Thai bank froze your account: Kasikorn, Bangkok Bank, Krungsri, SCB, what to do
Kasikorn · Bangkok Bank · Krungsri · SCB · Krungthai · TTB
One morning you open K PLUS or Bualuang mBanking and can't log in. Transfers fail, and an SMS arrives saying something like “account temporarily suspended due to compliance”. For a foreigner it's a real shock, but in most cases this kind of freeze is resolved through the bank itself.
Mike Boldyrev. 14 years in Thailand: I work out what happened, prepare the documents and the letter of explanation, and go to the bank with you or handle it on your behalf.
- 70+closed bank and police cases
- 6 banksKBank, Bangkok Bank, Krungsri, SCB, KTB, TTB
- In Thaiexplanations to bank staff
- 11,900 ฿a day of accompaniment to the bank
First things first: who froze the account, the bank or the police?
The whole plan depends on the answer. It's the first thing I find out with every client.
This article
🏦 Bank freeze (compliance)
- the bank suspended the account itself after a review;
- the SMS or letter says “compliance”, “review” or “verification”;
- the bank asks for documents, KYC or source of funds;
- there's no police case.
Resolved through the bank: documents, a letter of explanation, a visit to the branch or head office.
Another article
🚓 Police-ordered freeze
- the bank says the restriction was imposed at the police's request;
- there's a case number, a station and an investigator;
- often after a P2P exchange or a transfer from a stranger.
Resolved through the police; see the separate article.
Account frozen on a police order: what to do →
Video (in Russian): what to do if a Thai bank freezes your account
Banks I work with
I help with freezes at all major Thai banks. Their procedures are similar: the decision to unfreeze is usually made by the compliance or anti-money-laundering department at head office, while the branch takes the documents and passes them on.
- Kasikornbank (KBank)K PLUS
- Bangkok BankBualuang mBanking
- KrungsriKMA
- SCBSCB EASY
- Krungthai (KTB)Krungthai NEXT
- TTBttb touch
Why Thai banks freeze foreigners' accounts
In recent years Thai banks have tightened customer checks considerably, and since 2023 the country has had strict measures against fraud and “mule” accounts. Foreigners and crypto transactions are hit most often.
- 💱Transfers from crypto exchangesBinance, Bybit, OKX and others. Even a small P2P trade can trigger the bank, especially if it has no documents on your source of funds.
- 📢Another customer's complaintSomeone complained or requested a refund, even by mistake or fraudulently, and the bank freezes the account while it looks into it.
- 📄Outdated KYCThe account was opened years ago and your details were never updated: new passport, visa, address, job.
- 🔍Routine reviewNo complaint, just the bank's internal algorithms: foreign payment systems, crypto, unusual activity, large sums.
A typical message from the bank looks like this:
Your account has been temporarily suspended due to compliance review. Please contact your branch.
How NOT to react
Most people's first mistake is panic. They message the bank on LINE and by email, call and try to explain in poor English, sometimes aggressively. That only makes things worse.
❌ «I didn’t do anything wrong»
That explains nothing. The bank needs facts and documents, not emotions.
❌ Muddled excuses
“A friend just sent it” or “I bought something online” with no details sounds suspicious.
❌ Hiding the truth
The bank will ask for documents and statements anyway. Inconsistencies make it worse.
❌ New transfers
Trying to get around the freeze through other accounts and exchanges is a sure way to more freezes.
What to do, step by step
- Identify the trigger: crypto, a specific transfer, a complaint, outdated documents or a long-dormant account.
- Check your email and SMS: has an official bank letter arrived, and what exactly does it ask for?
- Ask the bank who imposed the restriction, the bank itself or the police. If it's the police, follow a different procedure.
- Collect the documents for your situation (see the table below) and prepare translations into English or Thai.
- Write a letter of explanation: brief, factual, with attachments.
- Submit the documents in person at the branch or head office, with an interpreter who can answer staff questions in Thai.
- Follow up: compliance reviews take time, and without reminders documents can “get stuck”.
What the letter of explanation should include
- Your details: name as in your passport, account number, visa and purpose of stay in Thailand.
- Which transaction raised questions: date, amount, sender or recipient.
- What the money is and why it came into your account.
- Where the money originally came from: salary, business, sale of property, savings.
- Confirmation that the transaction isn't linked to fraud, and a list of attached documents.
- Contact details and willingness to provide more information.
The letter should be short, calm and match the documents exactly. One inconsistency in dates or amounts can drag the review out for weeks.
Which documents to prepare
| Situation | Documents |
|---|---|
| Crypto and P2P | Exchange order history, account verification, order chat, transfer confirmations, the path of the funds from buying the crypto to selling it |
| Salary or employment | Employment contract, payslips, statements showing the income, work permit |
| Business and freelance | Contracts, invoices, completion certificates, company statements, tax documents |
| Transfer from a relative or friend | Proof of the relationship, an explanation of the purpose of the transfer, the sender's statement |
| Sale of property or savings | Sale contract, statements over a long period |
| Always | Passport, visa, bank book, statements for 3–6 months |
Examples from practice
Binance P2P · 4 days
150,000 ฿ from a P2P trade
A young man sold crypto through Binance P2P: the buyer sent 150,000 ฿ to his Thai bank account, and a day later the account was frozen. He wrote to the bank himself, “I'm not doing anything illegal”, but it didn't help.
We gathered the trade history, prepared a letter of explanation and went to the bank together. The account was unfrozen in 4 days.
Transfer from a friend · 5 days
Suspected “romance scam”
A client received a transfer from a friend and the account was frozen straight away: the bank suspected a romance scam.
We prepared proof of the relationship, a letter of explanation and a document pack. The account was unfrozen in 5 days.
Don't delay your reply: check whether the bank's letter sets a deadline and find out which documents are needed. Until the bank gets an explanation, the questions about the account remain. In my experience, if you act calmly, stick to the facts and hide nothing, most bank freezes end with the account being unfrozen.
How I help: two formats
Interpreter at the bank
per day of accompaniment, incl. 7% VAT
- I go with you to the branch or head office in Bangkok;
- I interpret and explain your situation to staff in Thai;
- suits you if your documents are ready.
Full case handling
my company UNBLOCK PRO ASIA
- analysis and an action plan;
- evidence, translations and the letter of explanation;
- correspondence with compliance and bank visits;
- can be done remotely, by power of attorney and video call.
Transport, document translation, notarised powers of attorney and lawyers' services are paid separately. Payment is by PromptPay, bank transfer in Thailand or SWIFT from abroad.
Please note: I'm not a lawyer but your representative and helper on the ground in Thailand. I only work with legally obtained funds. The bank makes the decision to unfreeze, so nobody can honestly guarantee the outcome. If legal help is needed, we bring in licensed Thai lawyers.
Frequently asked questions
The bank won't say why it froze the account. What should I do?
Banks often won't give the reason by phone or chat. You need to go to the branch with your passport and calmly find out who imposed the restriction and which documents are needed. A Thai interpreter helps a lot here.
How long does a compliance review take?
It varies, from a few days to a few weeks. With a full set of documents and a well-written letter it's usually faster.
K PLUS or Bualuang mBanking won't open, but my card works. Is that a freeze?
Possibly only online access or some transactions are restricted. Check at the branch exactly which restriction applies.
Can the bank close the account?
Yes, sometimes the bank returns the money and closes the account. The main thing is getting access to your funds; if needed, we'll help you open an account at another bank.
Can it be sorted out by email without going to the bank?
Sometimes, but more often the bank asks you to come to the branch. If you're not in Thailand, a representative can act under a power of attorney, depending on the bank.
How is this different from a police freeze?
With a police freeze the matter goes through the investigator, and the bank can't lift the restriction itself. See the article on police-ordered freezes.
You may also need
Bank froze your account? Message me and we'll look at your situation
Tell me the bank, when and how the account was frozen, what the bank wrote and what your last incoming payments were. I'll tell you which documents are needed and what it will cost. In person in Bangkok, anywhere in Thailand or fully remotely.