The Thai Bankers' Association (TBA) has warned that deliberate loan defaulters could face legal action and may be barred from obtaining credit in the future.

Speaking after Wednesday's meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB), TBA chairman Payong Srivanich said borrowers who intentionally default on their loans would face legal consequences and risk losing access to future financing.

His remarks came amid a growing wave of social media posts encouraging borrowers to default on loans offered by Clicx Bank, Thailand's first virtual bank, over the past few days.

"Individuals who deliberately seek to take advantage of the financial system and public resources should not be allowed to undermine the country's economy," Mr Payong said.

Thailand's informal economy accounts for around 48% of overall economic activity, while only about 12 million people are registered taxpayers and just 5 million actually pay personal income tax, he noted.

Borrowers who lack financial discipline, have no intention of repaying their debts, and openly express such intentions on social media should bear the consequences of their actions, such as losing access to future credit and facing legal action, said Mr Payong.

The banking system typically has robust screening and monitoring systems in place, including market conduct and responsible lending frameworks under the regulatory oversight of the Bank of Thailand. These systems are designed to assess borrowers' behaviour, identify financially vulnerable individuals, and evaluate both their ability and willingness to repay debt.

He said the central bank introduced virtual banks to improve financial inclusion by expanding access to financial services for underserved and unserved customers through the use of alternative data.

The new banking model is expected to help more vulnerable groups gain access to formal financial services.

Mr Payong, who is also president of Krungthai Bank (KTB), a major shareholder in Clicx Bank, said improving financial literacy would play a crucial role in strengthening both borrowers' financial discipline and the banking system.

In addition to KTB, the other major shareholders of Clicx Bank are Advanced Info Service and PTT Oil and Retail Business. Under its alternative data framework, Clicx Bank requires loan applicants to consent to sharing additional data with the bank's three shareholders.

In a separate development, Mr Payong said the JSCCIB believes Thailand's economic outlook will remain highly uncertain in the second half of the year. Key risks include the prolonged conflict in the Middle East, higher global oil prices, persistent inflationary pressures, and slowing domestic economic growth amid a K-shaped recovery.

Thailand's exports expanded 17.6% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, driven largely by technology products, which accounted for 26.5% of total exports and surged 45.9% on the back of strong global demand for artificial intelligence.

Although these industries represent the "upper K" of the economy, their growth has yet to generate broad-based benefits across domestic industries.

To maximise gains from the digital boom, he said Thailand needs to increase local content in manufacturing to strengthen regional value chains, reduce reliance on imported intermediate goods, develop domestic supply chains, and create more high-quality jobs. These measures would enable the country to better capitalise on the expected inflow of foreign investment.

Policymakers should clearly identify industries that fall into the "lower K" segment of the economy so that support measures can be better targeted and resources allocated more effectively, Mr Payong said.