BANGKOK, Thailand – The Bank of Thailand (BOT), together with the Thai Bankers’ Association and e-Money service providers, is introducing new daily transfer and payment limits for young digital banking users in an effort to curb the growing use of children’s accounts as “mule accounts” by financial criminals. The new measures target account holders aged 10 to 18 and are designed to better match daily transaction limits with typical spending behavior while reducing opportunities for scammers to exploit young people.
BOT Assistant Governor and spokesperson Chayawadee Chai-anant said authorities have seen a growing trend of fraudsters persuading children and teenagers to open bank or e-Money accounts, or lend existing accounts, for use in illegal financial transactions. Many young people become involved in financial crime without fully understanding the consequences, as allowing others to use their accounts is a criminal offence under Thai law.
Under the new framework, daily digital transfer and payment limits will be based on age:
- Ages 10–12: e-Money accounts limited to 3,000 baht per day.
- Ages 12–15: Bank accounts using digital channels limited to 5,000 baht per day.
- Ages 15–18: Bank accounts using digital channels limited to 10,000 baht per day.
The limits do not apply to low-risk transactions, such as transfers between a customer’s own accounts within the same banking application.
The central bank said the limits were developed using actual customer transaction data and that more than 97% of youth account holders are expected to experience no disruption to their normal banking activities. Young customers who genuinely require higher transaction limits will still be able to apply for an increase through their bank’s mobile banking app, call center or branch. Commercial banks will notify customers before adjusting account limits and are expected to complete implementation by September 2026, while e-Money providers are expected to finish by October 2026.
The BOT stressed that the objective is not to inconvenience legitimate users but to protect children and teenagers from becoming victims—or unwitting accomplices—of organized financial crime.
The central bank also urged parents to educate their children about financial scams and remind them never to share banking information or allow anyone else to use their accounts. Authorities said they will continue monitoring evolving scam tactics and adjust protective measures as financial crime becomes increasingly sophisticated.
