Finance
Thailand finance guide—economy updates, banking, taxes, and smart money management. Stay informed on financial trends, investment insights, and practical tips for navigating Thailand’s financial landscape.
-
Sponsored 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
-
Alarming financial inequality in Thailand
Recent data from the Bank of Thailand reveals a concerning financial disparity: approximately 89% of the nation’s bank deposit accounts contain less than 50,000 baht. This statistic underscores the fragile economic state of a significant portion of the Thai population, many of whom rely on daily wages and lack sufficient savings to withstand unforeseen financial challenges. The financial inequality in…
-
Why it’s so hard to open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa
For many foreigners considering long-term residence in Thailand, one of the first bureaucratic barriers they encounter is the challenge of opening a Thai bank account. This seemingly straightforward step becomes a complicated puzzle for those arriving on a tourist visa or visa exemption. Ironically, the very thing required to secure a long-term stay, a Thai bank account with sufficient funds,…
-
Hotel gold rush cools this year, but green deals heat up
After a blockbuster year for Thailand’s hotel market in 2024, the pace of property deals is beginning to cool, but savvy investors are turning their eyes to greener pastures. According to global real estate firm JLL, Thailand’s hotel transaction market in 2025 is undergoing a “normalisation” phase, with activity returning to sustainable levels. Following a record-breaking 22 billion baht in hotel…
-
TrustFinance: Powering finance businesses worldwide through trust
In the highly competitive and regulation-focused financial industry, trust is not just a value, it is a vital asset. Recognising this need, TrustFinance, a Singapore-based platform tailored specifically for financial businesses, has expanded its global suite of B2B services. These services are designed to support brokers, fintech platforms, investment firms, and other financial service providers in establishing and communicating trust…
-
TrustFinance Business 2025: A day of growth, trust, and collaboration
TrustFinance successfully hosted TrustFinance Business 2025 at Gaysorn Urban Resort in Bangkok on May 9. The event welcomed over 10 leading brokers, fintech innovators, service providers, and financial media partners for a full-day summit focused on growth, collaboration, and trust-building across the financial ecosystem. The event featured a powerful mix of keynote insights, live product showcases, high-impact business matching, and…
-
Baht out of luck: Thai currency slips as greenback flexes muscle
The Thai baht is wobbling once again, with currency watchers bracing for a further slide this week as the mighty US dollar gathers steam following a temporary pause in the US-China tariff war. Analysts say the baht could weaken to as low as 33.80 per dollar in the coming days, as uncertainty lingers despite a fleeting boost in global market…
-
Navigating high inflation & slow growth: How ECB policy shapes the eurozone’s timid progress
So far, 2025 has proven to be the year of reckoning for the eurozone economy, caught in the crosshairs of high inflation and sluggish growth. In a delicate balancing act, the ECB (European Central Bank) changed course with consecutive interest rate cuts this year, following aggressive monetary policy tightening during the 2022 to 2024 high-inflation period. Coming up are market…
-
Bitcoin tipped to smash US$100k as crypto bulls charge ahead
Bitcoin is gearing up for a six-figure breakout, with crypto watchers boldly predicting the world’s biggest digital coin could hit a jaw-dropping US$100,000, even as the US central bank holds fire on interest rate cuts. Despite the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) likely keeping rates steady this week, optimism is soaring among investors, thanks to heavyweight institutions snapping up spot…
-
Rate expectations: BoT tipped to slash interest rates
Thailand’s top bankers are bracing for a financial shake-up, with the central bank set to cut interest rates this week as economic headwinds from abroad leave growth floundering. The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is widely expected to trim its key policy rate by 0.25 percentage points tomorrow, April 30, as the kingdom battles a growing storm of economic setbacks. Kasikorn…
-
Thailand scraps mandatory scout uniforms, ease parents’ burden
Parents across Thailand are breathing a collective sigh of relief as the Ministry of Education announces a major change in school regulations. The compulsory wearing of full scout uniforms will be scrapped, offering much-needed financial respite to families as the new school term approaches. Deputy Education Minister Surasak Phancharoenworrakul made the announcement during a meeting with senior officials today, April…
-
Finance Ministry confirms 10,000 baht digital currency distribution
The Finance Ministry has confirmed the distribution of 10,000 baht in digital currency for phase three during the second quarter. The application is ready, with only integration with banks remaining. The release date for phase four has also been announced. Deputy Finance Minister Chulapan Amornvivat yesterday, April 22, stated that the ministry remains committed to its schedule for the economic…
-
World Bank backs Thailand’s retirement lottery to boost savings
Thailand’s retirement lottery has received international acclaim, with the World Bank calling it a “remarkable innovation” for boosting retirement savings. The scheme, which cleverly combines the public’s love for gambling with the need for financial security, has sparked significant interest at the World Bank-International Monetary Fund (WB-IMF) Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. The World Bank has expressed strong interest in…
-
Phuket hospital seeks donations to build operating rooms
A Phuket hospital is making a desperate plea for public donations to build its own operating rooms, after receiving woefully insufficient funding from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). Chalong Hospital, which serves more than 160,000 patients a year across the Rawai, Karon and Chalong areas, is in urgent need of six modern operating theatres — but only has a…
-
EC Markets consolidates its global footprint with strategic expansions
EC Markets continues to reaffirm its commitment to the global financial arena, demonstrating a determination both in expansion and the further consolidation of its presence across the markets of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This determination, coupled with expertise, innovation, and most notably a respect for the diversity and unique characteristics of regional markets, is underscored by the firm’s recent,…
-
Bank of Thailand seeks new governor as Sethaput’s term ends
The Ministry of Finance has initiated the process to select a new governor for the Bank of Thailand (BoT), as Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput’s five-year term concludes on September 30. A selection committee, led by former Finance Permanent Secretary Sathit Limpongpan, will soon convene to establish candidate requirements and the application timeline, according to ministry spokesperson Pornchai Thiraveja. Under Thai law, the…
-
Baht to the future: Thai currency eyes 33 mark as dollar dives
The Thai baht is flexing its muscles on the global stage, with experts predicting it may surge past the symbolic 33-per-dollar mark in the second quarter, fuelled by trade tensions, a faltering US economy, and sky-high gold prices. According to Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research), the baht has climbed to a six-month high, riding the wave of a weakening US dollar…
-
Thailand student loan defaulters face 3,000 baht salary cuts
Thousands of student loan borrowers are in for a financial shock as the Student Loan Fund (SLF) prepares to slash an extra 3,000 baht from monthly salaries — and it’s all starting this month. The move has sparked a storm of confusion and concern among debtors, many of whom claim they’ve been making payments regularly. But according to the SLF,…
-
Q2 2025: Through the looking glass
Q2 of 2025 begins under the shadow of sharp rotations in capital, increased political risk, and growing market segmentation. While US equities and cryptocurrencies struggled in Q1, European stocks, gold, and the yen emerged as havens. Traders now face an increasingly complex global environment marked by softening US growth, surging European confidence, and persistent uncertainty over monetary policy direction. Exness’…
-
FXGT supports earthquake relief efforts in Bangkok and Myanmar
FXGT.com has announced its commitment to supporting relief efforts following the devastating earthquake that recently struck Myanmar and Bangkok. The company has donated to Bangkok Community Help Foundation, an organisation actively providing critical aid to those affected by the disaster. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 28 and has left many communities in dire need of…
-
BoT launches debt relief and fraud crackdown in Phuket
To ease the financial burden on struggling debtors and combat rampant financial fraud, the Bank of Thailand’s Southern Office unveiled a new initiative in Phuket yesterday, April 3. The You Fight, We Help programme aims to provide critical support for citizens and small businesses facing financial difficulties while also tackling the growing issue of financial crime. Thatlap Paoleuangthong, Senior Director…
-
Trump’s 36% tax on Thailand: Impact on exports & survival tips
The America First policy under President Donald Trump has sent shockwaves through the global economy once again. This follows the announcement of a baseline tariff of 10% on imports from all countries, along with a reciprocal tariff aimed at countries with which the US has a large trade deficit. With this, Thailand has been hit with a 36% tax from Trump’s new…
-
Could bitcoin serve as a hedge against US Tariffs?
If you hold a certain amount of bitcoin or whether you’re planning to buy some soon, you must be wondering what impact the US tariffs have on the coveted crypto’s price. A market analysis by Inky Cho, Financial Markets Strategist at Exness, considers that the return of President Donald Trump to the White House arguably to mark the most schismatic…
-
Krungthai Bank reveals quick way to spot fake transfers
Think you’ve been paid? Better check again. Krungthai Bank is warning customers to double-check their transfer slips, revealing a dead-easy way to tell if that proof of payment is legit, or a scam. In a post made yesterday, March 28, via its official Facebook page, Krungthai Care, the bank urged customers to learn how to spot fake transfer slips to…
-
Digital money registration opens for those sans smartphones
The latest update on the economic stimulus programme reveals that those without smartphones can register for the 10,000 baht digital money initiative. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavachira stated that the Ministry of Finance is tasked with determining a suitable registration period for these citizens. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat highlighted that the registration process for those without…
-
Thai stock index jumps as gold hits record high amid Fed rate plans
In a striking turn for the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), the index surged for the third consecutive day, momentarily cracking the 1,200-point mark yesterday, as gold prices soared to record highs. This rally followed the Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain interest rates at 4.25-4.50%, as anticipated. Rakpong Charoenpong, Senior Vice President at KGI Securities (Thailand), attributed the buoyant market…
-
Why trading execution is everything in trading
Having a strong trading strategy is essential, but even the best strategy is meaningless without precise execution. In trading, timing is everything—prices fluctuate by the second, and even the smallest delay in execution can lead to missed opportunities or unexpected losses. A trader’s success depends not only on their analytical skills but also on the efficiency of their trading execution…
-
EC Markets strengthens its position in Asia’s financial landscape
In the dynamic milieu of Asian finance, EC Markets continues to fortify its standing as a prominent player in the region’s financial landscape, leveraging its well-established presence across pivotal economic centres. With robust operations already in place, the company is now intensifying its efforts in high-potential markets such as Japan, Malaysia, India, and Thailand. This strategic move aligns with Asia’s…
-
New 100 baht note marks Finance Ministry’s 150th anniversary
The Ministry of Finance announced the release of a commemorative 100 baht banknote to mark its 150th anniversary. The note, which can legally be used for transactions, will be issued on April 14. The announcement was published on the Royal Gazette’s website, detailing the characteristics, colour, and size of the commemorative note. Signed by Pichai Chunhavajira, the finance minister, the…
-
Trump card: Bitcoin booms as Donnie deals in digital dollars
Bitcoin nosedived back into the spotlight with a jaw-dropping surge of over 20% yesterday, accompanied by a thrilling rally in various cryptocurrencies. The electrifying leap followed US President Donald Trump’s bombshell announcement about a proposed strategic US reserve replete with an enticing collection of digital tokens. In a candid post on Truth Social, Trump unveiled his plan for a January…
-
EC Markets renews strategic partnership with world’s leading snooker player Judd Trump
EC Markets, a globally renowned multi-regulated CFD trading firm, is proud to announce the renewal of its exclusive FX partnership with Judd Trump, the preeminent figure in the world of snooker. This strategic collaboration underscores EC Markets’ steadfast commitment to excellence, innovation, and global expansion, aligning its brand with one of the most celebrated and influential athletes in contemporary sports.…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.