable for non-immigrant retirement visas in Thailand?
10.5k821347mo
What are the signs that my Bangkok Bank account has been frozen?
6.7k61441y
Are bank accounts being opened at Bangkok Bank after the lockdown?
7.2k70431y
What should I do if my Bangkok Bank account is locked and I'm not near my branch?
15.1k129951y
Why did I encounter difficulties opening a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O marriage visa?
4.1k19752y
What are the best options for opening a bank account in Chiang Rai as a Non-B visa holder?
6.3k61262y
How do expats in Thailand choose a local bank for their accounts?
5.1k38443y
What is the easiest way for expats to open a bank account in Thailand?
33.2k2614063y
Is it better to have my Social Security deposited in a US bank and transfer funds to Thailand as needed?
5.7k49413y
Can I open a bank account in Hua Hin on a tourist visa without mandatory accident insurance?
4.3k37323y
How can I open a bank account in Thailand with a tourist visa?
20k1831773y
What are some suggestions for obtaining a cheap onward travel ticket for a Thai tourist visa application?
7.7k56993y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand with just a Non-B visa before my work permit?
3.9k32173y
What are my options for extending my visa while waiting for a teaching position in Bangkok?
1.2k5143y
Can I convert to a Non-B visa from a Visa Exempt or Tourist visa without leaving Thailand?
2k13175y
Can I convert my Non-B visa to a tourist visa while staying in Thailand?
827435y
Is it sensible to enter Thailand on a tourist visa and then apply for a retirement visa while in the country?
1.9k7336y
What do I need to open a bank account in Thailand while on a Tourist Visa?
6k50546y
What type of criminal background check is required for a Non-B visa in Thailand, FBI or local police?
3.2k26216y
Is it possible to obtain a Non-B visa while on a tourist visa in Thailand?
1k587y
How does acquiring a tourist visa affect my existing OA visa in Thailand?
1.1k797y
Can I apply for a Non-B visa in a neighboring country while on a 30-day visa exemption stamp?
3288y
How can I convert my tourist visa to a retirement visa while based in Chiang Rai?
2.1k18108y
Which Thai embassies issue Non-B visas without a work permit and what are the current requirements?
7.6k77379y
Resources
Need help with your Thai visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served