The Bank of Thailand is expected to introduce standardised banking fees in July 2026 as part of efforts to reduce financial costs for individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The central bank said the reforms are aimed at easing financial burdens on retail customers and businesses while reflecting lower operating costs in the digital banking era.
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Bank of Thailand governor Vitai Ratanakorn said a month-long public consultation on the fee reforms will end on May 10, followed by an official announcement. He said the rollout could begin as early as July or be introduced gradually on a case-by-case basis.
The central bank plans to standardise and reduce 10 to 15 key retail and SME banking fees. Proposed changes include lowering credit card cash withdrawal fees, currently between 2% and 2.5%, and capping account maintenance charges.
Other fees expected to be covered include interprovincial transfer charges, ATM card fees and bank statement fees. For SMEs, front-end fees for new credit lines are expected to be capped at 2.5% for loans of up to 250,000 baht.
Mr Vitai also highlighted weak loan growth in Thailand’s banking sector, saying economic uncertainty and conflicts in the Middle East were affecting the economy. Rising global energy prices linked to the conflict have increased production costs for businesses and weakened household purchasing power through higher living expenses and falling incomes.
The government and the Bank of Thailand have responded with measures aimed at supporting borrower liquidity and encouraging lending. These include a soft loan programme through the Government Savings Bank, along with the SME Credit Boost and SME Secured Plus schemes.
According to Wipawin Promboon, the SME Credit Boost programme reduces credit risks for financial institutions that extend new loans to businesses, particularly SMEs. The initiative is also intended to help firms cope with higher energy costs and encourage investment in energy transition projects to reduce long-term expenses.
Ms Wipawin said the SME Secured Plus scheme gives banks greater flexibility in valuing collateral by considering borrowers’ cash flows alongside pledged assets on a temporary basis. The measure is expected to improve access to credit for SMEs with collateral.
The Bangkokpost reported that the Bank of Thailand said banks facing regulatory or operational constraints in providing additional financial assistance may consult the central bank to develop suitable support measures. Officials said any assistance would need to balance support for debtors with maintaining financial system stability.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Bangkokpost 10 May 2026
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