Frozen Thai bank accounts

[Gaybutton]

I might be wrong, but my interpretation of that was the problem is at the US bank ?

Now, as a US citizen, what method would you recommend for sending money to Thailand ?

Rocket will have to answer whether the problem was US or Thailand.

For sending money to Thailand, my pension goes into my Thai bank account via WISE. I've never tried sending money personally from the USA to Thailand. You probably know more about that than I do.

[Rocket]

Probably the fraud suspicion arose from the bank not being able to send me a text to my mobile phone. I can understand this as a hacker would possibly intercept it or maybe use a sim swap. Which shouldn’t happen to me as I put a lock on my number with my carrier.
They probably follow a routine procedure and if one fails it raises alarms. However I’ve been making wires for years if they look at my history. And I’ve provided ample identification at the bank.

By delaying a wire, it would give time for the victim of fraud to discover it,via email notification. I’m sure they must have encountered mistakes or fake wires before and deal with irate customers complaining as to why they sent it. Maybe it’s their default policy to delay when one of the security features is unsuccessful.

I’m creating an account with another app in the meantime. This bank also cancelled all its safety deposit boxes a few months ago. Seems the insurance or liability is too great.

[Jun]

I don't know much about US banking, but would hope you have some instant or near instant way of paying money to Wise. e.g. from a banking app or debit card ?

Probably the fraud suspicion arose from the bank not being able to send me a text to my mobile phone.

I don't like that method of security.
I have a credit card with Santander that did 2FA via SMS. That's no use if I'm in a coffee shop booking a hotel on Agoda, with my Thai SIM in the phone and the other phone with the UK SIM is locked in my hotel safe.
Also, the first thing I do on the flight to Thailand is swap the Thai SIM card into my smart phone. The UK SIM goes into my wallet, temporarily. That's the same wallet that has the Santander credit card. Spot the security risk ?

I just got another credit card that apparently always uses the app for 2FA, so no text messages. So that should work no matter what SIM card is in the phone AND I think it's more secure, as I need a fingerprint to open the app.

[Dodger]

...... I have about $8,000 available in one of my Thai bank accounts.

Did you check to see if your bank account in Thailand has been frozen or not?

If by chance it is - this could be contributing to the reason why your money transfer isn't getting processed.

I'm saying this because it's mostly tourists accounts that are being audited and frozen in Thailand right now.

[Rocket]

...... I have about $8,000 available in one of my Thai bank accounts.

Did you check to see if your bank account in Thailand has been frozen or not?

If by chance it is - this could be contributing to the reason why your money transfer isn't getting processed.

I'm saying this because it's mostly tourists accounts that are being audited and frozen in Thailand right now.

It’s not frozen. I just received an email from my USA bank, they sent the wire. I’ll have to reach out to my purple bank to see if they received it.

[Rocket]

I don't know much about US banking, but would hope you have some instant or near instant way of paying money to Wise. e.g. from a banking app or debit card ?

Probably the fraud suspicion arose from the bank not being able to send me a text to my mobile phone.

I don't like that method of security.
I have a credit card with Santander that did 2FA via SMS. That's no use if I'm in a coffee shop booking a hotel on Agoda, with my Thai SIM in the phone and the other phone with the UK SIM is locked in my hotel safe.
Also, the first thing I do on the flight to Thailand is swap the Thai SIM card into my smart phone. The UK SIM goes into my wallet, temporarily. That's the same wallet that has the Santander credit card. Spot the security risk ?

I just got another credit card that apparently always uses the app for 2FA, so no text messages. So that should work no matter what SIM card is in the phone AND I think it's more secure, as I need a fingerprint to open the app.

I agree that using the app is more secure and convenient than getting a text sent to your phone. Kudos to that last credit card company you have. Now I’m wondering about pass keys and facial recognition. I’ve been using pass key now without having to use passwords. Maybe passwords will become obsolete soon.

[Jun]

I’ll have to reach out to my purple bank to see if they received it.

One of the legitimate reasons for freezing Thai bank accounts seems to be because the linked phone number has a different name to that on the account. If I'm paying attention, that is no longer allowed.

So
1 I would guess you might be visiting the branch to make sure you have the correct phone number linked to your account. Particularly if that number has been changed.

2 Whilst in there, why not set up internet banking ? Then install the app in the bank or at home. Then it's easy to check transactions.

3 My banking app shows the bank still have my old passport number against my account. I'll be getting that fixed as soon as I get back to Thailand. There is no harm in checking that.

Also, keeping the same phone number for every trip works for me. True used to have an easy option to extend validity via the app, but I can't find that any more. However, every time I top up the True account from Kasikorn, it adds a month to the validity.
I think there is also an SMS code option for extending it.
[I never give the phone number to boys. They get Line, which can be muted on a case by case basis]

I'm happy to hear the counterargument for doing it differently, as there might be some points that I missed.

[Gaybutton]

there might be some points that I missed.

If you haven't done so, it would be a good idea to also make sure immigration has the new passport number.

[ilz]

It would also be a good idea to register your new passport number with True, preferably BEFORE going to the bank.
This is at least what I will do for my forthcoming trip (although I don’t use the bank app yet)

[Rocket]

Arrived in Bangkok today. Had to wait for my room to be ready at Tartawan hotel so went to AIS and then A purple bank right near them.
They replaced my lost bank book for 100 baht fee,and updated my account showing my wire from the USA was placed in my account the same day I sent it. Even though my USA bank said funds wouldn’t be available until October 6. They were in my account on the 29th. So no problems with the wire on Thailands end. Just uncertainty from my bank in the USA.

Also received an atm card for a 300 baht charge. Didn’t need the app, just completed it in the bank. I find this purple bank to be very good. But the green and red one is also very good.