I have a US$ account with Bangkok Bank. Recently I wanted to transfer some US$ back to the UK.

Instead of sending the funds direct as US$ or converting to Sterling first, they insisted on converting US$ into Baht and then into Sterling. TWO transactions with a loss on the conversion rate, when only one transaction was needed.

I ended up reporting them to the Bank Of Thailand, who have a consumer affairs dept at Building 7, top of the Western end of Wisutkasart Rd, under the Rama VIII bridge flyover. (Go any further and you are in the river). BOT sorted it and I got a call from the Bangkok Bank. Job done.

Roadrunner is transferring his lavish patronage to SCB, which seems to be Thailand's only genuine bank.

51 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

BOT sorted it and I got a call from the Bangkok Bank. Job done.

Sorted it how?

1 hour ago, DaRoadrunner said:

BOT sorted it and I got a call from the Bangkok Bank. Job done.

Did you get your USD sent to the UK without having to convert it to THB first?

The foreign currency account is generally treated as an offshore account, even though it is held in a Thai bank. In order to transfer the funds to another country, the funds first need to be transferred into Thailand on paper, which means it gets converted into baht. It can then be converted into another currency for outward transmission. I think the BoT will only confirm this if it answers at all.

1 hour ago, DaRoadrunner said:

I have a US$ account with Bangkok Bank. Recently I wanted to transfer some US$ back to the UK.

Instead of sending the funds direct as US$ or converting to Sterling first, they insisted on converting US$ into Baht and then into Sterling. TWO transactions with a loss on the conversion rate, when only one transaction was needed.

I ended up reporting them to the Bank Of Thailand, who have a consumer affairs dept at Building 7, top of the Western end of Wisutkasart Rd, under the Rama VIII bridge flyover. (Go any further and you are in the river). BOT sorted it and I got a call from the Bangkok Bank. Job done.

Roadrunner is transferring his lavish patronage to SCB, which seems to be Thailand's only genuine bank.

Good luck making yourself laughing stock at BoT.

It is the procedure for sending funds held in a foreign currency account back to origin with every bank in Thailand, not just bangkok bank.

I once send Euro's held in a FCD with Kasikorn back to origin, and it was exactly same procedure

This is precisely why foreign currency accounts in Thailand are not very useful.

I just wired several thousand US $ from my US account to my Bangkok Bank

Dollar account. Easy as pie. Fast, too! Less than 24 hours. Not like the old days when the money would be floating around in the ether for a few days while your stomach was in knots the whole time.

The total charge for this transaction was 500 baht-like it always is.

I paid my US bank $25 for the wire transfer. That's it.

Perhaps it has something to do with new regulations.

https://thelegal.co.th/2026/01/19/bank-of-thailand-proposes-stricter-documentation-requirements-for-inbound-foreign-exchange-transactions/

On 2/24/2026 at 11:56 AM, DaRoadrunner said:

I have a US$ account with Bangkok Bank. Recently I wanted to transfer some US$ back to the UK.

Instead of sending the funds direct as US$ or converting to Sterling first, they insisted on converting US$ into Baht and then into Sterling. TWO transactions with a loss on the conversion rate, when only one transaction was needed.

I ended up reporting them to the Bank Of Thailand, who have a consumer affairs dept at Building 7, top of the Western end of Wisutkasart Rd, under the Rama VIII bridge flyover. (Go any further and you are in the river). BOT sorted it and I got a call from the Bangkok Bank. Job done.

Roadrunner is transferring his lavish patronage to SCB, which seems to be Thailand's only genuine bank.

I've had very good service from KBank for 20 years now.

Years ago my bank offered me to keep incoming transfers in the original currency which was mostly USD in my business account . I can keep it as foreign currency for up to 364 days and then it would be transferred to the savings account as THB. When I asked if I could use these funds to transfer overseas the answer was it would have to be exchanged to THB first at the bank's buying rate, then converted to USD using the bank's selling rate...

32 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

When I asked if I could use these funds to transfer overseas the answer was it would have to be exchanged to THB first at the bank's buying rate, then converted to USD using the bank's selling rate...

That appears to be the policy of many if not all Thai banks. I don't know who sets that policy, the banks or the gov't. I've had USD accts here since 2016, but I only wire what I need, so I will never need to send any USD back overseas.

11 hours ago, hanbla said:

Perhaps it has something to do with new regulations.

https://thelegal.co.th/2026/01/19/bank-of-thailand-proposes-stricter-documentation-requirements-for-inbound-foreign-exchange-transactions/

unlikely as that is regarding inbound transactions I think the op was talking about an outbound transaction

Is it possible to pay Express VPN by Bangkok Mastercard (debit) ? if yes how ? I am not having any success .

39 minutes ago, harry94 said:

Is it possible to pay Express VPN by Bangkok Mastercard (debit) ? if yes how ? I am not having any success .

Yes. You just need to call customer service and tell them what you are trying to do and they will clear it. Make the payment while you are on the phone with them.

Thank you ricklev.

On 2/27/2026 at 8:20 AM, LALes said:

I just wired several thousand US $ from my US account to my Bangkok Bank

Dollar account. Easy as pie. Fast, too! Less than 24 hours. Not like the old days when the money would be floating around in the ether for a few days while your stomach was in knots the whole time.

The total charge for this transaction was 500 baht-like it always is.

I paid my US bank $25 for the wire transfer. That's it.

That is transferring IN. Roadrunner is transferring OUT!

On 2/26/2026 at 7:20 PM, LALes said:

I just wired several thousand US $ from my US account to my Bangkok Bank

Dollar account. Easy as pie. Fast, too! Less than 24 hours. Not like the old days when the money would be floating around in the ether for a few days while your stomach was in knots the whole time.

The total charge for this transaction was 500 baht-like it always is.

I paid my US bank $25 for the wire transfer. That's it.

When I did that a few years ago (in reverse) I called my US bank and said "This fee for the wire transfer? I'd rather not pay that." And they simply said ok and took it off. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I can't help but think this is Bangkok Bank specific staff experience at the OPs Bangkok bank branch.

Less than a year ago I wanted to move Euros in an FCD from Bangkok Bank to SCB bank FCD. Initially the bank advised it needed to be done via a conversion to Thai baht. When my wife and I challenged that, the local branch manager was querried, and they noted if transferring via SWIFT transfer from Bangkok Bank to SCB bank, then no conversion to Thai baht needed. So we successfully proceeded.

29 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

I can't help but think this is Bangkok Bank specific staff experience at the OPs Bangkok bank branch.

Less than a year ago I wanted to move Euros in an FCD from Bangkok Bank to SCB bank FCD. Initially the bank advised it needed to be done via a conversion to Thai baht. When my wife and I challenged that, the local branch manager was querried, and they noted if transferring via SWIFT transfer from Bangkok Bank to SCB bank, then no conversion to Thai baht needed. So we successfully proceeded.

Similar to my own experience, but in my case it took the Bank of Thailand to pressure Bangkok Bank Head Office. This being Thailand, your experience may vary greatly from one branch to another!