Kiatnakin Bank shifts loan strategy as virus takes business toll
Kiatnakin Bank (KKP) is cutting the number of unsecured loans it grants so as to reduce risks from the economic slowdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
CEO Aphinant Klewpatinond said the bank was more able to control risks from secured loans than from unsecured ones.
"About 3 per cent of our customers have unsecured loans and some have taken up the offer to suspend their repayments. Our focus on granting more secured loans should see the proportion of unsecured loans decrease automatically," he said.
However, he said granting secured loans was not without risk amid high volatility in the economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have to consider granting loans carefully because it won’t be worth it if [debt defaults] lead to collateral seizures and an oversupply of collateral assets that results in their value dropping," he said.
"We will consider borrowers' means, such as their income. If their business has risks, we may have to reduce their loan."
He added that the bank has changed strategy to attract more customers with stronger dependability by, for instance, granting loans for buying cars that are popular in the market.
"This is not a time to cut interest to win the competition with other banks, because there are lots of risks at present," he said.
"The bank will consider adjusting interest in line with the market,” he added."
