Restructure the formats and roles of financial institutions so that they can
better serve customers’ demand, achieve greater efficiency, attain more stability,
and become more competitive. As for Thai financial institutions, there will be
only two types. Commercial banks may provide financial services to all
groups of customers and undertake all types of financial transactions, except
issuing insurance policies and underwriting/brokering/trading equity securities.
Retail banks, in contrast, are expected to exclusively serve retail customers
and SME, subject to lending limit per customer and other conditions as
specified by the BOT. As for foreign financial institutions, there will be only
two types as well. Subsidiaries of foreign banks will enjoy the same scope as
commercial banks and can open up to four branches. Full branches of foreign
banks, however, cannot open any branches, even though they will have the
same business scope as commercial banks