The Financial Sector Reform and the Change in the Ownership Structure of the Commercial Banks

This chapter provides an analytical discourse on the evolution of ownership structures within commercial banks at the bank level since the Asian Financial Crisis, along with the ensuing financial reforms. It offers a detailed critique of the “Financial Sector Master Plan” across its various phases and the pivotal financial legislation, deducing a significant shift in financial regulations aimed at augmenting market efficiency, stability, and competitiveness. This shift is notably evident in the deregulatory measures concerning foreign investment. The analysis further includes a descriptive review of the changes in ownership structures within individual commercial banks following the regulatory reforms, during and after the Thaksin Administration era. The findings indicate a notable decline in ownership by traditional founding families, accompanied by a sustained increase in foreign participation in the banking sector post-Asian Financial Crisis. The entry and escalated activity of foreign banking entities have been pronounced since the international financial turmoil following the collapse of Lehman Brothers.