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What steps can I take if Bangkok Bank is refusing to return my money after three months?

Sep 9, 2025
3 days ago
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Has anyone got their money back from Bangkok bank?? They refuse to give me my money it’s been 3 months
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user reports having trouble retrieving their money from Bangkok Bank after three months. Comments highlight a range of experiences with the bank, including those facing account freezes and delays, and mention potential complications for Russian nationals. Suggestions imply that banking issues are increasingly complex in Thailand, particularly for certain nationalities.
BadBad ********
What money ? 🤓
Joe *********
I don’t get it . I m with Bangkok bang on tourist visa . Still all ok and I can send money from wise … hope you got your money back . Good luck
Anonymous ******************
Your name sounds Russian , Are you Russian ? If so , you have reduced rights because Western banks are sanctioning Russians all over the world. Thailand is required to follow. It’s probably blackrock behind it. They only do this with Russians and Chinese at the moment. You have basically no chance to get it as long as these measures are in place.
Benjamin *********
How much do they keep ?
Anonymous ******************
My friend waiting also about a month

And people who go back and ask at branch have been Told no idea how long
Anonymous ******************
It’s almost impossible to transfer money outside of Thailand now. Good luck
Anonymous ******************
Just close your account, not hard, if you’re on DTV you shouldn’t have a bank anyway
Stefan *********
Anonymer Teilnehmer 303 there is one exception when you have a DTV Visa rules Bangkok Bank! If you have DTV Visa AND you are owner of a property you have to Show them the document and they not Frozen your Account and you can stay as a Customer and use your Account!!
Anonymous ******************
@Stefan ********
Not true, mate. 🙏 The DTV is treated as a tourist-type visa, and Bangkok Bank (and most others) won’t open or maintain accounts under it. Property ownership doesn’t change that—there’s no official rule or policy that makes it an exception. The only rare cases where DTV holders can get accounts are through accredited Muay Thai or cooking schools with heavy documentation, but property alone isn’t accepted
Stefan *********
Anonymer Teilnehmer 303 ok I was there in the branch Bangkok Bank Hua Hin in July, I Show them the document of the property and my Account still working! Thats my experiance!
Hector **********
Anonymous participant 303 I see you can’t spell correctly
Hector **********
Anonymous participant 303 “their”
Anonymous ******************
@Hector *********
I see you can’t formulate a real reply
Hector **********
Anonymous participant 303 you’re clearly not understanding what she’s saying, they won’t close her account
Anonymous ******************
@Hector *********
Then she clearly isn’t actually trying, they literally called people in to close there accounts lmao
Peter ***********
Anonymous participant 303 Her account is frozen
Rud **********
Here is a article on reddit about the freeze account situation.. Google to see the rest..
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rud *********
I already did that … and nothing happened
Rud **********
Lincoln ******
They gave me my entire balance the day they closed my account. Bangkok bank.
Pete *******
@Lincoln *****
apologies, FB tagged the wrong person. 🙏🏼
Lincoln ******
@Pete ******
oh lol. No problem haha. I was very confused lol
Pete *******
@Lincoln *****
in my opinion it’s far more likely than your theory of “it’s a scam.”
Lincoln ******
@Pete ******
wtf are you talking about? Lol. I never once even implied it was a scam???
Pete *******
@Lincoln *****
I hate when FB tags the wrong person
Anonymous ******************
@Lincoln *****
same was instant
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lincoln *****
how long does it took them to close the account?
Genevieve ****
@Dana *********
ours too. Made an appointment with the bank, then came in to have account closed and balance taken out. All same day. This was in July. Phuket town.
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Genevieve ***
but why when I want to close it they say I can’t??? That I have to wait
Lincoln ******
@Dana *********
I would definitely suggest you go to the exact branch you opened it. That’s what I did
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lincoln *****
I already went there
Lincoln ******
@Dana *********
just take all your money out to be safe I would say
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lincoln *****
I tried to take it … no one gave it to me
Pete *******
@Dana *********
maybe because you bribed someone to open it in the first place? 🤷🏻‍♂️
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pete ******
don’t think it’s the reason
Pete *******
@Dana *********
in my opinion it’s far more likely than your theory of “it’s a scam.”
Lincoln ******
they did it when I went in. Maybe 15 mins
Tha****
Liar. Click bait.
Steve *******
ThaiBot Google what clickbait is.
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
ThaiBot I’m not a lier 😑 you are anonymous
Mark ********
I don't know what the criteria is for freezing. My Bangkok Bank account is operating perfectly. Made the standard 65k transfer a week ago, paid my rent, paid internet, paid phone bill, used QR code scan eight times already. I never use cash so I haven't done an ATM withdrawal. Not one hiccup.
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
it’s the new law , that dtv can’t have a bank account so they froze all the accounts
Mo *****
@Dana *********
they haven’t closed them all at all.. I was in there last week getting a certificate of funds and all ok with mine
Mark ********
@Dana *********
How come the bank allowed you to open an account in the first place? It's not a law, it's bank policy since 2023
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
I paid someone in the bank to open me an account
John **********
@Dana *********
your account is probably being investigated as a mule account in that case. Quite distinct from dtv accounts being frozen. It will likely take as long as it takes, particularly if the bank person you paid is under suspicion of opening many accounts this way.
Jef ********
Mark ********
@Dana *********
You bribed someone? Ok. That's why your account is frozen. The bank is carrying out investigations into accounts which were not opened in accordance with the policy. I think they want to find the staff responsible and terminate their employment. Was it in Pattaya?
James ********
@Mark *******
pure speculation ... without fact.
Peter ***********
@James *******
The OP actually admitted paying money to open the account! How is that speculation?
Mark ********
@James *******
You need to read all the posts
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
and Btw all the tourists account that opened year ago is now frozen
Mo *****
@Dana *********
again not true
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mo ****
they also froze my husbands account and refuse to close it and we gave them all the papers they need
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
no in Phuket, and that’s not the case.. I asked them to close it and they said I have to fill more papers and wait for no one knows how long… it’s just 6000 THB just give me my money
Mark ********
@Dana *********
With due respect you must have known things might go wrong if you had to bribe a bank official to open the account in the first place. I think you just have to be patient
James ********
@Mark *******
again 😭. IF you went into a Thai bank and requested to Open an account... IF they say Yes that's possible ...if you purchase a Cancer / Accident policy from the bank. Do you consider that a bribe? Because it's been that way for a long time in Thailand.
Mark ********
@James *******
I can't believe the denials! You think the staff terminated at Pattaya were fired because they sold insurance policies?
James ********
@Mark *******
thank you for your replies. I read many posts over the 4 FB forums in which I am one of the Moderators. And I receive many PM Messages.

We both know how the Thai Immigration and banking system functions in Thailand.

And we read about the recent MONEY LAUNDERING being investigated by Thai banking authorities, among others.

That has brought about the freezing of some bank accounts is issued with Visa Exempt Entry, Tourist Visa, of which the DTV visa is a tourist visa.

Hopefully, in the months ahead more clarity on those who are eligible to open a Thai bank account will be issued.

Take care... Enjoy your life in Thailand.
A. ************
That is messed up. What is their excuse for the delay?
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
A. Nony Mous waiting for the head office in Bangkok 😑
A. ************
@Dana *********
If I were you, I would have been at the Bangkok office weeks ago asking about MY MONEY.
Scooter *****
@Dana *********
go to head office in Bangkok ?
Jonas *************
@Dana *********
go and sit down in the head office and don't move. Lol
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jonas ************
it’s in Bangkok i live in phuket
Phil ******
@Dana *********
ahhh that's the reason. You need to head to Bangkok where you setup your account and get your money there
Bob **********
@Dana *********
close your account and they have to release you money
Mark ********
@Bob *********
If the account is frozen money cannot be withdrawn. That's the whole point of freezing bank accounts
Phil ******
@Mark *******
no reports are they freeze your account for 30 days and after that you go to the bank in person and release after you have your id. You cannot get your money if your say back in your home
Bob **********
@Mark *******
no it’s to stop the use of the account for transfers ect.close it they will return your money
Kool *******
@Bob *********
you are right, but to close it you need the same documents needed to unfreeze it, for security reasons to make sure it is your account.
Mark ********
Bob **********
@Mark *******
they cannot keep your funds if you close the account period yes when the account is frozen you can’t do anything but close it or wait and hope they don’t close it and if they do do you think they keep your funds??
Heinz ***********
@Bob *********
we don‘t know the reason why they the account is frozen for such a long time …
Peter ***********
@Bob *********
Freezing of an account means freezing the funds. The account cannot be accessed for anything. If the bank suspects money-laundering they have every right to do this until their investigation (and any subsequent police investigation) is concluded
Bob **********
@Peter **********
it’s not a police investigation it’s most likely about what visa you were on when you opened the account
Peter ***********
@Bob *********
It depends what the bank investigation uncovers. If it's money laundering of course it becomes a police matter. That's what started the whole thing
Bob **********
@Peter **********
of course but the majority of all frozen accounts are do to visa type
Peter ***********
@Bob *********
I don't know of specific numbers. Do you have a link to your source?
Bob **********
@Peter **********
watch the news
Peter ***********
@Bob *********
I do every day. So I take it you don't have a source?
Mark ********
@Bob *********
If you've been keeping up to date with the Bangkok Bank issue, you will have seen that many expats have been trying to close their accounts and have been advised whilst the account is frozen it cannot be closed
Phil ******
Yes that's because they need to do it att the original branch where the first opened the account
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
but I had my bank account for 6 months, and I used it only 2 times with small amounts , I never had big amount max was 6,000 bhat
Dana **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
I told them to close it already !!!! They said they can’t
Anonymous ******************
@Dana *********
sounds like BS, go tell someone else
Peter ***********
If you mean ANYONE, I use my account every day