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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat
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    Thai banks while living overseas

    Bangkok Bank is giving me grief.

    They won't allow an international number to be used for SMS authentication.

    They said they would set up email authentication - it didn't work and when we checked on this trip they denied it was ever available.

    Went into the bank yesterday to manually get some new accounts added to my transfer list so that I can do transfers whilst overseas. (Once approved the first time you don't need SMS going forward) and sure enough - the idiots had to fill in paperwork and send it off to Bangkok and because of NY who knows how long it will take!

    This is despite being in the original bank that the account was opened - having ID and being able to log into online banking in front of them.

    Anyway - my questions is - I want to tell them to shove it but only if there is a better alternative. Any suggestions?
    News is what someone, somewhere is trying to suppress - everything else is just advertising.

  2. #2
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    My Thai cell phone is with AIS and it works in many countries. Even in butt-fuck MEA backwaters, as long as there's cell phone reception the SMS authenticating messages from Kasikorn bank still come thru so I can do internet banking no problem. Have you got a local cell phone that you can turn on when overseas and wanting to do Thai internet banking?.

    Anyway, I've been with Kasikorn for a long time and have had nothing but good experiences with them. No problems with Internet banking from inside or outside Thailand, no problems adding new accounts to transfer to, and even when I've fucked-up by losing my card - twice so far- they've been more than helpful sorting me out.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    When a punter is doing serious business i suggest to do it at Bangkok Bank head office on Silom.

    This is because they Speak perfect English and a fixer ain't far away if the person you are dealing with ain't doing the Business.

    I always deal with Head office and so far all has been good and easily sorted.

    If ya dealing with Head office Silom and still can not get ya shit sorted then Give up.

    As i said, whatever Bank ya deal with go Strait to the Head Branch in Bangkok.

    That's All I can say regards trying to sort Bank stuff in this shitter .

  4. #4
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    Thanks Headwork. I had considered using a Thai number and just swiping sims in my phone when I needed to - but then I lost my number due to inactivity so figured that was too much of a risk.

    That was years ago though and maybe sims are different now? I mean if I can keep the sim I got on this current trip without having to keep topping it up and knowing it won't expire then that would be the easiest thing. It is a True Sim.

  5. #5
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    Thanks Terry but I am in Ubon at the moment. Will consider the head office next week when we have a few days in the big smoke before heading home.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    ^^^^

    Funny innit,

    I never have issues but many other Punters have.

    It's a roll of the dice at times.

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    ^^

    When you deal with Head Office Silom you will be getting the correct information whether its good for you or not.

    They will explain to you why it can or cannot be sorted.

    Plus ya phone card will need to be topped up before it expires, this is normal stuff.

    Only good for X amount of months, ya need to get the correct info on that as well.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by MeMock View Post
    Thanks Headwork. I had considered using a Thai number and just swiping sims in my phone when I needed to - but then I lost my number due to inactivity so figured that was too much of a risk.

    That was years ago though and maybe sims are different now? I mean if I can keep the sim I got on this current trip without having to keep topping it up and knowing it won't expire then that would be the easiest thing. It is a True Sim.
    Just buy a used cheap phone and put a local SIM card in it thats number is where your bank will send authentication SMS's to and you're in business, unless you'll be outside of cell phone range in whichever country you'll be in of course. Again, AIS works in so many countries (including Australia) that they're probably who you should go with, but other Thai carriers might work just as well around the globe for all I know. As for topping my AIS account up, I do that thru internet banking from inside or outside of Thailand too

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by MeMock View Post
    Thanks Headwork. I had considered using a Thai number and just swiping sims in my phone when I needed to - but then I lost my number due to inactivity so figured that was too much of a risk.

    That was years ago though and maybe sims are different now? I mean if I can keep the sim I got on this current trip without having to keep topping it up and knowing it won't expire then that would be the easiest thing. It is a True Sim.
    What I gather is that your credit on the Thai sim will "expire" (but still be there) after a month, but you can still recieve calls, so maybe just use the Thai sim as your contact number. And you can top-up online (50 baht) so even if there's a problem of time lapse, you can immediately refresh the sim.

  10. #10
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    Gonna add my BIL phone number to the account and then if any new transfers come up I will just call him for the text code. I really would like to walk into my local Ubon Bangkok Branch though and say - stick it - give me all my cash now so I can take it next door. Just need to know which type of next door.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Maanaam View Post
    What I gather is that your credit on the Thai sim will "expire" (but still be there) after a month, but you can still recieve calls, so maybe just use the Thai sim as your contact number. And you can top-up online (50 baht) so even if there's a problem of time lapse, you can immediately refresh the sim.
    This is where things become a headache for me - with sims in NZ and Laos that I try to also maintain. I thought I was doing okay with my 12Call thai simm but on this trip the missus and my sims both failed to work and we did over 1,000 baht in credit because it wasn't being used. Thats when I though bugger it - will just buy and discard from now on hence my BIL idea might still be the best option for me. Thanks.

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MeMock View Post

    I really would like to walk into my local Ubon Bangkok Branch though and say - stick it - give me all my cash now so I can take it next door. Just need to know which type of next door.
    You may just encounter the same monkeys at the next bank you go to.

    Wankers will tell ya anything if they are not sure.

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MeMock View Post

    I thought I was doing okay with my 12Call thai simm but on this trip the missus and my sims both failed to work and we did over 1,000 baht in credit because it wasn't being used.

    That's when I though bugger it - will just buy and discard from now on hence my BIL idea might still be the best option for me. Thanks.
    Ya makin shit hard for yourself when ya living in Australia but trying to maintain business ties with this shitter.

    Hard enough keeping on top of it when one is living here.

    Good luck mate.

  14. #14
    Excommunicated baldrick's Avatar
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    they - along with other dinosaur banks should just get 2 factor authentication 2FA enabled with google authenticator app - though I use the Authy app

    my NAB account will only let me use letters and numbers for the password - no symbols , and my commbank is much the same

    my HSBC had a 2FA device , but now they are trying to phase them out - cost savings maybe

    generating 2FA on your mobile device is used on all serrious crypto exchanges and you can also use it on your email accounts with major webmail providers

  15. #15
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    Try telling that to Bangkok Bank baldric

    All my major accounts are with NAB like you. I have a user ID and a password. That is all I need to do anything I want - no sms authentication or any other authentication - I love it.

  16. #16
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    .....
    Last edited by MeMock; 28-12-2017 at 09:12 PM. Reason: can't work out how to delete a post by mistake

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by terry57 View Post
    Ya makin shit hard for yourself when ya living in Australia but trying to maintain business ties with this shitter.

    Hard enough keeping on top of it when one is living here.

    Good luck mate.
    Yeah they don't make it easy for you do they. But where this is a will there is always a way...






  18. #18
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    Anyway, I've been with Kasikorn for a long time and have had nothing but good experiences with them.
    Wish I could say the same mate, but closer to the truth to say I've had little but bad experiences with them. Why, for example, can't I use my Kasikorn debit card to book internal flights with Air Asia? There is plenty of balance in the account- but I have to use my NAB credit card instead, with the hefty exchange rate cost that entails.

    As far as helpful staff goes, at least in Ubon Ratchathani, non- existent. They even managed to stuff up a simple bank account balance confirmation for my annual visa renewal, twice consecutively in one day- thus requiring an overnight stay, and further visit to the bank & immigration next morning. Finally, their ATM network seems to leave a lot to be desired compared to SCB & BB, and furthermore seem to break down more often (or be fixed less promptly).

    Anyway, enough of my gripes. Bangkok Bank, in spite of it's sordid origins, seems to carry the highest rating out of a bad bunch with the farang business types I know in Bangkok. The Thai banking system is basically a cartel MeMock- mollycoddled and protected from foreign competition. A jump from them to another Thai bank out of justified pique, might be a case of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

    Ironically, I'm thinking of the opposite- ditching Kasik in favor of BB. It's a bloody travesty when you're even scared to try and use your own banks debit card, safely covered (many times over) with liquid funds on deposit. They also have some sort of banking tie-up with Cambodia, a place I'm planning to spend more time- even possibly live- making them certainly the best choice there, of the Thai banks anyway. Otherwise, the forex rates are extortionate.

  19. #19
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    P.s:- I think tezza's advice to deal with the or a 'big branch' is sound. I've banked with both SCB & KK here, unfortunately with smaller branches, and far from impressed by the staff quality.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by MeMock View Post
    Bangkok Bank is giving me grief.

    They won't allow an international number to be used for SMS authentication.

    They said they would set up email authentication - it didn't work and when we checked on this trip they denied it was ever available.

    Went into the bank yesterday to manually get some new accounts added to my transfer list so that I can do transfers whilst overseas. (Once approved the first time you don't need SMS going forward) and sure enough - the idiots had to fill in paperwork and send it off to Bangkok and because of NY who knows how long it will take!

    This is despite being in the original bank that the account was opened - having ID and being able to log into online banking in front of them.

    Anyway - my questions is - I want to tell them to shove it but only if there is a better alternative. Any suggestions?
    do like everyone else, and get yourself a Thai mobile number for banking, works great overseas, and recharge online every 2 months for 100 THB

    don't lose the number or let it expired or you will be fooked

    and guess what, even for regular transfer after first time, they keep asking for the OTP with your Thai mobile

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by MeMock View Post
    Thanks Headwork. I had considered using a Thai number and just swiping sims in my phone when I needed to - but then I lost my number due to inactivity so figured that was too much of a risk.
    Double Sim Samsung Mobiles, ever heard of them ?

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by MeMock View Post
    This is where things become a headache for me - with sims in NZ and Laos that I try to also maintain. I thought I was doing okay with my 12Call thai simm but on this trip the missus and my sims both failed to work and we did over 1,000 baht in credit because it wasn't being used. Thats when I though bugger it - will just buy and discard from now on hence my BIL idea might still be the best option for me. Thanks.
    Just as an aside and comparison, the last time I was in NZ (Jan-Feb) I bought a Skinny sim for the 2 weeks I was there ($5). I registered that number to my Westpac account while I was there. Yesterday, I got an sms from Skinny; "You haven't topped up for nearly a year. You have 30 days to top-up to keep the account active". I have been using this number to receive sms authentication codes from my NZ bank whenever I do an online transfer to my Thai bank account. Never a problem.

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MeMock View Post
    This is where things become a headache for me - with sims in NZ and Laos that I try to also maintain. I thought I was doing okay with my 12Call thai simm but on this trip the missus and my sims both failed to work and we did over 1,000 baht in credit because it wasn't being used. Thats when I though bugger it - will just buy and discard from now on hence my BIL idea might still be the best option for me. Thanks.
    Sigh.. Who ties your shoelaces for you?

    You top up your sim card with 50 Baht every month, you do that payment through internet banking.
    You register it as a standing monthly payment.

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat Fondles's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    Wish I could say the same mate, but closer to the truth to say I've had little but bad experiences with them. Why, for example, can't I use my Kasikorn debit card to book internal flights with Air Asia? There is plenty of balance in the account- but I have to use my NAB credit card instead, with the hefty exchange rate cost that entails.
    Can pay internal air asia flights at the 7-11.

  25. #25
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    And MeMock (+ others perhaps) there's an obvious typo in your thread title but the word Will brings up a point worth pondering for those of us with Thai bank accounts, what happens if we fall off the perch?.

    I made a Will with my lawyer that among other things, states that my bank account balance goes to my partner. She has a copy of that document and knows to take it to the legal firm if I die and they'll facilitate the release of my Baht to her account. They tell me this is normally done in a day or two if there's a Will in place but it can take forever or longer if there's not!.

    Just something to think about for those that don't have a plan in place for that scenario...

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