Frozen Thai bank accounts

[Dodger]

Yes I do. When I first retired I didn’t realize I was covered overseas.

Unlike my friends and family, I have to pay for my advantage(part c), Medicare plann. Almost$400 a month, in addition to $180 a month for part an and b. Because I never paid into social security. It’s good insurance, blue cross/blue shield, and they cover me in Thailand.

Have you reviewed your advantage (part c) policy recently to make sure Blue Cross covers you in Thailand?

I'm saying this because in the past Medicare (any part(s)) provided no coverage in Thailand. Maybe things have changed.

[Jun]

Yes...I've talked to over a dozen people who I know personally who have been effected by this, as well as another dozen people who I met during 4 visits to two different branches of my bank within the past 10 days. Note, that the bank branches I visited belong to the same bank...a really big one

Was this the Big blue bank?

My account at another banK has not been frozen (yet).
I was checking compliance. They have the correct phone number, which was updated in 2023 (although I'm fairly sure they had that number before). The phone number is in my name.
Oddly, they have the old passport number against my name. I renewed the passport in 2019 and must have shown the new one when replacing my ATM card 2~3 years ago (at a branch adjacent to Tuk Com).

I plan 2 countermeasures, possibly 3:
1 For the next trip I'll take more cash
2 I'll visit the green bank to change my passport number and check if the phone number is OK.
3 I'm thinking of opening a new UK bank account for various reasons. The new bank has a higher ATM withdrawal limit, so if I'm forced to withdraw cash from a UK account, I'm dividing the extortionate 200 baht fee into a larger sum.

[Dodger]

......My account at another banK has not been frozen (yet). I was checking compliance. They have the correct phone number, which was updated in 2023 (although I'm fairly sure they had that number before). The phone number is in my name. Oddly, they have the old passport number against my name.

Just so you know - the green bank has a K-Plus App that you can obtain on-line if you want to update your records remotely. If this works for you it may be easier than having to do this when you arrive. I don't use the app myself but probably should to help manage any future changes.

Yes...BIG & BLUE.

[Gaybutton]

Just so you know - the green bank has a K-Plus App that you can obtain on-line if you want to update your records remotely.

All the banks have apps. If you have an account with them, you can use their app - that is if they haven't frozen your account. I use the apps for paying bills, for paying at restaurants, most shopping, transferring money - just about everything. I hardly ever carry more than a couple thousand baht cash anymore. I rarely need any cash at all other than for tipping delivery boys and restaurant waiters.

Until the advent of the apps, when I received a bill I had to personally pay at the biller's office, at a bank, or at a pay point such as 7-Eleven - and pay cash. Now virtually all my bills include a QR code and I can easily pay via any of the bank apps. I no longer have to leave my home at all to pay bills. I receive my water and electric bills on paper left outside the house in my mailbox, but they have QR codes for paying with a bank app. Once every couple months a rider from trash collection comes to the house and presents the bill and I pay him cash - all of 80 baht. All my other bills arrive by Email.

My medical insurance premium payments are done by automatic deduction from my designated bank account. If the account were to be frozen, I don't know if they would be able to deduct the payment or not. If not, they'll let me know quickly enough. However, since none of my accounts are frozen, no problem for me.

Those who prefer to pay cash rather than use apps can still go to pay points to pay, but I believe sooner or later that will be phased out in favor of paying by app. Everything - except immigration - is moving in that direction. Immigration does have 90-day address reporting online, but everything else requires physically going to immigration.

I wish the banks would end freezing accounts of innocent people. Even though I believe if my accounts were to be frozen, it would have happened by now. But I'm still paranoid about it enough that the first thing I do every morning is check to be sure my bank apps are still working. I don't like the idea that "Big Brother" is watching my banking transactions.

[billyhouston]

Some time in June a warning message appeared on my Green Bank app. It stated that from 1 July 2025 my ability to use certain features would be removed. If I wished to correct this I should visit a branch with my passport and account book. Since I was in Europe at the time, I had to wait until late August to do as requested. I guessed that what they were looking for was 'facial recognition', which proved to be the case. We have a nearby branch in BigC, where they are always very helpful, and it took about ten minutes to get back full use of the app. I underwent 'facial recognition' some time ago with my account at the BigBank and, so far, have had no problems there.

[Jun]

Just so you know - the green bank has a K-Plus App that you can obtain on-line if you want to update your records remotely. If this works for you it may be easier than having to do this when you arrive. I don't use the app myself but probably should to help manage any future changes.

My K-plus app has the option to change my e-mail, but as far as I can tell, neither the passport nor the phone number.

Some time in June a warning message appeared on my Green Bank app. It stated that from 1 July 2025 my ability to use certain features would be removed. If I wished to correct this I should visit a branch with my passport and account book. Since I was in Europe at the time, I had to wait until late August to do as requested. I guessed that what they were looking for was 'facial recognition', which proved to be the case.

So far, I have not had this from the green banK. My facial recognition is off. Given the choice, I'd rather use fingerprint security. However, if we are to be forced into facial recognition, I might add that on the next visit.
I plan to visit my "home" branch in Silom, since the people in the Pattaya branch failed to update my passport number on the last visit.

[Gaybutton]

I plan to visit my "home" branch in Silom, since the people in the Pattaya branch failed to update my passport number on the last visit.

I hope your "home" branch will be more efficient.

Regarding facial recognition, a couple of my banks now require setting it up, but so far nothing about facial recognition has happened with any of my transactions.

"I told my doctor I'm thinking about getting a vasectomy. He said with a face like mine, I won't need one."
- Rodney Dangerfield

[Dodger]

...... I no longer have to leave my home at all to pay bills. I receive my water and electric bills on paper left outside the house in my mailbox, but they have QR codes for paying with a bank app......

My medical insurance premium payments are done by automatic deduction from my designated bank account......

It just dawned on me: With all the "pay-from-home" advantages these apps provide", coupled with the fact that cooked meals and even boys can be delivered to ones room - some people literally never have to step out of their homes to get everything they need.

I just returned from my morning walk. I start out at 4:30 AM and walk along the ocean-front, followed by a visit to the fitness park which is also ocean-front. I always see the same people - few as there are that early in the morning - and always say hi in passing.

What always strikes me as being funny is that in the 6-1/2 years that I've been walking the same course, along the same ocean, I have never once saw any of these people walking or jogging without a smartphone in their hands...pushing buttons...glaring at those plastic screens as if, in the absence of those screens they wouldn't know how to walk. When the sun first starts peeking above the ocean's horizon at first dawn it's so beautiful it's almost spiritual...it' just a shame that they can't see it. But, on-the-other-hand, maybe they're paying all their bills and doing their shopping on-line while walking to make their lives easier. Who knows.

[Gaybutton]

some people literally never have to step out of their homes to get everything they need.

Emphasis on "have to". I, for one, am much happier stepping out of my home for things I want to do rather than things I have to do . . .

You can even order grocery delivery online if you don't want or cannot go to the grocery store yourself.

[travelerjim1]

I have two bank accounts with two different banks. At one point I had three different accounts with three different banks.i bought two condos and I had to use the banks of the builder.

I have no apps, bank cards or any kind of internet access. I just withdraw cash when I need it a couple times a week. I’m thinking of getting the apps this trip. Thailand is much more cashless than the USA and is heading more in that direction.

I did have a credit card with one bank but never used it. I thought it might be a good idea in case I was incapacitated and needed hospitalizations. Maybe I’ll get another one but one major bank had a bad hack on its system a few years back and I was relieved that I can’t be hacked with just a pass book.

For my coming trip I’m going to wire money bank to bank. I ran out of money last year. Usually I spend a bit more than a million baht over the 5 months I’m there. I’m thinking of being a bit more conservative with my spending this coming trip.

As far as phone numbers, I use an ais SIM card but switch my numbers more than I’d like. I have a dual eSIM phone and sometimes use google fi. When they ask me to write down my numbers on the withdrawal slip, sometimes I’ll just make up a number if I can’t recall it. Maybe I better be more accurate with that but the problem is using your phone, not a paper transaction.

Rocket... this is the advice I have often shared with Americans traveling to Thailand and elsewhere...

"BEFORE leaving the USA...
Open a Charles Schwab Bank account...
They will reimburse you for the bank ATM fees charged when you use any bank ATM machine. Thai banks charge 220 Thai baht to use their ATM machines and typically can withdraw from 25,000 to 30,000 Thai baht each time used.

The Schwab Bank account ATM card has no international fee, typically 3% to use it. No minimum balance required. No Monthly account fees. Must open it on-line with Schwab... then your application will be confirmed by a phone call to you by a Schwab banker.

It's a combo checking account and brokerage account. No need to use the brokerage account.

Always use and retain a valid US Address for your bank accounts.

NEVER cancel your credit cards as they're important for emergency use.

NEVER have your Social Security checks deposited into a Thai bank account. Use your US bank account for SS deposits, then either withdraw funds either by use of the ATM machines or by use of a WISE account for transfer from your US bank account to your Thai bank account when it's opened.

It's NOW extremely difficult to Open a Thai bank account with the use of a Visa Exempt Entry, tourist visa. (The DTV visa is considered a tourist visa).

The Schwab ATM debit card also works in most other countries. Reimburses you the bank ATM fees monthly.

Keep your health insurance as it's difficult to obtain health insurance in Thailand IF you have preexisting conditions.

IF you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan... keep your US address used to Open the account. If you notify Social Security of your change of banking for your NJ monthly SS deposits, SS will notify the Medicare Advantage Plan insurance company that you have moved and the insurer will cancel the plan as you're no longer eligible for the Medicare Advantage Plan.

Take care and Enjoy your stay in Thailand."