How to send money from Thailand to the USA

International bank transfer using banks like Siam Commercial Bank or Kasikorn Bank

If you have a Thai bank account, an international bank transfer is the most convenient option. Simply use your banking app to initiate the transfer. No additional KYC is typically required for transfers, though banks may request additional information later on.

From my experience, both Kasikorn Bank (KBank) and Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) are reliable, fast, and offer competitive exchange rates, often better than DeeMoney.

Remittance services like DeeMoney

DeeMoney is a licensed remittance service regulated by the Bank of Thailand, offering competitive rates for international transfers.

Whilst DeeMoney offers convenience with its app-based service and 7-Eleven payment option, the exchange rates can sometimes be less competitive than direct bank transfers through KBank or SCB. However, it can be useful if you prefer using a dedicated remittance service or don’t want to use your primary bank for international transfers.

Alternative transfer methods

If you don’t have a Thai bank account, you may consider using services like Western Union or MoneyGram. You can find more information about these methods in this article or in the table below. While these services work and their fees might look significantly lower at first, you will usually get much worse exchange rates than you would with regular bank transfers.

Value comparison

Transferring 50,000 THB to USD

Exchange rate as of January 20, 2025

Transferring 100,000 THB to USD

What if I don’t have a US bank account?

If you don’t have a bank account in the U.S., you can use a multi-currency account with Wise, Revolut, or similar services. These services provide you with your own account details—including account number, routing number, SWIFT code, bank name, and address—which you’ll need for international transfers.

Although Revolut and Wise aren’t traditional banks, they provide secure, convenient, and cost-effective bank-like financial services. Wise partners with Community Federal Savings Bank in the US, giving you all the benefits of a USD account with complete banking details. I use it personally for international transfers.

Conclusion and recommendations

Despite Thailand’s regulated market and imposed foreign exchange controls, sending money to USD accounts is straightforward nowadays, especially when you already have a Thai bank account. Choose the best method for your needs by referring to the tables above. I personally alternate between KBank, SCB, and DeeMoney, with the banks consistently providing faster service than DeeMoney. Between the two banks, my choice typically depends on the exchange rate (which is often very similar), as their fees are similar and often become negligible during larger transfers.

The main difference between the banks lies in their input methods. With KBank, you begin by entering your desired amount in USD. The final overview then shows both the USD amount and its THB equivalent, with fees already included.

SCB works in reverse. You start by entering the amount in THB, after which the system displays how much the recipient will get. The fee is then added to your initial sending amount.

KBank’s USD-first approach may be more intuitive when you have a specific dollar amount in mind, while SCB’s THB-first method could be preferable when working within a specific baht budget. Whichever bank you choose, make sure to compare the day’s exchange rates to get the best value for your transfer. And unless you don’t have a Thai bank account or want to send someone cash, you don’t even need to consider Western Union or MoneyGram.