In the primary quarter of this 12 months, non-performing mortgage loans (NPLs) experienced a rise due to rising rates of interest, prompting the Bank of Thailand (BoT) to encourage banks to assist debtors via debt restructuring.
The central bank recently revealed a housing mortgage NPL ratio of 3.16% within the commercial banking system, up from three.01% in the previous quarter. The main trigger for this increase is the rise in rates of interest, according to Suwannee Jatsadasak, assistant governor on the BoT.
While banks sometimes keep a buffer to manage increased credit threat from mortgage loans throughout interest rate hikes, this cushion may be inadequate for some borrowers. Consequently, the central financial institution mandates that banks employ pre-emptive measures to assist debtors with debt restructuring. Suwannee said…
“The central financial institution has prolonged long-term debt restructuring measures till the top of this year, offering the opportunity for banks to help customers in easing their monetary burden and controlling NPLs.”
Despite this, she noted that the overall banking system’s NPLs experienced a slight decline in the first quarter of this year, each by way of quantity and ratio. This is attributed to loan portfolio administration through ongoing debt restructuring, write-offs, and sales in both corporate and retail loans.
At the end of March this year, the banking industry’s gross NPLs have been valued at 498 billion baht, corresponding to an NPL ratio of two.68%, down from 2.77% in the identical quarter of 2022.
With GDP progress and NPL containment, the nation’s household debt-to-GDP in the fourth quarter of 2022 stood at 86.9%, a lower from the earlier quarter. However, the family debt ratio stays excessive, and the BoT anticipates a gradual decline by way of comprehensive debt restructuring measures in collaboration with the central bank and other related companies.
Backed out loans (SM) also experienced a slight increase within the first quarter of this 12 months, remaining at roughly 660 billion baht. If financial establishments can control SMs through long-term debt restructuring measures, the banking sector’s NPLs is also managed.
The modest improve in SMs and NPLs is small compared to the significant rise in NPLs through the pandemic. Furthermore, NPLs within the banking sector have already reached their peak, however each the BoT and financial institutions should continue to observe the situation and make use of pre-emptive measures when adverse signs emerge, according to Suwannee.
She added that the variety of borrowers affected by the pandemic and participating in monetary institutions’ debt assistance programmes has been reducing. However, vulnerable segments, similar to non-bank prospects, still require assistance..