Best UK Bank whilst living in Thailand

[Karlo]

I am seeking recommendations from UK citizens living in Thailand regarding UK banks. I want to keep the majority of my money in the UK and transfer regular amounts to my bank in Thailand. Currently with Santander but their money laundering checks are causing me grief on a regular payment I get from DWP state pension. So I am contemplating move away from Santander.

[scubascuba3]

whoever you choose it's best to keep your address as a UK one, incl UK phone number. I'd avoid Barclays, the others are mostly the same

[Karlo]

Many thanks for your comments…. Agreed I will keep a UK address

[Doctor Tom]

Frankley, none of them, they are all hopeless.  I would suggest an off shore account with the likes of Chase. 

[Cardano]

HSBC

[NativeBob]

HSBC since their branch was on Silom

[hotandsticky]

20 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Frankley, none of them, they are all hopeless.  I would suggest an off shore account with the likes of Chase. 

Rubbish advice!

[DrJoy]

3 minutes ago, NativeBob said:

HSBC since their branch was on Silom

That is a corporate Branch, they closed their retail banking and ATMs many years ago. So its of no use as such

[hotandsticky]

5 hours ago, Karlo said:

I am seeking recommendations from UK citizens living in Thailand regarding UK banks. I want to keep the majority of my money in the UK and transfer regular amounts to my bank in Thailand. Currently with Santander but their money laundering checks are causing me grief on a regular payment I get from DWP state pension. So I am contemplating move away from Santander.

I have accounts with HSBC, NatWest, Santander, Nationwide,  First Direct, Halifax and WISE - and cards with TESCO, MBNA, Virgin and Monzo.

 

I have banked with HSBC for 52 years (I worked for them for 31 years) but I have recently made NatWest my main bank. Personally, I prefer their online banking system and their app. Santander is also good and they are no stricter on MLR checks than any of the others; you can’t avoid them - and as mentioned above keep a U.K. address and phone number.

 

I would recommend retaining at least one U.K. bank and link to WISE. Expat friends have previously cut ties with the U.K. and now do not qualify to open one. 

[Doctor Tom]

35 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Rubbish advice!

Just in your view mate, not in mine 

[Doctor Tom]

26 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

I have accounts with HSBC, NatWest, Santander, Nationwide,  First Direct, Halifax and WISE - and cards with TESCO, MBNA, Virgin and Monzo.

 

How odd are you? 

[Gottfrid]

47 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

How odd are you? 

Not so odd if you only have 500 in each. 🤣

[NativeBob]

1 hour ago, DrJoy said:

That is a corporate Branch, they closed their retail banking and ATMs many years ago. So its of no use as such

Yes, I know. 30.000 limit on ATM else - harsh fines. 

[chickenslegs]

6 hours ago, Karlo said:

Santander but their money laundering checks are causing me grief on a regular payment I get from DWP state pension.

I have my state pension paid directly into my Wise account, then I can send it anywhere I like.

[The Fugitive]

7 hours ago, Karlo said:

I am seeking recommendations from UK citizens living in Thailand regarding UK banks. I want to keep the majority of my money in the UK and transfer regular amounts to my bank in Thailand. Currently with Santander but their money laundering checks are causing me grief on a regular payment I get from DWP state pension. So I am contemplating move away from Santander.

May be out of date information now but Santander customer services told me they permit a Thai address and will send renewed/replacement cards to Thailand. Halifax allowed a Thai address but wouldn't send renewed/repalcement cards to Thailand.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, NativeBob said:

HSBC since their branch was on Silom

No, it wasn't, it was on Rama IV, but there has been no retail banking from HSBC in Thailand for some years. so no advantage.

[Liverpool Lou]

9 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

May be out of date information now but Santander customer services told me they permit a Thai address and will send renewed/replacement cards to Thailand.

It's worth bearing in mind that a very recent AN thread was started by a member who had been warned by Santander that because of his non-resident status in the UK (i.e. he is living in Thailand) his account would be closed in three months.

[The Fugitive]

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

It's worth bearing in mind that a very recent AN thread was started by a member who had been warned by Santander that because of his non-resident status in the UK (i.e. he is living in Thailand) his account would be closed in three months.

Thanks for this, things do change. Santander contacted me wanting to know my future intended use of their current and savings account. I told them I was abroad until further notice and the lack of use was due to Chase UK paying 1% cash back on purchases with their debit card. I told them if their account became competitive I would recommence use. They were happy with this and left it at that.

[ukrules]

10 hours ago, Karlo said:

Many thanks for your comments…. Agreed I will keep a UK address

And don't forget the active uk phone number, it's not for phone calls but for text messages - you will 100% need this.

Believe me on this, I kept my old phone number for about 20 years now, and every time I want to do something slightly unusual like adding a new payment recipient or using a credit card with a new store I haven't used before they text me a code.

[Foxx]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

And don't forget the active uk phone number ... for text messages - you will 100% need this.

 

That used to be the case, but Nationwide recently changed to allow you to use its app for authentication, so a UK 'phone number may not be necessary.

[retarius]

I'm with Nat West, been with them since I got my first grant cheque at Uni in 1971. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. 

[Nick Carter icp]

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

And don't forget the active uk phone number, it's not for phone calls but for text messages - you will 100% need this.
 

 

   A UK phone number isn't necessary , a phones number isn't even necessary, you can do everything without  phone number

[The Fugitive]

39 minutes ago, Foxx said:

 

That used to be the case, but Nationwide recently changed to allow you to use its app for authentication, so a UK 'phone number may not be necessary.

I've read that OTP's via SMS are considered less secure than such as authenticator apps. However, how many people receive OTP's and install their authenticator apps upon the same device as their banking apps?

[brewsterbudgen]

I've always banked with Lloyds and have continued to do so since moving to Thailand 19 years ago.  I do use a family address in the UK, but they know I live in Thailand.  For online transactions I use my Thai mobile number to receive the OTP code, which usually works well. 

[topt]

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

a phones number isn't even necessary, you can do everything without  phone number

Please explain further?

Even if you use an app you need a phone and in most cases it is tied to a number?

Also you say this as if it is a fact for every possible financial institution?

 

[brianthainess]

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   A UK phone number isn't necessary , a phones number isn't even necessary, you can do everything without  phone number

That is not true you can not open a different type of account without a uk phone.

[brianthainess]

I would recommend FlexAccount Nationwide, they have a 20 pound fixed fee for transfers up to the legal amount, make sure you have someone who can send you a new card reader or ATM card to Thailand, if and when you need one. p.s any card reader from any uk bank will work. I had a card reader that just stopped working (not the battery). 

[Nick Carter icp]

59 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

That is not true you can not open a different type of account without a uk phone.

 

   Yes you can . 

You can do it online without a telephone number 

[Mutt Daeng]

HSBC works well for me. I told them I was living in Thailand over 10 years ago (I don't have a UK address) and they have my Thai address & phone number on file. They are happy to send new credit/debit cards to me here in Thailand. At the moment the HSBC bank app is set up to use bio-metrics for security but they also have an authentication app or a physical security device as options. I've banked with them for 40+ years.

[sammieuk1]

UK address Uk phone number Metro Bank "never use a card here"! wise account with card for transfers =hassle free banking 🤔