Dr. Prasan
Trairatworakul, governor of Bank of Thailand, presides over the opening
ceremony.
Urasin Khantaraphan
No-interest loans, high-interest savings accounts, tourist
credit cards and stock tips were all on offer as 32 public and private
financial-services companies set up shop at the Peach Convention Center
for Money Expo 2014.
Bank of Thailand Gov. Prasan Trairatworakul opened the Feb. 7-9 expo,
which this year carried the theme of “finance connecting life to
dreams.”
Ten major banks offered a variety of interest-free loans for homes and
cars, business lines-of-credit, free mortgage registration, bank fees,
fire insurance, and electronic gadgets as incentives to borrow money.
Bangkok Bank teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand for an
innovative promotion: a tourism credit card offering 50 percent
discounts at leading hotels and special packages for the entire year.
Krungthai Bank also offered 60-month certificates of deposit offering 4
percent interest rates while Krugsri Ayuttaya Bank was offering
bank-owned houses, property and other assets at up to 60 percent
discounts.
Government Housing Bank joined the other banks in offering 0 percent
home loans, but sweetened the deal by waiving loan and appraisal fees.
The Money Expo offered more than chances to borrow money. Various
investment firms marketed securities and commodities investments.
TFEX Marketing highlighted stock plans for workers, retirement, income
and low-risk takers. Other companies put forth futures, gold and other
income investments.
Investors also could sit for a briefing on “Stocks for the Year of the
Horse” from Phadermphop Songkhrao, personal finance manager for Kasikorn
Bank, Phornee Thongyen, assistant director of research for Asia Plus
Securities Co., and Kanthra Ladawan Na Ayuttaya, managing director of
Finansia Syrus Securities Co.
It wasn’t all serious business, however. The Money Expo featured
concerts from Top Jaron Sorat, Tui Kiatkamol Latha, Wan Thanakrit
Phanitwit, Lula Kanyarat Tiyapornchai, Tu Thanaporn Sunthornyankit,
Namwan-Khwan, Songkran Rangsank, Taengmo Wanlika and others.
