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Community Banks After the economic
crisis that caused a decline in people’s standard of living, the Government
established a policy to promote a community economic system in accordance
with the King’s thinking, the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, which
can be applied to bring the utmost benefits for individuals and their
communities.
Each Community Bank is set up according to the needs of the local
community and owned by everyone in the community. The first Community
Bank was established at Amphur Omkoi, Chiang Mai on 7 May 1999.
What
is a Community Bank?
| A Community
Bank is not only a bank located in one community but also
a bank in whose operation and management the community
is involved through an Advisory Committee together with
Government Savings Bank and the local government sector.
|
| “Involvement”
means everyone in the community could use any financial
services as needed; meanwhile, the community has to help
maintain and improve the bank in order to sustain it for
the optimum benefit of the community. |
|
 |
 |
Objectives
of a Community Bank
| 1.
To be a financial institution providing
several types of financial services and operating for
the benefit of the local community |
| 2.
To promote the local community |
| 3.
To be beneficial in economic, community, local and social
development |
| 4.
To provide local funds for local development
continuously and sustainably |
|
Ideas and Activities of a Community
Bank
| • |
To promote financial habits |
| • |
To promote
savings in the community |
| • |
To operate for people and
society |
| • |
To provide
financial services at the community level |
| • |
To support
the sustainability of the economic system in the community |
| • |
To distribute
funds for internal and local developments in several forms |
Each Community
Bank continuously gets involved in activities in the community; some
activities are as follows:
| • |
Activity
of Khao Saming Community Bank
Khao Saming Community Bank, Trad Province, provided a tent for
a
permanent checkpoint at Baan Tha Jod, Khao Saming, Trad Province,
as a resting-place for soldiers, police, people and tourists.
|
| • |
Activity
of Na ja Luay Community Bank
Na Ja Luay Community Bank, Ubonratchathani Province, joined
the opening
ceremony of a Mobile Social Service Unit of Ubonratchathani
Province and
provided some souvenirs for students in the community at Na
Ja Luay
District Office. |
| • |
Activity
of Omkoi Community Bank
Omkoi Community Bank, Chiang Mai Province, participated in the
Rod Nam
Dam Hua Ceremony during the most recent Songkran Festival. |
| • |
Activity
of Sai Yai Community Bank
Sai Yai Community Bank, Nonthaburi Province, the 17th Community
Bank,
was opened on 14 July 2007. Mr. Goanpot Asvinvichit, GSB President
&
CEO, also provided scholarships for students in the community. |
Target Groups
| - |
Private sector |
| - |
Government
sector |
| - |
Local
community organizations |
Characteristics of a Community
Bank
| 1. |
The community
plays an important role in the Community Bank’s administration. |
| 2. |
The community
is an owner of the Community Bank. |
| 3. |
The community gets benefits
from the Community Bank. |
Setting up the Community Bank
In assessing the need for a Community Bank in any local community,
the GSB Regional Office will survey fundamental information of that
area, such as, population, monthly income, public utilities and occupations
of people in the community, prior to hosting the community stage to
gather ideas on the community’s needs. Those who will participate
in the community stage include representatives from the community,
local politicians, vendors, businessmen, a village chief, a village
headman, leaders of local community organizations, representatives
from government organizations and representatives from GSB.
| • |
Sai
Yai Community Bank, 17th Branch, Nonthaburi Province,
opened on 14 July 2006 |
| • |
Koh Yao Community Bank, 18th Branch, Phang-nga
Province, opened on 27 November 2006 |
GSB therefore has enough potential to be a central liaison between
the government sector and the community to form a “Community Bank”
to build a stronger community which is the social foundation of a
solid economic system that can be self-reliant in the long term.
Community Bank establishment by GSB ensures that there is a financial
institution that has branches almost nationwide close to people and
communities.
Currently, there are 18 branches
as listed below :-
| No.
|
Branch
|
Province
|
Established
on |
Telephone
No. |
| 1 |
Omkoi |
Chaing
Mai |
7
May 1999 |
0-5346-7209 |
| 2 |
Phob
Phra |
Tak
|
11
Feb 2000 |
0-5556-7171 |
| 3 |
Phu
Pha Man |
Khon
Kean |
15
Aug 2000 |
0-4339-6239 |
| 4 |
Chart
Tra Karn |
Phitsanulok
|
13
Oct 2000 |
0-5538-1448 |
| 5 |
Dan
Sai |
Loey
|
13
Nov 2000 |
0-4289-1600 |
| 6 |
Na
ja Luay |
Ubonratchathani
|
16
Nov 2000 |
0-4537-9250 |
| 7 |
Phanom
|
Suratthani
|
31
Aug 2001 |
0-7739-9336 |
| 8 |
Sukirin
|
Narathiwas
|
15
Nov 2001 |
0-7365-6366 |
| 9 |
Photisai
|
Ubonratchathani
|
23
Nov 2001 |
0-4549-6146 |
| 10 |
Dontarn
|
Mukdaharn
|
26
Nov 2001 |
0-4268-9125 |
| 11 |
Maejarim
|
Nan
|
30
Nov 2001 |
0-5476-9079 |
| 12 |
Khao
Saming |
Trad |
14
Nov 2002 |
0-3959-9155 |
| 13 |
Ubonrat
|
Khon
Kean |
25
Nov 2003 |
0-4344-6010 |
| 14 |
Nong
Ya Plong |
Phetburi
|
25
Dec 2002 |
0-3240-7213 |
| 15 |
Doi
Tao |
Chaing
Mai |
18
May 2003 |
0-5346-9023 |
| 16 |
Oom
Phang |
Tak
|
2
Nov 2005 |
0-5556-1600 |
| 17 |
Sai
Yai |
Nonthaburi |
14 July 2006 |
02-581-8671 |
| 18 |
Koh
Yao |
Phang-nga |
27
Nov 2006 |
0-7759-7373 |
Parts of a Community Bank
 |
 |
Omkoi
Community Bank,
Omkoi District, Chiang Maiè |
Phu
Pha Man Community Bank,
Phu Pha Man District, Khon Kean |
 |
 |
Na
Ja Luay Community Bank,
Na Ja Luay District, Ubonratchathani |
Ubonrat Community
Bank,
Ubonrat District, Khon Kean |
 |
 |
Nong
Ya Plong Community Bank,
Nong Ya Plong District, Phetburi |
Sai Yai Community
Bank,
Sai Yai District, Nonthaburi |
 |
|
Koh
Yao Community Bank,
Koh Yao District, Phang-nga |
|
Community Benefits
| 1. |
A responsive financial institution
that provides financial services |
| 2. |
Accessible
location that makes traveling to the bank safer, more convenient,
less
time consuming and less expensive |
| 3. |
Credit services of a bank
as needed and convenient |
| 4. |
Promotion of group processes
in community organizations in a local area to be
stronger in financial habits |
|
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