TITLE: Thailand's Bank of Thailand Opens Consultation on Cash Transaction Risk Management Guidelines
BODY:
On August 5, 2026, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) launched a public consultation on revised guidelines for managing risks associated with cash transactions conducted by financial institutions and specialized financial institutions. The consultation period runs until September 3, 2026.
The BOT is revising its cash transaction risk management framework to strengthen oversight and expand the scope of regulated cash activities. The revised guidelines extend beyond cash withdrawals to cover cash deposits, Thai baht note exchanges, cash receipts for cheque and draft issuance, and foreign currency purchases, sales, and exchanges. The BOT aims to prevent financial institutions from being used as channels to facilitate illegal activities or unlawful conduct, while protecting financial service users and maintaining confidence in the financial system.
Under the draft guidelines, financial institutions must implement five key requirements: verify customer identity before every cash transaction; analyze customer behaviour and apply appropriate risk management procedures; establish risk management approaches aligned with transaction and customer risk levels, while encouraging safer alternatives to cash; conduct enhanced customer due diligence (EDD) for suspicious transactions or cash transactions exceeding 5 million baht within one day, and decline transactions where enhanced due diligence cannot be completed; and establish ongoing monitoring, detection, and review processes for cash transaction behaviour with appropriate customer risk ratings.
Stakeholders may submit comments through the BOT's dedicated feedback form during the consultation period. The BOT will maintain confidentiality of personal information provided and use submissions solely for guideline development purposes. For further information, contact the Financial Institution Policy Division at 0 2283 6851, 0 2283 6542, or 0 2283 6284, or email FIOP-RPD@bot.or.th.