Why is Bangkok Bank requiring retirees with Non-O visas to provide proof of address from their home embassy?

They have frozen ฿800k for 4 months for the first time in the 20 years I have had an account with Bangkok Bank. But I can’t spend it for 5 months anyway. I just was there on Thursday ordering my one year bank statement and letter that won’t be ready until the 21st. While there I got two replacement ATM cards for my two accounts for no charge since I remember my security code. She just wanted a copy of my passport ID page and current visa. Both accounts still work and I have never had to show my lease, just my passport and bank books.

Have you contacted your embassy and asked them if they even issue such a letter?

“They require you to submit proof of address from your home embassy; lease agreements are generally not accepted.”

*** this is the usual rubbish from bank employees you can’t count from 1 thru 9.

Or those who like to invent rules, pull any rubbish out of their noses because they are THAI and unable to say “Sorry but I do not know what to do”

It is all about “face loss”.

The banking rules generally require a “certificate of residency” from Thai Immigration.

Thai Immigration is an authority that can issue an official address confirmation.

This certificate normally gets addressed to the specific bank branch you want to get an account opened, and is good for use for 4 weeks

Bkk bank, small town branch, yes a painful process but always ok. Good local staff, kind and helpfull.

In principle, every bank branch can have different requirements. There is usually no problem with the required documents. Only some obviously don't understand that. It is now being checked more strictly, that is correct.

It's only Bangkok Bank that has that problem.

I don't understand all this, is it just clickbait?? I've been here for years and NEVER had these problems, if this is true then the logical thing would be to pull your money out go to another bank, certainly not whinge and moan about it on Facebook.

Who would bother with Bangkok Bank the nonsense Bank of Thailand

Bangkok Bank is getting more paranoid by the day, going to change to another bank as soon as the account is unfrozen. Had the account for over 10 years

Yes. but different scenario. its absolute Lunacy - if you apply for your annual extension they automatically freeze your account-IF you bought the balance back up any less than four months prior. They can see the 800k in the bank (at the bottom of the letter it Clearly states the funds are in the account) and of course in your bank book - Updated the Same day- but because its frozen they wont accept the bank letter, which only shows the/Any funds Over 800k as the Balance. You have to request it to be Unfrozen - for which they cannot give a date (I got told 5- 15 days!). Given you also have to submit 12 months statements which is 1-5 days, attempting to time this right at the same time as songkran is infuriatingly painful . I ve been rejected twice (inc today) , they told me I will have to leave the country and start from scratch. If its not done by the end of the month. this country really is run by Idiots. Today bkb at cheng wattana was full of victims like myself losing their sh*t over this debacle. And , you Know they are going to charge us to get it Unfrozen . Insane.

When I first saw your post, I was in Bangkok Bank about 6:00 pm in Udon Thani. I asked the teller about the Embassy verification letter regarding one's address required to keep an account open. Neither the tellers nor the 2 managers were aware of any such requirement. Must be a local thing where you are.

I think you are full of shit man.

Where is the proof of this?

Click-Bait Nonsense!!

Get a residence certificate from your local immigration office that has jurisdiction over where your TM30 is filed

It's been happening for the last year ,Bangkok bank have been fucking everyone up thats why I changed my bank

I really do not understand foreigners in Thailand who still trust Thai banks. Do you really think that this kind of non sense of Bangkok bank wont happen to other Thai banks? K bank, Krungsri, SBC? I think it is just question of time. or like lucky draw. If you have luck, nothing will happen to you. It was nothing bad yet by today, but it does not mean it will be Ok too tomorrow. or later. no one knows. Still foreigners there who do not understand Thailand and Thai authorities nonsense.

What is actually proof of address from home country embassy?????? Any embassy can issue this???? I never ever heard of this at all and I can not understand what is this???? anyone knows that?? If a foreigner lives in Thailand on retirement, he should have residence in Thailand, not in his home country. So how can he get a proof of home country embassy about his address that he never has now??? 🤣🤣🤣But not funny at all. What this bank wants is what you can not do at all. It is like they can require you your death certificate. You die first to unfreeze your bank account. 😂Funny but this is typical thai authority non sense. That is why I always tried to avoid to face them directly. The result is only nonsense of non senses.

That's fucking bullshit. what's your home Embassy got to do with anything?

close the account and move to a better Bank

Happened days after extending my Visa. The Branch in Khon Kaen were beyond charming, Tea + Biscuits. 🙂 But each has their own policy. The issue may be as was mine elsewhere. It was more what they didn’t want..

Bank accounts, Tabien Baan’s. Business documentation from DBD Driving licences. Passport, Visa. Mine was suspended for three weeks. Which they do without warning because they want you to visit a branch. As long as you are transparent, open and honest with them, it’s merely satisfying the Bank regarding money laundering issues. After all it’s their reputation on the line.

I had to get a certificate of residency instead of a lease agreement, but that was just a matter of some minor paperwork at the immigration office.