Bangkok--12 Mar--Maxima Consultants
Thai Credit Retail Bank Plc (TCRB) has continuously held “Smart micro customers: hardworking, savings with discipline” for the fourth year in a bid to help vendors in fresh markets tackle their household financial problems and prepare for a cashless society and the digital disruption. About 50,000 people are expected to participate in the programme.
TCRB’s managing director Roy Agustinus Gunara said Thailand’s household debt has increased every year. The slowing economy has curbed vendors’ income, prompting them to depend on loans for daily spending. The bank has worked closely with vendors who are the bank’s customers to help them solve the loan and debt problems.
TCRB believes that the main cause of financial problems among vendors could be money disorder which is triggered by improper financial plans, a lack of financial discipline and lack of budgeting and money management skills and overspending.
“We believe the root cause of financial problems among vendors is that they don’t have strong financial skills. The training we organize will help improve their financial literacy, allowing them to be financially disciplined so that they are able to manage their debt effectively. On top of that, participants will learn occupational skills that will help them generate more income.” said Mr Gunara.
TCRB has been committed to providing financial knowledge and skills for both customers and non-customers. Its commitment is reflected in the development of “Smart micro customers: hardworking, savings with discipline” programme. The programme has been run successfully each year. Last year, it was reported that 95 per cent of participants who joined the programme could handle their debt effectively as described in their ability to pay debt on time. The program covered the basic financial issues, tips for creating discipline with money, steps to become successful entrepreneurs and vendors and strategy to improve profit.
The programme is very intense and inspiring this year which is the 4th. It will allow participants to learn to prepare themselves for the digital age in order to survive the technology disruption. In the session, they will also learn electronic payment methods and digital payment platforms including QR code and Prompt Pay which are the main payment methods in the cashless society.
Meanwhile, the bank will also arrange a special session entitled “Powerful Sales Techniques” that focuses on strategies to enhance sales process, ways to create revenue and sell more effectively and tricks to win customers’ hearts. This advanced session is specially designed for vendors who have already attended the basic program.
“In the last season, we received positive feedback. About 8,000 participants joined the program. There were 50 speakers who were our zone managers. This year, we expect 50,000 individuals to join the program conducted by our 300 zone managers and team mangers who are financial specialists. Traditional Market Vendors are the driving force of the Thai economy and development. If they can run their business and manage their debt effectively, they can help build a strong local economy and even drive the economy at a national level.
However, “Smart micro customers: hardworking, savings with discipline” program is part of our corporate social responsibility project. It’s under our brand philosophy of “Everyone Matters. No One Sees, We See”. The project is aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and vendors in building successful business and enhancing the quality of their lives,” Mr Gunara said.