UOB Thailand combines digital acquisition, branch transformation and payments within a disciplined retail banking model Financial platforms extend into customer, community and mobility ecosystems Corporate treasury and financial inclusion advance through connected, real-time services Bangkok, 19 August 2026 – Thai financial institutions are deepening digital integration across retail banking, payments, corporate treasury, financial inclusion and broader customer ecosystems. The Asian Banker Thailand Awards 2026 recognised banks and non-bank financial institutions that are combining digital platforms, physical distribution and ecosystem partnerships to strengthen customer services and operating models. The winners span retail and branch banking, payments, automobile financing, corporate treasury and financial inclusion, reflecting the range of digital initiatives reshaping Thailand’s financial services sector. UOB Thailand combines digital banking, branch transformation and payments UOB Thailand stood out in retail banking with three awards, reflecting a model that combines digital customer acquisition, branch transformation and integrated payments. The bank was named Best Foreign Retail Bank in Thailand for strengthening its retail banking model without relying on rapid volume growth. Its UOB TMRW platform brings onboarding, servicing and product distribution across deposits, cards, lending, wealth and insurance into one digital environment. Digital channels have become an important source of retail sales, supporting a more integrated approach to customer acquisition and servicing. UOB Thailand also received Best Branch Banking Initiative in Thailand for SmartBranch 360, which connects digital discovery, in-branch service and post-visit engagement. Automated onboarding, customer analytics and staff decision-support tools are helping branches shift from routine processing towards origination and advisory. The bank was further recognised for Best Digital Payments Initiative in Thailand. Payments are embedded within UOB TMRW alongside deposits, cards, lending, investments and insurance, allowing transaction activity to support broader customer engagement and product use. The migration of transactions towards digital channels supports the bank’s broader shift towards digital servicing. Together, the initiatives demonstrate how retail banking transformation is increasingly being driven by the integration of digital channels, physical distribution and customer data rather than by standalone digital products. Financial services extend into customer and community ecosystems Kasikornbank received Best Digital Ecosystem and Platform Initiative in Thailand and Best Social/Community-Driven Finance Initiative in Thailand for CU NEX, developed with Chulalongkorn University. The university-wide platform integrates digital identity, payments, academic and administrative services, healthcare, campus activities, rewards and university governance, with K PLUS providing embedded banking access. It also supports personalised content, chatbot assistance and open interfaces that enable student-led development and community participation. The platform supports a wide range of activities across everyday university life. Digital voting introduced through the ecosystem has also helped increase participation in student elections. The initiative demonstrates how embedded finance can move beyond transaction services to become part of a wider institutional ecosystem, supporting both everyday financial activity and participation in university life. Kasikorn Leasing was meanwhile named Best Automobile Financing in Thailand for integrating bank distribution, dealer relationships and digital underwriting across the vehicle ownership journey. The institution uses the wider Kasikornbank ecosystem to support origination, credit assessment and servicing across manufacturers, distributors and customers. Digital tools including K-OK, K EV Shop and LINE-based servicing have reduced application friction and shifted more activity away from manual channels, reflecting the increasing role of digital channels in automobile financing. Bangkok Bank received Best Sustainable Banking Product in Thailand for its Travel Card, which combines multicurrency cashless payments with budgeting and expense-management tools. Customers can manage foreign currencies through mobile banking, while the Trip Space feature provides real-time expense tracking, automated transaction capture, cost sharing and post-trip summaries. The proposition connects payment convenience with greater visibility over overseas spending and reduced reliance on physical cash. Corporate treasury becomes more closely integrated into client workflows Krungthai Bank was recognised for Best Virtual Account Management Initiative in Thailand for expanding virtual accounts beyond receivables into a broader corporate treasury structure. Its solution enables organisations to manage multiple virtual accounts under one master account, helping identify cash flows by customer, project, tenant or business unit. Integration with Krungthai BUSINESS supports collections, payments, reconciliation, liquidity visibility and enterprise resource planning connectivity. The addition of receivables-on-behalf-of and payments-on-behalf-of capabilities also supports more centralised treasury operations, demonstrating how virtual account structures are increasingly being used to improve both transaction visibility and cash management efficiency. Financial inclusion focuses on access when customers need liquidity Ngern Tid Lor received Best Financial Inclusion Initiative in Thailand for an omnichannel disbursement model designed to make approved secured credit accessible beyond traditional branch hours. The model connects mobile access, ATMs, branches and cardless withdrawals, reducing dependence on branch visits and physical cards while preserving access during emergencies, mobility constraints and service disruptions. The shift towards digital withdrawals highlights the role of more flexible access to approved credit. Ngern Tid Lor was also named Best Customer Experience Initiative in Thailand, reflecting its focus on maintaining customer service across the financial and insurance journey. View the full list of winners of The Asian Banker Thailand Awards 2026 at: https://tabglobalawards.com/thailand-awards/ About TAB Thailand Awards 2026 The awards recognise achievements in retail finance, transaction finance and other areas of financial services specific to financial institutions, banks and non-banks in Thailand. While institutions from different countries and regions compete for individual award categories under TAB Global’s international awards programmes, the Thailand Awards recognise achievements and initiatives at the local market level. About TAB Global TAB Global owns and manages a number of world-class digital content platforms, namely The Asian Banker, Wealth and Society and BankQuality.com, as well as learning platforms including The Banking Academy and The Skill Store. Incorporated in Singapore, it has offices in Beijing and Dubai and support offices in Kuala Lumpur and Manila, with plans to expand to Johannesburg, London, Zurich and New York. Visit https://www.tab.global/ for details. Media Contact Nanda Lakhwani Editor, TAB Global Email: nlakhwani@tab.global
