The Bank of Thailand ( BoT ), Thailand’s central bank, is set to open up the country’s automated teller machine ( ATM ) network to non-bank operators, a move that would allow fintech firms and payment providers to enter a market long dominated by commercial banks.

The proposed move, according to the BoT’s Payment Directional Paper under its 2025 Financial Landscape initiative, aims to broaden financial inclusion in the country, particularly in underserved rural areas. Regulation regarding these white-labelled ATMs, the central bank points out, could be released as early as 2026.

The BoT is currently seeking approval from the country’s finance ministry, says Daranee Saeju, the bank’s assistant governor for payment systems policy and financial consumer protection, to issue the licences. The proposal is expected to be submitted in early 2026, with implementation anticipated by the end of next year.

Under the proposed new regulations, the white-label ATM licence will be available to both banks and non-bank operators, including fintech companies and ATM vendors, in an effort to expand access to financial services nationwide. At present, there are about 60,000 ATMs in the country, according to data from the central bank. The majority of these machines are operated by large commercial lenders.

The proposed regulation, Daranee shares, will limit the fees to be charged by the white-label ATMs, adding that any company applying for white-label ATMs cannot charge more than the current rates for basic transactions.

However, higher fees, she adds, may be permitted “for innovative financial services”, but that these must have appropriate cost structures.

The central bank’s initiative to introduce white-label ATMs is part of its greater financial inclusion plans, especially in rural communities where brick and mortar branches of commercial banks are less prevalent.