BANGKOK -- As banks across Asia increasingly turn to wealth management amid an uncertain rate environment, Thailand's second-largest bank is looking to use artificial intelligence to expand its customer base for the growing segment, according to its chief executive.

In an interview with Nikkei Asia, Kasikornbank CEO Kattiya Indaravijaya said that AI technology will help it analyze customers' lifestyle, needs and transaction records, and propose financial and wealth services that would be suitable for them.

"We are targeting emerging affluent and the middle-to-top income group," Kattiya said, stressing wealth management such as private banking as the bank's priority area. "AI will help us scale up our services to reach a larger base of customers." Kasikornbank is one of Thailand's four biggest banks by asset size, along with Bangkok Bank, state-owned Krungthai Bank and which operates Siam Commercial Bank. Established in 1945, Kasikornbank has traditionally catered to farmers, while expanding its customer base across Thailand and investing in digital services recently.

In the July-September quarter of 2026, the bank reported a net profit of 12.7 billion baht ($376 million), down 2.2% from the same period last year.

Recent financial results show the bank is shifting to wealth management from traditional lending. While net interest income for the third quarter declined 7% from a year ago to 31.6 billion baht, net fees and service income increased 5% to 9.8 billion baht.

"Non-interest revenue is growing," Kattiya said in the interview, which was conducted before the third-quarter earnings announcement. She added that her bank will continue to focus on the rising segment as interest revenue growth remains subdued due to low rates The Bank of Thailand's policy rate is currently 1.0%, partly reflecting the country's relatively weak economy where high household debt weighs on private consumption.

As part of AI adoption, the bank's wealth management arm in November last year launched a new feature called KEWIN AI, which proposes new investment products for its customers and helps manage their portfolios.

Kasikornbank CEO Kattiya Indaravijaya at the bank's headquarters in Bangkok on Sept. 25. The bank was previously the Thai Farmers Bank serving the country's farmers.

Beyond wealth management, the CEO said AI can be used in other areas of the bank's business. These include assessing customers' credit before providing loans, evaluating fraud risks and assessing macroeconomic conditions.

She also expects the technology to help increase its operational productivity, particularly in the digital banking unit.

"We are the largest player in digital payments in Thailand. With AI, we continue to add features in our mobile banking," Kattiya said, referring to its digital platform that provides money transfers, bill payments and other financial services.

As for the traditional lending business, which remains the bank's largest income source, she said it will focus on existing customers as uncertain macroeconomic conditions stemming from the Middle East crisis loom over local businesses.

"We focus on quality rather than quantity," she said. "We would lend to our existing customers first as we know them very well and we understand their transactions." The National Economic and Social Development Council expects a growth range of 2.0% to 2.5% this year, compared to 2.4% in 2025 Kattiya estimates the Thai economy will grow around 2.0% this year, with big corporates and export-oriented firms growing while small and medium-size enterprises struggle.