Transfer USA Social Security to Bangkok Bank using International Direct Deposit

[bradiston]

I'm just an ignorant limey, but my Wise $ account is held in a New York bank. Does this help? I don't begin to understand the US banking system.

[sharot724]

On 2/28/2025 at 12:46 PM, BKK57 said:

Has any one from America signed up for International Direct Deposit for monthly Social Security with the S.S. Admin? I know to start this process you need to send a SSA-1199 Form to FBU Manila. They require the account number and swift code of the bank. I have two plain vanilla savings account at Bangkok Bank. However, when calling Bangkok Bank, I am told that on Bank's side a special restricted account is required and I would have to appear in person to collect the funds. No Debit card or ability to transfer funds from this account is permitted. According to the USA S.S. this is a convenience... but it's NOT.  Has any one done this at Bangkok Bank with out a restricted account? From what I have seen on various posts if you try to send to a regular account eventually they will catch you and refuse the deposit. Until I was made aware of the restricted account I was thinking this might be the way to go so that I can easily prove I'm bringing in S.S. which is not assessable for tax purposes. Now, I just send a wire every month, but there is no specific designation that it is social security. Any feed back is greatly appreciated.

Ah yes. The US change took some time with BKB. It was a to protect recipiants. Simply why the change took plae was that accounts restricitive features were not origially enforced.

The change back was so a reciptiat's deposit account can only be transfer at the branch to a second spending account. easy peasy

 

 

[Luuk Chaai]

8 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

It was years ago, but the account that the government check was sent to at Bangkok Bank could only be accessed at the counter. Since I still have a US bank account I have it sent there now and use Wise for transfers.

..  and as someone else pointed out.  you have to fill out a form every year to show them you are still alive

I just have my SS deposited @ my US Chase Bank acct,   and when I need $$$ I send to my K bank acct thru Wise..  fast ,,  usually seconds..    and cheap enough !

[Pib]

6 hours ago, sharot724 said:

Ah yes. The US change took some time with BKB. It was a to protect recipiants. Simply why the change took plae was that accounts restricitive features were not origially enforced.

The change back was so a reciptiat's deposit account can only be transfer at the branch to a second spending account. easy peasy

 

 

The change took place in 2019 per a new US Treasury policy regarding the transfer of funds "out of the US" via ACH.  Use of the International ACH Transaction (IAT)  format was required instead of the Standard ACH format.     This was to better track funds flow outside of the US via ACH system, help stop transfers to bad guys, etc.  

 

Bangkok Bank did not change its policy regarding the need of a special, restricted account for US govt pensions sent via ACH thru the Bangkok Bank NY branch...doesn't matter whether the funds arrive via standard ACH format (some govt agencies still use this format) or the ACH "IAT" format.  

 

To implement the US Treasury policy Bangkok Bank NY branch just began enforcing the requirement for ACH IAT format unless it was coming from a govt agency that hadn't upgraded it's systems yet to use ACH IAT format.  The US Treasury gave this waiver for those standard ACH payments to be allow thru.  But if an ACH transfer is coming from a non-govt agency like a bank, brokerage, etc., then it must be in ACH IAT format or the Bangkok Bank NY branch will "not" relay it to the in-Thailand Bangkok Bank but reject the transfer  back to the sender. 

 

Standard ACH format and ACH IAT format are similar but different animals...both use the ACH system but the format/coding is different.   Kinda like comparing a Border Collie and a Chihuahua...they are both dogs but easy to tell they are different breeds of dog. 

 

And when it comes to IDD (SWIFT) transfers compared to ACH transfers....those are two completely different animals...have separate regulations/policies....like trying to compare a tiger to a horse.     SWIFT follows international rules while ACH follow US rules.  It's much easier for the US govt to claw back payments if required which are made via ACH than SWIFT due to this different rules.  

[OneManShow]

On 2/28/2025 at 5:41 PM, BKKKevin said:

As the poster said above...

I went online to the SSA website and changed my address to my Thai address... Completed Form SSA-1099, listing my Bangkok Bank account I've had for years (No special or restricted acvount needed) ... Had my BKK Bank branch sign and stamp the form... Mailed it to Manila via Thai Post... And now my monthly deposit appears on the 3rd of every month no problem...

I have 2 questions for you:

1- Did you have to change your address to Thailand ?

2- Does this change of address will change "residence address" (US address) as well ?