Bangkok Bank Chaos

[Dodger]

Bangkok Bank stopped issuing Bank Letters needed for visa extensions. Not sure when/if they'll start again. Also, adding to the dilemma, Americns who rely on money transfers to use for their extensions will see that the transfer code printed in your bank book has changed from FTT (Foreign Transfer) to TPP (Third-Party Provider). This change took place in March of this year.

For Americans, the solution to this mess is to obtain Credit Advices from Bangkok Banks Global Services (see below) which provide the funds transfer detail needed for immigration purposes. Note, your bank branch can provide these reports for transfers coded "FTT", although can not provide them for transfers processed after March, 2025 coded as TPP.

After I requested these Credit Advices through my local bank branch I received them from Global Services via e:mail 3 days later. I printed them out and will submit these to immigration when I go in to extend my visa on Sept 24. I will also take a bank statement (whatever that will look like this year) and copies of my bank book.

I'll let you know how I fend in Immigration but feel pretty confident the documentation I have will fly.

Here are the contact details:

Electronic Payment Support, Global Payment Services Department at
[email protected] or Tel. 0-2553-5450

For those who use the 800k method and rely on Bangkok Bank for the required documents - all I can say is good luck!

[2lz2p]

BUT that is not all. I have had 4 separate reports over the past 3 days from Expats using the 65k per month transfers into their Bangkok Bank account. Immigration requires a 2nd bank letter listing the foreign deposits to the their account. All 4 said that Bangkok Bank staff (at different branches) have told them they no longer issue such letters. I have asked those giving me the report to keep me posted especially as to what they incur at Immigration without the letter - each are due to renew their extensions soon.

I'll be anxious to hear how Immigration is responding to this as well, as I'm heading into Immigration on Sept 24 for my extension.

Thanks in advance.

Good luck. If your Branch refuses to give you the account verification letter, the following is an update to the PCEC's webpage on the subject:

We received the following report on 12 September 2025 regarding obtaining a verification of account letter from Bangkok Bank Headquarters:

By chance and being in a Bangkok yesterday, I popped by Bangkok Bank HQ on Silom Road and asked the first employee I saw where I can get a "confirmation letter", expecting to hear that they don't do them anymore. Instead, she directed me to the lobby counters, and I took a number by pushing the button that says "Confirmation Letter".

After a short wait my number was called to Counter 31, which I remembered from when I lived in Bangkok. The man asked "For Immigration?", and I said yes (expecting to be told they don't do them anymore). Instead, he asked for bank book and passport, pulled out some forms, and asked me to have a seat. Soon enough I was signing and counter signing multiple forms and photocopies and watching the papers change hands between three (3) people, and after paying 200 baht fee, I got my letter.

This individual uses Sa Kaeo Province Immigration Office for extensions and they accepted his Bangkok Bank statements without requiring a letter listing his transfers.

It might be possible to get the letter listing the foreign deposits there also. This also make me curious as to whether the current refusals by the Pattaya branches is only being applied in Pattaya. If so, it might be possible to get at least the verification of account letter from a branch located outside of Pattaya, e.g., Sattahip, Sriracha, or Chonburi without the need to go all the way to Bangkok. If so and you have your bank statements, the letter listing transfers might also be provided.

[Gaybutton]

This also make me curious as to whether the current refusals by the Pattaya branches is only being applied in Pattaya.

If it turns out to be only Pattaya, then the next question is Why? Why would Pattaya branches stop providing the information when they must be well aware that many of their foreign customers need it?

[Dodger]

.......This individual uses Sa Kaeo Province Immigration Office for extensions and they accepted his Bangkok Bank statements without requiring a letter listing his transfers.

Thanks for the update.

BANK STATEMENT
There's been a ton of confusion on-line regarding the name of the various bank reports. Just for clarification; a Bank Statement is a multiple page report listing individual transfers into ones account for a specified period of time - which is usually 12 months for those using this report for visa extension purposes.

BANK LETTER
A Bank Letter, which is the one the Big Blue Bank has stopped providing its customers, is simply a one page report in bank letterhead addressed to Thai Immigration certifying ownership of the account and showing the account balance.

CREDIT ADVICE
A Credit Advice is a detailed report of each money transfer transaction within a specified time period (typically 12 months). This is similar to the Bank Statement, although provides more detail including transfer costs, where the transfer originated and was received, etc.

The reason Thai Immigration requests a Bank Letter when handling requests for visa extensions is that they don't want to take the time to read and comprehend all the details in the Statements and Credit Advices every time they process a request for a visa extension. They leave this up the the banks, thus the reason for the Bank Letters.

I'm heading to Immigration tomorrow to do my extension and will have with me the Bank Statement showing the last 12 monthly SSA transfers into my account, Credit Advices for each of these 12 transfers which I received via. e:mail after contacting my banks Call Center, and copies of my bank book. No Bank Letter.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again for the update.

[Jun]

If it turns out to be only Pattaya, then the next question is Why? Why would Pattaya branches stop providing the information when they must be well aware that many of their foreign customers need it?

Another complication unique to Pattaya ?
My hypothesis would be that it's their latest plan to drive customers to the agencies and paying tea money.

[Gaybutton]

My hypothesis would be that it's their latest plan to drive customers to the agencies and paying tea money.

If it is unique to Pattaya and your hypothesis turns out to be the reality, I would not be at all surprised.

[Dodger]

If it turns out to be only Pattaya, then the next question is Why? Why would Pattaya branches stop providing the information when they must be well aware that many of their foreign customers need it?

Apparently it's not just Pattaya branches that have stopped providing Bank Letters - it's happening at many other branches (of the same bank) in many other cities and provinces.

So far, from the multitude of customer reports that are being made public on-line, the refusal to issue these Letters is only happening at one Bank...and that's the Big Blue one.

Right now you can bet that there are bank auditors climbing down the walls rifling through bank records and putting the Big Blue through the ringer. They're looking for fraudulent accounts. I'll say no more about that.

I believe the Big Blue was TOLD to stop issuing Bank Letters...it wasn't a decision they made by themselves. They're losing too many customers as a result of this. The visa agents that used to literally clog the lobby of the large branch I visit have totally disappeared from sight over the past two weeks. Gee, I wonder why?

What goes around comes around.

[Jun]

I believe the Big Blue was TOLD to stop issuing Bank Letters...it wasn't a decision they made by themselves. They're losing too many customers as a result of this. The visa agents that used to literally clog the lobby of the large branch I visit have totally disappeared from sight over the past two weeks. Gee, I wonder why?

Just for my interest, approximately where is this branch ?

During Covid, I made enquiries at agencies regarding extending my stay. Both offered an option involving 800,000 being briefly deposited at a Blue Bank. I've always wondered which branch.

Gee, I wonder why?

Maybe not enough of the tea money has been funnelled up the tree ?

[Gaybutton]

I believe the Big Blue was TOLD to stop issuing Bank Letters...it wasn't a decision they made by themselves.

Told by whom? Why? I find it hard to believe a move like that could be attributed to tea money. If it really turns out to be about tea money, then why wouldn't all Thai banks be told the same thing?

Seems to me that all anyone has to do in order to get those bank letters would be to start keeping their money in a bank that does issue those letters - either that or immigration would need to stop requiring those letters if banks won't issue them.

Could it be some sort of ploy to try to force every expat to use the 800,000 baht method - even those who can't? Who would be behind that and why?

If you can, when you go to immigration to extend your visa, it might be helpful if you can ask if they are aware that Bangkok Bank stopped issuing those letters and what people are supposed to do? If you are able to find out anything, please let us know.

[Dodger]

On my way to Immigration this morning I stopped at the Big Blue/Central PTY to make a simple transaction which is required by immigration on the same day that you visit them for an extension.

The minute I walked into the bank lobby I spotted a staff member who I've known for years who I thought had left the bank because I haven't seen her in quite some time. She remembered me...smiled...and asked me what I needed. I told her that I had visited the bank twice previously in an attempt to get a bank letter and had no luck. She asked for my passport and bankbook...disappeared into the back room...and walked out 10 minutes later with my letter in hand. It was like Christmas.

I went to Immigration and was in-and-out in 15 minutes and was approved for my extension.

There was a small cluster of people standing around the guy who was reviewing my extension documentation so I avoided asking him any questions about the bank letter. I'm sorry I didn't get this information, but in all honesty, I was just glad to get this behind me.

Knowing what I do now regarding the banks ability to produce this Letter with some persistence I would suggest to anyone needing this Letter that they speak to several different bank tellers at several different Big Blue banks and hopefully they will get lucky as I did.

P.S. This catastrophe isn't happening at the Big Blue for tea money...it's happening because of tea money. All banks in Thailand are busy reviewing account transactions and client records because of all the money laundering and bank fraud going on right now, but this isn't the same thing as what the Big Blue is grappling with right now. I wish I could say more, but I don't want to end up like Jimmy Kimmel.

Hey, he's back on the air again...