Thai banks cautiously revive dividends after COVID freeze

Central bank guidelines and lower profits limit returns to shareholders

The combined net profit of Thailand's four major banks in 2020 fell 37% from the previous year to 90.6 billion baht, the lowest in a decade. © Reuters

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writer

March 15, 2021 14:59 JST

BANGKOK -- Large commercial banks in Thailand have decided to distribute final dividends for 2020 in a cautious manner, after declining interim dividends to brace for a financial crunch from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bangkok Bank and Kasikornbank, the country's largest and fourth-largest banks by assets, will pay out 2.5 baht (8 cents) a share. Siam Commercial Bank will give out 2.3 baht per share. Krung Thai Bank has declared a dividend of 0.275 baht.