Three of the country’s biggest banks are cutting lending rates further, seeking to head off more loan defaults from struggling small businesses and retail customers hit by the flagging economy.
The plans come on top of cuts to minimum lending rates by the country's top four lenders early this month, a surprise move as they did not follow any rate cuts by the Bank of Thailand and because the cuts will dent profits.
Kasikornbank, the fourth-biggest lender, said on Friday that it would reduce its minimum retail and minimum overdraft rate by 25 basis points effective from Monday, in line with its cut to the MLR, and following a similar move by Bangkok Bank a day earlier.
Third-ranked Siam Commercial Bank announced late Friday that it would cut its minimum retail rate and overdraft rate by 25 basis points on Monday to help retail clients and small businesses.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent 40% of the economy but have been responsible for a worrying 22% jump in non-performing loans in the banking sector last year to 337.5 billion baht.
Bankers have said they expect bad loans to rise further this year. Last year, SME loans amounted to 4.7 trillion baht or 35% of total bank lending, according to central bank data.
"Cutting the minimum retail and minimum overdraft rates will help expand our assistance to all business sectors," Kasikornbank president Predee Daochai told Reuters.
Before this month's rate cuts, local banks had introduced several measures to help clients, including extensions of debt repayment periods.