Krungsri President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Noriaki Goto said, "2018 was another year of great achievements for Krungsri with remarkable financial performance. Among them, we have recorded an impressive loan growth that outperformed the industry peers despite a challenging operating environment, while our non-interest income was outstanding in spite of the impacts from the digital fee waiver. Meanwhile, we've made a good progress of our key strategic themes under the current Medium-Term Business Plan. We have been successful in implementing 'Think Digital First' strategy as we adopted robust and smart technologies to digitize our business and operations. To become our customers' main bank, we enhance customer experience toward greater customer engagement. In terms of enhancing retail and commercial banking platform to achieve sustainable growth, we upgraded advisory service quality for retail banking, boosted our digital and innovation capabilities for SMEs, and executed commercial banking transformation. As for 2019, Krungsri is strongly committed to adopting transformation to accelerate digital and innovation execution. We plan to invest in several projects including digital lending platforms, branch transformation and IT infrastructure upgrade, while utilizing multi and omni channels to enhance customer experience."
"On strategies for our customer segments, Krungsri is determined to strengthen our leadership in the market of Japanese corporate and multinational corporate (JPC/MNC) by leveraging the strong JPC/MNC customer base to bring in businesses to other segments. Meanwhile, we aim to provide total financial solutions and fee-based businesses for corporate and investment banking, while continuing to grow assets with a focus on working capital solutions for SME customers.
To maintain our leading position in consumer finance, we aim to enhance digital experiences for customers, employee and society, while improving service quality and speed to attract, retain and upgrade customers in the retail segment." Mr. Goto added.
In 2019, the loans are expected to grow 6-8%, while it targets net interest margin at 3.4-3.6%. The non-interest income is expected to increase around 3-5% and the NPL ratio will be maintained at lower than 2.5%.
About Krungsri
Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya PCL and its group companies) is the fifth largest financial group in Thailand in terms of assets, loans, and deposits, and one of Thailand's five Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) with 73 years of history in the country. Krungsri is a strategic member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Japan's largest financial group and one of the world's largest financial organizations. Krungsri provides a comprehensive range of banking, consumer finance, investment, asset management, and other financial products and services to individual consumers, SMEs, and large corporations through 703 branches (664 Banking Branches and 39 Auto Business Branches) and over 35,000 service outlets nationwide. The Krungsri Group is the largest card issuer in Thailand with 9.1 million credit cards, sales finance, and personal loan accounts in its portfolio; a major automobile financing service provider (Krungsri Auto); one of the fastest growing asset management companies (Krungsri Asset Management); and a pioneer in microfinance (Ngern Tid Lor).
Krungsri is strongly committed to the highest level of integrity in conducting its business. All Krungsri Group companies have been awarded accreditation from the Private Sector Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption (CAC) in collaboration with industry peers and stakeholders on a zero tolerance approach to corruption.
About MUFG (Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.)
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the world's leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo with approximately 350 years of history, MUFG is a global network with over 2,300 offices in more than 50 countries. The Group has over 150,000 employees, offering services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group's operating companies include MUFG Bank, Ltd. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (Japan's leading trust bank), and Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Holdings Co., Ltd., one of Japan's largest securities firms. Through close partnerships among our operating companies, the Group aims to "be the world's most trusted financial group", flexibly responding to all of the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG's shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: MTU) stock exchanges.