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Published on September 25, 2007

The bank has spent about Bt1.4 billion on its new core banking systems and making up its new image, president Khan Prachuabmoh said yesterday at an event marking the bank's 54th anniversary.

He said the bank would be able to exceed its current level of new loans, worth more than Bt100 billion a year, with fewer new staff.

He said a new "information backbone" would enable GH Bank to serve its clients better. Loan approvals for each client will be made within a week and in accordance with the same standards, he said. Applications will be assessed for approval by a credit-processing centre at bank headquarters. Branch managers, freed from the task of approving loans, will have more time to serve customers and sell financial products, Khan said.

Information technology (IT) will allow bank staff to know borrowers better and offer new products and services.

"A modern IT system will support us in the expansion of our business and emphasise the quality of lending, in order to prevent us overshooting on non-performing loans," he said.

GH Bank plans to launch a series of five advertisements informing customers of its new corporate identity. Its logo with two hands holding a home is being retained but has been made more eye-catching. The bank will also change the uniforms of its 2,100 staff.

Khan said the bank had to change itself in order to compete.

"There is KBank, so now we're GH Bank," he said.

He predicts the bank's lending this year will total about Bt95 billion, lower than its recent average of Bt100 billion. However, the housing market may be better next year if the newly elected government injects more funds into the economy and more projects are launched to support "the grass roots".

Wichit Chaitrong,

The Nation