Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Akniti Nitithanprapas has listened to merchants' feedback and plans to extend the 'Thai Chuey Thai Plus' program by another 1-2 months. He also announced the upcoming launch of the 'AI Nok Kasip Loan' to address informal debt, highlighting features such as credit limits up to 3 million baht, low interest rates, no fees, and no collateral requirements.
On 10 September 2026 GMT+7, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Akniti Nitithanprapas revealed after the launch event of the 'AI Nok Kasip Loan' and visits to Nok Kasip-affiliated stores that feedback from market surveys showed that most merchants want the government to extend the 'Thai Chuey Thai Plus' program by about 1-2 months. He said the matter is being urgently considered and confirmed that sufficient funds remain to continue the program.
A key factor for considering the program's extension is the global energy crisis and rising oil prices, aimed at reducing citizens' living costs. A decision on the extension and possible adjustments to the cost-sharing ratio is expected within 2-3 weeks. Currently, the 'Thai Chuey Thai Plus' program has around 40 million users, including 26 million general users and 13 million state welfare cardholders. Over 1.2 million small retailers nationwide participate, circulating more than 150 billion baht in the economy, with about 16-17% of funds concentrated in Bangkok and the rest spreading to regions across the country.
The launch of the 'AI Nok Kasip Loan' today is an extension of the 'Thai Chuey Thai Plus' project to enhance support for small entrepreneurs. 'Nok Kasip' is an AI smart assistant offered free on the 'Tung Ngern' application, which analyzes sales data, indicates peak sales days, and assesses raw material costs to help stores plan cheaper purchases and increase profits. Even after the 'Thai Chuey Thai Plus' program ends, the Nok Kasip function will remain available as long as merchants continue using the Tung Ngern app.
Deputy Prime Minister Akniti emphasized that an important goal of the Nok Kasip function is to solve small merchants' difficulties accessing finance, who have traditionally relied on informal loans. The AI Nok Kasip will summarize account income as evidence for banks to consider loans directly via mobile phones, without collateral, complicated documents, or branch visits.
"We want the 'Thai Chuey Thai Plus' project to help small Thai merchants access loans more easily. From now on, those seeking credit won’t need to look for loan ads on utility poles; they can apply directly through the app. We ask for cooperation in encouraging shops to use AI Nok Kasip so merchants can improve sales, increase wealth, and have opportunities to expand their businesses," he said.
Mr. Phayong Sriwanich, President of Krung Thai Bank, spoke about the Nok Kasip loans for Tung Ngern stores, stating the bank offers loans for entrepreneurs in wholesale, retail, services, and online stores, comprising two programs with no loan application fees: the Small SME Loan for stores using AI Nok Kasip on the Tung Ngern app, with credit up to 3 million baht per applicant and interest starting at 3.5% per annum fixed for the first two years; and the 'Sib Muen' loan offering up to 500,000 baht per applicant with interest starting at 11% per annum and monthly installments starting at 500 baht.
Meanwhile, Mr. Songpon Chewapanyarot, Director of Government Savings Bank, announced the 'GSB QR Maha Heng x Nok Kasip' loan for small entrepreneurs using the Tung Ngern app. This loan uses sales and QR payment history data combined with behavioral data and the bank’s credit evaluation system, offering up to 50,000 baht per applicant at a fixed 0.75% monthly interest, with no collateral or application fees.
Mr. Sitthikorn Direksuntorn, Board Member and General Manager of the Small Industry Credit Guarantee Corporation (SICGC), said the SICGC supports merchants, small entrepreneurs, and SMEs lacking collateral or guarantors to access loans more easily through two main guarantee programs: Nano Plus and Credit Plus. Guarantee amounts range from 5,000 baht to 100 million baht per applicant, with a guarantee fee starting at 1% per year, and waivers on guarantee processing fees and issuance fees to reduce loan access costs.
Additionally, Mr. Winit Wisetsuwanphum, Director of the Fiscal Policy Office and spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, added that the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), the Islamic Bank of Thailand, and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME D Bank) also participate in offering credit products under the 'AI Nok Kasip Loan' project to comprehensively support entrepreneurs’ needs for working capital, liquidity, and business expansion in each sector.