Thailand

A person familiar with the deal said Thanachart offered $984.3 million for the SCIB's 47.6 percent stake.

Lenders still eager to acquire 47.6 percent stake in Siam City after three other bidders quit.

Krung Thai Bank has developed electronic money transfer innovation for payment of goods. 

HSBC and KDB compete to seize the chance of extending operations in the under-banked country.

Mr Mark Arnold succeeds Bank of Ayudhya's former President and CEO, Mr Tan Kong Khoon. He had announced his wish to step down from his role on 31 December 2009 as his term expires early 2010.

Lender's optimism extends to its expansion plans and growth in consumer loans.

SCB reported a 2009 net profit of US$630.6 million--almost at par with the record high set in 2008. In addition, the Bank reported a resumption of loan growth at 2.5 percent, significantly higher fee income at 10.9 percent.

Bank wants its new shareholder to help fortify operations and to revise bank's 2010 core business plan.

Bangkok Bank increased its net profit in 2009 by 0.02 percent to US$606 million.  Profit before provisioning and tax amounted to US$1.085 billion, 0.7 percent higher than 2008.

9.5 percent increase is eyed to get rosier this year due to stimulus package.

Lender targets profiting from Chinese small and medium enterprises as it ventures in the country.

Expected increase in small-sized loans prompts bank to focus on SME loans in 2010.

Maybank is targeting a turnaround in the second year of operation for its new Toul Kork branch.

Chakramon Phasukvanich takes over from Dato’ Robert Cheim Dau Meng as Chairman of the Board of Directors of CIMB Thai with effect from 1 January 2010.

Intensified lending to small and medium businesses and economic rebound give Bangkok Bank reason to cheer.

Siam Commercial Bank has maintained its strong financial profile despite political unrest and export contraction that has hit the Thai economy. This is according to Standard & Poor's credit analyst Geeta Chugh, who added that SCB's financial profile remains the strongest among its domestic peers. The bank's business profile also strengthened with about a 15 percent market share of deposits.