Kasikornbank has maintained an ambitious loan growth target of 30% for 2009 despite projections of lower economic growth and consumer spending.

Krisada Lamsam, a KBank executive vice-president, said the bank targeted new lending of 40 billion baht for its retail operations next year, boosting its loan portfolio to 170 billion baht at the end of 2009 from 130 billion this year.

Mortgage loans are projected to account for 30-35 billion baht of next year's new loan target, with another seven billion from other secured loans and just 700 million from unsecured loans.

KBank is currently fourth among local banks in housing loans but Mr Krisada said it hopes to enter the top three in 2009. KBank plans to focus on middle-income buyers with monthly incomes of 15,000 to 20,000 baht to limit risk.

Mr Krisada said the bank expected a slight increase in non-performing loans in 2009 as a result of the economic slowdown. Bad loans from retail banking operations are projected to rise to no more than 3% of total loans next year from 2.1% now.

Source:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/311008_Business/31Oct2008_biz43.php