Bangkok--16 Aug--KASIKORNBANK
Amid the boom in domestic football, KASIKORNBANK and the Football Association of Thailand (FA Thailand) have introduced the 'Chang-Suek' KASIKORNTHAI Debit Card, offering a variety of privileges while providing an opportunity to support the Thai football industry. With each one of these cards issued, KBank will give 100 Baht to the association; at least 30 million Baht is expected to be presented to FA Thailand under this program within the first year. Spending via K-Debit Card totaled 25 billion Baht during the first half of this year, maintaining the Bank's top rank in market share at 38 percent. At least 4 million new K-Debit Cards are projected to be issued within this year.
According to Ms. Noppawan Jermhansa, KBank Executive Vice President, K-Debit Card has continued to satisfy the preferences of customers with diverse lifestyles, including football fans. The Thai national football team has been very popular among viewers nationwide, due to their impressive performance, successfully making it to the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifying Round after a 14-year absence, along with 11 other teams.
In light of this, KBank and FA Thailand have jointly introduced the 'Chang-Suek' KASIKORNTHAI Debit Card, an extension of the Bank's 2014 cooperation in launching co-branded debit cards with 49 local football clubs in the Thai Premier League, Thai Division 1 and Thai Division 2, which have been warmly welcomed by customers, with at least 200,000 cards issued.
The 'Chang-Suek' KASIKORNTHAI Debit Card has been issued for football fans, bearing a unique design of Thailand's national football team logo, a reflection of our pride and support for the Thai team aiming towards the final match of the World Cup, as well as other international tournaments. Among privileges offered to cardholders are rights to buy a movie ticket for 100 Baht, as well as discounts for online shopping, hotel reservations, and purchases at participating merchants. Cardholders will also enjoy a 5 percent discount when shopping at 71 Supersports in Central and Robinson department stores. Moreover, for every 25 Baht spent with the debit card, cardholders will earn one point; points can be collected to redeem for cash at a conversion rate of 1,000 reward points for 100 Baht. Most importantly, for every one of these new cards issued, KBank will present 100 Baht to FA Thailand for their football development activities. The Bank expects to offer up to 30 million Baht to the association, with at least 300,000 K-Football Club Debit Cards issued.
Interested football fans can apply for the new card from August 25 onwards at 63 KBank branches at Central Department Store, The Mall Department Store, Future Park, Siam Paragon, EmQuartier, and Thaiwikit Super Center in Buriram, as well as KBank's Rat Burana Main Branch, Phahon Yothin Main Branch and Chaeng Watthana Main Branch. From September 1 onwards, applications can be made at any KBank branch nationwide.
When applying for the card, customers will be invited to join an online activity posting their photos with the new card, using the hashtag #Cheertem100. They will be entitled to lucky draw entries with prizes including 100 most sought-after tickets for the big Thailand-Japan football match, football team T-shirts with the Thai national team players' signatures, and other limited-edition souvenirs. The results of the drawing, which will take place on September 5, can be checked via KBankLive, Facebook and LINE, where special activities and gifts will be available through 2016 and 2017.
Thailand's debit and ATM cards currently total 61 million, of which 48 million are debit cards and 13 million are ATM cards. The number of ATM cardholders has declined as most banks have encouraged their customers to hold debit cards in response to the government-initiated National e-Payment scheme. K-Debit Cards amount to 10.5 million, or approximately 17.5 percent of the total. The industry's debit card spending registered 66.8 billion Baht in the first half of 2016, of which 25 billion Baht or 38 percent was spent through K-Debit Card, thereby maintaining KBank's market leadership. The use of K-Debit Card is on the rise, given increasing card payment channels, along with marketing activities to stimulate card spending in accordance with the government's policy and customer lifestyles. At least 4 million new K-Debit Cards are expected to be issued within 2016.
According to Football Association of Thailand President Pol. Gen. Somyot Poompanmuong, the launch of the 'Chang-Suek' KASIKORNTHAI Debit Card by FA Thailand and KBank will provide football fans another way to support the Thai national football team, apart from the moral support they have delivered so far. The association appreciates KBank's emphasis on providing continual assistance to the sport, via both local and national football teams.
The Thai football team has achieved their best-ever performance on the road to the World Cup. It is the Thai spirit that has powered all the nation's footballers towards proud victories in the past matches. In the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifying round, 12 Asian teams will participate in 10 matches, five of which will be in foreign countries, and the other five in Thailand's Rajamangala National Stadium. Two of the five matches in Thailand will be held this year: Thailand-Japan on September 6 and Thailand-Australia on November 15. FA Thailand, therefore, invites all Thais to cheer and send moral support to the Thai players for the country's success. Moreover, other international tournaments include those of the Olympic Games Rio 2016, as well as the SEA Games. With support from Thai fans, Thai footballers can surge to win in these matches, he said.