Why is Bangkok Bank requiring customers to hold 400k for 4 months before issuing a bank certificate for visa renewal?

Another reason why so many people are giving up on Thailand and going to friendlier countries

Why only 400k. I have 800k in one

Say good-bye to Bangkok Bank! I’ve changed from Bangkok Bank to Krung Thai Bang.

Kbank by far has been the least annoying for me. Still annoying tho

If you don't have money, don't retire in Thailand or a foreign land. 10k+ usd is an extremely small amount of money to hold.

Just put it in the bank and forget about it. Pro tip : put 401k as banks have fees from time to time which can reduce it to below 400k.

I like the interpretation of the law or form that didn't state it must be in the same account. Unfortunately, a reality check meant it does need to be. You probably would get rejected at every other bank if the 400k is spread over multiple accounts that one, for a single letter stating you have the funds.

Because everyone's interpretation of the requirements is, it has to.

In 30 years experience I find there is only one real bank here.... SCB

BKB told me that they do this to comply with the Thai Immigration rules, which is odd, because the Immigration do not have this requirement. They also do not inform their customers of their new rule until it becomes an issue. It really appears that with all the other BS from BKB that their business model is to lose as many customers as possible. They treat many Thai customers really badly too after my extension in May I will mind everything out of BKB, keep my accounts, just do I can regularly email them with silly questions to further drain their resources and confuse them with English.

Go to a visa agent then in Pattaya

Open kplus account they don’t fuk around with that 🐂💩 and say goodbye to BKK Bank

They are doing a good thing

You can better fix the problem than make a problem for the 400k. Put it on 1 bankaccount for minimum 4 months than there is no problem.

I have just required my year visa, because in october I put the four hundred thousand thai bahts, which a week later they froze originally said 6 months

Now this is where it gets silly because when I tried after my 90 day visa ran out a d wanting to be Extending it for the year marriage visa. Immigration wanted to see available, balanced certificate, not a ledger balance. So I had to get the bank on to head office bank to unfraze It, as She then gives certificate balance, showing the extra money +0 within and hour The bank calls me asked me to resign to refreze. The money

But then, of course, immigrations decided that they wanted an up-to-date certificate of the 2 years married Licence. So we had to go and get certificate to say we were still married, went back. He demanded a new bank bank certificate ends. We had to repeat the silly process. Waiting 3 hours for Bangkok, head office to unfreeze my money. To show a certificate of balance again for that day then the bank says it's been reflows for 4 months. Luckily for me, I had planned on putting this money in the bank. And forgeting about it so every year they will be the funds required. And the interest I will get as a bonus lol. So yes an argument for it, or against it, not right but if it helps to filter out the bogus people ruining the situation then I don't mind but that's just my personal opinion. And the way I've gone about it to live in Thailand happily by their rules

There’s this thing called the arbitrary interpretation of the law, depending on who happens to be processing your case. It’s a practice that seems more common here in Thailand than in many other places. If you’ve been around long enough, you’ve probably noticed that getting a visa processed is much easier in some provinces than in others. That’s why you often hear completely different answers when people share their experiences with immigration offices across the Kingdom.

There's not much cash left in the Banks now everyone is buying Baht Gold, with your 400,000 you will get 5 Baht Gold, 800,000 10 Baht Gold and get a better return than bank interest tax free profit. Sell your gold 2 months before your visa is due , get your visa wait 90 days then buy Gold again.

Bangkok Bank is a corrupt organization! Never deposit money in this bank.

Only desperate people will accept. What right has the bank got to get involved in visa process?

If the account verification letter is for a different purpose than immigration, then Bangkok bank will issue a letter.

The same holds true for GSB.

guess they dont care -

Nope just Bangkok Bank

did somebody mentioned the mule account?

And they will block it for next 3-4 month even after you will get visa. While other bank like KBank don't have such restrictions.

What do you expect its owned by the government

400 k has to be in one account ONLY. Stop claiming false infos. IMBECILE !

Changecbanks🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

They have never done this to me

Everyone should close their Bangkok Bank and move your doe to the K Bank as they have no such illegal requests .

I've been with BKK for over 20yrs...never had an issue...two separate accounts, one joint with my spouse, and one for me and my 400k that sits in the bank waiting for my wife to pounce on upon my death...lol

Don't read fb comments.

Sidebar:

Other than Bangkok Bank and the Green Bank.

What is the preferred Bank for just having an ATM Account?

Just use a reliable visa agency to get around all that nonsense.

Isn't 800k baht the minimum on hold deposit for visa purposes?

Wrong! 800k 2 months before and 3 months after approval. For single applicant.

400k if you're married to Thai national.

KrungThai dont

Insane immigration law is clear their policy is not law

Cambodia now

Bye bye Thaïland 💩

I moved my account 2 years ago to Krungsri Bank no problems there even got internet banking, way more friendly to many problems at immigration from the BKK bank, one time the immigration lieutenant general phoned them and blasted them for being incompetent in doing there job.

Just stop this madness : use an agent. Max : 15 000 THB years. Best money ever invested.

It buys you SANITY, peace.

Personally, I can't stand all the BS related to visa extension (retirement). I can't stand to deal with immigration service. I can't stand to deal with 3 kilos of papers, forms, photocopies... each year, the same.

Just say no.

Be sovereign of your time. Keep your mental health.

This concerns your marriage visa.

I would strongly advise you to change the bank, Bangkok bank is the worse , the worse!! They are the only one also that would not deliver an official stamp on a bank statement thats older than 6 months( can be asked on some case at the immigration for a long stay visa). A little thing that turned my situation into hell. People have only trouble with this bank . Thank you for sharing, people should really know the way they operate.

I thought it needed to be held for 6 months anyway,, so whats the problem

Blackmail bank !

I do not know all these things. I do however keep a minimum bank amount with a continuous 500.000 Baht as savings in this Thai bank account at all times .

I get my UK pension paid into WISE Then I transfer it to one of the two banks listed with my WISE account. I used to use Bangkok Bank but they started to get very slow transferring the money into my bank account ( sometimes 4 or 5 days ) But when I switched to Kasikorn the transfer was immediate ( in seconds ) So now I always transfer my pension into Kasikorn and then transfer what I need for bills into BB

Was nicht wie es jetzt ist aber ich hatte damals glaube auch nur ein Konto bei der Kasikorn Bank, glaube so hieß die Bank.

Used Kasikorn for years never a problem

Thai style lol.

I'm coming from UK bank. Does that work?

Agents putting money in and taking back out straight after that caused all the drama. Messed it up for the honest person's using bank as it should

Steve, place you 400k in an extra interest account and just leave it there. I know the interest isn't much but better than nothing.

It's only an extra 2 months all good

I would not put money in a Thai bank

Immigration requires a monthly income of over 65,000 baht to be certified by the UK embassy for UK citizens and the UK embassy now will not do it anymore.

Bangkok Bank is anti expats.

I previously extended my non-O visa at Bangkok Bank based on my pension income, but they no longer provide a bank statement for this. Now I have to do this extension via the 800K, and it does indeed have to wait 4 months In the account before they issue the bank letter for the extension. So they require you to keep your 800,000 in the account for six months. This way, the BKK makes its own immigration rules.

I have been with bangkok bank for 16 years. After a mess up with monthly payments into my account I had to transfere 0 thb and hold in the bank for imergration, when I went to get my letter for proof at the end of the 2 months they would not give me the letter unless I signed another letter to let them hold it for a further 4 months absolute blackmail so now they will hold it for 6 months. The first thing I did was open a new account with Kasikorn bank and now pay into the account every month. Now hear is the thing this bank is way more efficient I transfere with Wise and money in the account in minutes not next day as before. No waiting one week for a bloody bank statement like BB. Don't get blackmailed go to K bank.

And there is more, when i renewed my non0, the officer informed me, that next time they will need a full year off passbook information. Immigration made BKK a test case for cracking down on the VISA pedlers who provide a "fake" proff off fund's for LTR's.

Mate, if you 'live' on less that 65K a month, you are not living, you are existing.

I was refused an account in December 2025 and told they only did 'Retirement Accounts'.

SCB is still doing just 2 monthes for sure ?

I'm in the process of applying for my first one-year extension and use Bangkok Bank. I have one account and use Swift to bring money into the country from my US account. My wife is taking care of all the paperwork, and this form is not in our package to Immigration. Immigration in Ayutthaya is only asking for a bank letter confirming the balance in the account, a bank statement, and an updated bank book showing a small deposit on the day we apply. It has been my experience in the two months I have been here that jumping through perceived hoops due to inexperience or misinformation occurs within every process involving an institution or agency. Having the facts from Immigration and educating bank staff shouldn't be required but may be necessary. Everything sounds easy after the fact, but it wasn't and required multiple discussions with bank staff at several locations to figure out what is required. Fortunately for me, my Thai wife is a machine when it comes to research, processes, and documentation.

Bangkok bank is brutal and not foreigner friendly.. go w K bank.:

Use Kbank or SCB

I use an agent even though I have the money in the UK, the interest I earn pays the agent fee and I don't have to tie money up in a thai account that pays buttons in interest

lol scam bank

Bangkok bank are shite. I closed my account after they froze it ( I had all the papers ) when I closed it they said I should not close it as I need fir visa renewal , ( yellow book bla bla bla , ) open krunthai. Tm30. Passport. Thai driving licence. 30 minutes account open

I used Bangkok Bank for many years before transfering to the Govt Savings Bank, money wasin there for 3 months prior to renewal, never was a problem, now the GSB do the same, no problem with just under 3 months and get my paperwork

It's Thailand. You'll probably never get it back. All scammers

Bangkok bank are freezing foreigners bank accounts because they say too stop fraud. I closed my account with Bangkok bank and opened account with SCB bank they are brilliant professional and friendly.

Had them for 10 years. Changed banks due to them harder and harder to use them because of new rules that stop any international transfers.

I solved the problem entirely…I moved to Vietnam 😂

If not they will freeze the 400.000 after the renewal for the months not seasoned.

I use Bangkok back for my 400k because it was just easier many years ago when I got my visas when I got married here. I have always just left in the account. Especially now we have 2 daughter's it's not worth it to me if I had to use some of the money

And risk not getting it back in time. It's not like it's a fortune if we live here full-time anyway. I understand people wanting to invest the money in other ways but if something went wrong, how do you stay with your family? It would stress me more if I didn't just always leave the amount for my visa in the account.

If you consider 400k to be a huge sum maybe you need to reconsider what you do and where . No offence intended. It’s just not that much money

400k for 4 months is a fair policy for a visa renewal

Bangkok Bank is the same as any other Thai bank

My K Bank knew exactly what I needed and was sorted in 20 minutes. Can't fault them. Went into Bankgok Bank originally and they told me I need and extension stamp to open an account, I smiled and left.

You cant have a Thai personal bank account on a DTV Visa!

That's one of the reasons i went and opened up another one

Leave BBank the better bank to have problem and bad service !

ONE BANK. ONE. ACCOUNT. NO 3-4 ACCOUNT, NO 3-4 BANK.

I even had trouble with the monthly route, with one branch of Bangkok B. Statement was no problem but they didn't want to do the "summary" or the "account confirmation letter" {all 3 items required by Immigration.} A different branch may be more accomodating

Any other banks doing this? No

I just keep 800k in their account all year, stops all the arguments!

Surprised that newbies didn't do their. Research on banking and STILL choose BKK bank. Horrific reputation for years.

Only bk bank

400k thai wife visa

800k retirement

Wild West..

Have never kept 400k in bank ..just transfer my monthly allowance.renewned 3times never a problem

Not sure thats true, immigration want that money in your bank 4 months before your visa is due if you do your visa yourself. If you use an agent 10 mins is ok.

They locked 800’000 for six months here in chairapoon I have big business here hotel restaurant snooker hall with six tables when you talk to the bank it’s like talking to a brick wall don’t open a account with them or you will have many problems

Expect all kinds of technical difficulties with the banks at this time as new measures to counter money-laundering are being introduced and take time to impact; not all that long ago the sum had to be in the bank for one whole year; another time, after successfully getting your visa, the money had to remain there for a further 3 months and proof was required when reporting 90 days. It is always best to check the latest requirements with Immigration at least a couple of months before visa renewal. I was recently told by Immigration checkers at Chiang Mai that the last statement and bank letter must be no more than 2 days old - I did not verify this inside the office - just ambled to the nearest Bangkok Bank, got another letter and updated my bank book - I already had a queue number so no problem - when the first set of documents were checked by the IO, there was no issue - that original letter was 3 days old (so I never needed the new one, but better to be safe than sorry!)

Bangkok bank are becoming the pitts

Just show the 65,000 baht per month income and don't worry about it.

Just follow the stated regulations, or change bank, how hard can it be. Crying out loud.

BB bank took ฿200 and told me to come back in 7days to pick up immigration statement letter.

I’ve never seen this ‘pledging’ before with Bangkok bank. I just deposit in a normal account and make sure the balance doesn’t go below for 2 months. Then get a statement (100 bht) and letter stating current balance ( +100bht) on day that I lodge renewal. The ‘pledging’ makes it sound like a term deposit.. do they pay interest like a term deposit? (💸🤣 .. as if)

It’s 2 months not 4

My immigration (CNX) simply requires a bank letter and bank stamped statements going back 3 months. I bank with KBank and it take 30 mins or so and 300 baht to do it each year.

So what is the best bank to open an account with for a retirement visa ?

I can't believe people defending Bangkok Bank? The are not immigration, yet they are making decisions on you getting a visa or not? This can not be correct in way??

You just might have to check your local immigration, I was nearly refused extension because mine was only seasoned for 2 months and my local immi said it had to be 3 months.

You better read the rules for your visa

Money laundering,scam money and agents putting required funds for visas and drawing it out in 5 minutes has caused this at BB

I’m at Chaengwattana right now. Same here. Immigration requirement is just to show we have 400k in bank seasoned for two months. Banked in 400k in December last year. Today they notify me to freeze it for another 4 months starting today. Why?

No, currently only Bangkok Bank is being pro-active in this anti-fraud measure. I have no doubt that other banks will over time follow this lead.

I’ve been a customer for over 10 years. Never had this happen.

why make you make this such a big point??..put the 400.000 on the account and let it stay there then you never have problems at the time you must make your extension!..is that so difficult???...or do you want to use it??

Typical bk bank with zero empathy. They implemented this rule last year with no notice. Totally screwed me! I went to Kbank but they said they needed 6 months for new customers and 2 months thereafter

I received my letter yesterday from KBank with no problem and I only opened my account in December

this is a Bangkok Bank special customer-unfriendly rule. . . . just comply with this one time, and after the period expires, remove the 400,000 THB into a SCB or Kasikorn account, and close the BB account )you are allowed to sepnd the 400,000 THB, they just need to be back for 2 months before the application to the next extension)