Thailand

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Siam Commercial Bank remains Thailand’s best bank. In the past 12 months it has grown its asset base and physical network substantially. Assets now total $19.8 billion, making SCB Thailand’s fourth-largest bank. Its branch network has expanded to number 692 locations and 2,800 ATMs. SCB is the number one credit card issuer in Thailand, with 1.44 million cards, and the leading provider of mortgages, with a 30% market share.

SCB has also expanded aggressively into corporate and institutional banking services, including securities, asset management and bancassurance.

Impressively, this ambitious growth has been achieved without sacrificing profitability. Core bank profits grew 29% in fiscal 2005. Net interest margin was 3.6%, return on assets was 2.4% and return on equity an impressive 23%. Although SCB’s non-performing loans ratio appears high at 7.1%, it compares favourably with other local banks and has reduced markedly over the past year.