The Government Housing Bank (GHB) <\/span>has announced its performance for the first quarter of 2023, disbursing new loans to help Thais achieve home ownership, totaling 42,977 accounts with a loan amount of 55.212 billion baht.<\/span> As of the end of Q1 2023, the total outstanding loans amounted to 1,617,065 million baht, total assets were 1,714,060 million baht, total deposits were 1,466,535 million baht, and non-performing loans (NPL) stood at 66,701 million baht, accounting for 4.12% of total loans.<\/span><\/strong> This growth is attributed to the recovering economy and the high demand for housing among the public, leading to continued interest in the housing loan projects for insured persons and the third phase of the Million Houses project. It is anticipated that by the end of 2023, new loan disbursements will reach the target of 235.480 billion baht.<\/span><\/p>

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Mr. Kritsana Sesavech, a board member and acting managing director of the Government Housing Bank (GHB)<\/strong><\/span>, stated that GHB, as a specialized financial institution of the state with the mission of "enabling Thais to have homes," continues to play a crucial role in supporting government policies to assist citizens in achieving home ownership and driving the economy through the real estate sector.<\/span><\/p>

As of March 31, 2023,<\/span> GHB has disbursed new loans totaling 42,977 accounts with a loan amount of 55.212 billion baht, representing 23.45% of the target set for 2023 at 235.480 billion baht.<\/span><\/strong> Among these, loans with amounts not exceeding 2.5 million baht for low- and middle-income groups accounted for 23,549 accounts. As a result, as of the end of Q1 2023, compared to the end of 2022, the bank's total outstanding loans increased by 1.17% to 1,617,065 million baht, total assets rose by 3.29% to 1,714,060 million baht, total deposits increased by 3.53% to 1,466,535 million baht, and NPLs rose to 66,701 million baht, accounting for 4.12% of total loans, an increase of 0.38% from the end of 2022 when NPLs were at 3.74%. The bank has set aside provisions for doubtful debts amounting to 134,135 million baht, representing a ratio to NPLs of 201.10%, and still recorded a net profit of 2,689 million baht.<\/span><\/p>

Meanwhile, the capital adequacy ratio (BIS Ratio) remains strong at 14.93%<\/strong>, exceeding the Bank of Thailand's requirement of 8.5%. The key factor enabling continuous growth in new loan disbursements is the implementation of the "Housing Loan Project for Insured Persons" for insured individuals under Section 33 of the Social Security Act, allowing them to access fixed low-interest loans for the first five years at a rate of 1.99% per annum.<\/span><\/p>

As of April 16, 2023,<\/strong> customers have applied for loans totaling 17,361 million baht, with approvals amounting to 16,711 million baht.<\/span> Due to the high interest, GHB is preparing to open applications for insured persons under Section 33 to request codes to participate in the housing loan project through the GHB ALL or GHB ALL GEN applications from May 8, 2023, at 9:00 AM until May 31, 2023, at 4:00 PM. Insured persons who receive the code can submit it along with a certificate of their insured status under Section 33, personal documents, income statements, and collateral ownership documents to apply for loans at branches nationwide. Those requesting codes will be notified of the schedule for submitting loan applications via the Line GHB Buddy channel or can check their application status at www.ghbank.co.th on the 10th, 20th, and 30th of each month and finalize transactions by January 31, 2024.<\/span><\/p>

Additionally, <\/span>GHB has also established the "State Housing Loan Project (Million Houses Project Phase 3)" for customers seeking loans for home purchase/construction with a maximum loan amount per person/collateral not exceeding 1,500,000 baht, with a fixed interest rate for the first five years at 3.00% per annum.<\/strong><\/span> As of April 16, 2023, there were 12,872 customers interested in applying for codes to participate in the project through the GHB ALL and GHB ALL GEN applications, amounting to a loan value of 19,308 million baht. A total of 2,441 accounts have submitted loan applications, amounting to 2,500 million baht, with approvals totaling 1,815 million baht. Interested individuals can request codes to participate in the project through the Mobile Application: GHB ALL GEN or GHB ALL and will receive a 10-digit code (3 letters and 7 numbers) via Line GHB Buddy to use for loan applications by December 30, 2028, or until the project budget is exhausted.<\/span><\/p>

"GHB's ability to disburse new loans at a high level in the first quarter of this year is a result of the recovering economy, coupled with the bank's low-interest loan products, prompting citizens who wish to own homes to expedite their loan applications before interest rates are expected to rise. The top three loan products that customers have chosen are: the GHB Home Project for You 2023 with a transaction value of 13,556 million baht, the GHB Home Project for Love 2023 with a transaction value of 5,759 million baht, and the Housing Loan Project for Government Personnel 2023 with a transaction value of 3,314 million baht. Therefore, GHB expects to meet the target of 235,480 million baht in new loan disbursements by the end of 2023," Mr. Kritsana stated.<\/span><\/p>

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At the same time, the bank continues to assist customers affected by income loss due to COVID-19 by implementing Measure 23 [M23] for customers with NPL status or those who are under assistance measures or restructuring their debts with the bank, who have borrowed from the bank for at least one year, allowing them to access special interest rates and lower installment payments for a maximum period of 2 years. Currently, there are 13,634 accounts under this measure, amounting to 15,670 million baht.<\/span><\/p>

Customers wishing to participate in Measure 23 can still register their intention to join until June 30, 2023, through the GHB ALL BFRIEND application and at bank branches nationwide,<\/strong> by submitting evidence of income loss due to employment/business/trade affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, such as a certificate of reduced hours/time/salary/wages or termination from the employer.<\/span><\/p>

This information will be reviewed by the bank through the GHB ALL BFRIEND application. If customers do not have a smartphone, they can fill out the information to register their intention at bank branches nationwide. For more details, please contact GHB at any branch nationwide, G H Bank Call Center at 0-2645-9000, or visit the Government Housing Bank Facebook Fanpage. Stay updated on bank news via the Mobile Application: GHB ALL, GHB ALL GEN, and www.ghbank.co.th.<\/span><\/p>