Sorry if I am on wrong forum, but can anyone tell me how to get my state pension paid into my Thai bank instead of my UK one? Also, from a financial point, would I be better just keeping things the way they are?

At the moment I just use Wise to transfer funds from my UK bank to my Thai one.

1 hour ago, NoshowJones said:

Sorry if I am on wrong forum, but can anyone tell me how to get my state pension paid into my Thai bank instead of my UK one? Also, from a financial point, would I be better just keeping things the way they are?

At the moment I just use Wise to transfer funds from my UK bank to my Thai one.

Keep things as they are.....the above is exactly what I do👍

If you do decide to change you have to call them or write.  From the IPC website.....

 

"You need to report changes to your personal details (such as your address or bank details) by telephone or letter.

 

State Pension

 

Telephone: +44 (0) 191 218 7777
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

 

International Pension Centre
Telephone +44 (0) 191 206 9390
 

Post

If you want to send items by courier, check they can deliver to the postcode - otherwise they may return your post to you at your own cost.

The Pension Service 11
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LW
United Kingdom"

17 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

If you do decide to change you have to call them or write.  From the IPC website.....

 

"You need to report changes to your personal details (such as your address or bank details) by telephone or letter.

 

State Pension

 

Telephone: +44 (0) 191 218 7777
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

 

International Pension Centre
Telephone +44 (0) 191 206 9390
 

Post

If you want to send items by courier, check they can deliver to the postcode - otherwise they may return your post to you at your own cost.

The Pension Service 11
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LW
United Kingdom"

Thanks.

 

I’m not sure why you’d change it if it’s been working for you. Wise provides both a good exchange rate and the flexibility to transfer as much or as little as and when you like, rather than when HMRC decides.  

13 minutes ago, Larkin said:

I’m not sure why you’d change it if it’s been working for you. Wise provides both a good exchange rate and the flexibility to transfer as much or as little as and when you like, rather than when HMRC decides.  

They charge transfer fees, UK pensions don't..🤗

11 minutes ago, transam said:

They charge transfer fees, UK pensions don't..🤗

maybe no fees, but what exchange rate do they use

13 minutes ago, steve187 said:

maybe no fees, but what exchange rate do they use

They state they have a preferential exchange rate, well they did way back when I first got my pension ......🤗

 

I got paid on December 4th, XE stated E.R. at the time was 42.6277, when it got to my bank, it worked out I got 42.02998..

 

3 hours ago, transam said:

They state they have a preferential exchange rate, well they did way back when I first got my pension ......🤗

 

I got paid on December 4th, XE stated E.R. at the time was 42.6277, when it got to my bank, it worked out I got 42.02998..

 

Has your winter fuel payment arrived yet trans......

7 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

Sorry if I am on wrong forum, but can anyone tell me how to get my state pension paid into my Thai bank instead of my UK one? Also, from a financial point, would I be better just keeping things the way they are?

At the moment I just use Wise to transfer funds from my UK bank to my Thai one.

 

That is the best way IMO (WISE to Thai bank).

 

You will likely receive less with a direct payment to Thailand (via Citibank)......but just contact IPC if you wish to change.

3 hours ago, transam said:

They charge transfer fees, UK pensions don't..🤗

 

 

Do you understand the difference in exchange rates?

 

I will give you a clue, WISE is invariably better and YOU control when you transfer into Thailand (or convert into Baht ready for an eventual transfer to Thailand).  

3 hours ago, transam said:

They state they have a preferential exchange rate, well they did way back when I first got my pension ......🤗

 

I got paid on December 4th, XE stated E.R. at the time was 42.6277, when it got to my bank, it worked out I got 42.02998..

 

 

 

I converted GBP on the 4th December into my WISE THB account.....the rate after charges was 42.50

4 hours ago, transam said:

They state they have a preferential exchange rate, well they did way back when I first got my pension ......🤗

 

I got paid on December 4th, XE stated E.R. at the time was 42.6277, when it got to my bank, it worked out I got 42.02998..

 

nice to see wise & HMRC rates are fairly close,  my wife is due to claim her state pension next November, i am thinking about having this paid into her Thai bank, which would make things easier for her in the future, ( after my demise), yes i could use wise on its own, or UK bank together with wise for her , but that  would involve extra processes, which i think would be better to avoid

14 hours ago, petermik said:

Has your winter fuel payment arrived yet trans......

😆..........I should be so lucky..................😆

 

But, I do know a bloke here that has had to pay it back, now. I am sorting some paperwork out for his widow......😱

A story for the future..............😉

14 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Do you understand the difference in exchange rates?

 

I will give you a clue, WISE is invariably better and YOU control when you transfer into Thailand (or convert into Baht ready for an eventual transfer to Thailand).  

Yes, but do you pay a transfer fee each time you want money, because I don't.....?  🤗

14 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Do you understand the difference in exchange rates?

 

I will give you a clue, WISE is invariably better and YOU control when you transfer into Thailand (or convert into Baht ready for an eventual transfer to Thailand).  

 

28 minutes ago, transam said:

Yes, but do you pay a transfer fee each time you want money, because I don't.....?  🤗

trans.....Wise transfers beats all UK Bank transfer fees hands down...and you should know that 👍

10 minutes ago, petermik said:

 

trans.....Wise transfers beats all UK Bank transfer fees hands down...and you should know that 👍

My state pension has no transfer fee........🤗

11 minutes ago, petermik said:

 

trans.....Wise transfers beats all UK Bank transfer fees hands down...and you should know that 👍

 

Just now, transam said:

My state pension has no transfer fee........🤗

aah but at what exchange rate.....sorry you missed out on the Winter fuel allowance....better luck next year....and seasons greetings to you and all the trans family 

Just now, petermik said:

 

aah but at what exchange rate.....sorry you missed out on the Winter fuel allowance....better luck next year....and seasons greetings to you and all the trans family 

The state pension website states, 'preferential exchange rate'...........🤗

I will never get any allowance from the UK....😪...............🤭

 

Merry Christmas to you and yours, too........🥳

I think we have found a new dictionary definition for the phrase “flogging a dead horse”. 

6 hours ago, transam said:

Yes, but do you pay a transfer fee each time you want money, because I don't.....?  🤗

 

Well done,

 

Fact...................I receive more money than you each time.

Just now, hotandsticky said:

 

Well done,

 

Fact...................I receive more money than you each time.

Well isn't that great, well done, Sticky.........................

1 minute ago, transam said:

Well isn't that great, well done, Sticky.........................

 

 

Makes me very happy Trans..................

 

 

Also with WISE I can convert anytime........recently I converted GBP to THB at a rate of 42.7 because I didn't think it would get better than that during December (I could be wrong, have been before)  - I will transfer the Baht to Thailand on 1st January.

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Makes me very happy Trans..................

 

 

Also with WISE I can convert anytime........recently I converted GBP to THB at a rate of 42.7 because I didn't think it would get better than that during December (I could be wrong, have been before)  - I will transfer the Baht to Thailand on 1st January.

Isn't that fantabulous, I am sure we are all very impressed...................................

34 minutes ago, transam said:

Isn't that fantabulous, I am sure we are all very impressed...................................

Very gracious of you 

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Very gracious of you 

I'm like that..........🤗

On 12/8/2025 at 3:06 PM, transam said:

They charge transfer fees, UK pensions don't..🤗

4 hours ago, transam said:

I'm like that..........🤗

 

On 12/8/2025 at 3:17 PM, steve187 said:

maybe no fees, but what exchange rate do they use

Beg to differ,,uk pensions send your pension to cities bank USA which involves a fifteen day clearance,they shop around for what they say is best exchange rate,then send it off to BKK where it will sit for another five days(except when Thai and federal holidays extend waiting period,)also Thai banks like to hang on to your money as long as they can.just to make life as difficult as possible along will come the luverly proof of life caper. Good luck with that one.

 

On 11/29/2025 at 7:36 PM, mordothailand said:

tree comes up synchronously with black week discount, everyone knows that 

 

29 minutes ago, leonard beaven said:

 

Beg to differ,,uk pensions send your pension to cities bank USA which involves a fifteen day clearance,they shop around for what they say is best exchange rate,then send it off to BKK where it will sit for another five days(except when Thai and federal holidays extend waiting period,)also Thai banks like to hang on to your money as long as they can.just to make life as difficult as possible along will come the luverly proof of life caper. Good luck with that one.

 

 

so you are saying that it takes 20 days after the pension due date, for the payment to arrive in a Thai bank

13 hours ago, leonard beaven said:

 

Beg to differ,,uk pensions send your pension to cities bank USA which involves a fifteen day clearance,they shop around for what they say is best exchange rate,then send it off to BKK where it will sit for another five days(except when Thai and federal holidays extend waiting period,)also Thai banks like to hang on to your money as long as they can.just to make life as difficult as possible along will come the luverly proof of life caper. Good luck with that one.

 

 

Have things changed then, because CITIBANK Ireland handled pensions, they distributed from there, in our case CITIBANK Bangkok, where it is sent on to ones local bank..

 

My payment is paid every fourth Thursday without fail, unless a bank holiday..

 

Proof of life, so you think the UK should carry on paying after death, well, doesn't that make sense......😂

20 hours ago, Larkin said:

I think we have found a new dictionary definition for the phrase “flogging a dead horse”. 

Agreed....there`s always one who is convinced they are right no matter how many times others show that they are wrong.....now what is the word that describes them