It’s been scanned at malls, at airports, and even 7-Elevens. Now, all Thai banks say customers must give up their faces to the National Digital ID platform.
Surrendering your very identity is even more inevitable now that all banks in the kingdom will require facial recognition to withdraw sums of THB50,000 (US$1,500) and up, transfer over THB200,000 per day, or raise transfer limits over THB50,000.
“Please bring your passport or other identification documents and passbook to update your latest personal information and take a facial photo at any Bangkok Bank branch nationwide,” a reads a text from Bangkok Bank that has been going out to customers in recent days.
The new rules come into effect next month. The changes are the latest in so-called Know Your Business policies intended to combat money laundering and scams. Remember how pulling the plug on PayPal ended the scourge of scams? It’s going to be just like that but better.
In the meantime, we checked with the majors to find out how they would go about harvesting all those mugs. Some let you do it via app, some at their ATMs, but most require visits to a bank branch.
Here they are organized by the most logical way possible; by color and order in the visible spectrum.
Dark Blue (Bangkok Bank): Branch
Light Blue (Krung Thai Bank): ATM or branch
Green (Kasikorn Bank): K Plus app, ATM, branch
Yellow (Ayutthaya/Krungsri): Branch
Hot Pink (Government Savings Bank): Branch
Purple (SCB): Branch
For banks that say it could be done through their apps (Kasikorn!) look for an NDID option. Attempts to access related services in several apps on Tuesday all failed.
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