THE MERGER between TMB Bank (TMB) and Thanachart Bank (TBANK) will be proposed to Ministry of Finance today, with a capital increase plan for TMB to allow ING Bank NV of the Netherlands to hold the largest stake – at 25 per cent – in the Thai bank.

THE country’s sustained economic recovery and government policies to encourage home ownership will boost demand for mortgages this year, says Government Housing Bank (GHB), prompting it set a bullish loan-growth target of 6 per cent for this year.