I read a couple of old threads on what people are doing with their UK accounts and money while living here. 

I'm living here, not fully retired, and don't want to move all my money here.   I have accounts in the UK, Halifax, Nationwide, Co-op, and Starling, all registered to my friend's address.  It's okay, but far from ideal, no other options there. I have an expat mailbox and forward letters from my friends house to there.

I looked at the expat accounts like HSBC and Lloyds, but they no longer accept new accounts from Thailand.   What are people doing or using?

I haven't tried to change any of my UK accounts to my Thai address, because I'm concerned that if they then refuse and try to close my accounts, what will I do with my savings in there.    I read some people on here have their UK bank registered to their Thai address? Any advice welcome, thanks.

Just keep doing what you are doing mate.

Stick using your friend's address.

UK banks are looking at any reason to shut us expats account down.

It really depends on how much you have in them, you have to consider other factors as well like investments which may be linked to these accounts and perhaps have issues if you want to open an offshore account which does serve expats - Standard Bank in the Isle of Mann and the like will service you when you're living as an expat - I don't have an account with them but I hear good things.

 

Even then, any UK investments - how well do they work with foreign banks?

 

I 100% tell my UK banks nothing at all and never have. As far as they're concerned I live in the UK at a relatives house.

 

It may or may not require a tax id in the country where you live (Thailand) - but that depends on when you tell them you moved there - for example - if you move to Thailand in July and have no income generated in Thailand then you're likely not really going to be issued a TIN until 2026 for a 2027 filing at the very earliest because you would be non resident this year.

 

 

3 hours ago, pimmmm said:

I read some people on here have their UK bank registered to their Thai address?

 

My Co-op account has been registered to my Thai address since I moved here in 2008, with no problems thus far. 🤞

 

1 hour ago, dayo202 said:

UK banks are looking at any reason to shut us expats account down.

 

Barclays seem to be the worst culprits in that regard: there have been a fair few reports on here over the years about them gleefully going after expats with zeal and gusto and abruptly closing their onshore accounts at ultra-short notice with reckless abandon. However, apart from isolated reports concerning NatWest and TSB specifically, I'm not aware from what has been said (or, more to the point, not) on AN about any other UK banks indulging in such skulduggery.

 

Similar to what you are already doing.

 

I have everything UK related assigned to my son's address, he has limited power of attorney. If push came to shove I'd pay his water bill so I have evidence of being resident.....I'm also on the electoral role and attend the local GP surgery once of twice a year.

 

Job done.

Use a UK address. Tell em nothing or you risk opening a can of worms. Biggest problem is none of the UK banks have a branch in Thailand.

I love it when a message comes..... "please visit a branch."

3 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

My Co-op account has been registered to my Thai address since I moved here in 2008, with no problems thus far. 🤞

 

 

Barclays seem to be the worst culprits in that regard: there have been a fair few reports on here over the years about them gleefully going after expats with zeal and gusto and abruptly closing their onshore accounts at ultra-short notice with reckless abandon. However, apart from isolated reports concerning NatWest and TSB specifically, I'm not aware from what has been said (or, more to the point, not) on AN about any other UK banks indulging in such skulduggery.

 

I have very little in my co-op account, actually might try moving that to this address as a test. 

12 minutes ago, pimmmm said:

I have very little in my co-op account, actually might try moving that to this address as a test. 

Having different addresses for your UK bank accounts might not be a good idea!

If you do not want to use your relatives address for your accounts have  you thought about using a UK mail forwarding company?

3 hours ago, ukrules said:

It really depends on how much you have in them, you have to consider other factors as well like investments which may be linked to these accounts and perhaps have issues if you want to open an offshore account which does serve expats - Standard Bank in the Isle of Mann and the like will service you when you're living as an expat - I don't have an account with them but I hear good things.

 

Even then, any UK investments - how well do they work with foreign banks?

 

I 100% tell my UK banks nothing at all and never have. As far as they're concerned I live in the UK at a relatives house.

 

It may or may not require a tax id in the country where you live (Thailand) - but that depends on when you tell them you moved there - for example - if you move to Thailand in July and have no income generated in Thailand then you're likely not really going to be issued a TIN until 2026 for a 2027 filing at the very earliest because you would be non resident this year.

 

 

Yeah, it's a tricky one with investments and the like. I have Vanguard and Trading212, still linked to the UK at the moment.  I know their policy is to maintain accounts for expats but freeze further investing when you're officially non-resident,  thinking about using IBKR for investments going forward, as they are very expat-friendly.  


Still need UK banking though really, because I need more fairly liquid savings just in case, and I'm planning on buying a car soon, etc. Don't want to keep millions of baht in Thailand sitting around, as you never know here. 

Will have a look into Standard Bank, be nice to have an account that just accepts we are living abroad for an period, but want to bank savings in Sterling.  

2 minutes ago, DezLez said:

Having different addresses for your UK bank accounts might not be a good idea!

If you do not want to use your relatives address for your accounts have  you thought about using a UK mail forwarding company?

Yes, good point, they track these things, don't they.

Thing is, I don't have a relative I can use; I am using a friend who is fine with it at the moment, but it's not really ideal.

I do use mail forwarding for receiving any mail on redirect for me from my friends house.  I didn't think of switching my bank to the mail forwarding address, as not sure if they'd flag that, no idea, it's a street address. 

1 minute ago, pimmmm said:

Yes, good point, they track these things, don't they.

Thing is, I don't have a relative I can use; I am using a friend who is fine with it at the moment, but it's not really ideal.

I do use mail forwarding for receiving any mail on redirect for me from my friends house.  I didn't think of switching my bank to the mail forwarding address, as not sure if they'd flag that, no idea, it's a street address. 

I use a mail forwarding company (for many years) as I no longer have any close relatives living there.  All my Financial companies and UK entities are registered there. It is also my voter's role address etc.

I don't wish to state what company I use but you can obviously google them or PM me for more details.

I have a Nationwide account with my Thai address had no problems with them