BOT Slashes Rate to 1%, Deploys 18 Measures for Debt, SMEs
The user wants a short summary of the article about the Bank of Thailand cutting rates and deploying measures. I need to write 1-2 sentences, 120-220 characters, max 240. English only. No filler. Lead with what happened, then one key detail
The Bank of Thailand is pursuing an economic recovery strategy while maintaining macro-financial stability, its core mandate, through accommodative monetary policy and targeted measures to address structural problems. Over the past year, the central bank cut the policy rate twice from 1.50% to 1.00%, proactively managed the exchange rate to reduce volatility, and introduced 18 measures under four priorities: resolving household debt, expanding SME credit access, ensuring fairness in financial services, and curbing money laundering and corruption through the financial system.
On household debt, the "Settle Debt, Move Forward" program, run with Sukhumvit Asset Management (SAM), has helped over 182,000 non-performing retail accounts against a 200,000 target for this year. Keeping the minimum credit card repayment at 8% has preserved liquidity for about 2 million accounts. For SMEs, the "SMEs Credit Boost" credit-risk guarantee facility has already disbursed over 80 billion baht, meeting its target, while "SMEs Secure Plus" allows financial institutions to consider collateral beyond cash flow to bolster entrepreneur liquidity.
Additionally, the BOT cut fees on 19 financial services covering deposits, electronic cards, payments, and SME loans, reducing costs for retail customers and SMEs by a combined 8 billion baht annually.
On anti-money laundering, regulations on cash withdrawals of 5 million baht or more have slashed withdrawal values by over 57% compared to January 2026. Requiring gold shops to report physical gold withdrawals of 2 kilograms or more per day cut such transactions by over 85% in the same period. The BOT also developed a Framework for Safeguarding the Financial Sector from Illicit Activities and advanced the Bangkok Blueprint with the IMF and World Bank Group at the 2026 Annual Meetings.
Next, the BOT is preparing five more measures for consultation from November 2026 to March 2027: regulating cash gold trades above 10 million baht, overseeing Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) businesses, reducing credit bureau inquiry fees, regulating asset-backed THB stablecoins, and upgrading foreign exchange (money changer) businesses. Meanwhile, an "SMEs Credit Portal" launching in January 2027 will serve as a central platform connecting entrepreneurs with lenders. For 2027, the BOT will focus on three main pillars: household debt resolution, ...
