Thailand has awarded ANZ a full banking license to operate in the Southeast Asian country, the bank says.

Its unit, ANZ Thai will be an important addition to the bank's Asia network and its activities in the Greater Mekong region that already includes operations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, ANZ adds.

"Thailand already accounts for almost 65% of Greater Mekong's GDP and its trade with Asean countries totals around US$97 billion. Along with Thailand's position as a key manufacturing hub for the region, these growing connections to its Asean neighbours our home markets of Australia and New Zealand make it an important market for our super regional franchise," ANZ CEO international and institutional banking Andrew Géczy says.

Panadda Manoleehakul has been appointed CEO of ANZ Thai. Manoleehakul has more than 25 years corporate and institutional banking experience and was previously CEO for ANZ Philippines. Prior to joining ANZ in 2008, she held senior banking roles across Asia HSBC, JP Morgan Chase, Chase Manhattan Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.

"Panadda built a strong, growing franchise for ANZ in The Philippines and has been instrumental in the process to gain our banking licence in Thailand," Géczy adds.