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5 State Banks Help Thais Stabilize Finances: Debt Relief, Loan Extensions, Interest Cuts, and Funding to Alleviate Flood Impact

Financial planning27 Sep 2026 13:34 GMT+7

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5 State Banks Help Thais Stabilize Finances: Debt Relief, Loan Extensions, Interest Cuts, and Funding to Alleviate Flood Impact

The severe flooding in Bangkok has led the city to declare 50 districts as disaster areas as of 26 Sep 2023 GMT+7, with normalization expected to take another week or so.

The five state financial institutions (SFIs) have announced assistance measures for customers affected by flooding that damaged homes, businesses, and goods.

Government Savings Bank offers automatic debt moratorium and waives interest for three months.

Songsak Cheevapanyaroj, Director of Government Savings Bank, revealed that the bank has announced a three-month principal payment suspension with zero interest to immediately ease financial burdens, allowing customers time to stabilize and handle urgent matters. Special loan packages are also provided for emergency expenses, home repairs, and business recovery once the situation improves.

The three-month moratorium means all interest accrued during the suspension is waived by the bank; borrowers need not repay it later. The deferred principal payments for three installments will be added to the final payment. After the moratorium ends, borrowers resume repayments under original contract terms. This applies to all loan groups (except some as per conditions*) with residences, occupations, or registered addresses in disaster areas as declared by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

The bank will notify eligible customers via SMS or direct mail. Those who do not wish to participate can contact any Government Savings Bank branch or the GSB Contact Center at 1115 to resume regular payments.

Additionally, the bank offers special loan packages with zero principal and interest payments for the first three months to those needing emergency funds during the crisis, including:

  1. Emergency loans for disaster victims provide up to 20,000 baht per person without collateral. Principal and interest are waived for the first three months; from the fourth month onward, a fixed interest rate (Flat Rate) of 0.60% per month applies, with repayment terms up to 24 months. Applications are accepted at Government Savings Bank branches.
  2. Disaster relief loans offer up to 50,000 baht per person, with zero principal and interest payments for the first three months. From the fourth month, a fixed interest rate of 0.50% per month applies, with repayment up to 60 months.

For recovery phases, borrowers needing to repair business equipment or working capital can apply for micro recovery loans up to 300,000 baht per person. Interest is zero for the first three months; thereafter, an effective annual rate of 15.00% applies, with repayment terms up to 7 years.

For home repair, disaster relief housing loans offer up to 1 million baht per person. Principal and interest are waived for the first three months; from months 4 to 24, interest is 2.00% per year, year 3 is MRR minus 3.35%, and from year 4 onward is MRR minus 0.75% per year (current MRR as of 2 Mar 2026 is 6.045%). The bank also supports appraisal fees up to 3,000 baht.

For SME operators whose businesses were damaged or who must invest in disaster prevention, the bank provides disaster relief SME loans up to 5 million baht per entity. With full guarantee from the SME Development Bank, loans up to 1 million baht are available. Repayment terms can be up to 7 years. Interest rate is MLR minus 2.65% in year one, then MLR from year two onward (current MLR as of 2 Mar 2026 is 6.025%). Principal repayment can be deferred for up to one year, subject to bank conditions.

Government Savings Bank is committed to supporting customers and communities affected by flooding by easing debt burdens during the crisis and supporting recovery of homes, livelihoods, and businesses afterward under its mission as “The Bank for Every Life.” The bank extends its best wishes for safety and resilience to all affected. Details are available at www.gsb.or.th or via GSB Contact Center at 1115.

*Note: The debt moratorium does not cover certain loan types such as large business loans, Happy Life loans, loans for salaried individuals, Soft loans, community organization loans, and state policy loans (PSA). Other conditions apply as specified by the bank.

Government Housing Bank (GHB) launches seven measures to assist flood victims and expedite customer insurance claims via Fast Track.

Dr. Mahattha Amphonpisit, President of Government Housing Bank (GHB), disclosed that as a state financial institution with the mission to “provide housing for Thais,” GHB has implemented seven assistance measures under the “2026 Disaster Relief Program” to alleviate hardship for affected communities, as follows.

Measure 1: Current customers whose collateral is affected by disaster can suspend debt payments for three months,

with zero loan interest and zero monthly payments. For severe damage rendering homes uninhabitable, moratorium extends to six months with zero interest and payments. After the relief period, customers resume previous interest rates. Customers needing funds for home repairs can borrow up to 300,000 baht per person for up to five years. The first 100,000 baht carries a fixed 1% interest rate for three years; the next 200,000 baht carries 1.99% per year. No additional mortgage registration is required. Terms adhere to bank product guidelines for repair loans and repair plus loans.

Measure 2: Current and new customers can apply for additional loans for repair or rebuilding up to 2 million baht per collateral.

Interest rates are 0% for the first three months with no payments; 2.00% per year from months 4 to 24; 3rd year at MRR minus 3.30%; 4th year at MRR minus 2.40%; and from 5th year onward, for retail customers MRR minus 0.50%, for welfare customers MRR minus 1.00%, and for loans to purchase related living equipment, MRR applies (current MRR is 6.145%). Loan term is 40 years. Borrowing 1 million baht results in monthly payments starting at about 3,100 baht. Appraisal fees (1,900–2,800 baht) and mortgage registration fees up to 1% of the mortgage amount are waived to reduce costs. Measure 3: Non-performing loan (NPL) customers with damaged collateral can restructure debt for up to 18 months with zero percent interest for the first six months and no payments. From months 7 to 18, interest is 1.00% per year with monthly payments at least equal to monthly interest. After restructuring, previous interest rates resume.

Measure 4: NPL customers with income loss can restructure debt for up to 12 months with zero interest for six months, paying only 1,000 baht monthly; months 7 to 12 interest is 1.00% per year with monthly payments covering interest plus 100 baht. After the period, previous interest rates resume.

Measure 5: For customers with normal or NPL status who are deceased or permanently disabled, interest rates are set at 0.01% per year for the remaining term, subject to case-by-case review. Measure 6: For customers with normal or NPL status whose homes are completely damaged and irreparable, the bank will waive the debt on the building portion and require payment only for the remaining land portion, subject to case-by-case consideration.

Measure 7: Fast Track insurance claim processing for customers with fire insurance policies covering natural disasters provided through the bank's insurance partners. Claims are expedited for all affected customers; damages can be reported with photos. Payments are made based on actual damage up to 20,000 baht. For policies effective from 1 Nov 2019 onward, additional natural disaster coverage up to 30,000 baht annually is included (terms apply as per policy).

Customers can apply for assistance at any GHB branch nationwide starting now. For more information, contact G H BANK Call Center at 0-2645-9000 or visit GHB's Facebook page and social media channels. Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) offers emergency loans up to 50,000 baht with zero interest for six months.

Chatchai Sirilai, Manager of BAAC, stated that in response to the sudden flooding affecting many areas and damaging residents' livelihoods, BAAC is committed to supporting farmers with low-interest emergency loans to cover urgent expenses, home or agricultural building repairs, tools, machinery, and production recovery from natural disasters. Programs include:

Emergency loan program for natural disaster victims for 2023/24 provides up to 50,000 baht per customer for essential household expenses such as home or farm structure repairs, equipment fixes, or restarting production. Interest is 0% for the first six months, then MRR applies (currently 6.575%).

Recovery and quality of life improvement loan for agricultural customers affected by natural disasters offers up to 500,000 baht per person for building, equipment repairs, or production recovery. Interest rate is MRR minus 2% (currently 6.575%). Repayment terms up to 15 years.

BAAC expresses concern for all affected and urges calm. The bank pledges full support and will conduct damage assessments after the crisis to consider further debt relief. Affected customers can contact their BAAC branch or the Contact Center at 02 555 0555 anytime. SME Development Bank (SME D Bank) offers emergency loans up to 100,000 baht with a 12-month principal moratorium.

  1. Pichit Mitrawong, Managing Director of SME D Bank,
  2. said the bank is deeply concerned for SME customers and entrepreneurs in disaster-declared areas and has launched urgent relief measures to mitigate impact, reduce costs, and help businesses resume operations quickly, including:

Debt principal and interest moratorium for affected bank customers in designated disaster areas, providing up to 12 months suspension for term loans, extending promissory note repayment up to 180 days with interest suspension.

Emergency working capital loans for existing customers directly affected, with loans of 10% of previous credit limits, minimum 30,000 baht, up to 200,000 baht (individuals up to 100,000 baht; legal entities up to 200,000 baht). Interest is MLR per year, loan term 3 years, with 12-month principal moratorium. No collateral required except fees. Documentation processes are streamlined for expedited assistance.

Additional loans are available post-flood for liquidity, investment, and business upgrades with special 3% fixed interest for the first 3 years, repayment up to 10 years, and up to 12 months principal moratorium. Products include: SME Green Productivity loans up to 30 million baht,

  • SME Power-Up loans up to 1 million baht,
  • and Beyond Wings SME loans up to 30 million baht.

These urgent relief measures are voluntary. Entrepreneurs wishing to access them can apply now via SME D Bank branches nationwide, LINE Official Account, or website www.smebank.co.th. More info via Call Center 1357.

  1. EXIM BANK reduces financial burdens and boosts liquidity to keep businesses moving forward.
  2. Chalatch Ratanabunnithi, Managing Director of Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM BANK),
  3. stated that EXIM BANK is accelerating financial relief and liquidity support to customers affected by floods in various regions. The bank evaluates appropriate assistance measures tailored to each customer's difficulties to ensure business continuity.

Measures include debt extensions, bill extensions, interest rate reductions for short- and long-term loan obligations, and liquidity injections with temporary credit increases of 20% at existing interest rates to support working capital.

For further information, contact EXIM Contact Center at 0 2169 9999 or via Facebook Inbox “EXIM Bank of Thailand.”

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