Kasikornbank is expanding its financial delivery services to larger-value products such as long-term equity and retirement mutual funds. The bank currently offers delivery services for mortgage loans and its K-We Plan financial planning service. Under the programme, bank staff will visit clients at their offices or homes to promote services.

Kasikornbank is expanding its collaboration with China Minshen Banking Corporation (CMBC) to increase its Chinese loan portfolio. The two financial institutions yesterday signed an agreement on business co-operation by merging networks to allow cross-border financial services among the two banks. Both parties want lending of 6 billion baht this year to Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises. KBank chief executive officer Banthoon Lamsam said its loan portfolio under the joint credit provided for China’s SMEs measured around Bt900m.

Bank interest rates could increase by 0.75 percentage points throughout next year as central bank rates will rise as the economy improves, says Kasikornbank president Prasarn Trairatvorakul. The Bank of Thailand is expected to increase its benchmark one-day repurchase rate by 50 to 75 basis points (hundredths of a percentage point) over the year in response to mild inflationary pressure and a weak economic recovery.