KBANK to provide soft loans to SMEs

BANGKOK, September 17 (TNA) -- Kasikornbank, one of the major commercial banks in Thailand, will provide a total of 60 billion baht soft loans to small- and medium-sized operators on the condition that they must receive the green light from the bank within this December, said Patchara Samalapa, executive vice president of Kasikornbank. Mr Patchara said Kasikornbank, listed on the Thai bourse, is preparing to extend loans totaling 60 billion baht, half of which carry a low interest rate and to be extended by the government, while the bank will provide the other half. Several SME businesses who are customers of Kasikornbank including building and construction materials, tourism, and certain farm products still perform fine businesses, he said. Kasikornbank has an outstanding loan amounting approximately 561.66 billion baht by July this year. (TNA)