FILE PHOTO: Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput speaks during his first briefing on the economy and monetary policy after taking office in Bangkok, Thailand October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's central bank has allowed banks to pay interim dividends as lenders are strong with sufficient capital to withstand the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks, the governor said on Thursday.

 

Banks are allowed to pay interim dividends not exceeding last year's dividend payment rates and up to 50% of first-half net profits of 2021, Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput said on a statement.

 

The BOT will monitor the situation and banks' financial assistance for their borrowers before deciding lenders' annual dividend payments for 2021, the statement said.

 

It will also consider whether to allow banks to continue to pay a lowered 0.23% of deposits per annum to the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) after the end of this year.

 

However, banks are not allowed to buy back their shares as well as capital instruments before maturity dates, unless they have plans to replace them, it said.

 

The central bank has also allowed certain smaller firms to delay debt repayments for another six months from June to help them cope with the impact of the country's third and biggest wave of coronavius infections so far.

 

The BOT said it was ready to implement additional measures as necessary.

 

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon; Editing by Martin Petty)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-06-11

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

What else could the Bank of Thailand say . Many loans not being paid yet the comment from BOT is the banks are strong . If they took the cautious approach I dare say there would be a run on the banks and the baht .