A Bangkok Bank Update (yes, another one)

Background:

Long timer in Thailand. Recent years mostly tourist visas staying on/off in Thailand. Own condos in BKK since 2009 and more recent two condos in Pattaya since 2016 or thereabout.

Am from a Nordic country.

Have had bank account with another major bank but though I would get another one so set up one at Bangkok Bank via an agent about two years ago on a tourist visa.

Kept low balance at the Bangkok Bank but always incoming transfers from another Thai bank in my name. No big money movements.

Went back to the BKK Bank branch in Pattaya as I wanted to update my information (now on DTV visa, digital nomad, issued in my own country).

Had a good conversation with the manager at BKK Bank and they are certainly going through each account as mine was up for review with a high probability of closure.

After updating my info, and showing chanote and purchase contract on one of my condos in Pattaya, my account is now in good standing and will not be closed.

If I did not have property in Pattaya, the manager did not say it flat out, but I could tell my account would be closed. BKK Bank does not recognize the DTV-visa as a long-stay visa since "you can "only" stay max 180 days."

The fact that the visa runs 5-years does not matter to the BKK Bank people.

I am sure much of what I have written here is already known but I wanted to share my first-hand experience and the info given to me.

My strong recommendation is to either go to the BKK Bank branch you opened the account with to update your information if you fall into any of the categories where they will let you maintain your account with the bank even on a tourist visa or move all money out of the account soonest possible.

BKK Bank are actively closing non compliant accounts and there was one guy sitting there told me he just had his account closed.

So just because your account with BKK Bank hasn't been closed as of yet, there is a very big chance it will be. At least according to the BKK Bank manager I talked to.

I hope the above is helpful information for those affected by the same.

In regards to the transaction limit on a KBank bank savings account. I've just spoken the KBank they confirm the single transaction limit is 50kthb with the total daily limit also 50kthb. He said there is a project at the bank to apply face recognition to the account at which time they will allow higher amounts.

Also if you have a debit card on your account you can make purchases up to 500kthb depending on your credit with the bank, so can make purchases at shops and the like. This seems high to me but I asked him twice. Cash from a ATM is 30kthb a limit of the cash machine. He also said you could make transfers on the card up to 1m. Really?

My friend has a Retirement visa. Got her certificate of residency at Udon Thani immigration. Her primary account is BBL in BKK. So she opened a second bank account in Kasikorn bank in UTH as she's staying in UTH long term.

Surprised that Kbank said as a foreigner, her daily withdrawal limit for apps transfer, ATM withdrawal, cardless withdrawal is THB 50,000. QR code payment limit is THB 5,000. They only told her this limit after they set up her account.

Bank said this is the latest rule for Foreigner.

I find this extremely difficult to operate. For any payments that's larger amount than THB 50,000, she needs to go to the bank, stand in line to do a transfer to third party payee.

Kasikorn bank used to have a transaction limit of 5 million per day for K+ app.

I understand that they are cracking down on scammers etc, but a limit of THB 50,000 is ridiculous!

Told my friend to continue to use her BBL instead to make payments to suppliers. (she's building a house).

I hope Kbank's new rule for foreigner doesn't affect older customers prior to the change. 🙏🙏🙏

Quick question. I used wise debit card at ATM to withdraw 20000baht from my baht current account. ATM charged 220baht but wise also charged me 350 baht. Is this normal , l was told only ATM charge will be 220 baht.

which bank do you recommend to open an account so i can arrange my retirement visa? Apparently the banks don't want to open an account for foreigners at the moment?

DTV visa. Can you open the bank account in Thailand? If yes what banks and if you know the process. No permanent address in Thailand

If you hold a DVT visa but are now legally married to a Thai national, can you now open a bank account with the Marriage Certificate? If yes, which banks will open an account?

Just a side issue, Kasikorn bank yesterday would not accept the new King Charles £50 notes, they changed the older ones with the queens head on though.

📣 VISA / BANK INFO IN THAILAND 🇹🇭💳

I’ve heard that some banks in Thailand have started closing accounts opened with the DTV (Digital Nomad Visa). 😟

I’m curious to know:

What has your experience been with this visa at different banks?

➡️ Is your account still active?

➡️ Which bank did you choose?

➡️ Has your bank contacted you about this?

Thanks everyone for your feedback — it could really help the community 🙏✨

#Thailand #DTVVisa #DigitalNomadVisa #Banks #VisaExperience #ExpatCommunity

I went to 3 banks and asked because I am thinking of switching from Retirement to DTV. Bangkok, K and TSB. Here is what I was told.

1. You can't get a new bank account on a tourist Visa, unless you have property here (and/or a Pink Card), or are married to a Thai

2. Any Bank accounts already open, will not be closed just because you change to a tourist Visa, (Your history of time is evidence you are not a new account for illegal activities)

3. No effort is being made to investigate and close any accounts that do not look suspicious (many multi millions of baht transactions, new accounts not being used etc)

Hope that helps

Caveats:

1) If you are Russian or Chinese then you will face more issues as your countrymen are the majority of the high publicly for fraud that started all this.

2) If you got a Bank account on a tourist Visa before 6 months ago .. Things have changed your experience has no relationship to today situation