US Federal Pension (OPM, DFAS & SS) and their Survivor Benefit Deposits to / Withdrawal from Thai Banks

 

I currently deposit my DFAS pension into a US account.  However, I have my OPM & SS Federal pensions deposited into a Bangkok Bank Sole acct without authorized ATM.  My Thai wife has already opened a similar Bangkok Bank Sole acct in her name in anticipation of future receipt of OPM & DFAS Survivor Benefits after my passing. 

 

If available, I’d like updated readers experience ref use of alternative Sole or Joint accounts authorizing ATM cards to withdraw subject funds.  I understand there may be different restrictions by OPM vs DFAS vs SS management.

 

My request is prompted by potential future long term medical conditions preventing either me or my Thai wife from appearing in person at a Thai bank (with appropriate ID) to Withdraw our US Federally deposited benefits.  Without the ability of an alternate assistant to use an ATM card to access such funds, we might have continuing cash flow problems.  If there is an alternative way around such a withdrawal dilemma due to lack of an ATM card, please advise.

 

 

Just switch from ACH Direct Deposit (i.e., via the Bangkok Bank NY branch which requires a special/restricted Bangkok Bank account in Thaailand) to International Direct Deposit (IDD) which flows via the SWIFT system vs ACH system.   A completed separate set of rules apply when using the ACH or SWIFT system.

 

As you know if using the ACH routing number of the Bangkok Bank NY branch you must have a Bangkok Bank in Thailand restricted/special account which only allows in-person withdrawals/transfers.   That account can only be in the pensioners name; no joint account allowed.   And Bangkok Bank is the only Thai bank that can receive payments via the ACH system.

 

However, if your military/DFA, civil service/OPM social security/SS, veterans administration/VA  benefit payment is sent via IDD then it can be sent to "any", repeat, any Thai bank.........can be a single or joint account as long as that Thai bank allows joint accounts......it does "not" have to be a restricted/special account as it can be an ordinary account with full ATM and online banking even at Bangkok Bank bank.   

 

The signup forms for ACH and IDD direct deposit are different.....the ACH form is geared for US bank routing numbers.....the IDD form is geared for SWIFT codes.  Once again, two different form formats.   For example below is the link for the SSA and DFAS IDD for Thailand.   You may be able to signup for IDD online or by phone call to the pension paying agency, but I'll expect they will want the form instead.

 

SSA IDD From for Thailand

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199-op107.pdf

 

DFAS IDD Info/Form....and I think OPM uses the same form.

https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/manage/idd/

 

VA IDD Info

https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/docs/international-direct-deposit-flyer.pdf

 

Note: if you or your wife switched to IDD but still had the payments going to your restricted Bangkok Bank acct, well, the funds will arrive normally but you'll still be restricted to in-person withdrawal/transfers.   If you want to get rid of all the restrictions you'll will either need to have that acct converted to a regular acct which keeps the same acct number (that's what my wife did).....or send the funds to a regular acct you already have.......or open a new regular acct if you want to get rid of all the restrictions.

 

I think switching to IDD which uses the SWIFT system vs ACH which use the US ACH/routing number system can be your answer.  

1 hour ago, Pib said:

 

Just switch from ACH Direct Deposit (i.e., via the Bangkok Bank NY branch which requires a special/restricted Bangkok Bank account in Thaailand) to International Direct Deposit (IDD) which flows via the SWIFT system vs ACH system.   A completed separate set of rules apply when using the ACH or SWIFT system.

 

As you know if using the ACH routing number of the Bangkok Bank NY branch you must have a Bangkok Bank in Thailand restricted/special account which only allows in-person withdrawals/transfers.   That account can only be in the pensioners name; no joint account allowed.   And Bangkok Bank is the only Thai bank that can receive payments via the ACH system.

 

However, if your military/DFA, civil service/OPM social security/SS, veterans administration/VA  benefit payment is sent via IDD then it can be sent to "any", repeat, any Thai bank.........can be a single or joint account as long as that Thai bank allows joint accounts......it does "not" have to be a restricted/special account as it can be an ordinary account with full ATM and online banking even at Bangkok Bank bank.   

 

The signup forms for ACH and IDD direct deposit are different.....the ACH form is geared for US bank routing numbers.....the IDD form is geared for SWIFT codes.  Once again, two different form formats.   For example below is the link for the SSA and DFAS IDD for Thailand.   You may be able to signup for IDD online or by phone call to the pension paying agency, but I'll expect they will want the form instead.

 

SSA IDD From for Thailand

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199-op107.pdf

 

DFAS IDD Info/Form....and I think OPM uses the same form.

https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/manage/idd/

 

VA IDD Info

https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/docs/international-direct-deposit-flyer.pdf

 

Note: if you or your wife switched to IDD but still had the payments going to your restricted Bangkok Bank acct, well, the funds will arrive normally but you'll still be restricted to in-person withdrawal/transfers.   If you want to get rid of all the restrictions you'll will either need to have that acct converted to a regular acct which keeps the same acct number (that's what my wife did).....or send the funds to a regular acct you already have.......or open a new regular acct if you want to get rid of all the restrictions.

 

I think switching to IDD which uses the SWIFT system vs ACH which use the US ACH/routing number system can be your answer.  

Pib,

Thank you very much for this thorough and very helpful reply.  I will use the IDD forms to switch my pension deposits to a joint Kasikorn account that my Thai wife & I already have.

 

Since my wife is a Thai National (never having lived in the US other than as a tourist) do you know if either OPM or DFAS might require her to maintain a Bangkok Bank in Thailand restricted/special account (ie, no ATM) for either her OPM or her DFAS Survivor Benefits (after I pass)? 

 

If "Yes", I will instruct her to maintain the Bangkok Bank restricted account she has already opened (for that future event).

If "No", I will instruct her to open an IDD account with a trusted family member (with an ATM, to avoid the withdrawal problem if she herself develops a long-term medical handicap).

 

41 minutes ago, OneZero said:

Since my wife is a Thai National (never having lived in the US other than as a tourist) do you know if either OPM or DFAS might require her to maintain a Bangkok Bank in Thailand restricted/special account (ie, no ATM) for either her OPM or her DFAS Survivor Benefits (after I pass)? 

 

Highly doubtful she would be required to use Bangkok Bank....I expect close to zero if not zero.   The two main reasons Bangkok Bank has the restricted account requirement when using ACH is to "protect themselves" under ACH rules as ACH rules have tougher "claw-back" provisions than the SWIFT system.  That is, when a bank registers to use the ACH system they have to comply with ACH rules.  Ditto when registering to use the SWIFT system in terms of following SWIFT rules which has a shorter recall window.

 

However, the ACH system rules make it easier for a "sending" bank/agencies to recall a transfer (especially a fraudulent transaction) in comparison to the SWIFT system....I think the ACH systems allows up to 30 days later to recall (claw-back) a payment under certain conditions...and the "receiving" bank has to comply even if the beneficiary already withdrew the funds.   So, the receiving bank wants to have more control, more protection. One way it does this is via requirement of a special/restricted account which puts more controls on withdrawal/transfers and also some extra paperwork a person signs when opening such an acct....paperwork/agreements that help protect the bank in case of fraudulent receipt of payments or when the paying entity initiates a claw-back.

 

The other reason is the US Treasury has much more say over ACH rules/policies as it's primarily a US/domestic funds transfer system; however, the SWIFT system is used by all countries around the world and SWIFT policy/rules are more of an international nature.

 

However around 2018/2019 the US govt had a mindset change in this changing financial world and became much more receptive to using the SWIFT system for pension payments so they started advertising/allowing IDD much more....to many, many more countries.

 

Also, don't be surprised if your Bangkok Bank branch appears to recommend use of the ACH transfer method which routes funds thru their NY branch as Bangkok Bank receives more in fees that way....the NY branch applies a pass-thru fee (typically $5 or $10) and then the receiving branch applies a 0.25% (Bt200 min, Bt500 max) receiving fee.     When IDD is used Bangkok Bank NY is not involved at all...and the only IDD fee Bangkok Bank earns/applies (or any Thai bank) is the BAHTNET Bt100 receiving fee.

 

Now with any funds transfer method a person needs to no only look at the fees involved, but also the exchange rate....when all the fee and exchange rate dust settles which one posts the most to your receiving bank account.   Below is 12 month comparison I did back in 2020 for some various typical penson/benefit payments to Thailand via ACH direct deposit and IDD.  As you will see there is very little difference when the dust settles....but with the ACH pension method you have the restricted acct....with an IDD pension method you do not.  

 

Also keep in mind an IDD payment will show on your Thai bank acct as a BAHTNET/domestic transfer and "not" an international transfer.....international coding can be important for those folks using the monthly income method of "international transfers" of X-amount to meet their annual visa renewal requirement.    That will not be an issue for your Thai wife nor to you "if" you don't use that visa method of showing a monthly internationally coded transfer (coded as an international transfer on your Thai bank acct).

 

 

 

 

 

Fantastic analysis & explanation.  Thank you Pib.

 

I currently have an LTRWP visa but in the past used the monthly threshold method to renew visa annually.  At that time Bangkok Bank provided a 12 month report of my monthly ACH deposits.

 

Do we have a Bank & Immigration "catch 22" here?  Are we to understand that by using the IDD method a Thai bank will not be able (or just won't go to the trouble) to provide such a 12 month report verifying for the customer / immigration that the monthly deposits came from outside Thailand?

Also interesting is the consistently lower IDD exchange rate (0.73% lower).  Have you seen any explanations /rationale for the that?

5 hours ago, OneZero said:

Fantastic analysis & explanation.  Thank you Pib.

 

I currently have an LTRWP visa but in the past used the monthly threshold method to renew visa annually.  At that time Bangkok Bank provided a 12 month report of my monthly ACH deposits.

 

Do we have a Bank & Immigration "catch 22" here?  Are we to understand that by using the IDD method a Thai bank will not be able (or just won't go to the trouble) to provide such a 12 month report verifying for the customer / immigration that the monthly deposits came from outside Thailand?

As far as I know the bank only provides the letter for transfers that are coded as international transfers.  Since an IDD payment final leg of the transfer receives domestic transfer coding then I expect the bank letter wouldn't show any transfers.

 

However, if a person requests a Credit Advice each month it may show the funds originated internationally from the routing shown on the credit advice.   I did that a few times years back with the wife's SSA IDD transfers  out of curiosity and it showed routing all the way from the US,   

 

But in some cases your bank's credit advice for an IDD/domestic transfer may only show it coming from another Thailand bank/financial entity instead of internationally.  The local bank/entity that received the funds via the SWIFT system but then did the final leg of the transfer via BAHTNET as BAHTNET interfaces with the SWIFT system.   Then your receiving bank might tell you that you will have to go to that other local bank which did the BAHTNET transfer final leg to get a credit advice that shows the "entire" routing of the transfer originating internationally.   If having to go to another bank you do not have any accounts with, well,  that could be a pain.

 

Now for those that use the monthly international transfer method for visa renewal purposes but their monthly transfers do "not" show international transfer coding from posts in the visa forums "some" immigration offices will apparently accept other docs as proof of international transfers like how some folks have used Wise transfer receipts to show the funds originated from another country.  But "most" immigration offices are probably going to require the a Thai bank letter vs accepting alternate docs.  It all depends on the immigration office....This Is Thailand. 

 

But for a person who could care less about the transfer routing, transfer systems, etc., and only care about the funds getting into the account then receiving BAHTNET coding for an IDD transfer is irrelevant to the person.

 

5 hours ago, OneZero said:

Also interesting is the consistently lower IDD exchange rate (0.73% lower).  Have you seen any explanations /rationale for the that?

The US Treasury uses "contractor" banks to handle the IDD to many countries...which means the US govt awarded a contract to some financial entity to accomplish the transfer.   

 

While a person might want to think the US govt would get a super great contract deal which provides the highest exchange rate and lowest fees for the beneficiary, well, the contract really focus on providing the best deal/lowest cost/greatest cost savings "for the US govt/the taxpayers."   And usually the biggest cost savings come from the US govt being able to reduce manpower, facility, equipment, etc., costs that the govt would have to have/maintain if they did the whole job themselves vs having a contractor do most or all the work.

 

So, even through the winning contractor uses an exchange rate that may not be the highest (remember banks make money/profit from exchange rate they use; not only just fees) if the govt see the contract still provides a good deal for the beneficiary in terms of the amount of money they actually receive and the contract allows the govt to reduce its manpower/facility/equipment/etc., costs then supposedly it will be a good deal for the US taxpayer.   More than just exchange rate is used in determining which contractor wins the govt contract.

 

And I say it once again, do "not" only look at the exchange rate to determine which transfer method is the best for person; a person must look at exchange rate "and fees" involved in the transfer.  And then also look at any possible intangible benefits like maybe not having to have a special/restricted account to receive the money, speed of transfer, ease of using the transfer method, etc. 

 

While a higher exchange rate can make a transfer look good on the surface when also looking at the underlying transfer fees then that transfer may not look so good anymore.   Kinda like a person who looks beautiful with make-up; but take the make-up you would swear they look completely different....and maybe even be an ugly duckling. 

 

Unfortunately, too many people only look at the exchange rate vs exchange rate & fees to determine which transfer is the best deal, actually costs the less, posts the most money to their account.  

Another method a person might to consider for payment of their govt benefit is use of the govt Direct Express card which is a prepaid debit card.   For those folks who are unbanked or just don't want their govt benefit payment to go to their bank account then many US govt agencies like DFAS, OPM, SSA, VA, etc., will send your payment to your Direct Express card account.   Starter info weblink below:

https://www.usdirectexpress.com/faq.html

 

However, while it can be a low cost method when making ATM withdrawals in the US, when outside the US like in Thailand there is a Direct Express $3 per withdrawal fee plus 3% foreign transaction fee which is  on-top of whatever local ATM fee that may be charged such as the Thai bank Bt250 withdrawal fee (ATM fee not reimbursable on int'l withdrawals).   So, the fees associated with the Direct Express card when making international transaction makes the card  "not such a good deal" outside the US.

1 hour ago, Pib said:

As far as I know the bank only provides the letter for transfers that are coded as international transfers.  Since an IDD payment final leg of the transfer receives domestic transfer coding then I expect the bank letter wouldn't show any transfers.

 

However, if a person requests a Credit Advice each month it may show the funds originated internationally from the routing shown on the credit advice.   I did that a few times years back with the wife's SSA IDD transfers  out of curiosity and it showed routing all the way from the US,   

 

But in some cases your bank's credit advice for an IDD/domestic transfer may only show it coming from another Thailand bank/financial entity instead of internationally.  The local bank/entity that received the funds via the SWIFT system but then did the final leg of the transfer via BAHTNET as BAHTNET interfaces with the SWIFT system.   Then your receiving bank might tell you that you will have to go to that other local bank which did the BAHTNET transfer final leg to get a credit advice that shows the "entire" routing of the transfer originating internationally.   If having to go to another bank you do not have any accounts with, well,  that could be a pain.

 

Now for those that use the monthly international transfer method for visa renewal purposes but their monthly transfers do "not" show international transfer coding from posts in the visa forums "some" immigration offices will apparently accept other docs as proof of international transfers like how some folks have used Wise transfer receipts to show the funds originated from another country.  But "most" immigration offices are probably going to require the a Thai bank letter vs accepting alternate docs.  It all depends on the immigration office....This Is Thailand. 

 

But for a person who could care less about the transfer routing, transfer systems, etc., and only care about the funds getting into the account then receiving BAHTNET coding for an IDD transfer is irrelevant to the person.

 

Pib, thank you very much for all of your replies above.  You are certainly on top of these issues. 

 

Concerning the IDD/Immigration renewal problem, I guess all I can say is that Thailand (TAT, Immigration+) has certainly dropped the ball in failing to come up with a "work around" with banks to ease the visa renewal process for long term less than "wealthy" retirees.  To an outsider (me) it appears to be a major lack of initiative at Continuous Process Improvement (CPI).

All depends on what CPI goals are set.  If the goal was to make the visa obstacle course more challenging for some categories of visas/extensions of stay then immigration is achieving that goal.

On 11/10/2025 at 11:12 AM, Pib said:

All depends on what CPI goals are set.  If the goal was to make the visa obstacle course more challenging for some categories of visas/extensions of stay then immigration is achieving that goal.

I think you are absolutely correct, Not a joke.  One Thai goal would be to ensure ability of foreigners to pay very large hospital bills.  800K available in a bank accomplishes that faster than 65K /month, even if it jeopardizes the foreigners visa renewal.

Congratulations Mr Pib for a comprehensive educated exchange of Bangkok bank information. As I recall you have also mentioned the report several times over the years but not as completed updated in details. 

 

I fpr one appreciate your energy and dedication to help USA citizens with pension problems and trouble with Asia banking, well done sir outstanding service.

 

If you have some knowledge about the FEDERAL BANK OF NEW YORK please advise are they part pf or contracted out from the USA Treasury?  I have a lot of gree time to try and investigate why my IDD was stopped last two months... Manila remain dead silent and I have no other contact information...  

 

What is my Banking problem is the USA Treasury mailed me over three years that is 3 years

of 1099 SSA statemented that printed my SSA paid for those years but was returned to the treasury. Manila knows nothing hears nothing so nothing starting FIVE years ago 5 years ago I was maild from SSA.GOV that was IDD was stopped returned 15 years ago because i was the wrong address but I have the SSA letter delivered to the correct address. 

 

Manila FBU I allege screwed up falsified my basic SSA Applicastion filed 2016 and I assume my entire SSA account is screwed up since 2016 that I hand delivered two times to the USA Embassy and verified and then was delivered by the USA Embassy TWO 2 TIMES to a FBU MANILA address! The USA Embassy over 6 month delays and 6 month delays emailed me that yes they have delivered by Diplomatic coded mail to FBU Manila. They can not help get my money from SSA IDD deposited.

 

Why I despise Manila FBU is because thousands of my SSA benefit was stolen since 2016

and my proof of papers mailed to USA and to Manila are all trashed, I went to the USA Embassy 2025 demanded USA citizen services and handed over box full of papers  stamped by the USA Embassy mailed to Manila spread out over 17 FBU agents included names and phone numbers all remain silent today all replaced hiding. 

 

The 2025 US Embassy meeting I handed over my 2016 nank stamped IDD papers and passport and tgeww week later I got IDD deposit from SSA from New Yprk Federal bank.

HOWEVER October and November payment was stopped after receiving several thousands of USD IDD and I wdid not receive my SSA money back paid from 2015  

 

There are too many SSA agents shuffling my identity and paper applications and they are all screwed up no top down direct manager who can listen and understand and motivated

also able and in charge I can respond but nobody authorized can help

 

I ask you help if you know how to track or contact the Federal Bank Of New york in charge of ssa bank payments because all I want is my SSA benefits or a statement or any accountable responsible feed back. 

 

You are in this ASEAN long time I read your banking comments so I respect your advice as I am too old and handicapped blind to keep trying to get my money . Get serious I am serious do the best you can if willing to correct this on going IDD SSA trouble

 

I follow you when SSA flip flop between login.GOV and ID.me and up today still unable to get mySSA account that may help with this SSA messed up account. Manila refuse to help me and I wasted hundredths of USD postal mail and phone calls ending up trashed ignored but nothing happen I was Baltimore ordered call Manila only even when I asked to apply for Direct Express they told me Manila must start the application over the past 9 years nothing happen but I keep calling...

 

What ever you assume about this mess is yrue however I remind you against prejudiced deletion I keep trying as an old retired USA citizen to get my money and I complain to every body over past 18 years not to use my free time to post here and waste my time but to locate an intelligent experienced mentor who can help with this mess as I posted over the

years willing to pay from a huge USD SSA.GOV approved benefit payment