BoT pushes local banks to cut lending rates

The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is working with commercial banks to adapt their models to help vulnerable customers.

Key Takeaways

• The Prime Minister requested commercial banks to cut lending rates to protect vulnerable groups.
• The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Thailand won’t cut 2.5% rates.
• Thailand’s economy is expected to grow 2.8% during 2024, shifting to a lower level of growth from its initial 3.2% projections.

The BoT moves come after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had a meeting with some of the most important banks CEOs and asked them to cut their lending rates for fragile groups.

Piti Disyatat, the assistant governor for the monetary policy group at the central bank, stated that banks are equipped with the flexibility to adapt their business models. This includes altering product offerings and interest rates to assist vulnerable borrowers in reducing their debt burden,…