The Bank recognizes the importance of financial literacy as a fundamental knowledge that everyone should have. As a bank, it is our role to help raise awareness and educate people on this topic in order to increase people’s capability to manage their finances and ultimately achieve improved financial well-being.

The Bank is using advanced technology to up-lift banking infrastructure, improve operational efficiency, promote financial inclusion, and improve overall banking service. The Bank promotes Cashless Society and National e-Payment through QR (Quick Response) Code and PromptPay solution through ttb touch and other digital channels.

Since 2017, financial literacy has been identified as one of the key components of sustainability at the Bank. Hence, Financial Literacy Program has been initiated to ensure the effectiveness of the Bank’s strategic focus on building a need-based proposition through advisory services in all customer segments. The program focuses on two areas: building internal competency of basic financial knowledge and understanding and contributing to industry-wide on financial literacy covering 4 main target groups namely employees, customers, community and regulators.

The first phase of the program has been initiated where financial literacy is aimed to build a strong relationship and strong financial competency for our clients. Appropriate activities and engagement approaches have been developed based on an understanding of the target group, different levels of maturity and the ground rule of no commercial ties with cross-sells during engagement with the related parties.

In 2019, another initiative of Financial Literacy Program is a mandatory financial literacy training for new employees. It has become a part of new employees’ orientation at the Bank. At the same time, internal trainings are being developed to increase our employees’ capability on financial literacy knowledge, attitude and behavior. These trainings, for example, e-learning in a format of a short movie with a set of quiz and activities that lead to measurable actions. The Bank believes before the Bank to provide financial services or actively engage with others about financial literacy, our employees must firstly be competent.

In addition, the Bank is a member of Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA), a platform for leading banks in Thailand to collaborate and cooperate with government agencies in formulating and implementing key economic and financial policies. The main objectives of the association are to improve competitiveness of Thai banking industry and to enhance people’s quality of life concerning society’s financial well-being as reflected in its 5-year plan, reflected in 7 strategic tracks as follows:

Digitization of banking and next generation payments infrastructure
Financial inclusion and supporting real economy
Financial Literacy for Thai Society
Industry Code of Conduct
Preparing for AEC and regional integration
Human Capital Development
Legal and regulatory enablement

Though all Association members contribute to all of these 7 tracks, the Bank in particular takes the lead sponsorship role on the track regarding Financial Literacy for Thai Society.

We strongly believe that building knowledge on financial literacy and starting with the right financial habits such as saving, are the first step toward financial well-being. Hence, ttb touch has been upgraded to incorporate the Savings Goal and Savings Alarm features, encouraging and making things easier for our customers to start saving, and thus, creating a good habit.

Financial Literacy Initiatives

Financial Education Project for Military Personnel (FEP-MP since 2017 or ”Jad Karn Ngern Dee She We Me Suk”)
This project is a 5-year collaboration project between the Bank and The Ministry of Defense of Thailand with the objective to increase financial literacy awareness and the importance of personal financial planning and management. The project aims to develop a personal finance curriculum including related active learning approaches and apply in all Military Academies. In addition, the program will be also used to engage with the military personnel of The Ministry of Defense of Thailand. There were over 20,000 military personnel participated.

TBA Financial Literacy Project (Kon Thai Yook Mhai Sai Jai Rueng Ngern)
The Bank, as a leading role, contributes to banking industry through collaboration with 10 TBA members kicked-off TBA Financial Literacy Project, an on-going project since 2018. The participating banks need to recruit and send volunteer trainers for educating university students. This is for building the foundation for financial discipline, financial planning, and anti-corruption spirits among the youth as a part of the solid foundation for economic and social sustainability as well as the improvement of Thai community.

Financial Inclusion

With the rise of digital era, the Bank utilizes advanced technologies to uplift banking infrastructure, improve operational efficiency, and innovate need-based products and services. The Bank aims to provide equal, inclusive, and easy access to financial products and services to all our customers. With the launch of “Digital First” operating model, the Bank puts digital at the center of ttb bank’s omni-channel offerings. Thus, the Bank heavily promotes the use of mobile phone as it provides accessibility and flexibility for all social groups of customers. This also provides financial services to customers who lived in the remoted areas across the country. Below are some of our financial inclusion initiatives.

Financial Inclusion Initiatives

Inclusive banking services for all social group despite disability or differences
The Bank has obtained “TAB Digital Inclusive Award 2018” from Blind Association of Thailand. As the Bank’s mobile banking application is the only inclusive mobile banking application in Thailand that is developed for everyone including the blind. This award was judged by three main criteria - Firstly, it must be an inclusive application that is developed for everyone in the society. Secondly, it must be an application that is not specifically developed for the disabled. Thirdly, it must be an application that the blind can access and use up to 80% of its function performance.

Banking services for all social groups despite geographical distance
The Bank has opened an additional channel for customers to open an online account, do identify verification, make a deposit, and pay bills via Counter Service, a Banking Agent, at all 7Eleven convenient stores, available for 24 hours. This service provides financial services to customers who lived in the remoted areas across the country, making it much more convenient and reducing traveling costs.

Promoting Financial Inclusion
In response to the Bank of Thailand and Thai Bankers’ Association’s master plan promoting financial inclusion, the Bank has introduced two basic accounts; ttb basic account and basic banking account. Both accounts offer a number of benefits. There is no minimum amount required for the account opening, no annual fees, no transactional fees via touch mobile application and ATMs without limited number of times. The target group for ttb basic account is for everyone while the basic banking account is for low income people with government welfare cards and senior citizens over 65 years old.