UK Branch of The Bank of Bangkok

[124peter 0]

Hi,

 

Does any member have experiance of using the UK Branch of The Bank of Bangkok, it's sittuated in London and I wondered if it would make life in LOS easier? If you have your UK income paid into an account at this branch is it easy to make transfers to your account in LOS?

 

In hope,

 

Peter

[torrenova 644]

Why ? just SWIFT large amounts over. Small amounts just withdraw from the ATM.

 

Front of house bank people outside the City (and the Bangkok Bank in London is outside the financial centre) are not the brightest bunch. Factor in potential language barriers if they employ Thais and you would be courting a recipe for disaster.

[wallyc 0]

I use Bank of America to transfer funds to the New York branch of Bangkok Branch - using their routing number and the account number of my account at Bangkok Bank in Pattaya. Transfers take three days. Cost $3 US for the transfer ... $35 to $50 US for SWIFT code transfers, can do this on-line and save over $30 US .... but, there is a Bangkok Bank charge of 500 baht ... so the total cost is about 1/2 of the SWIFT code charges. There is a way to do the transfers for around $2 US total charges, have not done that yet so can not speak with experience.

Either way, larger funds transfers cost less .... and then use the Thai banks ATM card to avoid ATM charges .... seems the way to go ..... and all of the transfer are at the ON-Shore rate.

 

wallyc

[smullenpe 0]

Either way, larger funds transfers cost less .... and then use the Thai banks ATM card to avoid ATM charges .... seems the way to go ..... and all of the transfer are at the ON-Shore rate.

 

wallyc

None of the ATM machines in Thailand charges ATM fees. Is it that I was lucky? Nope, I think not. You can use any ATM card and Thailand banks' ATM machines do not charge ATM fees.

[jacko 8,813]

Hi,

Does any member have experiance of using the UK Branch of The Bank of Bangkok, it's sittuated in London and I wondered if it would make life in LOS easier? If you have your UK income paid into an account at this branch is it easy to make transfers to your account in LOS?

 

In hope,

 

Peter

I don't see much need or benefit. I just telex money over to my Pattaya branch when needed. It's there the next day. Easy easy...I think I dealt through them when I submitted a UK cheque to my Pattaya branch... (just to give it a try) I got my money deposited in Thailand but it took 25 days and it didn't seem to give me any less costs, maybe more.

[wallyc 0]

None of the ATM machines in Thailand charges ATM fees. Is it that I was lucky? Nope, I think not. You can use any ATM card and Thailand banks' ATM machines do not charge ATM fees.

 

 

When I used my BofA check card ( ATM ) the Thai bank did not charge me a fee - but BofA charged $5.45 US each and every time I used the ATM.

 

wallyc

[smullenpe 0]

When I used my BofA check card ( ATM ) the Thai bank did not charge me a fee - but BofA charged $5.45 US each and every time I used the ATM.

 

wallyc

Wally, I suggest you bank with different bank since most bank don't charge ATM fees for using other bank's ATM other than charges for other bank's ATM. I have one of the banks like that so when I go to LOS, I transfer my money into ATM cards that I know won't charge me any fees for withdraw from non-bank's ATM. Matter of fact, if you shop around, you'll find banks they would reimburse you for the ATM fees that other banks charge.

[124peter 0]

Thanks for the answers, I'm not just trying to save money it,s just getting tighter here to transfer funds. I hope to retire to Thailand in the next 18 months and I was looking to see if it was worth opening an account at the UK branch. My pension will only be transfered to a UK based account if I want to keep the inflation proofing, they will transfer abroad but high charges and no inflation proofing.

 

Any more ideas?

 

Regards,

 

Peter

[Regyai 415]

Open a UK on line Nationwide Flex account (or two)

 

Withdraw in Thai from ATMs up tto £300 per accout per day @ flat rate of exchange and NO FEES

[jacko 8,813]

Open a UK on line Nationwide Flex account (or two)

 

Withdraw in Thai from ATMs up tto £300 per accout per day @ flat rate of exchange and NO FEES

This Nationwide account gets a lot of positive publicity here..... now I am cynical and banks are in the game to make money. So let me ask, do Nationwide hide fees in the exchange rate? Do you get the onshore rate?

[wallyc 0]

124Peter

 

For Visa/Retirement purposes - to show money transfer into a Thai bank - I opened a Bangkok Bank account in Pattaya last Nov. 2006. Bangkok Bank has a branch in New York City. My USA bank has a relationship of some sort with that bank - it is a listed choice in the 'transfer funds outside of BoA'. To avoid the excessive ( to me ) SWIFT code charges, I can now transfer funds to the NYC Bangkok Bank branch using their routing number and then list my Bangkok Bank (Pattaya) account number to have funds transfered to my account in Thailand and have it recorded so I can show Immigation my bank book at the time I apply for 'extension of stay' of my Retirement Visa. I will be using a combo of pension and bank deposits to satisfy immigration requirements. There is no SWIFT code charge to transfer to the NYC branch of the BKK bank, only a $3 charge for a 'outside' of BofA transfer as with any other USA bank BofA would transfer to ... and then a 500 baht charge that BKK bank charges to handle the transaction.

 

Otherwise, why go thru all this stuff, why not - as the fellow above says - get a bank card that does not charge a fee to use at any ATM. There is no charge to me to use my Bangkok Bank ATM card in Thailand.

 

I assume you can do the same thing in your country. Ask your bank about this type of transfer. SWIFT code or wire transfers are the other ways of getting money into your Thai bank account.

 

Oh yeah, my total costs will be about half the SWIFT code charges ... my bank - $3, Bangkok Bank - 500 baht .... to transfer funds from USA to Thailand at the On-Shore rate.

 

Hope this helps ..

wallyc

Edited July 17, 2007 by wallyc

[thechairman18 174]

This Nationwide account gets a lot of positive publicity here..... now I am cynical and banks are in the game to make money. So let me ask, do Nationwide hide fees in the exchange rate? Do you get the onshore rate?

 

I'm with the Nationwide, and can confirm, as far as I'm concerned, they are the best.

They do not charge for an overseas transaction.

They absorb any overseas Bank charges.

I get near enough to commercial exchange rates as against Tourist rates.

I was in Pattaya from 2nd Dec '06 to April '07, and no problems with this account

I also, have backup accounts with the Halifax, and Royal Bank of Scotland.

I did test withdrawals from them all, of £100, in Baht.

Nationwide cost £100.

Halifax, cost £104.5

RBoS cost £105.5

 

thechairman18

[yamabthere 0]

Nationwide all the way. Never had a problem and the easiest way to get money in Thailand. Also if you want to transfer money to a Thai bank then they only charge a £20 flat rate