Online Banking - Transfer Funds from UK?

I have a normal passbook account at Krung Thai Bank. Likewise I have a normal
bank account in the UK. At the moment neither of these accounts use
online banking - mainly as I've never had the need to use any online banking,
until now, that is.

I've already looked at the KTB website, though there doesn't seem to be much
information (in English) about what I can actually use online banking for.
Too, they have a demo video, though it doesn't seem to work.

The English bank website appears to be an enormous jungle of links that also have
little or no relevant information about online banking - other than that you can
apply to use it.


Can anyone advise me as to whether I can use my Thai account to transfer funds
from my UK account, presumably providing that I "join" the online banking community,
or is online banking only for transactions within Thailand.

Depending on your advice, I plan to take the gf along with me to KTB to try
and get the online banking facility in swing. The bank is out in the sticks
and I seriously doubt they speak much English, seeing as I'm the only farang
in these parts. Naturally, if online banking only covers local transactions
then there's not much point in joining the online banking crowd.

Ta for any help

Scooter, you would need to use/instruct your UK bank to transfer funds to your Thai bank account. You can't ask your Thai bank to, in effect, collect the funds from your UK bank (that applies irrespective of whether you have Internet banking at this end).

You would therefore ideally need to have Internet banking on your UK bank account, or if not another means to instruct them, such as Telephone banking, sending a fax, or writing a letter! You would need to give your UK bank the details of your Thai bank account, including your account Number, your name and most importantly the Swift Code of your bank here (if you don't know that ask your local branch).

Hope that helps.

Scooter
This has been discussed on numerous occasions so it appears you missed the various posts. Let me explain my position and that of many UK Expats.
I am assuming you have a UK debit card as I do.
I have an account with Siam Commercial Bank.
Each month I go to the bank and draw as much money as I want. I give them my UK debit card and they take a copy of my passport. They swipe my UK debit card, I sign and they give me the money which I incidentally pay into my SCB book. The exchange rate is as of the transfer(good Rate) and there are NO charges whatsoever I actually drew 1,000000 baht on my debit card when I purchased my house in Thailand. Hope this helps.

Firstly, many thanks for your quick and very informative replies!

Yes, I WILL send a letter to my UK bank, giving them the Swift code and details of my Thai bank and ask for
Sterling (not Baht) to be sent to to my Thai bank. Hopefully this will work out without any problem, though time will tell.

Only one thing, and that is that I've been persistently advised - to the point that I must be a moron if I don't use internet banking - that online banking is the only way to go, especially if I'm considering repetitive transfers, though the advice didn't indicate in any way what the advantages (if any) could be. Presumably, managing transfers via internet banking would be easier than sending a letter every time (correct me if I'm wrong), so I will look for more information on joining the online banking club.

Lepidoptra: I'm trying to avoid having to use a debit card (ATM) card in future. Two main reasons (though there are more) - too much hassle drawing out money in unsafe ATMs, card renewal problems - and the possibility of further bank charges for "little use of the card" coming sometime in the future.
Oh, that's 3 reasons....

Thanks guys

The English bank website appears to be an enormous jungle of links that also have
little or no relevant information about online banking - other than that you can
apply to use it.


i use nationwide on line banking ,
and kasikorn e banking ... and swift transfers when reqd .

easy , no hassle ...
and kasikorn bank in central plaza , speak good english ...

lepidoptra wrote:Lepidoptra: I'm trying to avoid having to use a debit card (ATM) card in future. Two main reasons (though there are more) - too much hassle drawing out money in unsafe ATMs, card renewal problems - and the possibility of further bank charges for "little use of the card" coming sometime in the future.
Oh, that's 3 reasons....

Scooter I never use an ATM machine(bad rates of exchange)
My son sends me by registered mail my new debit card (same pin number)
I have never been charged in 5 years I have been here.

I do have a Nationwide internet account but as yet I've never sussed out how to transfer money abroad.
To do a transfer from a UK bank account with swift code usually costs I believe 20 to 30 GBP.
Hope this further info helps

lepidoptra wrote:I do have a Nationwide internet account but as yet I've never sussed out how to transfer money abroad.

You cannot move money online from a UK Barclays account to a Thai account, it's not possible yet. This could be the same with all UK online banking.

OT...........

More advice......thanks a lot.

Yes, I'm aware that it can be somewhat expensive to transfer from "there" to "here" - I believe the bank website quoted 35 pounds to do the job, which is a trifle expensive, to say the least.

fallenlocks: Do you send mail/fax or phone your UK bank when you want to transfer anything, or can you do this via online banking?
I DO hear that others (not the UD forum) mention online banking in connection with such transfers, but as yet nobody has come forward with any concrete information to say that you can/cannot arrange transfers through online banking.
Oh...now OT says it's not possible with Barclays - but then again perhaps it IS possible with other banks.

Lep.... I don't have family in the UK to send on any cards, so I'm at the complete mercy of my bank, who (apparently) won't automatically renew my debit card.

Cheers

Scooter, I have a current account with HBOS, (formerly Halifax, - now part of Lloyds). I previously set up some "International Transfers" on my account through the Internet. When I want to transfer money here, I sign in, call up the relevant details, and key in how much I want to transfer (with a reason). If I do it around 12.00 -1.00pm here in LOS (around 7.00am Uk time), the funds arrive here the same afternoon.

AaaaaaaHaaaaaaa!

See, I could most certainly use something like that, Arjay! Sounds much like what I'm looking for and I rather think that at least SOME other banks have the same facilities as yours - though obviously I can't confirm that.

However, the info leads me more and more in deciding to jump in and apply for online banking with my own bank - and then see what they can and can't do. Still, I'm not a one to do things in a hurry - and besides, there are a few cool beers to "attend" to - the important things first, eh....

thanks for your input

Hey - now that's what I really like about you guys on the UD forum, always so
darned helpful - and I really appreciate that! A lot of great suggestions and
advice - and I'll certainly look into other options if the necessity arises.

BobHelm : Wouldn't dream of attempting any transactions from an internet cafe,
Pops or not. Should my own internet connection be down, then I can wait until
it comes up once again, no sweat. (And thanks for HSBC info!). I haven't lived
in the UK for 40 years or more, therefore opening a new UK based account could
well prove to be very difficult indeed - and I'm unfortunately required to have a UK based account!

Maxeboy: An FCD account also sounds interesting. Unfortunately, I live way out in
the sticks and the nearest Ayudhya branch is 60-odd km away. About 2km away from
me is Krung Thai - the only bank around here - but they seem helpful enough,
though everything has to go through my lady, as they don't speak English (or
maybe just don't want to!). I'd like to try and keep the bank interchange between
my UK bank and KTB in the first instance - if there are any problems along the way
then naturally I'll try other possibilities. It also simplifies things if future
transfers are exactly the same as previous ones (I guess).

Previously (before moving up here) I had Bangkok Bank and found them often (but not
always) to be helpful in answering most queries.


Thanks

Lepidoptra: I'm looking at the Nationwide website and they seem to have a cople of account types that could very well suit my needs.

As yet, I can't seem to find a way to contact them through an email (though it's possible to do via snail mail) to ask a few relevant questions. Too, I don't see any info about their monthly charges for an account.

Do you (or anyone else) have any idea if they do have a monthly charge what that charge may be?

Thanks

Scooter I have 2 accounts with the NW. 1 is a savings account. The other a flexy current account. I use the internet to transfer my pension from 1 bank to the NW. Once the money is in my account I then use my debit card inside the SCB to transfer the money into my SCB account. I have never been charged any money for having the accounts. I do sometimes use the site to transfer money from my savings account into my flexy account.
Now this is where I'm not sure if you can open the an internet account on-line. I did my by going to the local branch in the UK. There site is nationwide.co.uk suggest you have a look and see what might be suitable
cheers