Answereda year ago
Why is my Bangkok Bank account locked and how long will it take to unlock it?
I am at 3 weeks that my Bangkok Bank account has been locked. I visited with a senior manager yesterday and I want to update you on what's going on if you're still waiting like me:
1. The staff that told me funds would be available in three to 5 business days misspoke. The bank manager brought them into the office and reprimanded them for providing that "wrong information".
2. There were dozens of files of people waiting for their funds to be unlocked many whom came to unlock their accounts ahead of me. There were so many, that the files were stacked on the floor in piles by the date the customer came into the bank.
3. The manager informed me that she and the rest of the staff are working 7 days a week in order to provide the necessary information to the head office in Bangkok for the accounts to be unlocked.
4. "If you want to withdraw your funds immediately you may do so but you will be locked out of opening a future account with Bangkok Bank and any other bank in Thailand." I have not confirmed if this is true or not.
5. High net worth customers were the first to have their accounts unlocked. Go figure.
6. She informed me that it is improbable that the unlocking of the account will take up to three more weeks or longer. Typically, she observes the accounts being unlocked from this day forward within 3 to 5 business days. I've heard that before.
7. Don't shoot the messenger.
1. The staff that told me funds would be available in three to 5 business days misspoke. The bank manager brought them into the office and reprimanded them for providing that "wrong information".
2. There were dozens of files of people waiting for their funds to be unlocked many whom came to unlock their accounts ahead of me. There were so many, that the files were stacked on the floor in piles by the date the customer came into the bank.
3. The manager informed me that she and the rest of the staff are working 7 days a week in order to provide the necessary information to the head office in Bangkok for the accounts to be unlocked.
4. "If you want to withdraw your funds immediately you may do so but you will be locked out of opening a future account with Bangkok Bank and any other bank in Thailand." I have not confirmed if this is true or not.
5. High net worth customers were the first to have their accounts unlocked. Go figure.
6. She informed me that it is improbable that the unlocking of the account will take up to three more weeks or longer. Typically, she observes the accounts being unlocked from this day forward within 3 to 5 business days. I've heard that before.
7. Don't shoot the messenger.
Answer summary
A user reports their Bangkok Bank account has been locked for three weeks, revealing issues with misinformation from staff and a backlog of cases awaiting resolution. The user shares information from a bank manager, indicating a slow unlocking process, potential repercussions for withdrawing funds, and a preference given to high net worth clients. Comments from other users express skepticism about the legality of the bank's actions and share their own troubling experiences with account management.
46 repliesnewest first
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Phil **********
Was thinking of retirement there looks like thats off the cards now unless they get there act together with banks account and visas
David ******
@Phil *********
if you can't trust the finical systems you loose the trust of investment. Just think of countries that nationalized foreign interest. Just take it by new order. Yeah, makes you think twice about your exposure in foreign countries.
Pe ****
@Phil *********
Agree. It seems like the Thai government is trying to dissuade people from moving there. Secure and reliable banking is a must for me.
Graham *****
@Phil *********
just do x 2 90 days. Wait until it all settled down. At least if I go back to the UK then I will get my yearly pension rise
Lee *************
Go open another bank account at another bank,then close Bangkok bank thats if can.
No long term visa or extension of stay no bank account
No long term visa or extension of stay no bank account
Simon *******
@Lee **********
I have been waiting 2 weeks for them to close my account, they might do it by Christmas but what year 🤣🤣
Jarmo *********
4. I dont believe they can prevent anybody to open account in other banks😄 they just afraid ppl to take their money else where.
Roberto *********
@Jarmo ********
I don't think they're afraid of losing a comparatively few foreign customers, but if you've been booted from one bank, would another bank be keen to take you on?Jarmo *********
@Roberto ********
booted bc u took u money out? Wtf is that.Roberto *********
@Jarmo ********
Booted because you don't meet the requirements to have a bank account in Thailand?
Jay *******
@Roberto ********
because BB has no clue what they are doingJay *******
@Roberto ********
its not so much what they are doing, it is how they are doing it and they absolutely have no clue. You don't throw the baby out with the bath water.Roberto *********
@Jay ******
On the contrary I think they're well aware of what they're doing. After being stung by a money laundering scam, they're now weeding out the customers they no longer want
John **********
I live near the Cambodian border and this is exactly what my bank was like just before they closed the border. Large A4 file folders all over the office floor, but at least there seemed to be some semblance of order to the system. I can imagine branches with a lot of foreign customers are similar right now
Simon *******
Free interest free loans ,where is the compensation.LMAO
Robert *********
OP@Simon ******
interesting you mention that, Bangkok Bank continues to subtract banking fees while they have locked my account. Rubbing salt in the wound.
Ej ****
@Robert ********
So true, I noticed that recently on my locked account. 🙄
Paul *****
Bom *********
Yes , they opened my account for first time when I could show my condo documents .
When they locked second time , I visited to the bank. The officer took my documents again and had to answer about my incomes in Thailand and abroad.
Yesterday I received an email (personal gmail from a bank officer ) to come and sign another document.
When I visited again today , the other officer said my account is to be closed.
What is ther system I’m wondering
When they locked second time , I visited to the bank. The officer took my documents again and had to answer about my incomes in Thailand and abroad.
Yesterday I received an email (personal gmail from a bank officer ) to come and sign another document.
When I visited again today , the other officer said my account is to be closed.
What is ther system I’m wondering
Benjamin *********
Bom *********
@Benjamin ********
no. They locked it again. And now they took my condo documents again and asked me to waitGerhard **********
@Bom ********
Be carefull. 3 months frozen and your money is gone to the government, with no opportunity to get it back.Maybe take a lawyer before it is to late,here a link ********************************************
Benjamin *********
@Bom ********
please keep us updated 🙏
Garry *******
@Bom ********
IF they do have one, nobody would know how how to run it !!!
Yve *****
Garry RoachThey want ur money, the girls and now ur bank, that place is money hungry, lesson learned.
Gerhard **********
@Yve ****
Excactly
Martyn ***********
Why isn't all this ever on the news? If they did it to a load of Thai I think it definitely would be.. Makes you wonder...?
Gerhard **********
@Martyn **********
Because the Thais know the law,loosing all of your money after 3 months frozen and know what to do and they are not farangs,cheap Charlies the government wanna get rid of********************************************
Kool *******
@Martyn **********
with all the Thais that had accounts involved they simply closed the accounts. There were 180,000+ Thai mule accounts closed, not just frozen.
Cris ******
How is this legal... haha
Roberto *********
@Cris *****
Probably because you signed a contract to that effect?Cris ******
@Roberto ********
that at any moment. Without warning or cause they can freeze your account for an unknown amount of time? I dunno...Roberto *********
@Gerhard *********
So much misinformation in your post it's not worth my while trying to put you right 😂Gerhard **********
@Roberto ********
Sure,money laundering explains ten of thousands frozen accounts and not the fact that after 3 months frozen you loose all of your money to the state 😂Sure money laundering explain why many banks refuse you to tell why and who froze your account, that it is impossible for you to get it unfrozen without help from a experienced lawyer.********************************************
Roberto *********
@Robert ********
Don't forget that Pattaya also accepted large sums of money from customers to manipulate accounts for the purpose of obtaining extensions of stay, and for opening accounts for tourists when this went against the bank's policy. So yes, the staff are absolutely to blame, but let's be realistic, so too are the customersRobert *********
OP@Roberto ********
so their unethical and greedy staff in Pattaya that were helping scammers from China and Cambodia to launder money should factor legitimately into them closing our accounts . . . right?Roberto *********
@Cris *****
You agreed to the terms and conditions of the account. Because of money laundering every bank contract now has a "freeze" option for suspicious activities on the accountBrandon ************
I can believe it's taking them a while given how many accounts they locked. But that you can't open an account with any other bank in Thailand if you close your Bangkok Bank account is laughable and clearly a scare tactic.
Gerhard **********
@Brandon ***********
Its much more than that.After 3 months frozen the money becomes government property and is gone for ever.********************************************
Brandon ************
@Gerhard *********
That post says your money "can" be seized, not that it will be seized. You would also still be able to fight for it after that.But most of these accounts were not frozen based on government request, they were frozen by the Bank in order to limit their liability based on the new government law that went into effect a couple of months ago holding banks responsible for all fraud and scams.
Bob *********
I bank with krung Thai and have had zero problems. other than once having to go into clarify my documents.
if I was with Bangkok Bank I would open another bank account somewhere and then close the Bangkok Bank one. leaving any money in there would just be dumb in my opinion at this point. but you do you. hope you get your money quickly.
if I was with Bangkok Bank I would open another bank account somewhere and then close the Bangkok Bank one. leaving any money in there would just be dumb in my opinion at this point. but you do you. hope you get your money quickly.
Robert *********
OP@Brandon ***********
the bank manager told me that "policy is issued by the Thai government."
Bob **********
@Robert ********
go open a new account then go close your account at BBBrandon ************
@Robert ********
they're just making stuff up
Jo **********
@Brandon ***********
absolutely true what you say. they just make stuff up
Markus **********
Close your account and take them to another bank. I would never accept this from any bank.
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