"Customers may not be as excited as they should be, because banking agents do not provide complicated services," Mr Utain said. CONSUMER BENEFITSPetrol stations are the highest-potential banking agents in rural areas, as they can be reached within the shortest average radius -- 5.4 kilometres -- from villages. Given that 34% of villages have the potential to host banking agents, should all 200,000 potential banking agents manifest, only 21% of villages nationwide would be left unbanked. Banking agents will also fast-track the closure of bank branches but accelerate the reduction of costs for product sales, Mr Araneta said. Banking agents have been recently allowed by several regulators in the region to enable key business processes and outsource customer interactions to third parties.

Source: Bangkok Post February 25, 2018 22:52 UTC