You've lost me Coffee.
Must be different way in USA.
Yes. It would be more detailed if I was taking out a new account, understandably.
But this was just a second ATM card for my existing account that I've had for maybe 9 years. Something I did in a few minutes previously when I left my Thai wallet in the UK.
The political enquiry, and the more detailed passport origination requirements, were generated by their current system. It is clearly new, judging both from the confusion of the lady filling it all in, and she was far from being a trainee, and the two more senior people who had to help very carefully, otherwise, (just like a Thai visa application form), if you haven't completed every bit of one section to the programmer's satisfaction (and whims), you are blocked.
It was not "normal".
These days it sure isn't "Welcome to the Land of Smiles".