Thai banks hit $0.38t loan book as profit falls 2.2%

Krung Thai Bank held the largest portfolio at THB2.80t after a 4.2% yearly increase.

Loan books at seven Thai banks covered by UOB Kay Hian rose to $0.38t (THB12.18t) in the first quarter of 2026, up 1.2% from the previous quarter and 0.3% from a year earlier.

The figures show a split in lending exposure. Bangkok Bank had the highest corporate loan share, with corporate loans accounting for 49% of its portfolio.

Kasikornbank followed at 41%, SCB at 39%, TMBThanachart at 30%, TISCO at 26%, Krung Thai Bank at 23% and Kiatnakin Phatra at 14%.

Retail lending was highest at TISCO, where retail loans made up 69% of its loan book. TMBThanachart followed at 63%, Kiatnakin Phatra at 57%, SCB at 46% and Krung Thai Bank at 45%.

Kasikornbank’s retail share was 31%, while Bangkok Bank had the lowest retail exposure at 12%.

Small and medium-sized enterprise loans were led by Kasikornbank at 24% of its loan book. Bangkok Bank had 16%, SCB 15%, Kiatnakin Phatra 13%, Krung Thai Bank 10%, TMBThanachart 7% and TISCO 6%.

Krung Thai Bank had the largest loan book among the group at $0.09t (THB2.80t), up 2.3% from the previous quarter and 4.2% from a year earlier.

Bangkok Bank’s loans stood at $0.08t (THB2.68t), up 2.0% from the previous quarter but down 2.3% year on year.

Kasikornbank’s loans were $0.08t (THB2.47t), down 1.1% from the previous quarter but up 0.7% from a year earlier. SCB’s loans rose 3.3% from the previous quarter to $0.08t (THB2.46t).

UOB Kay Hian said Bangkok Bank’s loan growth in the quarter came mainly from corporate loans.

The report also said banks were becoming more selective in lending, with more focus on stronger corporate borrowers and asset quality rather than faster loan growth.

The banks reported a combined net profit of $1.8b (THB57.15b) for the first quarter, down 2.2% from a year earlier but up 20.0% from the previous quarter.

The result was above both UOB Kay Hian’s and the market forecasts.