Best way to send money to Thailand

[DanielPlainview 368]

This link provides the daily exchange rate used by the Schwab ATM card.  Zero transaction and ATM fees.

https://usa.visa.com/support/consumer/travel-support/exchange-rate-calculator.html

[JoelThai 313]

6 hours ago, DanielPlainview said:

And although every bank in Thailand now charges $6 each time you use a foreign ATM card (except for the super premium accounts like Citigold) Schwab reimburses the ATM fees anywhere in the world. 

 

That is a good tip.   Those $6 ATM fees start to add up.   Does Schwab reimburse them automatically, or do you need to request that they do so?

[DanielPlainview 368]

4 hours ago, JoelThai said:

 

That is a good tip.   Those $6 ATM fees start to add up.   Does Schwab reimburse them automatically, or do you need to request that they do so?

Citibank ATMs at Asoke BTS station break out the fee separately on the receipt so no request necessary.   Heard some banks roll the fee into the withdrawal...(pull out 5000 baht, receipt will show 5200 baht).  In that case, some people reported that they had to contact Schwab, but had no issues getting the credit. 

   

[Darril 1]

On 9/23/2018 at 2:27 PM, JoelThai said:

I've heard there is some way to use Bangkok Bank as they have a branch in New York

I can vouch for this method - I use it every month. I have a credit union that doesn't charge for transfers, so only pay about $5 for sending less than $2000 and it usually arrives in Thailand in less than 48 hours. Haven't tried Transferwise yet but thinking one of these will be the best option when I retire in a few years.

[John951 54]

On 9/18/2018 at 6:31 PM, Dimonis said:

If the amount is small I use TransferWise. If I am sending a lot and Transferwise projects the fee will be more than $45 I use a wire transfer from my bank instead as that is there fee.

 

I've heard there is some way to use Bangkok Bank as they have a branch in New York but I havent explored it yet. I did open an account with them in Thailand a few weeks ago when I was there for work and to visit the wife's family.

How did you open and account ? You have a spousal visa ?

[davidvs 320]

We use Transferwise every month. It's great

[Mark and Pooky 11]

On 12/2/2017 at 10:59 PM, narakthisud said:

Seconding everyone else's experience with Transferwise! I just transferred USD $300 to my mother-in-law and got a very good exchange rate plus it cost about $5 to send the money directly to her bank account via SWIFT. I also wanted to mention that my in-laws live in rural Isaan and don't often go to the bank so this made it very easy for them and I felt safe knowing that the money went directly where it was supposed to go!

When you send directly via an ACH Transfer, does your bank charge anything for this?

[John951 54]

Just now, Mark and Pooky said:

When you send directly via an ACH Transfer, does your bank charge anything for this?

My BofA account shows a 30$ charge plus the exchange rate is weak

[narakthisud 174]

16 hours ago, Mark and Pooky said:

When you send directly via an ACH Transfer, does your bank charge anything for this?

My bank (Ally) charged me absolutely nothing for the transfer. The only fees paid were to TransferWise for the conversion itself. I give them tons of credit for being transparent. 

[PedroDaGr8 245]

On 4/2/2019 at 10:48 AM, Mark and Pooky said:

When you send directly via an ACH Transfer, does your bank charge anything for this?

My bank (Chase) did not charge any fees for the ACH either. 

[John951 54]

33 minutes ago, PedroDaGr8 said:

My bank (Chase) did not charge any fees for the ACH either. 

Ugh, BofA charges 35$

[elkski 28]

transfer wise i highly recommend.  Sometimes it arrives within 24 hours.  

[Mike L. 0]

I use Western Union regularly. They have many locations in the Tesco Lotus retail store chains.

[ding 1]

Check out TransferWise dot com. Low fees, very quick. You can pay with like a MasterCard debit card and it's cheaper. We transferred from our US credit union into Bangkok Bank too.

[elkski 28]

I have been getting transfers with transferwise in about 10 hours into her acct.. I use back acct so fee  is real low. Weekends take longer.