Bangkok Bank presented the 2019 Royal Kathin to Wat Khiri Wihan in Trat province, as part of the Bank’s presentation of the Royal Kathin to Buddhist temples under royal patronage for 53 consecutive years. The Bank also laid the foundation stone for a new building of Ban Klang Dong School (Bangkok Bank 31) to provide more educational opportunities to Thai children.
At 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2019, Bangkok Bank presented the 2019 Royal Kathin to monks at Wat Khiri Wihan in Trat province. The presentation ceremony was led by Bangkok Bank Executive Chairman Deja Tulananda, Director Singh Tangtatswas, Director H.S.H. Prince Mongkolchaleam Yugala, Director Chokechai Nilijianskul, Senior Executive Vice President Suvarn Thansathit, Senior Executive Vice President Boonsong Bunyasaranand, Director and Executive Vice President Thaweelap Rittapirom, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary Apichart Ramyarupa. The ceremony was attended by Trat provincial governor Pichien Limwangyu and Mueang Trat Chief District Officer Somchai Singkul, together with representatives from the government and private sectors as well as members of the public. On this occasion, Bangkok Bank, its directors, executives and staff, customers and the general public donated 13,139,371 baht to the temple.
Bangkok Bank was the first financial institution to be honored with the commission of taking the Royal Kathin to temples under royal patronage in all regions across Thailand and foreign countries. The Bank began presenting the Royal Kathin to temples in 1967, with this year being the 53rd year of upholding this tradition to preserve Buddhist culture.
At the same time, the Bank broke ground on a new building of Ban Klang Dong School (Bangkok Bank 31) by laying a foundation stone, in a bid to support education for Thai children. The Bank has provided a construction budget of 4 million baht for this 2-storey building comprising 4 classrooms.
The foundation stone laying ceremony marks the 31st school in the project to build Bangkok Bank schools in rural areas to provide educational opportunities to Thai children and improve the long-term quality of life in Thai society. It is also a part of the Bank’s mission to give back to the society and promote education upcountry. For 44 years since 1975, the Bank has donated buildings to more than 30 schools in 29 provinces throughout the country. More than 100,000 students benefit from these school buildings each year. Since the project’s inception, the Bank has provided more than 40 million baht.
Ban Klang Dong School opened on 1 May 1963. Located in Khao Saming sub-district, Khao Saming district, Trat province, the school currently has 246 students from Kindergarten 1 to Grade 6 as well as 14 teachers and educational personnel. The school covers the area of three villages in the Saming and Santung sub-districts in Trat province.