would like to know how to open an account

i would then transfer to my account in thailand

i am with natinwide and thier swift transfer is 45 pounds

has anyone got info on how to do it

How much money are we talking about here? AFAIK it is not a crime to take money out of the UK. Bring a suicase full of GBP and open a Thai bank account who will give you a better exchange rate than any UK bank. To avoid excessive costs of transfer within Thailand I opened a KTB account and Lloyd TSB transfer to there for 15 to 20 GBP depending on the amount. I then withdraw most of it in cash and walk down the road to UOB and deposit the money with them saving big bucks.

Alternatively canvas the UK banks and ask which Thai bank they are in bed with so that any transfer does not go through three of four third parties. Open and account with the offshore section of your chosen bank and put your money with them. Make sure that you get Internet and telephone access to your offshore bank. Transfer is then a doddle.

I'd make a point with Nationwide as to why I am closing the acount.

Are you currently in the UK or Thailand?

I'd opt for a Halifax Clarity Credit card with no fees at all for withdrawals abroad and 12.9% per annum interest. Easy to get with a UK address and a decent credit rating.

Opening a UK bank account with Bangkok Bank branch in London seems like a perfectly sensible option to me.

Being a licensed retail bank in the UK they will have to comply with all of the laws and regulations that all of the other retail banks in the UK comply with, so presumably you could transfer money from a bank account from any other UK bank to the Bangkok Bank account in just one day without incurring any charges, then you could presumably transfer that money from the Bangkok Bank (London) account to a Bangkok Bank (Thailand) account without incurring any charges either. You should even be able to do it all online! The question is whether Bangkok Bank (London) do retail banking or just commercial banking.