Bangkok Bank China (BBC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bangkok Bank (BBL), plans to raise its Chinese client proportion to 40% in the next three years on the back of rising demand for financial services for outbound investment in Southeast Asia.
Chinese investors are eagerly expanding their business to Southeast Asia to capitalise on the fast-growing economies that will be driven by the integrated market of the 10-nation bloc starting late this year.
Thailand is their major investment destination, given its geographical location, good infrastructure and strong relationship with China.
BBC now has three customer categories — Chinese, Thai and other nationals — distributed evenly in terms of customer base, chief executive Suwatchai Songwanich said without elaborating on which type of customer would see a decline.
The Chinese are among the largest foreign investors in Thailand in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI).
Mr Suwatchai said Thailand and Indonesia were Southeast Asia's largest FDI recipients of its Chinese customers.
BBL, Thailand's largest bank by assets, has the most extensive international banking network among industry peers, with 28 foreign branches in 13 countries and territories.
It has made its presence felt in nine of the 10 Asean members, with the exception of Brunei.
In China, BBC has branches in Shanghai, Shantou, Xiamen, Beijing and Chongqing.
"BBL's strong network in Asean is an important reason encouraging Chinese investors to use BBC's services, especially for their business expansion into the region," Mr Suwatchai said.
BBC targets 2015 loan growth of at least 10% from a total loan portfolio of US$1 billion on the assumption of Chinese GDP growth of 7.5%. However, it will prudently run business amid economic uncertainty in China and globally.
BBL shares closed Friday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 191.50 baht, down 50 satang, in trade worth 782 million baht.