TTB Bank is overhauling its vehicle mortgage lending standards by replacing vehicle age with credit scores as the primary factor in determining interest rates. According to TTB Bank CEO Thakorn Piyaphan, the bank is implementing risk-based pricing principles through its new "TTB Drive" product for vehicle pledges without title transfer. The new system uses credit scores from the National Credit Bureau (NCB) instead of vehicle age to set rates, allowing borrowers with strong repayment histories to access rates starting at just 11.11% per year, or 0.52% monthly.

The initiative, called the "Good Payer Credit" program, aims to encourage financial discipline by rewarding responsible borrowers with better rates. Previously, TTB applied this approach to personal loans through its "TTB CashTuGo" product and found that over 80% of customers received approval at rates averaging 5% lower than the old standard, benefiting more than 28,600 customers with 5 billion baht in total lending and saving them around 800 million baht over the life of their loans.

The vehicle mortgage market, which includes over 5 million registered vehicles in the system, has traditionally relied on vehicle age for pricing, sometimes resulting in rates as high as 24% annually even for borrowers with excellent payment records. TTB Bank data shows that approximately 77% of customers in this market maintain on-time payment histories and should qualify for lower rates reflecting their actual financial behavior. The new product accepts vehicles up to 20 years old, supports both debt-free vehicles and refinancing from other institutions, and uses fixed rates throughout the loan term.

TTB Bank targets disbursing 5 billion baht through this product to 14,000 borrowers between August and December 2024, expecting to generate total interest savings of approximately 1 billion baht for customers over the life of their loans. The bank is also launching a campaign called "Good Payer Credit—TTB Credit" with the messaging "Pay well, get a better rate than before," covering four types of loans including the new vehicle product, personal loans, home refinancing, and home equity refinancing. An additional promotion called "TTB Privilege—Pay Well, Get Well" offers customers who maintain three consecutive months of on-time payments chances to win gold and other prizes totaling over 600 rewards worth more than 500,000 baht.

This approach aims to shift the mindset from "paying well just maintains your credit" to "paying well earns you real benefits," ensuring financially disciplined borrowers access credit at fair costs aligned with the Bank of Thailand's Responsible Lending guidelines promoting sustainable borrowing and repayment.

Education Minister Prasert Chantarwangtong has dismissed claims of a data breach involving 2.5 million vocational students, stating that the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) database operates under three-layer security protocols that are extremely difficult to hack or breach. Following reports by software experts that the system protecting student records—containing names, national ID numbers, phone numbers, gender, birth dates, nationalities, addresses, and affiliated educational institutions—was secured only with the password "123456," the minister held consultations with OVEC officials and reported no evidence of data leakage.

Prasert emphasized that the system's multi-layered security makes unauthorized access and data extraction extremely difficult. He urged educators, students, and parents to remain confident in the system's integrity and assured the public that no data has been compromised. The minister added that OVEC will issue further clarification and confirmed that the breach allegations will not affect the rollout of the digital student and teacher ID card systems, which remain priority initiatives for the Education Ministry alongside enhanced security protocols.

The Ministry of Public Health, through the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, is positioning Thai wellness expertise and health innovation on the global stage through two landmark 2026 events.

Event 1: National NUAD Thai and Wellness Expo 2026 (August 20–22, 2026) Held at Hall 8 of the Sirikit Convention Centre, this expo will establish the complete Thai massage and wellness value chain under the theme "NUAD Thai Heritage and Wellness to Global Future." It will showcase Thailand's four regional massage identities—Bodhi-Lanna (North), Bodhi-Thosawayon (Central), Bodhi-Onsorn (Northeast), and Bodhi-Taksinah (South)—across nine health zones: NUAD Thai Heritage and Academy, Mind & Spirit Sanctuary, Wellness & Medical Hub Gold Standard Investment, Scent & Essential of Siam, Living Wellness & Workplace, Thai Food Good Health, Innovation Technology & Thai Longevity Lab, Hydro-Heritage & Active Life, and a Central Academic & Experience Sharing Stage featuring global experts.

Event 2: Global Wellness Summit 2026 (November 10–13, 2026) Thailand will serve as co-host with the Global Wellness Summit at Angsana Laguna Phuket, marking a significant milestone for Thai wellness on the global stage. The summit's core concept—"The Science, Art & Soul of Wellness"—will showcase Thailand's medical wellness potential, cultural soft power translated into economic value, and holistic health identity balancing body, mind, and lifestyle. This positioning will attract high-quality investment, international partnerships, and business networks in medical wellness, spas, longevity medicine, and Thai herbal products, while elevating Phuket and the Andaman region as world-class wellness destinations through the Thai Wellness Therapist Program.

PHUKET: Seventeen people, including four crew members, were injured after an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe turbulence during its journey on Tuesday (Aug 4).

Bangkok has ordered 50 high-rise buildings in the capital to remove gardens, trees, and structures blocking emergency fire truck access. Deputy Bangkok Governor Vishnu Srupsompool revealed the directive on August 5 after a consumer advocacy organization highlighted that the buildings may violate building control laws regarding clearance zones around structures designated for fire vehicle access. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has been inspecting and monitoring compliance continuously. When the consumer organization raised concerns, the city immediately conducted follow-up inspections to verify facts and track correction progress. Inspections of the 50 buildings found that most violations stem from unauthorized use of surrounding areas—including tree planting, landscaping, parking, and unauthorized construction—that obstruct fire truck entry during emergencies. Building owners have been ordered to expedite corrections to meet standards. As of the latest report, all 50 buildings have been inspected: 12 have been corrected, 34 are undergoing corrections, and 4 are still under construction. The list includes prominent condominiums such as 28 Chidlom, Ashton Asoke, Chapter Chula-Samyan, Ideo Mix Sukhumvit 103, Life Asoke-Rama 9, Noble Around Ari, Reference Ekkamai, The Strand Thonglor, and Whizdom On The River, among others.