Vietnamese banks leverage national data integration to reach customers
Banks in Vietnam are developing fully digital lending services, enabling customers to apply for and receive loans entirely through online platforms.
A customer registers for digital service at a local bank in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of VNA.
This digital shift benefits customers with greater convenience while allowing banks to cut costs.
The national population database is now connected and synchronized with databases from 18 ministries and sectors, four state-owned corporations, and the administrative systems of all 63 provinces and cities.
This integration supports data sharing and enrichment, laying the groundwork for cleaner and more comprehensive datasets.
Access to this massive amount of data allows banks to expand their digital offerings, particularly online lending.
Speaking at a recent conference on digital transformation in the banking sector, Nguyen Thi Ngoan, CFO of MISA, said the company recognized the potential of leveraging this valuable data and launched MISA Lending to connect micro and small enterprises with banks and credit institutions. The platform supports lending based on real-time enterprise data.
To date, loans worth VND22.5 trillion ($887 million) have been disbursed via the platform. Some 30% of businesses have successfully accessed credit, 10 times higher than traditional models, while maintaining risk levels deemed acceptable by banks.
Vu Hong Phu, a member of MB’s executive board, noted that enterprises with healthy cash flow histories, regular payroll disbursements, and full tax compliance are prioritised for credit approval, possibly without collateral.
In 2024, MB issued unsecured loans based on data to over 4,000 enterprises, reducing processing time by 80%. “A total of 14,500 disbursement orders were executed automatically in just minutes,” Phu said.
“Previously, each would take two hours; now it only takes five to 15 minutes. This automation saved 36,000 labor hours in 2024, equivalent to 4,500 workdays.”
At VietinBank, corporate clients can now receive disbursements online via the VietinBank eFAST platform. According to Deputy CEO Tran Cong Quynh Lan, the bank has processed over 87,000 online disbursement transactions worth more than VND270 trillion, with 36% of corporate loans now disbursed online.
Meanwhile, MSB has successfully digitized the entire credit approval process by leveraging national data systems, including tax and invoice data, and the national population database. Thousands of businesses have received loans via digital channels, with approvals granted within minutes.
Dinh Thi To Uyen, Deputy CEO of MSB, said that with machine learning capabilities and access to integrated data, including fintech platforms like MISA, we can approve loans within four minutes. Connecting accounting systems and tax data provides real-time insights into a business’s financial health, which allows us to make immediate lending decisions once customers register and provide basic information.
Banks have been expanding in the personal loan segment through digital channels. Industry experts said that as the digital transformation race in banking accelerates, data cleansing, system integration, and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will become increasingly common.
These tools support personalized services, aligning offerings more precisely with customer needs and behaviour. For instance, OCB provides salary-based online loans starting from as little as 100,000 VND.
Banks recognize that competitiveness hinges on more than traditional relationships or proximity. The ability to provide timely, relevant, and convenient services is becoming the defining factor.
To enhance security for online lending, banks are ramping up security, using big data and AI to assess borrowers’ credit history, spending behaviour, and business performance before approving disbursements.
Pham Anh Tuan, director of the payment department at the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), stressed that rising cybercrime requires financial institutions to invest heavily in security.
“As banks use AI to develop products, criminals are also exploiting it for fraud,” he warned.
As a result, SBV will soon introduce regulations requiring service suspension for digital platforms that fail to meet international standards. Service providers must remain vigilant, he said, as cybercrime can happen at any time.
He added that all credit institutions are required to submit information on suspected fraudulent accounts to the SBV to build a shared database. So far, over 350,000 suspicious accounts have been logged, and the database will operate on a win-win principle: institutions that contribute data will also receive shared information in return.
Since April 1, BIDV has piloted a system that notifies customers if a recipient account is flagged as suspicious. In the first month, 40,000 customers were asked to cancel transactions, avoiding potential fraud totalling VND160 billion.
Other major banks, including Vietcombank, MB, VietinBank, and Agribank, are set to adopt this system. After a mid-year review, SBV plans to roll it out sector-wide.
Once fully implemented, the system will offer customers greater peace of mind when transferring funds, helping to reduce fraud. Ultimately, however, the final decision still rests with customers.
- Read More
Vietnam's central bank struggles to rein in cross-ownership
Cross-ownership and bank manipulation in Vietnam have eased, yet control remains elusive as shareholders and related parties conceal ownership through nominees, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) said in a report to the country’s legislature.
Banking - Mon, October 20, 2025 | 8:34 am GMT+7
Viettel Post-invested $27 mln logistics center project breaks ground in central Vietnam
Viettel Post, a subsidiary of military-run Viettel Group, has broken ground on an over VND722 billion ($27.41 million) logistics center project in Danang city, which is expected to enhance the logistics capacity of Vietnam's central and Central Highlands regions.
Industries - Sun, October 19, 2025 | 7:35 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's stock market regulator introduces green bond disclosure handbook
By enhancing transparency and standardizing disclosures, the Green Bond Disclosure Handbook that the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) introduced will build investor trust, reduce greenwashing risks, and support the growth of a credible and resilient green finance market in Vietnam.
Finance - Sun, October 19, 2025 | 2:11 pm GMT+7
Central Vietnam province Lam Dong seeks investment for 72 projects
The Lam Dong province People's Committee has called for investment in 72 projects across various sectors which are set for implementation in 2025 and the 2026-2030 period.
Industries - Sun, October 19, 2025 | 1:31 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's leading conglomerate Vingroup ventures into senior living market
Vingroup JSC (HoSE: VIC) has unveiled Vin New Horizon, a network of premium retirement and wellness communities built to international standards, marking the Vietnamese conglomerate’s strategic entry into the senior living market.
Industries - Sun, October 19, 2025 | 12:28 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s agri major HAGL makes surprise return to property, saying land plot forgotten for 15 years
Vietnam’s agri major Hoang Anh Gia Lai JSC's (HAGL) return to real estate is an accident, after discovering a plot of land the company had “forgotten for 15 years” during its boom years, said chairman Doan Nguyen Duc.
Companies - Sun, October 19, 2025 | 10:02 am GMT+7
REE to set up 2 subsidiaries for wind projects in southern Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City-based utility firm Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Corporation (HoSE: REE) has decided to establish two wholly-owned subsidiaries to develop two wind power projects in Vinh Long province, expanding its renewable energy portfolio in southern Vietnam.
Energy - Sun, October 19, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Australian CEO detained, NSH Petro’s recovery hopes collapse
The recovery prospects of NSH Petro (PSH) have dimmed after its Australian CEO was detained on allegations of fraud involving false promises of billion-dollar financing that led to the misappropriation of nearly $4.9 million.
Companies - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 6:53 pm GMT+7
Maintaining market status upgrade a bigger challenge: official
Vietnam's stock market status will be upgraded by FTSE Russell from "frontier" to "secondary emerging" from September 21 next year, but continued reform is critical as the bigger challenge is to maintain the new classification, said a market watchdog official.
Finance - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 1:30 pm GMT+7
HCMC partners with Nasdaq to develop int’l financial center
The Finance Department of Vietnam’s southern metropolis Ho Chi Minh City has signed an MoU with the U.S.-based stock exchange Nasdaq on the development of an international financial center (IFC).
Top News - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 11:56 am GMT+7
Vingroup plans $325 mln issuance of international bonds
Vietnam's leading private conglomerate Vingroup (HoSE: VIC) has announced a board of directors resolution to issue $325 million worth of international bonds, with a five-year term and a yield of 5.5% per year.
Companies - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 10:26 am GMT+7
Vietnam raises personal income tax deductions by over 40%
The Standing Committee of Vietnam’s National Assembly, the country's legislature, on Friday approved a resolution on adjusting personal income tax (PIT) deductions, marking a significant increase of over 40% from current levels.
Economy - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 9:11 am GMT+7
EVN subsidiary spreads the spirit of solidarity, compassion
The employees of National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) came together in an inspiring display of unity and compassion in October, each donating one day’s salary to support and express solidarity with the people of Cuba - a nation that has long shared a special friendship with Vietnam.
Companies - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 9:00 am GMT+7
Property fever prompts tighter inspection in central Vietnam's economic hub Danang
Chairman of Danang city People’s Committee, Pham Duc An, has ordered a comprehensive inspection and audit of land valuation and auction activities to prevent and address market manipulation that could destabilize the local property market.
Real Estate - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Vietnam mulls opening door for private investment in small modular reactors
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has drafted a parliamentary resolution that, for the first time, would allow private companies to participate in the development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).
Energy - Fri, October 17, 2025 | 4:37 pm GMT+7
Kido seeks buyer for remaining 49% stake in frozen food affiliate
Kido Group (HoSE: KDC), a leading food company in Vietnam, has approved a plan to divest the firm's remaining 49% stake in its affiliate Kido Frozen Food JSC (Kido Foods).
Companies - Fri, October 17, 2025 | 4:25 pm GMT+7
- Consulting
-
Vietnam's International Financial Center ambition can unlock new wave of innovation
-
Vietnam’s rapid capital market reforms set to pay dividends in coming decades
-
VN-Index valuation might offer '15-20% upside' in next 12-18 months
-
Opportunities for breakthrough growth in industrial and residential real estate in Hanoi’s satellite provinces
-
The six-year switch: The rise of multi retirements
-
Formalizing Vietnam’s digital assets markets
















