Wise announced two major new features for people in Thailand – the ability to send out money from your Thai bank account and use PromptPay QR codes for payments. Notably, Thai Wise customers and residents will finally be able to order the Wise card, something that hasn’t been possible until now.
News #1: Sending money out of Thailand should get easier
Wise says you will be able to send THB overseas using Wise, funded from your local Thai bank account or from the THB balance in your Wise account. This is great news for anyone remitting money, since you will now be able to tap into the mid-market exchange rate (the rate you see on Google) and transparent fees.
It will be interesting to see how this affects local competitors like banks and DeeMoney. Whilst Thai banks have improved their international transfers in recent years, the key question is whether they can match Wise’s mid-market exchange rates and ease of use. DeeMoney, built around affordable remittances out of Thailand, will face new competition, though it remains to be seen whether Wise can match DeeMoney’s local partnerships and funding convenience.
News #2: Paying like a local with PromptPay QR codes
Wise says you will be able to scan and pay using PromptPay QR and ThaiQR codes, including paying individuals and businesses. This matters because in Thailand, QR payments are ubiquitous and it is how a lot of everyday spending works, especially at smaller shops that do not accept cards.
Wise also mentions transfers to (and receiving via) PromptPay, using things like a mobile number or citizen ID as the identifier, plus PromptPay QR options, which is a nice bonus.
Restrictions and changes you should be aware of
With the positive changes, Wise also lists some questionable restrictions and changes that will come with this new setup, also expected on or after 19 May 2026.
The main drawback is that your account will become more THB-centric inside Thai Wise. Some overseas-to-overseas transfers (between two non-Thai bank accounts) will no longer be supported the same way. Sending money overseas in non-THB currencies from your Wise account will also change, requiring a conversion to THB first. Additionally, if you receive non-THB payments, Wise says they will be automatically converted to THB and added to your THB balance.
According to Wise, cash withdrawals at ATMs in Thailand won’t be supported for Wise cards held by local residents. Wise positions PromptPay QR scan-and-pay as the local alternative.
At this point, the value proposition doesn’t look very positive for expats who are handling money overseas as the benefits (and drawbacks) will be only available users with Thailand as their address. We will have to see how things look in practice after the May rollout.
Read Wise’s announcement for more details at Upcoming changes to your Wise account in Thailand.
