BANGKOK, Thailand – The government has reported progress in reducing the burden of informal debt, with more than 86,000 citizens assisted through official loan programs since late 2023. Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Watthanachan said that between December 1, 2023, and August 14, 2025, a total of 86,657 people received support worth 2.61 billion baht. Compared with July, the number of beneficiaries rose by 1,195, with an additional 30.18 million baht disbursed.
The Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the Government Savings Bank (GSB) and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), has introduced several credit options to help citizens transition away from high-interest informal loans. These include the People’s Bank Loan, the Loan for Repayment of Informal Debt, the Revolving Fund for Farmer Assistance, the Loan for Job Creation and Occupation Development, and the Loan for Credit and Opportunity Building.
Pico Finance has also expanded as a legal lending alternative with fairer interest rates. At present, 1,158 licensed operators are active in 75 provinces. As of June 2025, the program had approved more than 5.22 million accounts with a combined loan value of over 52 billion baht. Around 380,000 accounts remain active with an outstanding balance of 7.5 billion baht.
To improve transparency, citizens can access a full list of licensed lenders at www.1359.go.th. Assistance and complaint channels are available through the GSB, BAAC, and the Bureau of Financial System Development Policy via official hotlines. Sasikarn said addressing informal debt remains a central government effort to curb exploitative lending and create more stable financial opportunities for citizens nationwide. (NNT)
