41.   Bank of Thailand governor Rerngchai Marakanond said the new licenses should stimulate Thai banks to improve their services.

42.   But foreigners have been reluctant because of the precarious state of many Thai banks and finance companies.

43.   But analysts feel many Thai banks still need to raise capital to cope with their rising non-performing loans.

44.   But it is also a challenge for Thai banks to help resurrect the economy.

45.   But the U.S.-based credit-rating agency said that Bank of Ayudhya, like other Thai banks, faced potential asset-quality problems.

46.   By helping Thai banks, foreigners inject not only the much-needed money but also internationally-accepted expertise.

47.   Citibank NA said the pending takeover deal with the Thai bank is still on schedule.

48.   Citibank sources said the bank had not given up on acquiring a Thai bank.

49.   Consequently, they could not repay the Thai banks, which left them on shaky ground.

50.   Currently, only eight commercial Thai banks have joined the programme from which the Export and Import Bank of Thailand is excluded.