• Home
  • Learn Thai
    • Lessons
    • Books
  • Live in Thailand
    • Most Useful Posts
    • Visas
    • Women/Dating
    • Culture
    • Bangkok Living
    • Money/Jobs
    • Law/Politics
  • Travel in Thailand
    • Most Useful Posts
    • Book a Hotel
    • Bus/Train Tickets
    • Travel Insurance
    • Vaccinations Guide
    • Weather Guide
    • Diving Guide
  • Jobs
  • About
  • Support My Work
You are here: Home / Work & Money / The Wise Borderless Account: Receive & Spend Money in Multiple Currencies

The Wise Borderless Account: Receive & Spend Money in Multiple Currencies

Those of you familiar with Wise (formerly Transferwise) will know that it is the cheapest way to transfer money between countries. It helps you avoid bank fees and gives you the real exchange rate.

I have written about this service in another post and it's been hugely helpful to other expats who've used the service.

One of Wise's other offerings is the borderless account. This account enables you to send, receive and spend money around the world with the real exchange rate, which saves you money.

I was lucky enough to be one of the people selected to trial the borderless account when it first came out, and I've continued using it since.

In this post, I'll walk you through exactly how the Wise Borderless account works, help you identify whether or not you need one, and run through all the finer details on set-up, fees, and how much you can save in comparison with traditional banking methods.

transferwise-borderless-review

What is the Wise Borderless Account?

The Borderless account gives you bank account details for the USD, GBP, EUR and AUD currencies.

You also have the option to add your local currency to hold in your balance. So even if you don't live in the US, UK, Australia or Europe, you will effectively have a bank account there. This means you can send and receive money in these currencies.

A Borderless account is a bit like having local accounts all over the world. It’s a multi-currency account that lets you receive money in 10 currencies and hold money in 56 currencies, and convert between them at the real exchange rate whenever you need to.

Holding multiple currencies is completely free, and they use the real exchange rate to convert.

Who Can Benefit from a Wise Borderless Account?

The Wise Borderless account will appeal to those who want to receive, hold and spend money in different currencies, and those who travel a fair bit.

You can use the card in 200 countries, spend with Apple and Google Pay, and withdraw anywhere you like.

I'll explain how it has been useful for me.

I regularly receive payments in US Dollars, and occasionally Euros too.

Historically, payments were made to my PayPal account or my UK bank account.

With PayPal, I have to pay a receiving fee, and then pay another fee to transfer this money to my UK bank account. That final transfer to my bank account means I am also subject to PayPal's horrible exchange rate.

If the money is paid into my UK bank account, then I'm usually subject to a wire fee,  and if not a wire fee, I always have to suffer the poor exchange rate given by my bank.

But now, with the Wise Borderless account, I just give my US account number to the person or company paying me and have the US Dollars paid into my account.

I can then spend in US Dollars using my Wise (formerly TransferWise) MasterCard, or I can transfer the US Dollars to my UK bank account at the market exchange rate.

wise-borderless-account-personal-dashboard

Here's a screenshot of my personal account dashboard. As you can see, it's just like an online bank account. I've blanked out personal details and some of the transactions.

I incur a small fee from Wise for withdrawing to my bank account and converting the currency. However, I save so much money compared with having the money paid into my PayPal account.

Moreover, if I receive Euros or Australian Dollars, I can also keep a balance of these currencies in my Wise account. I can then spend the balances of these currencies in any country I choose, even here in Thailand.

The Borderless account will benefit people who work in professions where they receive money from a source based in America, in Australia, in the UK or in Europe; think people like freelancers, expats, second home-owners, international students, overseas contractors, etc.

You can receive the money into your Borderless account and then spend the money using the debit card, either electronically or through withdrawal.

Or you can send the money on to another bank account linked to your Borderless account.

wise-borderless-account-card-status

As you can see, you can make ATM withdrawals, contactless payments, online purchases, chip and pin and more.

+ Get a FREE Borderless account here

The Borderless Debit Card (MasterCard)

The debit card is super cool, not least because it is a fluorescent green colour :). When you whip it out in the supermarket, the cashier is always like, ” Oh, what bank is that?”

I don't actually use the debit card that much, though. My main use is having money paid into the account and then transferring money to my bank account in the UK.

I do use it in Thailand when I'm short on funds in my Bangkok Bank account, which, incidentally, I often top up by using the Wise (formerly Transferwise) money transfer service to send money from my UK bank account to my Thai bank account.

wise-debit-car-box

My debit card arrived in this cool, minimal style box

On a side note, Bangkok Bank are no longer issuing Visa debit cards, and those who do have Visa cards won't be able to get a replacement if they lose the card or it expires.

Instead, they are issuing Union debit cards, which are pretty much useless because you can't really use them anywhere, though you can use them to withdraw money. So this is another good reason to have the Borderless account debit card.

For the record: there is no real difference between MasterCard and Visa. The two are both widely accepted in over two hundred countries and it is very rare to find a location that will accept one but not the other.

There are also those who regularly visit Thailand but struggle to get a bank account, or just can't be bothered to go through the process. The Wise Borderless account is very well suited to visitors who would like to have a debit card that provides them with favorable exchange and withdrawal rates.

transferwise-debit-card-borderless

Inside the box is the ostentatious card > your key to stress-free spending.

It is really useful when visiting other countries, too.

I was recently on holiday in Bern, Switzerland.

When I ran out of Swiss Francs, it made sense to use the Wise debit card because it gave me a favorable exchange rate. As I spent, it transferred the US Dollars in my Borderless account to Swiss Francs.

Wise Borderless Account Benefits Summary:

  • Lets you spend anywhere in the world at the real exchange rate. You'll pay low conversion fees, and zero transaction fees.
  • Receive money in 10 currencies, including GBP, USD, CAD, EURO, AUD, NZD, RON, HUF, & SGD
  • Hold money in 56 currencies.
  • Free to pay with currencies in your account: convert money into your required currency and it will be free to spend or pay in your chosen local currency.
  • Free first two ATM withdrawals (up to £200) a month.
  • Only pay a small conversion fee when you convert your money — typically between 0.35% and 1%.
  • Pay in any currency, anywhere and it will automatically convert the currency in your account with the lowest conversion fee.
  • Free same currency withdrawals for personal account users ( there are a couple of exceptions).

How Do I Set up an Account?

To get set up, you'll need to:

  1. Create a free account ( you might need to wait a day or so to have your account verified)
  2. Select a currency. You can set up each currency with just a couple clicks. You can have more than one currency.
  3. Add money to your account. You can top up via debit card or bank transfer

Once your account is set up and you have access to it, you can do the following:

  • Convert money between your currencies in seconds at the real exchange rate with low conversion fees
  • Send money from any currency in your account to pay bills, send money to friends and family
  • Spend money with your Wise debit MasterCard
  • Receive money with account numbers and IBANs. Get paid to your account (zero fees)

+ Click here to set up your account now

Account Fees

It's free to set up your account.

It's free to get your international bank details, and free to receive money using those bank details.

The only cost you’ll be charged is a fee to convert between currencies – either in your account or if you spend on your Wise debit MasterCard in a currency you don't have in your account.

When you convert money in your account it's always with the real exchange rate, and you always see the fee before you make the exchange.

If you spend on your MasterCard in a currency you don't have, Wise chooses to convert the balance with the lowest fee, so you never have to worry about getting the best rate.

I have pictured the fee tables for the US and UK accounts below.

transferwise-borderless-review-account-pricing-US

transferwise-borderless-review-account-pricing

Here's an example of some of the currency conversion fees:

  • from GBP to EUR 0.35%
  • from GBP to INR 0.55%
  • from EUR to GBP 0.5%
  • from EUR to USD 0.5%
  • from USD to GBP 0.85%
  • from USD to EUR 1%
  • from AUD to GBP 0.7%
  • from AUD to USD 0.7%

Is Wise Really Cheaper Than My Bank?

In a nutshell, yes, much cheaper; at least for this type of banking where you're dealing with foreign currencies and spending abroad.

Consumer Intelligence conducted research comparing the Wise Borderless account to 21 current accounts offerings from banks in the UK, Europe, USA and Australia.

The research concluded that in comparison to the 21 current accounts included in the study, the Wise borderless account is cheaper, quicker and easier for consumers across all categories.

In the UK, the research found it’s up to 9x cheaper to use Wise instead of a bank to send money from GBP to AUD, EUR or USD for £200 and £1,000. And it's up to 7x cheaper to spend the same amounts abroad with the Wise debit MasterCard.

In Australia, the research found it’s up to 12x cheaper to use Wise instead of a bank to send money from AUD to EUR or USD for $250 and $1,000.

In Germany, the research found it’s up to 4x cheaper to use Wise instead of a bank to send money from EUR to AUD, USD for €250 and €1,000. And it's up to 2x cheaper to spend the same amounts abroad using the Wise debit card.

transferwise-review-bordless-fees-GBP

transferwise-borderless-fees-EUR

There is no doubt that a Borderless account will save you money.

In Summary

The Wise (formerly Transferwise) Borderless account is the first platform offering true multi-country banking to anyone who needs it, no matter where you live.

You can receive and send money all over the world, hold and convert money in 56 currencies, and get a contactless MasterCard debit card for spending abroad.

If you are paid in a different currency than that of your home country, or perhaps even receive income in multiple currencies, the Wise Borderless account will save you money.

If you have been using PayPal to receive foreign currencies and then transferring them to your bank account, you can get those same companies or individuals to pay you into your Wise account and avoid those evil PayPal fees.

Do note that you can't transfer money from a PayPal account to your Wise Borderless account. There are some articles online saying you can do this, but I wasn't able to.

I even phones PayPal to see if I could get my Wise account added to my PayPal account so that I could withdraw money directly. They were brutally honest about why they wouldn't let this happen. Say no more.

You can also conduct favorable currency conversions within your Wise account, but that's optional. With the Wise debit card, you can spend the money from any currency inside your Wise bank account in any country around the world.

This is a modern day banking revolution. It will save you money. I have saved thousands in fees already.

+ Click here to register Borderless Account

loader

GET MY NEWSLETTER

Join thousands of others who receive my monthly roundup of content & insider tips on how to survive & thrive in Thailand.

  • Share it
  • Tweet it
  • Pin it
  • Email it

Last Updated on March 5, 2021

  • Best Way to Send Money to Thailand: Save $75 Per Transaction!
    Best Way to Send Money to Thailand: Save $75 Per…
  • Cheapest Way to Transfer Money Out of Thailand
    Cheapest Way to Transfer Money Out of Thailand
  • Using the Revolut Card in Thailand: Is It Worth It?
    Using the Revolut Card in Thailand: Is It Worth It?

Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. MA Scott says

    December 6, 2022 at 1:21 pm

    I’d like to know if I can hold Thai baht, transferred from a Thai bank, in my Wise border-less account. I can see that I can hold Thai baht in Wise, but I’d like to move some of the Thai baht I have in a bank here into my Wise acct.
    Thanks!
    Reply

    Dec 06, 2022 at 1:21 pm

    • JamesE says

      December 6, 2022 at 11:42 pm

      Not directly. Wise has some kind of arrangement with Dee Money for moving Baht but I've been unable to find out what that arrangement is. When I asked Wise they were very vague and said something like "Wise's banking arrangements may change without notice". I'd check with Dee Money directly and Wise to see what might be possible. For example, you might be able to pay Dee Money directly from your bank and they could transfer it to Wise. If you find out, I'd like to know too.
      Reply

      Dec 06, 2022 at 11:42 pm

  2. Mike says

    May 4, 2021 at 12:13 pm

    According to the Wise website the Wise debit card isn't available to Thai residents, so how did you circumvent that limitation?
    Reply

    May 04, 2021 at 12:13 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      May 4, 2021 at 5:32 pm

      You would need to use an address and bank account in your home country.
      Reply

      May 04, 2021 at 5:32 pm

    • PATPISAN says

      June 26, 2022 at 11:49 pm

      Thai residents apply for a wise account in Australia

      It is the first step, apply for a wise Thailand account, your residence address in Thailand, then press Send money to allow the system to enter the verification process after After verifying your identity

      step 2, edit your personal address to Australia

      step 3, order wise card, edit delivery address to Thailand address, and wait for your wise card to be delivered to your home in Thailand

      Big credit facebook group : Apple pay Thailand and wallet app
      Reply

      Jun 26, 2022 at 11:49 pm

  3. Neil says

    April 19, 2021 at 12:50 am

    Does having a wise bank card mean you can withdraw thb without paying the extortionate fees Thai banks charge for withdrawing cash using foreign cards?

    Is it therefore worth tourists getting one for their visit?

    Thanks
    Neil
    Reply

    Apr 19, 2021 at 12:50 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      April 19, 2021 at 4:09 pm

      You can hold Thai Baht (or convert another currency in your Wise account to Thai Baht) and withdraw it from a cash machine. However, the fee charged by the bank or company who own the ATM is unavoidable. What you will avoid is an unfavorable exchange rate. The most cost-effective way to spend is on the card.
      Reply

      Apr 19, 2021 at 4:09 pm

  4. SM says

    April 8, 2021 at 5:29 pm

    I'm in the process of setting up an account and have not found it easy. The info here is much better than anything on Wise.

    Setting up the account wasn't free, for the business account it's 21GBP. I'm hoping next I'll get my account details and can withdraw from PayPal. Hopefully it'll be a borderless account and I've not wasted my time and money.

    I don't know why these payment services can't have FAQs or somewhere for information. Like so many things these days you can only find out by trying which can cost time and money. No where on the site does it explain the procedure, it just keeps telling me there's more to do.

    I've sent them an email two days ago, still no reply. Supplying little info, changing things without warning or explanation seems the norm for all these payment services.
    Reply

    Apr 08, 2021 at 5:29 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      April 8, 2021 at 6:23 pm

      Th personal account is free, the business account is 16 GBP to set up. I thought the process was pretty easy. I did it on desktop though and I can imagine it's more difficult to find the information on mobile as there's quite a lot packed into one page. All the details for the business account can be found here: https://wise.com/gb/business/. There's a menu to navigate the different aspects of the account at the top of the page.
      Reply

      Apr 08, 2021 at 6:23 pm

  5. RS says

    March 10, 2021 at 6:06 am

    It seems like with Wise you can send money out of Thailand to the EUR account that you get with Wise.

    I'm really not sure if that's true or not, I was under the impression that you can't send money outside Thailand unless by bank to bank transfer using SWIFT, or other options like DeePay. WU, crypto, and in your pocket over a border (or I guess in some kind of secure courier service!).

    You can't send GBP, and USD want an extra fee (I haven't looked at other currencies on the list in the app).
    Reply

    Mar 10, 2021 at 6:06 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      March 10, 2021 at 5:22 pm

      I've updated my comment here because I just checked and... You have to open a balance in the currency you want to receive within the Wise account. When I select GBP I am given an account number so that I can receive payments in that currency. However, when I select Thai Baht, it says "You'll be able to hold THB to pay for future transfers. You can't add THB directly but you can still get THB by converting it from another currency in your account".So you can't receive Thai Baht from a Thai bank directly into Wise. You can receive USD, GBP, AUD, EUR, etc, and then convert to Thai Baht within the Wise account.I wrote about a few options for sending money out of Thailand here: https://www.thethailandlife.com/transfer-money-thailand
      Reply

      Mar 10, 2021 at 5:22 pm

      • rinky stingpiece says

        May 10, 2021 at 5:12 pm

        Maybe I'm missing something, but it looks like most of your comment isn't related to what mine is about.
        I was talking about sending money from a Thai bank account to a Wise balance, which necessarily involves a conversion, and as far as I can tell EUR (or maybe SGD) look like the viable options.
        I haven't tried it, I opened a DeeMoney account. I'm not sure what the options are with buying crypto using a Thai account. I can see about a dozen options in the form of apps or websites for it, with one that is specifically Thai. Perhaps you can add a section to your article that you linked to?
        Obviously, it's not for everyone and comes with caveats.
        Reply

        May 10, 2021 at 5:12 pm

        • TheThailandLife says

          May 11, 2021 at 4:16 pm

          No, you can't send money from a Thai bank to a Wise balance.
          Reply

          May 11, 2021 at 4:16 pm

          • Martin1 says

            May 11, 2021 at 6:02 pm

            Peter,
            I don't want to be the smartass, but as far as I know it is possible to transfer money from Thai accounts in at least five ways:
            1. Transfer from Thai bank a/c using SWIFT transfer to all countries in the world.
            2. ... using Western Union ...
            3. Cheque
            4. DeeMoney
            5. Withdraw using an ATM in target country and then deposit.

            But I don't know if any of these meet rinky stingpiece's needs.
            Reply

            May 11, 2021 at 6:02 pm

            • TheThailandLife says

              May 11, 2021 at 6:09 pm

              You're correct. I wrote about all these ways here: https://www.thethailandlife.com/transfer-money-thailandBut as far as i know you can't send money from a Thai bank account to your Wise Borderless account. Because I don't see an option in Wise to link a Thai bank account.
              Reply

              May 11, 2021 at 6:09 pm

              • Martin1 says

                May 11, 2021 at 7:23 pm

                Look, in my case Wise gave me an IBAN and a BIC (IBAN BE64 9?70 ???? 4711 BIC TRWIBEB1XXX).

                Having this information a transfer of funds (e. g. GBP or Euro) to my Wise accout should be possible from any other bank account on the world.
                Reply

                May 11, 2021 at 7:23 pm

                • TheThailandLife says

                  May 11, 2021 at 7:37 pm

                  Indeed. The question is can you send Thai Baht out of a Thai bank account to your Wise account. I know they state 30 countries you can receive money from, but I couldn't find the list. I'm sure it didn't use to be possible but to check I have emailed them and will post back here when they respond.
                  Reply

                  May 11, 2021 at 7:37 pm

                  • rinky stingpiece says

                    May 11, 2021 at 9:46 pm

                    That's fine, just checking, and I have asked Wise to make their info a bit clearer on this.
                    I have transferred money via the usual bank ways from a Thai bank abroad, and I have got DeeMoney. It seems that Thailand is locking out competition like Wise with unattractive conditions. At least cryptocurrency is an option, and can suit some who want to do transfers quickly, and in some cases (but not all), cheaply.
                    Reply

                    May 11, 2021 at 9:46 pm

                    • TheThailandLife says

                      May 12, 2021 at 4:57 pm

                      I received this reply:Unfortunately we do not support funding FROM THB at the moment, so you wouldn't be able to top up your Thai Baht balance in Wise using your Thai account. You would need to top up via one of our supported 'send money from' currencies, which are listed here.Our team are working on opening up FROM THB as a route. No ETA just yet on this but know it's on our roadmap so hopefully will be able to do this one day.

                      May 12, 2021 at 4:57 pm

          • Max says

            February 4, 2022 at 10:48 am

            Can you send the money from a Wise balance to a Thai bank account?
            Reply

            Feb 04, 2022 at 10:48 am

            • TheThailandLife says

              February 4, 2022 at 4:58 pm

              Yes, you can do a transfer from your Wise balance to a Thai bank account. I did this last week.
              Reply

              Feb 04, 2022 at 4:58 pm

    • PATPISAN says

      June 26, 2022 at 11:10 pm

      I use TTB All free digital card of TMBThanachart Bank, SCB planet card of Siam Commercial Bank and Krungsri Boarding Card of Bank of Ayudhya to top up the balance instantly in my wise account for all three cards mentioned above. No additional currency conversion risk (FX Rate) 2.5%
      Reply

      Jun 26, 2022 at 11:10 pm

  6. Carolina says

    February 3, 2021 at 9:53 am

    If I have a balance in GBP and my employer is based in the UK and pays me in GBP, but I live outside Europe, do I have to pay taxes in the UK? Or in the country where I live? Do I have to pay taxes at all? Thank you!
    Reply

    Feb 03, 2021 at 9:53 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      February 5, 2021 at 7:49 pm

      Yes you have to pay tax. Your employer can set you up as a non-resident employee, and you can pay tax in the country you live in.
      Reply

      Feb 05, 2021 at 7:49 pm

  7. Frankbank says

    November 27, 2020 at 2:33 am

    Sorry. I didn't see that it is separate.

    So , again, I was asking if I should delete my Bangkok Bank
    account from Paypal and tell them I have this Borderless account instead ? And Paypal will deposit the money there?
    And then I can transfer it to my Bangkok or Kasikorn bank account ?
    Reply

    Nov 27, 2020 at 2:33 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      November 27, 2020 at 3:04 am

      By them do you mean your employer? But I thought they only paid by PayPal? You should keep your Bangkok Bank linked to your PayPal account, as this is a useful way of transferring money. If you want to set up a Borderless account you can do that too. It's useful for when people want to pay into your bank account but in a different currency to the one of your home bank.
      Reply

      Nov 27, 2020 at 3:04 am

      • Frankbank says

        November 27, 2020 at 5:56 am

        No, By " them" I meant Paypal.

        I saw somewhere where you said something about being able to avoid Paypal's fees. As you know, they say they charge Thai baht (THB) 4.00%

        But, O.K. I give up.
        So in other words, it looks like you are saying to just forget about it and pay the fees, I guess. Oh, well.
        Reply

        Nov 27, 2020 at 5:56 am

        • JamesE says

          November 27, 2020 at 7:36 am

          Frank, Keep *all* of your bank accounts. Do you have a regular US bank account? The cheapest option is to get your money from PayPal into a regular US bank account. Then use Transferwise to move money from that account to your BKK Bank account. That will cost a bit more than 1% and you won't get screwed on the buy/sell spread. You don't need a borderless account to do this. If your employer is in the US then an even better solution is to get paid directly into your US Bank account, then Transferwise directly to BKK Bank and bypass PayPal and their onerous fees altogether.
          Reply

          Nov 27, 2020 at 7:36 am

          • Frankbank says

            November 28, 2020 at 2:44 am

            Finally some clear information ! Thank you so much ! So I don't even need the Borderless account , great !

            Unfortunately, I have to use Paypal because even though it's a U.S. company , they force everyone to use Paypal.

            But the problem with Paypal is ( I found out the hard way ) they apparently are in Singapore and charge $35 U.S. to send the money to my Citibank account in the U.S. , but don't charge to send it to Bangkok Bank here ! I don't understand why. It is really insane.
            So it looks like they will screw me anyway.
            Reply

            Nov 28, 2020 at 2:44 am

            • JamesE says

              November 29, 2020 at 10:11 am

              Hmmm... Typically the receiver does not have to pay the fees (unless it's a purchase). My guess is that your PayPal account is not in the US (it's a US corporate entity). Did you set your PayPal account up while you were still in the US or after you left? If the latter, I'd suggest setting up a new account linked to your Citibank. Do you have a VPN where you can spoof your location? If so I'd try setting up a US PayPal account linked to your US bank account. The problem is that if you type PayPal.com from country X you'll end up with a completely different legal entity than if you do it from country Y. There's got to be a way around this (there always is) that should save you a lot on the spread (that's why your transfer to BKK Bank is "free" you're paying for it elsewhere.
              Reply

              Nov 29, 2020 at 10:11 am

              • Noel ( Frankbank ) says

                November 30, 2020 at 3:27 am

                No, I set up Paypal here in Thailand which is why they charged me $35 when I sent money to my U S Citibank
                When I complained, I think they said something about having to close this account down and opening a new one for Citibank in USA.
                I will check it out again.
                Thanks for your help.
                Reply

                Nov 30, 2020 at 3:27 am

                • JamesE says

                  November 30, 2020 at 11:52 pm

                  You won't have to close down your existing account. Just set one up with a different email using a VPN connected to a US server. I've got two PP accounts and they work in parallel with no problem.
                  Reply

                  Nov 30, 2020 at 11:52 pm

                  • Frankbank says

                    December 1, 2020 at 10:37 pm

                    So you have to use a different email address and use a vpn too
                    OK I will try it.
                    Thanks
                    Reply

                    Dec 01, 2020 at 10:37 pm

                    • JamesE says

                      December 2, 2020 at 4:13 am

                      Yeah, Your PayPal account is tied to the email address but the region your account will be based in is tied to your location.

                      Dec 02, 2020 at 4:13 am

                  • Frankbank says

                    December 2, 2020 at 5:37 pm

                    But you don't need to use a different name?
                    Reply

                    Dec 02, 2020 at 5:37 pm

                    • JamesE says

                      December 2, 2020 at 11:15 pm

                      Nope. Names - at a global/national level - are hardly unique whereas email addresses are.

                      Dec 02, 2020 at 11:15 pm

                  • Noel ( Frankbank) says

                    December 4, 2020 at 8:03 pm

                    About a vpn. I have never needed one before. I have been checking on free ones, and there are many different ones that show various good and bad points. Very confusing. Do you know which FREE vpn would be best suited for PayPal?
                    Reply

                    Dec 04, 2020 at 8:03 pm

                    • JamesE says

                      December 4, 2020 at 11:52 pm

                      Any VPN would work, but this is very much a you-get-what-you-pay-for situation. If you haven't already check out TTL's VPN post at https://www.thethailandlife.com/best-vpn-for-thailand. I've recently switched to SurfShark VPN from VYPR. It's much more stable for me and still has all the things I'm looking for in terms of server management and security. It's only US$2.21/mo when you buy two years at a time (plus they throw in 3 months free) which is about 25% of what I had been paying for Vypr. If you're insistent on going the zero-cost route look for something from a company like Mozilla (the Firefox browser people) at which has a public software track record: https://vpn.mozilla.org/

                      Dec 04, 2020 at 11:52 pm

              • Noel ( Frankbank) says

                December 4, 2020 at 8:14 pm

                .
                I think I would need to change my name too because no one has my same 1st and last name together for sure ( it's not
                Frankbank)
                Actually, maybe it's better to close the Thai PayPal account since I don't need it. Then I could use my real email address and name
                Reply

                Dec 04, 2020 at 8:14 pm

                • JamesE says

                  December 4, 2020 at 11:43 pm

                  Really, you don't have to worry about your name. It doesn't matter if your name is unique when most other people's aren't. Your identifying elements are your email and tax id. I have two accounts: same name, same tax id, but different emails. It's equivalent to having two personal checking accounts at the same bank. The big issue is to make sure you're connecting to the US PayPal site when opening your new account. This is NOT because you can't have another account in the same region but because you want the rules - free transfers to Citi - that apply in that region.
                  Reply

                  Dec 04, 2020 at 11:43 pm

                  • Noel says

                    December 10, 2020 at 11:29 pm

                    Thanks, but I mean I shouldn't even need this PayPal account here anymore if I can open a new one in the U S
                    So if I close this account first then open the American one I should be able to use my real email address , right?
                    I would rather do that than use another email address that I normally never look at.
                    Reply

                    Dec 10, 2020 at 11:29 pm

                    • JamesE says

                      December 11, 2020 at 1:47 am

                      Yeah, if that's how you want to do it, no problem. Just make sure your company knows not to send your money to an account that doesn't exist anymore as there may be some lag time in their systems.

                      Dec 11, 2020 at 1:47 am

  8. Ossie says

    July 21, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    I have a borderless account and use it however my gripe is this if I google TW and then go in and ask a particular rate in my case £ to Thai baht the rate is better than if I go into my TW app borderless account here is an example which I did 5 minutes ago google TW £1,000 =40,22100 go into my TW app account £1,000 = 39,92992 as you can see by using my borderless account I am losing out and as for trying to contact the company it’s a joke they don’t have a help desk ☹️☹️☹️
    Reply

    Jul 21, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      July 22, 2020 at 6:01 pm

      That's a fairly small difference and maybe due to real-time fluctuation, though it is worth asking them. Support is usually pretty good - within 24-48 hours. Pop off another email. Note that there's a small fee to convert currencies — either within your account, or when you pay with your TransferWise debit Mastercard in a currency you're not holding in your account.
      Reply

      Jul 22, 2020 at 6:01 pm

  9. Wayne says

    May 23, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    Hi, thank you for the informative article. I read from somewhere that you need to have a UK address to register for Borderless account with the debit card. So would like to ask did you register Transferwise with a Thai address or a UK address please? I am also living in Thailand, only have utility bills here. Many thanks.
    Reply

    May 23, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      May 23, 2020 at 4:02 pm

      Hi Wayne, I registered with my UK address.
      Reply

      May 23, 2020 at 4:02 pm

  10. Carl Samson says

    May 8, 2020 at 10:44 am

    Hi there,

    Is it possible to send money earned in Thailand and paid into my Thai bank account abroad to Europe using this system? If not, what is the best method?

    Thanks

    Carl
    Reply

    May 08, 2020 at 10:44 am

    • James E says

      May 8, 2020 at 9:47 pm

      Not yet. Currently you're still having to rely on a wire transfer or 3rd party like Western Union. Also, some banks - at least BKK Bank - has Western Union built into their system so you can also compare Western Union's direct rates against the bank+Western Union. If you look at WU make sure you use their Thai website: https://www.westernunion.com/TH/en/home.html. Outbound fees are much higher than TW's inbound. TW keeps saying they'll support Baht-out transfers but they've been saying that for a while. It's worth it to check before you do the transfer.
      Reply

      May 08, 2020 at 9:47 pm

      • Carl Samson says

        May 9, 2020 at 5:57 pm

        Thanks for the info
        Reply

        May 09, 2020 at 5:57 pm

  11. Bela Gere says

    January 21, 2020 at 8:16 pm

    I used it only for money transfers the last 3 years but now I decided to use it as my everyday account. Best exchange rate and transfers sometimes immediate to other country. I have 13 bank accounts, the latest are Monese, N26, Starling. But I have issues with them suspending account for weeks and asking for further documents and than nothing. That's crazy.
    I even sent £30000 to Spain and had no issues with TransferWise. I wouldn't trust any other money exchange company to send this much.
    Reply

    Jan 21, 2020 at 8:16 pm

  12. Joao guilherme says

    December 26, 2019 at 9:33 pm

    Hello!
    Is it possible to withdraw from TW debit card in THB in thailand?
    I am afraid that the ATMs there don’t accept the TW card. Another thing that I can’t find in the internet, is it possible to withdraw in euros with the TW card in Thailand?
    Reply

    Dec 26, 2019 at 9:33 pm

    • James E says

      December 27, 2019 at 2:24 am

      First question: Yes. The card will work at any ATM that's in the Mastercard network. Second question: No. There are no foreign currency ATMs (that I've seen) in Thailand.
      Reply

      Dec 27, 2019 at 2:24 am

      • Martin1 says

        May 11, 2020 at 11:33 pm

        James --

        I have seen a foreign currency ATM. At Suvarnabhumi airport in the security area (i.e. after check-in and immigration), where the shops are.

        But I do not see a point in that: one can always bring banknotes of almost any currency and let it exchange for a small fee into Euros.
        Reply

        May 11, 2020 at 11:33 pm

        • James E says

          May 12, 2020 at 2:01 am

          I'll have to look for that. The only reason I could think of is if you're a Thai traveling out of the country and didn't want to stock up on cash before you got to the airport. It does seem like the opportunity for spending more than you should on the transaction is very high.
          Reply

          May 12, 2020 at 2:01 am

    • Magnus Flyborg says

      November 4, 2020 at 3:48 am

      So, at the moment, I can't transfer money from my thai bank to a TW borderless account and then take the money out in, let's say, my bank account in Sweden?
      Reply

      Nov 04, 2020 at 3:48 am

      • JamesE says

        November 21, 2020 at 11:25 pm

        No. Not yet. There are other ways to get your Baht out - bank transfer, Western Union, Dee Money, etc. - but TW hasn't gone there even though it's been on their "coming soon" list for years.
        Reply

        Nov 21, 2020 at 11:25 pm

      • Martin says

        November 22, 2020 at 12:19 am

        Did they give you any bank card for your Thai bank account?

        Then you could withdraw funds at a local ATM and deposit it there on your local bank account.

        But in case of Sweden (which has transformed itself in a mostly cashless country, how stupid): are there still any ATMs around, and banknotes?
        ;-)
        Reply

        Nov 22, 2020 at 12:19 am

  13. Koozi says

    October 8, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    A concur and big thumbs up with the use of Transferwise. I initiated a transfer from my US bank yesterday and the money was in my Bangkok Bank account in less than 18 hours! I was shocked, in a good way. I received .01 below the median exchange rate as shown on XE and the fee was around $10 for transferring $1000. All in all a very good experience. This is as opposed to XE which I used before. XE gave a good rate and wasn't much more expensive, it, however, took almost ten days for the transaction to be completed.

    So, bottom line, I highly recommend Transferwise for your overseas transfer needs.
    Reply

    Oct 08, 2019 at 5:49 pm

  14. Alberto says

    July 29, 2019 at 9:16 pm

    Hi, it looks like the Borderless account does not allow direct debit ACH. I allowed a USA bank to take the monthly payment of a small loan from transferwise (I provided the New York Transferwise branch details from the borderless account) but it did not work. Do you know any other banks that offer that?
    Reply

    Jul 29, 2019 at 9:16 pm

  15. Mike says

    July 3, 2019 at 8:19 am

    So let me get this right.
    If i set up a transferwise borderless account with my Australian bank acc number and my partners siam bank account, can I transfer money into her account? At the current exchange rate?
    So she won't need the borderless debit card. And I control at my end the ins and outs of the borderless account?
    Thanks
    Reply

    Jul 03, 2019 at 8:19 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      July 3, 2019 at 8:47 pm

      You could both have a borderless account. You could send money from your borderless account to hers. She could withdraw that money to her Thai bank account. If you just want an easy way to send her money, user Transferwise money transfer to send money directly to her Thai bank account. See that info here: https://www.thethailandlife.com/how-to-send-money-to-thailand-no-bank-fees
      Reply

      Jul 03, 2019 at 8:47 pm

  16. James E says

    June 6, 2019 at 11:30 pm

    Just an FYI. Transferwise has opened a waitlist to get a MasterCard branded debit card for borderless accounts.
    Reply

    Jun 06, 2019 at 11:30 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      June 6, 2019 at 11:37 pm

      Ooh, nice. I'll add that to the Borderless account review once it is fully rolled out.
      Reply

      Jun 06, 2019 at 11:37 pm

    • James E says

      July 31, 2019 at 10:28 pm

      I just got the announcement that the card is available in the US.
      Reply

      Jul 31, 2019 at 10:28 pm

      • TheThailandLife says

        August 1, 2019 at 2:46 am

        Nice one!
        Reply

        Aug 01, 2019 at 2:46 am

        • James E says

          August 2, 2019 at 7:07 am

          Sadly, it was too good to be true. ATM use with the TW debit card is free - up to a point - beyond which it carries a 2% fee when using it to withdraw cash at an ATM. The catch - sorry, not a better word - is that you withdraw up to 200GBP, 250USD or equivalent in a rolling 30-day period. Not a calendar month. The 2% fee does not cover any local ATM charges either. Details at https://transferwise.com/help/18/transferwise-debit-mastercard/2935769/what-are-the-atm-fees-for-my-transferwise-debit-mastercard
          Reply

          Aug 02, 2019 at 7:07 am

          • TheThailandLife says

            August 2, 2019 at 4:37 pm

            This is the same for the Revolut card, which I am currently reviewing for the blog (will post up shortly). That has a limit of 200 GBP/Euros per month and 1 or 2 % after that. Of course local ATM fees will apply. The best thing to do is limit withdrawals and use card payments. I must admit I use the banking facility of Borderless far more than the card. The card is a 'nice to have'.
            Reply

            Aug 02, 2019 at 4:37 pm

            • Martin1 says

              May 11, 2020 at 11:28 pm

              Peter --
              sorry, that is not the full truth. :-(

              The service charge at Revolut is always 2 %, but the free withdraw amout depends on the card plan you chose.

              I use the metal card, and can withdraw up to 600 GBP per month for free.
              (And it includes a 1 % cashback feature for use outside of the EU.)
              Reply

              May 11, 2020 at 11:28 pm

              • TheThailandLife says

                May 12, 2020 at 4:05 am

                I didn't know exactly at the time I wrote that comment. I was still reviewing the card and remembered it was 1 or 2%. Thanks for clarifying that here.
                Reply

                May 12, 2020 at 4:05 am

  17. Kevin Williams says

    March 27, 2019 at 10:35 pm

    Do you hold THB in your borderless account and can you transfer into it from Bangkok bank with no fees? I need a way to pay for things here in THB online but my bangkok bank debit card is as useless as a chocolate teapot! Thanks
    Reply

    Mar 27, 2019 at 10:35 pm

    • James E says

      March 28, 2019 at 4:01 am

      Nope. Transferwise currently does not support a ₿ transfer out. You hold your money in US or AU $, €, or ₤ or any of the other supported currencies (which would entail some degree of FX risk). When you use your Transferwise debit card it's like getting an instant TW transfer. So your money wouldn't even need to go to BKK Bank. The last time I was in BKK Bank I asked about getting a new debit card as the Visa support was expiring. They told me I could do it right away or wait as they were going to add a MasterCard branded product sometime this year.
      Reply

      Mar 28, 2019 at 4:01 am

      • Simon Robinson says

        March 29, 2019 at 2:50 am

        Sorry, maybe I am misunderstanding, but I have the Borderless account and I hold money and transfer funds in THB. You cannot accept payment into the account in THB, but you can "hold the funds" and transfer THB out, I do this all the time.
        Reply

        Mar 29, 2019 at 2:50 am

        • James E says

          March 29, 2019 at 4:38 am

          Yes, you can hold in THB or any of the other supported currencies (with their attendant FX risk) but you can't load it from a Thai account. TW says they're planning Baht-out support at some time but right now it's very difficult to move large sums out of Thailand through traditional channels and I'm guessing TW will take a long time to get it approved. By Baht transfer out I meant out of a Thai account, not out of your borderless account.
          Reply

          Mar 29, 2019 at 4:38 am

    • James E says

      March 28, 2019 at 10:16 pm

      Follow up. BKK Bank is now offering the Mastercard branded debit card. Unfortunately the Rabbit Card version is still UnionPay. Details at https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Cards/Be1st-Smart-Card/Chip-Card-Conversion
      Reply

      Mar 28, 2019 at 10:16 pm

      • Martin1 says

        March 29, 2019 at 11:12 pm

        I like Union Pay!

        It gives me discounts at airports, and in BKK e. g. at Villa Market @ Ari.
        You can use it with AliPay.

        But sure: I wouldn't want to have a UnionPay card as my only card!
        Reply

        Mar 29, 2019 at 11:12 pm

  18. jp leb says

    January 28, 2019 at 1:36 pm

    Good day.
    A lot of talk about the UK, EU, Australia etc .. but nothing about Canada. I have a bank account in Montreal and another here in Thailand, if i understand your procedure i would have to open an account with Transferwise, then transfer funds ( in CAD) from my Montreal bank account to my Tranferwise account via a bank transfer and then get Tranferwise to send the money (in Thb) to my Kasikorn bank account... correct ?

    Q1 -- Will Canadian banks accept to transfer funds to a Transferwise account ?

    Q2 -- If so then i would pay transfer fees twice .. Mtl bank to Transferwise and then Transferwise to Kasikorn bank and PLUS pay the Kasikorn service fee..

    Q3 -- How do i save ? Difference in transfer fees between the Montreal bank
    and Transferwise fees ?
    Thanks
    jpl
    Reply

    Jan 28, 2019 at 1:36 pm

    • James E says

      January 28, 2019 at 9:32 pm

      There are no "Transfer Fees" going from your CA bank to K-bank. Transferwise is the transfer agent so collects its fees once per transfer ($11.93CAD for a CA$1,000 transfer). There is no withdrawal fee from your bank (I'm guessing as Canada uses EFT which is basically the same system as ACH here in the US), it's more like paying an e-bill or e-check online. TW then works its magic in the ForEx market and a normal deposit of THB shows up at K-bank.

      So instead of a wire transfer with fees at both ends and getting reamed by a buy/sell spread at conversion you just pay TW's minimal fee and you're done.
      Reply

      Jan 28, 2019 at 9:32 pm

  19. Martin1 says

    January 3, 2019 at 10:29 pm

    Hey TTL!

    I have such a card. But I don't use it much.

    I always prefer to take cash into the kingdom and convert it into THB at Superrich (or Thailand Exchange (near MBK)).
    Their spread is only about 0.3 %! Nothing beats that!!!
    And after that I use a CDM to deposit it on my bank account.
    BTW: Did you know that you can use any CDM (not just the ones from your own bank)?
    Reply

    Jan 03, 2019 at 10:29 pm

  20. DUS says

    October 15, 2018 at 5:37 pm

    Hi,

    Thank you very much for your review!

    A couple of questions if I may:

    1/ Is your verified address with Transferwise your address in TH or an address back in the UK? Does Transferwise have any issues with its users changing their address from EU/UK to an address in Thailand?

    2/ I read that the debit card will only be issued to customers in UK/EU and maybe a few other countries. Is that still the case? Do you happen to know that?

    Thank you again!

    DUS
    Reply

    Oct 15, 2018 at 5:37 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      October 15, 2018 at 6:15 pm

      Hi DUS,1. My verified address is my UK address. I'm not sure about the address change thing. I used the address registered with my home country bank account. 2. The debit card is also now available in the US, but it's in Beta mode. They will roll it out to everyone in the next few months I'm sure. Try contacting them and ask to be part of the beta trial. They might send you an invite.
      Reply

      Oct 15, 2018 at 6:15 pm

  21. steve o says

    August 25, 2018 at 4:55 pm

    thai atm fees ???
    Reply

    Aug 25, 2018 at 4:55 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      August 25, 2018 at 5:22 pm

      The first 200 GBP (or equivalent) you withdraw every month (30 days) is free. After that, there's a 2% charge on withdrawals.Some ATMs charge their own fees on top of this, as some do in Thailand. Generally I still use my Bangkok Bank account to withdraw from in Thailand.To avoid extra fees from any ATM, be sure to choose the local currency where the ATM is. For example, if you're in the US, choose USD as the currency to be charged in. This will stop the ATM from marking up the currency exchange rate.
      Reply

      Aug 25, 2018 at 5:22 pm

      • Stuart says

        November 30, 2018 at 9:10 pm

        Good review generally - BUT I think you're missing the point about steve o's question. It's almost impossible to avoid fees for cash withdrawals from Thai ATMs with a non-Thai bank card. Aside from your own bank / card company fees, in Thailand it is MOST not just some ATM which charge for withdrawals with an overseas card.
        The cost is around 200 baht for each withdrawal and it is now extremely rare to find one that doesn't levy this fee. That is on top of any fees charged by your own bank.
        Reply

        Nov 30, 2018 at 9:10 pm

        • TheThailandLife says

          December 3, 2018 at 1:41 am

          You'd pay the local withdrawal fee charged by the bank too, I'd assume. But as JPB mentions above, TransferWise has started also a ‘cash’ debit card (visa) that you can load with the currency you want. So you don't have to withdraw from ATMs all the time.
          Reply

          Dec 03, 2018 at 1:41 am

    • Martin1 says

      January 3, 2019 at 10:22 pm

      Try to find AEON ATMs in Thailand!
      They charge only 150 THB per transaction, or Citibank's! The latter ones allow up to 50 k THB per withdrawal.
      Reply

      Jan 03, 2019 at 10:22 pm

  22. Nigel Reynard says

    August 25, 2018 at 3:58 pm

    Hi Great article but can you give me some idea what the rates/fees are for loading up in euros/£ and converting to THB as this has has not been mentioned. Thank you.
    Reply

    Aug 25, 2018 at 3:58 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      August 25, 2018 at 5:20 pm

      I've not done this so I don't know exactly, but given the examples in the post I assume somewhere around 0.5-0.7%. My usual scenario is receiving USD to Transferwise borderless and then sending that money to my UK bank account. I get the real market exchange rate and pay the conversion fee prior to it being sent, so it arrives in GBP. This has saved me a ton on previously receiving the money to my PayPal account or by wire.
      Reply

      Aug 25, 2018 at 5:20 pm

  23. Christian Watson says

    August 25, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    I would like to do the reverse as I get paid in Thailand (Bangkok Bank, sadly) and want to transfer the money to my US account. Do you know if it is possible yet to add money to your Transferwise account from Thailand?
    Reply

    Aug 25, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      August 25, 2018 at 5:25 pm

      You mean send money to your TW account from your Bangkok Bank account? Yes, but you wouldn't have Thai bank details so it would be treated as a foreign transaction by BKK Bank, as you'd be sending it to your TW Borderless US, UK, AUS or EURO account (these are the bank account details they give you).
      Reply

      Aug 25, 2018 at 5:25 pm

      • Charlie says

        August 26, 2018 at 1:07 pm

        Even though you can hold money in Thai Baht in your Transferwise borderless account, you can't send money to Transferwise via your Transferwise Thai Baht account. (You can only receive money into the account in Euros, US Dollars, British Pounds and Australian Dollars).

        Also, my Bangkok Bank account doesn't allow me to transfer money to an overseas account. So if your Bangkok Bank is like mine, the answer is no, you can't transfer money from your Thai bank account to either Transferwise borderless account, or to your US account via Transferwise.
        Reply

        Aug 26, 2018 at 1:07 pm

        • TheThailandLife says

          August 26, 2018 at 6:14 pm

          Yes, that's what I said. You don't get bank account details for a Thai bank account within the borderless account, only a Euros, US Dollars, British Pounds and Australian Dollars account details. Bangkok bank allows you to send via SWIFT to foreign accounts, and via the iBualang online banking system, if you have that capability.
          Reply

          Aug 26, 2018 at 6:14 pm

          • Martin1 says

            January 3, 2019 at 10:25 pm

            Bangkok Bank allow you to open up FCAs (Foreign Currency Account).

            In those you an keep non-THB currencies, and transferrals abroad are NP!
            Reply

            Jan 03, 2019 at 10:25 pm

            • James E says

              January 3, 2019 at 11:49 pm

              All of the big banks allow FCAs. The problem is that when you need THB you are subject to their buy/sell spread. They also have fees wiring into or out of the account. Transferwise converts at the FX rate and has a very favorable fee structure. It's primary drawback is that (as of now) transfers out of THB are not supported.
              Reply

              Jan 03, 2019 at 11:49 pm

  24. Rick Thompson says

    August 25, 2018 at 7:13 am

    I read another review of TransferWise Borderless Account that says there is a way to get PayPal to transfer to a US TransferWise account. Don't know if it works as I have not tried it.
    Reply

    Aug 25, 2018 at 7:13 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      August 25, 2018 at 5:14 pm

      I read the same review a while back. I called PayPal and they said no you can't add your TW US account and transfer USD out of PayPal. I think what you can do is make a conversion inside PayPal from USD to GBP and then ad your TW UK bank details. But that's pointless because you get stung on the exchange rate anyway. PayPal exists to make money on receiving money and converting currency at horrible rates. The best way forward is have people pay you directly into TW borderless.
      Reply

      Aug 25, 2018 at 5:14 pm

  25. Simon says

    August 22, 2018 at 11:49 am

    I work in the offshore industry, all over the world and live in Bangkok. I get paid in GBP and USD, previously I had a USD account as well as my GBP account in the UK. Both accounts were with Lloyds, and they gave me "free" transfers between the accounts. This is the biggest con the banks make. They don't charge a fee, but they give you a horrendous exchange rate. TransferWise is by far the best bank and exchange mechanism on the market to the best of my knowledge and I use it all the time to transfer money and withdraw cash in Thailand and around the world.
    Reply

    Aug 22, 2018 at 11:49 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      August 22, 2018 at 4:40 pm

      So a borderless account might be useful for you, because your employer could pay the USD into your account using the US account details. You can also hold a GBP balance. Agreed, TW beats the banks hands down.
      Reply

      Aug 22, 2018 at 4:40 pm

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

thethailandlife

Hi! I’m Peter. I’ve been living & traveling in Thailand for 14 years. I’m here to give you all the information you need to make your Thai adventure safe, happy, & successful.

Recommended Thailand Services

I get a lot of requests for recommendations on services related to living in Thailand. To make things easier for you, I’ve compiled a list of those I use below.

Learning Thai

Thaipod101 is the best way to learn Thai online. It's how I started learning. They have hundreds of video and audio lessons to help you start speaking Thai today. Start free here.

Sending Money

Wise is the cheapest and fastest way to send money to Thailand. I use it and so do many of my readers. Go here to get your first transfer free.

Financial Planning

Whether you need life insurance, pension planning or other investment advice, I can connect you with my personal IFA. Simply fill out this form.

Health Insurance

I recommend getting a quote from Cigna for international Insurance, and then comparing that with local insurance premiums on Mr Prakan.

Travel Services

Hotels: Agoda offers good deals on hotels in Thailand. This is because they are located in the region and secure lots of special promotions. It's also worth trying Booking.com and Hotels.com for comparison.

Travel Insurance: SafetyWing is great for trips to Thailand and elsewhere. I've used them many times. If you're from the UK/Europe you can also try True Traveller.

Over 70? Insure My Trip. has policies for those struggling to find travel insurance cover due to age restrictions.

Bank Account

Need an international bank account that holds multiple currencies and lets you transfer, receive & spend wherever you are, with a MasterCard. I've used one for 4 years. Check out Wise.

Rent / Buy Property

Looking for an apartment to rent or a home to buy? For the largest selection of properties in Thailand, and a completely free service, visit PropertyScout here.

Data Security

To keep your data secure you should use a VPN when using public WIFI and when accessing internet banking and other sensitive information online. I use both Vypr VPN and Nord VPN.

Reader Favourites

1. Cheapest Way to Send Money to Thailand

2. Top 15 Thai Love Phrases [Video]

3. 100 Interesting Facts About Thailand

4. Best VPN to Protect Your Online Privacy

5. Buying a Condo: 9 Questions Before You Decide

6. Get Fluent in Thai in 3 Months!

7. Top 12 Jobs for Thailand Expats

8. Expat Life Insurance: 10 Must-Know Facts

9. The 4 Best Thai Dating Sites

loader

GET MY NEWSLETTER

Join thousands of others who receive my monthly roundup of content & insider tips on how to survive & thrive in Thailand.

*Please check your inbox to confirm your email address

Helpful Posts

+ Get the Right Visa
+ Get COVID Insurance
+ Get Health Insurance
+ Learn Basic Thai
+ Check Cost of Retirement
+ Check Cost of Living
+ Find a TEFL Course
+ Find a Job
+ Open a Thai Bank Account
+ Get Married
+ Best Visa Run Option

Join The Conversation

  • TheThailandLife on How to Get a UK Visitor Visa for Your Thai Partner [in 6 Steps]
  • Simon Windley on How to Get a UK Visitor Visa for Your Thai Partner [in 6 Steps]
  • TheThailandLife on The Cost of Living in Thailand in 2023 – How Much Do You Need?
  • Mark on The Cost of Living in Thailand in 2023 – How Much Do You Need?

Contact | Privacy Policy | Site Terms & Disclaimer| Media Pack 

Copyright © TheThailandLife.com 2023. All Rights Reserved.
No content on this site may be copied without written consent from TheThailandLife.com