Send money from the UK to Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu receives the third-largest share of India's money from abroad. Here is today's pound to rupee rate, what you need to pay into a bank account in Chennai or anywhere in the state, and the festivals when families send the most.
Written by Sonic Wallet editorial team · Last reviewed: 1 November 2026
Key facts
- On 2 Nov 2026, 06:10 GMT, £1 was worth ₹127.19 at the mid-market rate.
- Tamil Nadu received 10.4% of the money India received from abroad in 2023-24, the third-largest share of any state or union territory, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
- Sonic Wallet sends pounds from the UK to bank accounts in Tamil Nadu.
- The main language is Tamil.
- Popular times to send extra money: Pongal, Puthandu and Deepavali.
Rate last updated:
How many rupees will arrive?
Mid-market rate: £1 = ₹127.1934. Converted at the mid-market rate, before any fee or margin. You will see the exact fee and exchange rate before you confirm a transfer.
Send money to IndiaSending money to a bank account in Tamil Nadu
Indian Bank and Indian Overseas Bank have their head offices in Chennai. Tamil Nadu is also home to private banks such as City Union Bank in Kumbakonam, Karur Vysya Bank in Karur and Tamilnad Mercantile Bank in Thoothukudi.
Whichever bank the recipient uses, you need their name as the bank has it, their account number and the IFSC of their branch. Our guide to Indian bank details explains where to find each one.
Lakshmi Vilas Bank became part of DBS Bank India on 27 November 2020, and Allahabad Bank merged into Indian Bank on 1 April 2020. Branches of both now use new IFSC codes, so check the recipient's current details.
Busy times for sending money to Tamil Nadu
- Pongal: mid-January
- Puthandu: the Tamil New Year, in mid-April
- Deepavali: October or November
If the money needs to arrive by a particular day, send it a few days early, so there is time to sort out any problem with the bank details. Our analysis of the best time to send money to India looks at how the pound to rupee rate moves.
Tamil Nadu's share of India's remittances
Tamil Nadu received 10.4% of the money India received from abroad in 2023-24, the third-largest share of any state or union territory, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
| State | 2016-17 | 2020-21 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 8.0% | 9.7% | 10.4% |
Tamil Nadu's share has risen in each survey since 2016-17, from 8.0% to 10.4% in 2023-24. The Reserve Bank of India notes that Tamil Nadu and Karnataka send large numbers of students and workers abroad.
The UK is one of India's biggest sources of money from abroad: 10.8% of the remittances India received in 2023-24 came from the UK, up from 6.8% in 2020-21, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
The Reserve Bank of India's figures cover money sent for family maintenance and savings, and local withdrawals from non-resident deposit accounts.
Tamils in the UK
The UK's Tamil community includes families from Tamil Nadu and a large Sri Lankan Tamil community. This page is about sending money to Tamil Nadu, in India, where the money arrives in Indian rupees.
Tamil is the official language of Tamil Nadu.
Read about sending money to India in Tamil: தமிழ்
Frequently asked questions
How much of India's remittances go to Tamil Nadu?+
Tamil Nadu received 10.4% of all the money India received from abroad in 2023-24, the third-largest share of any state, according to the Reserve Bank of India's remittances survey. That is up from 8.0% in 2016-17.
My family banked with Lakshmi Vilas Bank. What has changed?+
Lakshmi Vilas Bank became part of DBS Bank India on 27 November 2020, and its branches now have DBS Bank India IFSC codes. Ask the recipient for the current IFSC before you send.
Is sending money to Tamil Nadu different from sending it to Sri Lanka?+
Yes. Tamil Nadu is in India, so the money arrives in Indian rupees (INR) through Indian payment systems such as IMPS and NEFT, using an IFSC code. Sri Lanka has its own currency, the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR), and its own banking system.
When do people send the most money to Tamil Nadu?+
Many families send extra money before Pongal in mid-January, Puthandu, the Tamil New Year, in mid-April, and Deepavali in October or November.
Sending money to other states
Useful tools and guides
Sources
- Changing Dynamics of India's Remittances: Sixth Round of India's Remittances Survey (2023-24), Reserve Bank of India Bulletin, March 2025
- NEFT frequently asked questions, Reserve Bank of India
- List of NEFT-enabled bank branches and their IFSCs, Reserve Bank of India