Bangkok Bank was awarded ‘Bank of the Year 2019’ by Money & Banking magazine for its outstanding performance and profitable growth. It is the 11th time the Bank has won the award in the past 13 years. The Bank’s net profit in 2018 was the third-highest among Thai banks at 35.3 billion baht, representing the highest net profit of 18.51 baht per share. In addition to its high profitability, Bangkok Bank was recognized for its prudent and steady approach in allocating reserves for doubtful accounts. Its total loan loss reserves in 2018 amounted to 147.5 billion baht, or 7.08% of total loans, which was also the highest amount among Thai banks. According to the Bank for International Standards, Bangkok Bank has a total capital adequacy ratio of 17.96%, comprising Tier-1 capital of 16.43% and Tier-2 capital of 1.53%. The Bank’s business has been guided by the philosophy of aspiring to be a trusted partner and reliable close friend. This emphasizes the value Bangkok Bank places on partnership, and developing long-term, trusted partnerships with its customers, sustaining relationships over decades and across generations. The Bank stays close to all its customers to anticipate their needs and provide them with appropriate advice and support, so they can adapt to changing circumstances.

 

Bangkok Bank President Chartsiri Sophonpanich (3rd from left), Executive Director Charamporn Jotikasthira (2nd from left) together with the bank’s top executives joined Bank of Thailand Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob (3rd from right) and executives from central banks and financial institutions across ASEAN to showcase ASEAN payment connectivity innovations at the 5th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting and related meetings in Chiang Rai. The Bank signed an MOU to support financial innovations and international payment services, including development of Letter of Credit (L/C) transactions between Indonesia and Thailand using Blockchain technology. Bangkok Bank is the only Thai bank to have joined with R3 Consortium to develop the L/C service, an important financial service for international trade finance which uses Distributed Ledger (DLT) or Blockchain technology. The Bank also signed an MOU on international payments with BeWallet Interoperable QR Payment under a collaboration between Singapore and Thailand. One of the Bank’s main policies is to develop financial innovations to increase efficiency of financial systems, respond to the needs of all customer groups and support ASEAN economic connectivity, as well as enable more ASEAN people to access financial services.

 

Bangkok Bank Director Dr. Amorn Chandarasomboon, Director H.S.H. Prince Mongkolchaleam Yugala, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary Apichart Ramyarupa and other executives and staff visited, donated money and offered lunch to injured veterans, police officers and volunteers who have sacrificed themselves for the nation in tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the auspicious occasion of HRH’s birthday on April 2, 2019. Bangkok Bank’s executives and staff organized recreational activities along with students from Bunditpatanasilpa Institute. Deputy Director - General of The Veterans General Hospital Lieutenant General Rugpol Chanluang gave a welcome address at Veterans General Hospital on Vibhavadi Road. Bangkok Bank has organized this annual activity for more than 32 years.

Bangkok Bank has prepared more than 36 billion baht in cash reserves for 10,000 ATMs nationwide to serve customers during the Songkran holiday from April 13-16, 2019, so customers can rest assured that cash will be available for withdrawals from Bangkok Bank ATMs during the Songkran holiday.

Bangkok Bank revealed that it has prepared more than 36 billion baht in cash reserves for 10,000 ATMs nationwide to serve customers during the Songkran holiday from April 13-16, 2019. Customers can also use the Bank’s service at 319 microbranches in shopping malls and communities nationwide, which will be open for business as usual during Songkran. The Bank will resume normal operations from Tuesday April 17, 2019.

In addition, customers can perform financial transactions via digital channels on a free-of-charge basis via Bualuang mBanking and Bualuang iBanking for instant money transfers between different regions and banks, PromptPay transfers, bill payments for products and services, as well as top-up services. Customers can be confident that they will be able to perform their financial transactions in a convenient, fast and safe manner.

Bangkok Bank introduces all-in-one features via Bualuang mBanking to check BTS balance, top up and view number of rides on Rabbit LINE Pay BTS and also offers special promotions to those who link Rabbit LINE Pay BTS to Bualuang mBanking.

Bangkok Bank Executive Vice President Prassanee Ouiyamaphan, Non Branch Distribution Channel, said Bangkok Bank has developed new features on the Bualuang mBanking application that allow customers to promptly link their Rabbit LINE Pay BTS to Bualuang mBanking. This service will provide greater convenience to users so that they can top – up the Rabbit LINE Pay account, instantly check their BTS balance, view the number of rides, buy 30-Day Trips and view their BTS travel history via the Bualuang mBanking application, while answering the lifestyle needs of new generation people who reside or work in town and always commute on the BTS.

“These new features on the Bank’s application will play a part in helping customers to better manage things in their daily life. Moreover, Bangkok Bank will launch new features in order to respond the lifestyle needs of new generation customer,” said Mrs. Ouiyamaphan.

Customers can start using Rabbit LINE Pay BTS on Bualuang mBanking by registering Rabbit LINE Pay BTS at BTS stations, then linking Rabbit LINE Pay BTS to Bualuang mBanking application under the ‘Rabbit LINE Pay’ menu and they can begin using it right away.

Bangkok Bank offers special promotions for Bualuang mBanking customer to get 1) three free rides when registering Rabbit LINE Pay BTS at BTS stations for the first time 2) free 100 baht debited to Bangkok Bank account and e-Coupon for BTS discount of 50 baht when linking Rabbit LINE Pay BTS to Bualuang mBanking during March 15 - September 15, 2019 (limited to 70,000 privileges for the entire campaign period).

Currently, there are 1.4 million people commuting on BTS daily. Furthermore, there are a lot of Rabbit LINE Pay users and Bualuang mBanking users, 5.3 million users and 7 million users respectively.

As such, these new features will fit perfectly with this target group and provide them with greater convenience on payments that they can make on Rabbit LINE Pay.

 

Bangkok Bank Director and Executive Vice President Thaweelap Rittapirom (middle) and Executive Vice Presidents Dr. Piyapan Tayanithi (2nd from left) and Thantika Bodhisompon (3rd from left) presented Baht 500,000 to Mongkol Bangprapa (3rd from right), the Thai Journalists Association president, to help with the organization of a dinner talk to mark the 64th anniversary of the Thai Journalists Association on 5 March. At the event, there were speeches from Veerathai Santiprabhob, Governor of the Bank of Thailand, on the topic of ‘Thai Economy amidst Changes’ and Suphachai Chearavanont, Chief Executive Officer of Charoen Pokphand Group, on the topic of ‘Thai Economy in Trade War’ as well as an awards presentation ceremony for various categories. Bangkok Bank has been a major sponsor of this event for several years as it is aware of the importance of the media's role and their responsibility to probe and share opinions on improving society.

Bangkok Bank InnoHub, the first global FinTech accelerator in Thailand, has showcased innovations and real-use cases from the program’s eight finalists to the public, potential investors and others in Thailand’s innovation ecosystem on Demo Day.

The eight startups, which were selected from 128 applicants across 28 countries, have all passed a ‘Real use-case’ with Bangkok Bank, meaning that everyone has demonstrated how their technology can be used to benefit the Bank’s customers and/or improve the Bank’s systems in line with five themes - Creating Unique Customer Experience, Digitization and Automation, Future SME Solution, Innovative Payment, and Discovering Cutting Edge Technologies. Three startups are in the scoping stage with the Bank, three are in ‘Proof-of-Concept’ and two are in the pilot stage.

Bangkok Bank InnoHub is committed to bringing new technologies and future innovation in FinTech and beyond to Thailand’s digital ecosystem. The accelerator program, now in its second year, is unique in Thailand because it targets more mature startups and focuses on developing long-term business relationships with them.

Bangkok Bank President Chartsiri Sophonpanich said the evolution of Bangkok Bank InnoHub demonstrated how the Bank was creating new opportunities within Thailand’s innovation ecosystem for startups working in FinTech and other innovative technologies.

“Bangkok Bank is keen to strengthen its position as an innovator in Thailand by building on the success of last year’s InnoHub Season 1,” said Mr Chartsiri. “We learned from our experience working with the startups last year. We saw an opportunity to add more value to the local ecosystem, expanding our focus beyond FinTech to include solutions that solve a wider range of problems and by working with more mature startups with an existing track record.”

“Not only does this support Thailand’s ambitions to become a leading regional hub for innovation, our international focus helps connect startups with opportunities in Thailand and ASEAN.”

The 12-week intensive engagement with executives from Bangkok Bank’s business units and Nest, the Bank’s corporate innovation partner, provides a structured pathway to enable startups to develop a product or service that is usable.

Nest Chief Executive Officer Mr Lawrence Morgan said: “Season 2 of Bangkok Bank InnoHub proves that corporate startup collaboration will drive the future of FinTech in Thailand. Over the last two years, our partnership with Bangkok Bank has achieved tremendous success; for the startups, this means early Proof-of-Concept discussions while the program is still running, and for the Bank it means greater agility in adopting new technologies.”

Bangkok Bank Vice President and Innovation Department Manager Dr Pao Sriprasertsuk, who has led the program, said: “Bangkok Bank InnoHub is focused on working with startups from their point of view. Many of them want the opportunity to work with the Bank rather than just learning from it. This is especially true for more mature startups.”

“Our program is unique because it focuses on the business application of technology. We give them the opportunity to test usability and feasibility, run pilots, develop solutions for their products and services, and enter negotiations with potential investors. At the beginning of the 12-week program we connect the startups with relevant Bank teams so they are focused on developing viable and usable products and services from the get-go.”

Demo Day featured the eight startups that completed the InnoHub program:

• Antworks (Singapore): A global, artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent automation company;
• CryptoMove (United States): CryptoMove Tholos Vault protects API (Application Programming Interface) keys and secrets for multi-cloud infrastructure with moving target defense;
• EYWA Media (Singapore): a cross-screen marketing technology platform that connects various channels and drives interactive customer experiences and monetization models;
• Jumper.ai (Singapore): an AI powered platform enabling brands to capitalize on social media posts;
• Pand.ai (Singapore): a leading conversational AI specialist for financial institutions in Asia;
• Pymlo (Hong Kong): provides an accounting platform for SMEs and startups to manage business operations and accounting for a fraction of the usual time and price;
• Sepulsa (Indonesia): a bill payment aggregator for online and offline channels;
• Vymo (India): an AI-enabled Personal Assistant for sales.

Bangkok Bank InnoHub Season 2 Demo Day took place on March 13, 2019 at Park Hyatt Bangkok.

 

Bangkok Bank Executive Chairman of Deja Tulananda (2nd from left), presented a 1,000,000 baht donation to the Cancer Immunotherapy Fund, Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Center of Excellence in Systems Biology Director Dr. Trairak Pisitkun (2nd from right), Dr.Naphat Chantaravisoot (right) and Dr. Piriya Wongkongkathep (left) represented the Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital to receive the donation which will support the development of antibodies against cancer and a personalized cancer vaccine. Bangkok Bank has supported the hospital’s research project for two consecutive years.

 

Bangkok Bank Executive Vice President, Credit Card Division Mayuree Tanthbhana (4rd from left) and Metropolitan Area Manager Region 5 Siravash Sombatanantakorn (3rd from left) presented a donation of 1,421,724.56 baht to Prof. Dr. Ronnachai Kongsakon, Deputy Dean for Procurement (4rd from right) of Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital. The Bank continually makes donations from Bangkok Bank Titanium Ramathibodi Hospital Credit Card ‘Spend more and gain merit’ campaign to the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital to help disadvantaged patients. The Bank donates the annual fee of 300 baht received from each customer, plus an additional 0.2% of the customers' spending amount. Cardholders also get privileges from Ramathibodi Hospital and Bangkok Bank, including 2% cash back from spending in each billing cycle. Total donations from the Bank and cardholders under this campaign amount to 11.9 million baht.

 

Bangkok Bank, in reflection of its commitment to be a digital banking leader, has launched a new service to facilitate customers to receive international speedy cash conveniently, quickly and easily, with world-class security standards. Customers can receive Western Union speedy cash via Bualuang mBanking and Bualuang iBanking from today onwards. Interested customers can apply for the service via any of three channels, Bualuang mBanking, Bualuang iBanking, or Bangkok Bank’s nationwide branches. For more information, please call Bualuang Phone 1333.

 

Bangkok Bank Executive Vice President Sa-ard Theerarojanawong (3rd from left), and other bank executives, representing the Bank in receiving three awards in the ‘Best Bond Award 2019’ ceremony from Mr. Poomsak Aranyakasemsuk, Director General, Public Debt Management Office, Finance Ministry (3rd from right). The award ceremony was held by The Thai Bond Market Association (ThaiBMA). The Bank this year received three awards, namely Best Primary Market Contributor from the Ministry of Finance, given to a financial institution achieving the highest allocation of government bonds in the primary market, Best Outright Primary Dealer from the Bank of Thailand, given to a counterparty that provides outstanding support for e-Outright transactions to the Bank of Thailand as well as supporting a healthy level of liquidity in the Thailand bond market, and Best Bond Dealer from the ThaiBMA, given to a dealer providing an outstanding service for trade partners in the secondary market. The awards recognize the Bank’s achievement in bond transactions.

Bangkok Bank approved that the dividend payment for the operating results of the year 2018 be paid at the rate of 6.50 baht per ordinary share and resolved to convene the 26th annual ordinary meeting of shareholders on April 12, 2019.

Bangkok Bank President, Chartsiri Sophonpanich said the meeting of the Board of Directors (the ‘Board’) of Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited (the ‘Bank’) No. 2/2019 held on February 21, 2019, at which the Board had adopted the following resolutions. Approved that the dividend payment for the operating results of the year 2018, which dividend was derived from retained earnings that was subject to corporate income tax of 23 percent, be paid at the rate of 6.50 baht per ordinary share, totaling 12,407,478,811 baht, a part of which had been paid as interim dividend at the rate of 2.00 baht per ordinary share on September 28, 2018; that the remaining amount be paid on May 10, 2019 at the rate of 4.50 baht per ordinary share; and that with the record date for determining the shareholders who have the right to receive the dividend payment be April 24, 2019.

And resolved to convene the 26th Annual Ordinary Meeting of Shareholders on April 12, 2019, starting at 15.00 hrs. at the Bank’s auditorium, 29th-30th floor, Bangkok Bank Building, 333 Silom Road, Silom Sub-district, Bangrak District, Bangkok.

 

Bangkok Bank Executive Vice President Mr. Hiroshi Shimamura (right) signed a business collaboration agreement with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Bangkok President Mr. Hiroki Mitsumata (left) to support and promote business collaboration between Thailand and Japan. The collaboration will support economic and industrial development in Thailand and Japan in four areas, namely investment development, trade development, tourism-related business development, and human resource development worldwide. The agreement also strengthens the good relationship and cooperation between Bangkok Bank and JETRO Bangkok as partners driving trade and investment between Thailand and Japan. Ongoing activities include seminars to share investment information and knowledge, business networking and business-matching, and providing trade and investment advice.

All information is available in Thai only.

Bangkok Bank and GC Marketing Solutions Company Limited (GCM), a company under GC Group, the chemical flagship of PTT Group, have successfully studied and developed trade finance transactions between Thailand and Indonesia on R3’s CORDA Platform using Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), or Enterprise Blockchain. It is the first time in Thailand Letters of Credit (L/C) transactions have been sent using Enterprise Blockchain and Bangkok Bank is the first Thai bank to join the Voltron project, which will revolutionize international trade by cutting processing time and paperwork by more than half.

Bangkok Bank Executive Director, Charamporn Jotikasthira said the Bank is developing innovative services that will support customers in the digital era. It was entrusted by GCM, a company under the GC Group, to revolutionize Letters of Credit, or L/C transactions, using Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), or Enterprise Blockchain, for the first time in Thailand. Previously, L/C transactions required many documents but with Enterprise Blockchain, transactions are quicker, easier and more secure as all processes are transparent and can be verified. This breakthrough has cut processing time and paperwork by more than half, and reconciliation is no longer required as all related parties maintain the same set of data and are updated at the same time about status changes. This will enhance the efficiency of the customer’s business and that of the Bank.

In this study, PT. Bukitmega Masabadi, which is a trade partner of GCM, Indonesia, sent an electronic L/C via Bangkok Bank’s Indonesia branch to Bangkok Bank Thailand, to request export products as agreed in the L/C, effectively launching a new era for international trade services using Enterprise Blockchain. The Bank will continue to develop more innovative trade services so that customers can have sustainable success in the digital era. This reflects the Bank’s commitment to continually develop its services as a trusted partner and an international trade expert that can support customers’ success in global trade now and in the future.

Narongchai Pisutpunya, President of GC Marketing Solutions Company Limited, said “GCM has collaborated with Bangkok Bank to develop L/C transactions using Enterprise Blockchain between GCM in Thailand and our business partner, PT. Bukitmega Masabadi, in Indonesia. This breakthrough in the use of Distributed Ledger Technology will revolutionize international trade finance transactions through providing trade network integration and sharing trusted information on a single platform.” The traditional L/C process requires manual document validation and visibility and any incorrect information on the L/C needs to be amended which is costly and delays export.

“The Voltron solution provides synchronized data updates across parties, we can verify information before issuing the L/C and any changes can be seen simultaneously. Real-time information sharing on the Blockchain trade network enables GCM to shorten export delivery time for our customers and reduces fraud risk which is beneficial for our business. This service innovation reflects GCM’s mission to deliver business solutions that exceed expectations and support the business success of our clients,” Narongchai said.

Bangkok Bank is the first bank in Thailand to join R3’s Voltron project to develop L/C services using Enterprise Blockchain and it has been a member of the project since the beginning. Bangkok Bank’s international network covering major economies around the globe, especially in Asia and ASEAN, can help link the international trade networks of the participating banks in the Voltron project to cover all major regions of the world, including Asia. This will encourage customers in the import and export business to use Enterprise Blockchain to reach markets around the world.

 

Bangkok Bank Director and Executive Vice President Dr. Thaweelap Rittapirom (3rd from left), Executive Vice Presidents Chonganan Anantasak (left) and Pochanee Kongkalai (2nd from left) welcomed Deputy Minister of Finance Wisudhi Srisuphan (3rd from right), Money Expo and Head Organizer Santi Viriyarungsarit (2nd from right) and Khon Kaen Governor Dr. Somsak Jungtrakoon (right) when they visited the bank’s booth at the event. The bank showcased its ‘Wealth Solution’, a financial advisory service to grow wealth and offered a special promotion from BeSure QR with a beverage for only one baht for a QR Code payment from a leading café in Khon Kaen. Under the concept of ‘Bangkok Bank – Your Digital Life Partner’, the Bank’s booth offered a full range of technology-driven financial products and services to meet the needs of customers from all walks of life and also had a special zone featuring a health check station and e-Donation service from February 8-10, 2019 at the Khonkaen International Convention and Exhibition Center (KICE).

 

Bangkok Bank Senior Executive Vice President Kanit Si, Senior Vice President - Corporate Banking Siriwan Surakomol and Vice President - Corporate Finance Department Suwanna Wongsawatpaisarn, on behalf of the Bank, received awards from The Asset, a leading Asian financial magazine. The Bank received six awards, namely 1) Best Cross-Border Financing (Cambodia) for USD 56 million long-term loan and working capital facilities for Royal Residence Hotels and Resorts Company 2) Best Corporate Bond (Thailand) for Thai Beverage 77 billion baht multi-tranche senior unsecured debentures 3) Best Corporate Bond (LAO PDR) for EDL-Generation Public Company 13.66 billion baht bond offering and 4) Best Bond (LAO PDR) for Ministry of Finance of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic 14 billion baht senior and unsecured debentures 5) Best Follow-on Offering (Thailand) for Digital Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund USD 1.7 billion rights offering and primary placement and 6) Best FIG Bond (Thailand) for Bangkok Bank USD 1.2 billion senior unsecured notes.

Bangkok Bank offers a 9-month fixed deposit with an interest rate of 1.625% per annum. An interest rate of 1.375% and 1.250% per annum is offered for 7-month and 4-month fixed deposits respectively. This offer aims to increase returns to the public, especially consumers, in line with the government’s policy and support the Thai economy to achieve its goal.

Bangkok Bank Director and Executive Vice President Thaweelap Rittapirom disclosed the Bank reviewed fixed deposit interest rates for consumers for a four month term at 1.250% per annum, seven month term at 1.375% per annum and nine month term at 1.625% per annum. Deposits can be made today.

The interest rates offered for these terms are higher than regular fixed deposit terms of three, six and twelve months. This is to increase returns to people, especially consumers, in line with the government’s policy and support the Thai economy to achieve its goal.

 

Dear Customers using Cheque Services,

As at present, cheque fraud cases are quite prevalent in Thailand resulting in losses to customers as well as banks. In order to prevent such risk, cheque users are requested to exercise prudence when issuing cheques by avoiding making any changes/corrections on the cheques. Effective from February 1, 2019 onwards, altered cheques must be deposited at the respective issuing banks only.

Recommendations in Using Cheques

Cheque Payer

1. Exercise carefulness in writing cheque without altering any messages/figures on the cheque in order to prevent fraudulent cheque alterations.
2. Keep cheques in a safe place and notify the bank immediately upon losing any cheques.

Cheque Holder

1. Examine the cheque each time upon receiving it and do not accept any cheques with altered messages/figures.
2. In the case of having accepted a cheque with altered messages/figures, ask the cheque payer to issue a new cheque or cash the cheque only at the issuing bank.
3. Avoid folding cheques or causing any damages to cheques as it would render the cheques ineligible for collection process.
4. Should there be any question regarding returned cheque, please contact issuing bank’s branch.

 

Bangkok Bank Executive Vice Presidents Pornnit Dunnvatanachit, Kukkong Ruckphaopunt and Senior Vice President and Trade Finance Center Manager Kajohnsak Manaviriyakul welcomed R3 members who joined a Voltron project workshop, the first to be held in Thailand. Bangkok Bank is the first and only Thai bank to work with R3 to develop Letters of Credit (L/C) using Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), or Enterprise Blockchain. L/C is an important financial service in international trade and the Voltron project is supported by leading global banks in trade services, including Bangkok Bank which has an international network covering major global economies. This will help Voltron’s trade services network to reach all major regions in the world.