Bangkok Bank Chaos

[Dodger]

[I'm not making any more comments about online banking here unless directly related to the topic]

The chaos that's going on in the banking systems right now involves a very broad set of situations involving everything from criminal banking activities, how we manage our on-line accounts, how can we improve our own personal security, what types of accounts are being frozen, long term potential impacts involving immigration, agents, and others, as well as personal concerns regarding how we can mitigate risk associated with this chaos considering our own unique banking practices.

It would be hard to go off-topic as long as we're still talking about these elements of the chaos we're all facing.

[Dodger]

The video linked below was released two weeks ago, but for those who are new to the chaos that's going on in the Thai banking system you should find this insightful:

[Dodger]

Now how would anyone outside of Thailand know if their bank account is affected by such chaos, if they don't have online banking or use an ATM card ?

I have access to my accounts on-line with all my banks (U.S. and Thai). I don't use internet banking, but can (and do) go on-line to make sure my account(s) aren't frozen at any time. I would imagine bank customers living outside Thailand can do the same.

If a person's ATM has been suspended or revoked by the issuing bank there should be an "Alert" posted in their message box in the on-line account. I'm not saying this always happens, but one would expect to receive some sort of bank notification.

[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.

One was one of our members who reported a bank employee who was in the Branch recognized him him prepared the letters or him (an apparent favor rather than a change in policy). The other was in Bangkok and decided to see if he could get a verification letter from Bangkok Bank HQ. They did provide the letter without any problem.

The Pattaya City Expats Club very recently posted the following https://pcec.club/LATEST-IMMIGRATION-INFORMATION/:

UPDATE: We received a recent report from one individual that he used their online banking email section to send an inquiry about the Pattaya branches not providing the letter Thai Immigration requires. The response he received was to go to the branch where your account was opened and they would issue the letter.

During the Open Forum portion of the PCEC's 22 October meeting, two individuals each said they recently received the necessary letters from the Bangkok Branch in Pattaya where they had opened their account.

So, it appears one can now get the two letters required by Jomtien Immigration Office to renew their extensions when using the 65k monthly income method. Because of the initial reports and the fact Wise sent my September transfer through Kasikorn bank and shows as being a domestic transfer (I do use the Long Stay in Thailand purpose and it should have gone to Bangkok Bank as usual, but this time it didn't), I decided to open an account with Kasikorn bank and my caregiver stopped by their branch nearby with a copy of my passport and latest extension to inquire about opening an account. They said yes but I would need to get a Certificate of Residence from Immigration to open the account and to download their app and make an appointment to open the account - thus avoiding any long wait.

I made an appointment with their branch at the Lotus on Sukhumvit. Upon arrival, I mentioned my appointment to the guard who then hit a key on their queue machine and had me enter my telephone number, up came a queue number and my wait was about 2 or 3 minutes. The Bank staff were very courteous and helpful. Of course a lot of info and document signing to be done - much of it on their Tablet (such as the USA tax info required by FACTA). Everything finished and on my way in about 20 minutes. I then had Wise transfer a bit in excess of the 65k to that account - it took a couple of days, but the deposit was made in September, thus I didn't miss a month. My next transfer was the first part of October and Wise transferred the funds immediately to my Kasikorn account.

My next extension will be in June 2026. I will still need to use Bangkok Bank to show my 65k+ deposits in July and August. Then I will use my Kasikorn account to show my deposits for the remaining 10 months.

[Dodger]

My next extension will be in June 2026. I will still need to use Bangkok Bank to show my 65k+ deposits in July and August. Then I will use my Kasikorn account to show my deposits for the remaining 10 months.

Thanks for the update.

What you're planning sounds OK - as long as you have both Bank Statements to show Immigration. The Statement from Bangkok Bank should show July and August foreign deposits into your account, and the Kasikorn Statement should show September (2026) to June (2027) - for a total of 12 consecutive months.

Also, if you've haven't done this already, you should ask Kasikorn if they provide an Email Credit Advice (CR) Service to account holders. If they do you really should consider signing up. I enrolled at Bangkok Bank...the service is free...and I now receive CR reports in my Email every month. The CR reports certify 1) the amount of the transfer, and 2) that fact that the funds were transferred to Thailand from a foreign source.

Things will probably change again between now and next June regarding Bank Letters, but having monthly CR reports that correspond to your 2 Bank Statement(s) for the 12 month period should do the trick as long as you're using the 65k method.

Too much fun!...