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What are the best methods for UK expats in Thailand to access UK bank accounts and manage mobile contracts?

Dec 20, 2021
3 years ago
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
One for UK expats. What's the best way to access UK bank accounts from Thailand? And do you keep a UK phone contract active? TIA
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TLDR : Answer Summary
UK expats in Thailand can easily access their UK bank accounts through online banking. Most banks allow the use of a Thai address without issues. Maintaining a UK mobile number is possible through services like giffgaff or by downgrading to a low-cost plan, with users typically sending a text every few months to keep the service active. Many expats successfully receive one-time password (OTP) codes for transactions on their Thai SIMs, but this can depend on the bank's policies. A dual SIM phone can facilitate using both UK and Thai phone numbers simultaneously.
Brett **********
Downgrade your UK number to the cheapest monthly deal you can (will be about £5 a month). Get a dual SIM phone (pretty much any phone that's not apple or Samsung nowadays) then you can have your Thai number and UK number active at same time
Gary **********
Do you still get OTP CODES sent on Thai sims? TIA
Martin *********
Mobile / online banking … I’m with Santander and nationwide
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Martin ********
do you use thai phone for these? Thanks
David ******
@Chris *******
- I'm with Santander and got them to add my Thai mobile for OTP's etc. Did take a call to customer service in UK to sort it.
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David *****
that's good to know, thankyou
Martin *********
@Chris *******
I actually use my iPad .. but same difference .. you only need Wi-Fi ..
Paul ********
Mobile banking works fine for a lot of transactions but many times need to receive OTP code on phone for authorisation. I put my UK sim in an old phone.
Kevin *****
@Paul *******
my OTP codes from NatWest come through fine on my AIS SIM. I guess it depends on which bank you are with as to how amenable they are.
Steve *******
Use your banks app. Simple
Jeffrey ************
I use Internet banking and have both UK and Thai mobiles..
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Great, thanks for your comments
Robert ********
Mobile banking and a giffgaff sim.
Greg ********
Online works fine. I have my address on it as Thailand so no need for UK mobile.
Stuart ********
I have my Thai number registered on my Halifax UK bank and i receive security confirmation calls no problem.
Robert ******
Online banking apps work as normal. Use app notifications instead of text.

I've switched my mobile to a sim only plan to keep the number alive. I have to send a text every 3 months to maintain.
Keith ********
I have a UK account with Santander with a Thai address. Easy to access via online banking. I use giffgaff to keep my UK mobile number alive.
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