Kasikornbank is Thailand's fourth largest bank by assets. In 2003, it changed its former English name Thai Farmers Bank to the current name which is the same sound as the Thai name. It has over 1,000 branches nationwide and some overseas branches mainly in China. Eyeing the start of the Asean Economic Community in 2015, it is planning to expand into neighboring Asean countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
The bank was established in 1945 by ethnic Chinese Choti Lamsam as a small bank in Bangkok and went public in 1976. Expansion was backed by a strong customer base of farmers. It has the largest portfolio of loans to small and midsize enterprises among the country's four big banks.
Current Chairman Banthoon Lamsam is the grandson of founder Choti. In 2009, the bank increased its stake in Muang Thai Group Holding, a privately held insurance company that was founded by another member of the Lamsam family, to 51% and is cooperating in sales of insurance at its bank branches.
Business Summary
Kasikornbank Public Co. Ltd. engages in the commercial banking, securities, and other related businesses. It operates through the following segments: Corporate Business, Retail Business, Treasury and Capital Markets Business, Muangthai Group Holding Businesses, and Others. The Corporate Business segment provides financial products and services to the high net worth individuals, government and state enterprises, and financial institutions. The Retail Business segment consists of individual customers who use deposit account, debit and credit card, personal and housing loan, investment product and financial advisory services, and transactional banking services. The Treasury and Capital Markets Business segment comprises of capital markets and treasury business and supervises bank's business in overseas countries. The Muangthai Group Holding Business segment operates life insurance and life brokerage businesses. The Others segment deals with the other items which are not directly attributable to the main business groups. The company was founded by Choti Lamsam on June 8, 1945 and is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.