14 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

Two UK banks have my UK and Thai address on file.

 

and which UK banks are they please ?

1 hour ago, Pumpuynarak said:

 

and which UK banks are they please ?

 

 

Just checked and it is 3 if you count WISE. HSBC and Monzo are the other 2.

9 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Just checked and it is 3 if you count WISE. HSBC and Monzo are the other 2.

 

I have heard that Monzo is more open to a foreign address holder. Are they?  I might try opening an account, thnx

 

I have HSBC and may notify them of my address here but stories make me wary. Has them having your Thai address affected the banking functions open to you? The Touch & Go function of my Debit Card was a lifeline when in the UK, do they change it if notified of the accountholder being resident abroad? I was told it would probably be withdrawn.

1 hour ago, 503726 said:

 

I have heard that Monzo is more open to a foreign address holder. Are they?  I might try opening an account, thnx

 

I have HSBC and may notify them of my address here but stories make me wary. Has them having your Thai address affected the banking functions open to you? The Touch & Go function of my Debit Card was a lifeline when in the UK, do they change it if notified of the accountholder being resident abroad? I was told it would probably be withdrawn.

 

 

Your first question is impossible to answer. It may be true TODAY that some banks may appear 'foreign address friendly' but tomorrow it could change. The fact remains that ALL banks in the UK will open an account for a non-resident and that rule may trigger action if an existing accounts comes on to the radar - for something like a change of address.

 

HSBC has both my addresses and has not been an issue. i don't know who told you that your debit card would be withdrawn but I would avoid their advice in future.... a bank cannot offer you part of a service - you are either eligible or not. You are, don't worry  -  and I also loved tap and go...no more buying London Underground or bus tickets..

 

In reality I wanted a UK address and financial activity to maintain a good credit score.

 

Finally,  "I have HSBC and may notify them of my address here"

 

What you have to remember is that we are usually dealing with low-level employees working from a script and we will receive inconsistent, and sometimes incorrect, responses. Invariably, they have no awareness of the options surrounding an expat.

 

You may wish to consider calling, or use the chat function, to speak to HSBC and say that you are making plans which may involve you spending almost half the year in Thailand and you would like the bank to have UK and Thai addresses on file.  See what they say.

 

I recommend a degree of vagueness and they need to know that we are only at the planning stage...nothing is black and white at the moment.

 

 

9 hours ago, 503726 said:

 

I have heard that Monzo is more open to a foreign address holder. Are they?  I might try opening an account, thnx

 

I have HSBC and may notify them of my address here but stories make me wary. Has them having your Thai address affected the banking functions open to you? The Touch & Go function of my Debit Card was a lifeline when in the UK, do they change it if notified of the accountholder being resident abroad? I was told it would probably be withdrawn.

I also have an HSBC account. I informed them that I was living in Thailand over a decade ago without any issues or limitations. New VISA credit/debit cards are sent to my Thai address (I don't have a UK address anymore) before the old ones expire. I can't comment on the availability of the debit card "Touch & Go" function as I don't use it, but my card has the symbol on it.

10 hours ago, 503726 said:

I have heard that Monzo is more open to a foreign address holder. Are they?  I might try opening an account, thnx

The same as ALL banks in the UK, proof of UK address is required:

21 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

HSBC has both my addresses and has not been an issue.

 

Thanks for your response. It is helpful to think it through.

 

I would have to present it as you say as planning to be here part of the time when not at the UK address, rather than being here 100% & perhaps risk becoming a different class of customer. Reading the rules may help!

 

KR

 

39 minutes ago, 503726 said:

 

Thanks for your response. It is helpful to think it through.

 

I would have to present it as you say as planning to be here part of the time when not at the UK address, rather than being here 100% & perhaps risk becoming a different class of customer. Reading the rules may help!

 

KR

 

 

 

Knowing the rules will help. BUT, rather like Thailand it depends who is interpreting those rules at the other end,

 

Everything is at the planning stage, keep your cards close to your chest.

On 10/3/2025 at 3:19 PM, Dan O said:

Wise is having issues right now with transfers to Bangkok Bank due to the banks new position on transfers for foreigners. I would be very careful about Wise right now. They are not a bank, just a money mover and its starting to show with their spotty performance 

 

As you have alluded to subsequently, Wise is also having major issues with residency and ID verification at the moment - as detailed below in my case. IMHO these are another reason for the OP to be very careful about Wise, particularly if he doesn't possess a current Thai driving licence.

 

On 10/3/2025 at 6:39 PM, hotandsticky said:

WISE are great in my experience over the last 5/6years whatever, 

 

Up until 26 September, I would have agreed 100% with that statement. But no more, and my view of them now is extremely negative.

 

On that date they asked for proof of my residential address, which I was able to satisfy with my latest UK bank statement.

 

Then a couple of days later they asked for proof of my identity, which I was able to satisfy with my passport photopage.

 

But the coup de grace came a few hours later, when they decided that I also needed to verify my right to live in Thailand, on the basis of one of the 6 documents listed in the following link:

 

https://wise.com/help/articles/3xConsbhr7buWkQuqDEQ5V/how-does-wise-verify-the-country-i-live-in

 

Since I don't possess any of these documents, it looks like Wise will be suspending my account with them from 24 October, meaning that I won't be able to initiate any more transfers from my UK to Thailand bank accounts with them after this date. Needless to say, I am far from happy about this.

 

And, of the 6 documents listed, it appears to me that the only acceptable one in practice for expats living in Thailand is the local driving licence, which, I understand, is written in both English and Thai. Pink ID cards and residence certificates issued by immigration offices are, I think, unlikely to be acceptable since they are both, I gather, only written in Thai.

 

Hence my advice for the OP would be to steer well clear of Wise, unless he possesses a Thai driving licence.

 

8 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

As you have alluded to subsequently, Wise is also having major issues with residency and ID verification at the moment - as detailed below in my case. IMHO these are another reason for the OP to be very careful about Wise, particularly if he doesn't possess a current Thai driving licence.

 

 

Up until 26 September, I would have agreed 100% with that statement. But no more, and my view of them now is extremely negative.

 

On that date they asked for proof of my residential address, which I was able to satisfy with my latest UK bank statement.

 

Then a couple of days later they asked for proof of my identity, which I was able to satisfy with my passport photopage.

 

But the coup de grace came a few hours later, when they decided that I also needed to verify my right to live in Thailand, on the basis of one of the 6 documents listed in the following link:

 

https://wise.com/help/articles/3xConsbhr7buWkQuqDEQ5V/how-does-wise-verify-the-country-i-live-in

 

Since I don't possess any of these documents, it looks like Wise will be suspending my account with them from 24 October, meaning that I won't be able to initiate any more transfers from my UK to Thailand bank accounts with them after this date. Needless to say, I am far from happy about this.

 

And, of the 6 documents listed, it appears to me that the only acceptable one in practice for expats living in Thailand is the local driving licence, which, I understand, is written in both English and Thai. Pink ID cards and residence certificates issued by immigration offices are, I think, unlikely to be acceptable since they are both, I gather, only written in Thai.

 

Hence my advice for the OP would be to steer well clear of Wise, unless he possesses a Thai driving licence.

 

This issue seems to be almost specific to Bangkok Bank for the required documents with Wise. Other transfer methods and banks don't seem to be impacted like Bangkok Bank with the level of verification of identity.  Possibly due to their past position on allowing account openings and agent use. 

8 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

As you have alluded to subsequently, Wise is also having major issues with residency and ID verification at the moment - as detailed below in my case. IMHO these are another reason for the OP to be very careful about Wise, particularly if he doesn't possess a current Thai driving licence.

 

 

Up until 26 September, I would have agreed 100% with that statement. But no more, and my view of them now is extremely negative.

 

On that date they asked for proof of my residential address, which I was able to satisfy with my latest UK bank statement.

 

Then a couple of days later they asked for proof of my identity, which I was able to satisfy with my passport photopage.

 

But the coup de grace came a few hours later, when they decided that I also needed to verify my right to live in Thailand, on the basis of one of the 6 documents listed in the following link:

 

https://wise.com/help/articles/3xConsbhr7buWkQuqDEQ5V/how-does-wise-verify-the-country-i-live-in

 

Since I don't possess any of these documents, it looks like Wise will be suspending my account with them from 24 October, meaning that I won't be able to initiate any more transfers from my UK to Thailand bank accounts with them after this date. Needless to say, I am far from happy about this.

 

And, of the 6 documents listed, it appears to me that the only acceptable one in practice for expats living in Thailand is the local driving licence, which, I understand, is written in both English and Thai. Pink ID cards and residence certificates issued by immigration offices are, I think, unlikely to be acceptable since they are both, I gather, only written in Thai.

 

Hence my advice for the OP would be to steer well clear of Wise, unless he possesses a Thai driving licence.

 

 

Thanks for that.

 

 

Did you not have a visa/extension?

51 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Did you not have a visa/extension?

 

I do, but as @Caldera pointed out in a post of his in the thread linked below:

 

"The extension of stay stamp isn't acceptable because there's no notation of your personal details on it. They'd basically have to take your word that the stamp is in your own passport."

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1374328-proof-of-address-for-wise/

 

Whilst many other Wise users on here have reported receiving requests for proof of address, I'm not aware of any cases other of mine of Wise asking for proof of residency in Thailand as well. Why I've apparently been singled out on this I know not, but, in any event, I think that my experience constitutes a salutary warning for everyone making regular monthly transfers through Wise for retirement and marriage extension of stay purposes.

 

6 hours ago, OJAS said:

I do, but as @Caldera pointed out in a post of his in the thread linked below:

 

"The extension of stay stamp isn't acceptable because there's no notation of your personal details on it. They'd basically have to take your word that the stamp is in your own passport."

 

Without checking back, I think someone may have subsequently mentioned in that thread that all passport pages have the passport number on them, so the stamped page is linked directly to the ID page by that number.

 

I don't recall your passport country, but my UK passport issued in 2019 does.  It's hard to see at first but at the botttom of each page is the number pecked out in black dots.  Getting an image of it could be troublesome.

DWP like to snoop into your account so it’s tricky now 

20 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

As you have alluded to subsequently, Wise is also having major issues with residency and ID verification at the moment - as detailed below in my case. IMHO these are another reason for the OP to be very careful about Wise, particularly if he doesn't possess a current Thai driving licence.

 

 

Up until 26 September, I would have agreed 100% with that statement. But no more, and my view of them now is extremely negative.

 

On that date they asked for proof of my residential address, which I was able to satisfy with my latest UK bank statement.

 

Then a couple of days later they asked for proof of my identity, which I was able to satisfy with my passport photopage.

 

But the coup de grace came a few hours later, when they decided that I also needed to verify my right to live in Thailand, on the basis of one of the 6 documents listed in the following link:

 

https://wise.com/help/articles/3xConsbhr7buWkQuqDEQ5V/how-does-wise-verify-the-country-i-live-in

 

Since I don't possess any of these documents, it looks like Wise will be suspending my account with them from 24 October, meaning that I won't be able to initiate any more transfers from my UK to Thailand bank accounts with them after this date. Needless to say, I am far from happy about this.

 

And, of the 6 documents listed, it appears to me that the only acceptable one in practice for expats living in Thailand is the local driving licence, which, I understand, is written in both English and Thai. Pink ID cards and residence certificates issued by immigration offices are, I think, unlikely to be acceptable since they are both, I gather, only written in Thai.

 

Hence my advice for the OP would be to steer well clear of Wise, unless he possesses a Thai driving licence.

 

 

 

OJAS - thanks for your advice. As it happens, I do have two on the WISE list of 6 besides the passport.  I do have the Thai car and Thai bike license and a pink National ID card. The Passport is a bit weird isn't it? It is a document for crossing borders, I can give them it with chapter & verse on interpreting my current right to stay if it won't befuddle them in the USA or wherever they are. I might have a go.

 

The narrow requirement placed on me by my pension started this question off. It is to tally up the bank account they will pay with my identity using home address which has to be here unfortunately. My only bank statement that ties in with my entry on Electoral Register (here) is with SCB. They would pay it imo but would then have a lump sum in a Thai bank & the task of justifying moving the amount that I wouldn't want to spend here based on a 50,000 baht threshold for inquiry. The crux of my question is how to get a statement held somewhere (like UK) where the justification bar for moving amounts is more reasonable. 

 

I'll have a think about WISE & the suggestion of Monzo by hot&sticky in case there is a way of applying with an account in my name at this address in Thailand. It seems do-able though a barrel of pain awaits if it wasn't done right. 

 

KR

7 hours ago, treetops said:

 

Without checking back, I think someone may have subsequently mentioned in that thread that all passport pages have the passport number on them, so the stamped page is linked directly to the ID page by that number.

 

I don't recall your passport country, but my UK passport issued in 2019 does.  It's hard to see at first but at the botttom of each page is the number pecked out in black dots.  Getting an image of it could be troublesome.

 

Yes, mine is also a UK passport which was issued in 2022, and I can just make out the pecked-out passport number at the foot of each page. But it would be going it, for even a Wise staff member with 20/20 vision, to make it out - and, of course, it would be completely obliterated if our immigration office were to plonk one of their stamps right over it!

 

In any case, Wise's reason for rejecting the page containing my latest extension of stay stamp is rather more basic. Their email merely stated that "an annual extension of stay granted is not accepted as a right to reside".

 

15 hours ago, Dan O said:

This issue seems to be almost specific to Bangkok Bank for the required documents with Wise. Other transfer methods and banks don't seem to be impacted like Bangkok Bank with the level of verification of identity.  Possibly due to their past position on allowing account openings and agent use. 

 

Whilst Bangkok Bank can be said to be blamed for many things (in particular the lousy app they're systematically inflicting on their account holders, complete with facial recognition nonsense at the activation stage), the blame for the identity verification shambles in this instance lies firmly at Wise's door IMHO.

8 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

Whilst Bangkok Bank can be said to be blamed for many things (in particular the lousy app they're systematically inflicting on their account holders, complete with facial recognition nonsense at the activation stage), the blame for the identity verification shambles in this instance lies firmly at Wise's door IMHO.

Wise is not a bank so they they not only have their own regs but they must be compliant with the banks in the countries they do business in. They have no choice and bangkok bank sets those rules on acct id verification, which seem to be more strict than other banks, most likely from their past business approach. All banks had the same facial recognition requirement from BOT. 

Hi

I have a newly created WISE account and been unable to transfer money from it to my SCB account.

 

I assume the block is to do with my home address. WISE is set up with the form of that address shown on a Thai driving license (i.e truncated) but SCB uses more characters and a different truncation.

 

For instance  WISE refers to my province as TH_10 but SCB calls it "Bangkok"

Or  WISE lists my street by the people most use X Y Road but SCB refers to it by the more official term Soi xx Z.

 

The good news is there are no costs in making a payment request so presumably both sides use machine matching. The bad news is that all 10 payment requests made so far have been returned from SCB to WISE saying their details are not recognised. Then we get into a spiral of doom. SCB bank staff have checked what I have entered with me but transfers still fail. It seems WISE overwrites or supplies my driving license style address when the payment is submitted & of course, SCB does not want to change their records to adopt the driving license format instead of the Soi xx Z style they choose to use. 

 

The WISE helpdesk advised deleting the recipient record as "mine" and setting it up afresh as belonging to someone else so a home address would not be required  BUT this seems to fail in WISE because the recipient name matches the WISE account. On the other hand, if you deny ownership of the recipient account the system then requires tax related information on the source of funds to pass on to SCB. 

 

The discussion above mentioned uploading a statement for WISE to bring their address in line with SCB (rather than the driving license they rely on as official ID) - is that the way to go next or are they going to then close the account!? I might try paying a real third party to see if WISE can pay to a Thai bank at all in my case. 

 

Any ideas guys? 

 

Many thanks

 

5

1 hour ago, 503726 said:

Hi

I have a newly created WISE account and been unable to transfer money from it to my SCB account.

 

I assume the block is to do with my home address. WISE is set up with the form of that address shown on a Thai driving license (i.e truncated) but SCB uses more characters and a different truncation.

 

For instance  WISE refers to my province as TH_10 but SCB calls it "Bangkok"

Or  WISE lists my street by the people most use X Y Road but SCB refers to it by the more official term Soi xx Z.

 

The good news is there are no costs in making a payment request so presumably both sides use machine matching. The bad news is that all 10 payment requests made so far have been returned from SCB to WISE saying their details are not recognised. Then we get into a spiral of doom. SCB bank staff have checked what I have entered with me but transfers still fail. It seems WISE overwrites or supplies my driving license style address when the payment is submitted & of course, SCB does not want to change their records to adopt the driving license format instead of the Soi xx Z style they choose to use. 

 

The WISE helpdesk advised deleting the recipient record as "mine" and setting it up afresh as belonging to someone else so a home address would not be required  BUT this seems to fail in WISE because the recipient name matches the WISE account. On the other hand, if you deny ownership of the recipient account the system then requires tax related information on the source of funds to pass on to SCB. 

 

The discussion above mentioned uploading a statement for WISE to bring their address in line with SCB (rather than the driving license they rely on as official ID) - is that the way to go next or are they going to then close the account!? I might try paying a real third party to see if WISE can pay to a Thai bank at all in my case. 

 

Any ideas guys? 

 

Many thanks

 

5

Does you name on SCB and wise recipient match ?.

I had a problem a while ago with SCB also.

My name on my SCB account was saying Mister rather then MR, I deleted the recipient and inputed as mister XXXX and the transfer went through.

👍 

On 10/3/2025 at 10:42 AM, 503726 said:

Does anyone have experience in a similar situation? Do I have to come clean over my address being in Thailand with a UK bank and face whatever restrictions may be applied

 

Personally I would tell them nothing - I've lived mostly out of the UK since the 90s (not Thailand in the 90s) but I did go back for a few years before coming over to Thailand.

I always kept a UK address and still do now on the bank account and I've been out here in Asia for more than 15 years now.

So I would suggest this : Tell them nothing, ever.
 

7 hours ago, dayo202 said:

Does you name on SCB and wise recipient match ?.

I had a problem a while ago with SCB also.

My name on my SCB account was saying Mister rather then MR, I deleted the recipient and inputed as mister XXXX and the transfer went through.

👍 

That might be it, SCB call me Mr. , I did try that but dealing with machine matching the could be a discrepancy created by omitting a space after Mr.[space] or Mr.[no space] or some other unobvious entry.

We might have got a step forward, would you believe, WISE helpline now say that they are UNABLE to make transfers for people (that have notified them they are) resident in Thailand either to or from their WISE accounts.

 

Do your WISE accounts work by virtue of you having registered with WISE as being at some non Thai (so UK) address?

 

SCB may bounce my transfers from WISE because WISE show my address as in Thailand whereas I guess SCB has me on a non immigration or other basis (so not resident at my registered residence address)! Is this a snippet of hell, or what?

 

 

 

1 hour ago, 503726 said:

Do your WISE accounts work by virtue of you having registered with WISE as being at some non Thai (so UK) address?

 

I thought that was a requirement to open a wise account, but I opened mine when I lived in UK, 3 years ago. I certainly haven't informed them of a Thai address and I'm with BKB too.

 

Although I haven't sent any money here in over a year. I might try it, check it still works! 

 

What a pain for you, you have my sympathy.

On 11/14/2025 at 11:45 PM, 503726 said:

We might have got a step forward, would you believe, WISE helpline now say that they are UNABLE to make transfers for people (that have notified them they are) resident in Thailand either to or from their WISE accounts.

 

This appears to be consistent with my recent dealings with Wise as previously set out in this thread, but could you provide a link to this statement, please, since an online search for it on my part has drawn a blank?

 

Or is this something which someone at their end has told you over the phone?

 

Either way, sounds potentially worrying for those who are reliant on Wise for their 40k or 65k monthly IMM transfers. Thank goodness I was able to switch to 800k in the bank for my retirement extensions some time ago!

 

On 11/14/2025 at 11:45 PM, 503726 said:

We might have got a step forward, would you believe, WISE helpline now say that they are UNABLE to make transfers for people (that have notified them they are) resident in Thailand either to or from their WISE accounts.

 

Do your WISE accounts work by virtue of you having registered with WISE as being at some non Thai (so UK) address?

 

SCB may bounce my transfers from WISE because WISE show my address as in Thailand whereas I guess SCB has me on a non immigration or other basis (so not resident at my registered residence address)! Is this a snippet of hell, or what?

 

 

 

That doesn't sound right to me. My Wise account was opened using my Thai address (I no longer have a UK address). Two of my UK pensions are paid directly into my Wise GBP account each month and then I transfer the money from the Wise GBP account to my Kasikorn account. I did one such transfer yesterday as normal. Another UK pension is paid into my UK HSBC account which I then send to my Kasikorn account via Wise. The only anomaly I have encountered by having a Thai address is that I cannot get a Wise debit card.

On 10/3/2025 at 5:48 PM, BenCrew said:

 

Yes, I understand your problem. I am with the Halifax, have informed them of my Thai address, and now cannot open any other UK savings accounts, with the Halifax or anybody else. I did attempt a Standard Life pension fund using my parents address but as you say, they check the electoral register, and I've not had a chance to vote for donkey's years!

So they have no problem maintaining your account with a Thai address.?

No mention of them closing it.?

I used to hear stories of accounts being closed because the holder no longer had a UK address.

16 minutes ago, saintdomingo said:

So they have no problem maintaining your account with a Thai address.?

No mention of them closing it.?

I used to hear stories of accounts being closed because the holder no longer had a UK address.

No problem at all, just don't attempt to open any other accounts with them. I believe the debit card won't be posted to your Thai address either. Apart from that, all's well.

On 10/4/2025 at 8:52 AM, Pumpuynarak said:

and which UK banks are they please ?

 

Standard Bank I.O.M? Technically not UK but is in the system for transfers etc.

37 minutes ago, BenCrew said:

No problem at all, just don't attempt to open any other accounts with them. I believe the debit card won't be posted to your Thai address either. Apart from that, all's well.

Thanks for the confirmation BC, very interesting and helpful. Decades ago I understood that they needed to post the card and the code separately, that was for people who were here for an extended stay and not permanently.

But not having the card would not be a major problem.

Thanks again, you have told me something I didn't expect.