How can I manage my UK bank account for pension payments while living in Thailand?

Jul 4, 2022
2 years ago
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, I’ll be coming to live in Thailand soon as I’m retired and from the uk, what is everyone doing about a bank account as I need a uk account for my pensions to be payed in to but I won’t have a uk address?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around how expatriates can manage their UK bank accounts while living in Thailand, specifically concerning pension payments. While some individuals have their pensions directly deposited into Thai accounts, others suggest using mobile banking or services like Wise for international transfers. Participants share strategies for maintaining UK bank accounts without an address in the UK, recommend using relatives' addresses, or utilizing online banking services. They also discuss concerns about pension increments and the potential for banking complications related to residency status.
Maya *******
I have UK bank account Barclay's I have not lived in UK for long time

I don't even know what address is there

But i can still use it. Using it
Tom *******
@Maya ******
me too. I also have UK bank account-—Barclays-—and I have not lived in the UK for a long time, either. I get my mail sent to a friend’s place in Somerset and I can check my balance on the Barclays app, so I can still use it. Very easy.
Roy *********
UK-based banks with more modern business models (like Revolut) will probably be best for a situation like yours. Easier/quicker to use, transfer, etc.
Ken ******
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*******
/12/the-story-behind-the-abandoned-waterfront-condo-near-bali-hai-pier-in-pattaya/
Ken ******
and avoid,
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Ken ******
avoid living near easily big flood area by google search
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for all the info guys 👍🏻
Nick ****************
I use Lloyds. Transferred my address from UK to Thailand and also changed to my Thai phone number. No problems
Dan ********
@Rob ********
,So you didnt get the account issued at that London branch ? Guessing not, so please tell us all where/how please ?
Rob *********
@Dan *******
Correct. I was holidaying in Thailand and just before the end of my holiday I went into a branch of Bangkok Bank in Sukhumvit Soi 3 Nana Neua to enquire about opening an account. This branch called itself something like the "Foreign Business Branch" although I did not know that at the time. As usual in Thailand it depends on who you speak to and the lady that helped me was brilliant. She was thinking outside the box and my Thailand account was opened sometime later after I provided a letter from my UK bank and a chunk of money. After that I found out about the UK to Thailand facility that was available to me. By then I was Non-Imm in Thailand.
Del ******
Ask a fly member to put you on any of Thier utility bill , and change your address to that address with the bank .
Brian ********
Make sure your bank account in UK is a on-line Internet account it makes life easier
Jason *******
Hope u got plenty of money because it ain't cheap anymore like it used to be..I wouldn't bother
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jason ********
you want try living in the U.K. It's absolutely ridiculous now still miles cheaper in Thailand
Katya *******
@Andy ********
Agree! There is no comparison. The cost of living in the UK right now is astronomical. I'm dreading going back tbh.
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Katya ******
it’s only getting worse as well 😞
Jason *******
@Andy ********
if you think your going to paradise think again ..I have just came back from there..living there for 9 years..all the expats are leaving..most of my freinds are gone..best decision I made..Thai baht is too strong..and everything more than double the price of last year..and it's a ghost town..
Ludwig ***********
I have a HSBC account in the UK with a foreign address (Singapore). No issue.
Dave *********
@Ludwig **********
People should not listen to HSBC if they tell you that you can open an expat account in Thailand. It's bullshit, they don't provide private banking in Thailand, but yes you can use your online banking and banking app in Thailand no problem, just get it set up and used to it in the UK as calling them is obviously a pain in the ass.
Ludwig ***********
Otherwise, open a Wise account while you’re are in UK. You can use it for many currencies including THB.
Tony *********
@Ludwig **********
you can open a Wise account from anywhere since it's an online Bank.
Ludwig ***********
Yes, but depending on your residency, the rules are not the same. Wise has to comply with different banking rules in each country where it has customers. The maximum amount you can hold, for example, depends on the country you are registered in.
David ***********
Open a account with Bangkok Bank, then open an account with Wise which you can set yourself with the app very easy to do, once you have both set up its very easy to transfer money from your bank account in England to Thailand
Steve *******
Use a c/o address or a mailbox
Chris *********************
@Steve ******
no mate our address in Thailand,

No care of.

It usually takes about 2 months for a monthly statement.

If her card is running out she just calls the international number and explains and orders her card 3 months in advance.

If it hasn't already been dispatched
Steve *******
@Chris ********************
I use a c/o address. No problems!
Chris *********************
@Steve ******
we don't mate just our home address.

Never had any problems just takes a little bit longer for documents
Chris *********************
My wife's virgin money account, sends her statement and replacement cards to our address in Thailand.

Takes a bit longer but it works
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ********************
that’s nice to know as my account is with virgin 👍
Chris *********************
@Andy ********
I also have a standing order for my Santander account to my green bank account in Thailand
Chris *********************
@Andy ********
it was yorkshire bank years ago, but everything stayed the same ,

When it got took over
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ********************
yes I know mate I’ve had an account with them for over 30 years now
Chris *********************
@Andy ********
I ment it was years ago when she opened the account.

My fault for not being more informative
Dick **********
If you have State pension paid into a Thai bank, you will not get the annual increases
Kev **********
@Dick *********
yes if you reside in Thailand you will not get the annual increase. They also send you a form to be filled in occasionally to prove you are still alive. This has to be signed off by a notaire, police or in some places a pharmacist so not advisable to "fiddle it". You could end up having pension stopped to recover money
John **********
@Dick *********
if you're honest and inform the tax man where you live you won't get them anyway
Christine *******
@John *********
like our honest government...
John **********
I don't know if all UK banks are the same but mine was happy to use my Thai address if I wanted to
Paul ***********
@John *********
would be helpful to name bank.
Peter *********
Use a uk address for uk bank relative etc. Otherwise uk will close your account ir you use a thai address
Dave *********
@Peter ********
I have a UK bank account and credit card with a UK bank. Both are registered at my Thai address.
Tony *********
@Peter ********
I have a Thai address for my UK Nationwide Bank account.
Colin ********
Use Wise you can have a UK account and connect it to a Thai account, very easy and cheap.
Richard *******
@Colin *******
Also get far superior exchange rates from Wise 👍
Rob *********
Can only speak for myself. In my case I collect my pension income in my UK bank and have a standing order once a month to the Bangkok Bank branch in UK. They are not a retail bank but they will receive the money and then credit it to your Bangkok Bank account in Thailand. Two working days as usual for banks but early delivery, in my case, at 0834hrs on the second day.

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Nick *******
@Rob ********
the Bangkok Bank in London's St Marys Axe is a business branch only. I have been in there to ask when i was last over there. They will not do any personal transactions.
Rob *********
@Nick ******
Yes. I use the phrase "not a retail bank" to try to indicate that they do not conduct personal business. Maybe that is a misleading expression but I am not a banker and have no knowledge of their phraseology. They do however conduct the business I described above and they do it well.
Mark *****
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Dave ********
Use a friend or relatives address for your bank, alternatively just don't tell the bank you've moved, if you use online banking, they have no need to send you any correspondence
Sharon *******
@Dave *******
most banks do actually still send an anual paper statement annually for tax perposes so better if you can to use a friend or reletives adress
Dave ********
@Sha***
, I haven't had a paper annual statement since online banking started
Paulus *********
Use mobile banking, you will be able to still get your pension paid into your account then transfer it to your Thai bank account. Use wise to transfer.
Colin **********
I have my pension paid directly into my Thai bank account.
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *********
how much do the charge for that Colin?
Colin **********
I did not ask, as I was getting uk bank charges and I decided to close my account. They have a online form, if you search for gov.uk "International pension centre" you can ask them, they respond in one or two days, back by email or call them.
Ken ********
@Colin *********
i checked with the uk government last year and their rate was very competitive with other good rates received here. I was surprised too
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