(3) Development of New Business Model
Internal research and survey revealed that grass-root level consumers do not
have much choice in either service providers2
or financial services3
and therefore
dependent upon non-formal institutions (i.e., money lenders or loan sharks), which
charge unreasonably high interest rate. Believing that a new business model can
remedy this gap, the Bank of Thailand held a seminar on ‘Financial Services for All:
Business Models for the Underserved’ in November 2003. The seminar was
successful at publicizing the unique needs of grass-root consumers as well as pointing
out the viability of applying new technology to service this customer group.
From the seminar and subsequent discussions with relevant stakeholders, it
was found that the Office of the National Village and Urban Community Fund
Committee4
in conjunction with the Government Savings Bank (GSB) are in the
process developing computer application software that will facilitate financial
transactions between Village Funds/ microfinance groups and state-owned
commercial banks.5
The software’s successful implementation would help prove that
new technology can help generate reasonable returns from transactions between
commercial service providers and low-income clients. Accordingly, the project’s
success may lead to the expansion of the software application to other underserved
communities in the future.
(3) Risk-weight Amendments
The Bank of Thailand assigned new risk weights6
for assets related to retail
customers and SMEs as a market incentive for commercial banks to service these
customer segments.7
The key difference between the old and new risk-weight is that