Thailand has a substantial number of financial institutions, namely, commercial banks, finance companies, agricultural cooperatives, savings cooperatives, life insurance companies, pawnshops and credit fonciers. In addition, there are a number of specialized financial institutions, namely, the Government Savings Bank, the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), the Industrial Finance Corporation of Thailand (IFCT), the Government Housing Bank, and the Export Import Bank of Thailand (EXIMBANK).
Within the organized financial markets, commercial banking is the most important institution in the Thai economy; it will likely maintain this position in the future.
With regard to the outstanding amounts of credit extended by the various institutions, commercial banks also pay the leading and most active role, accounting for 72 percent in 1992. Finance companies accounted for about 18 percent and the remaining 10 percent was shared by other institutions.