Speaking at a year-end conference of the banking sector in Hanoi, the Prime Minister emphasised that monetary and banking policies must be managed proactively, flexibly and effectively in close coordination with fiscal and other macroeconomic policies, with a focus on maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation and creating a solid foundation for fast and sustainable growth. He stressed that any shift in policy stance should follow a clear roadmap and be implemented in a prudent, flexible and safe manner.

He commended the banking sector for its strong determination and efforts, and congratulated it on the important achievements recorded in 2025 and throughout the 2021–2025 period, which have made a significant contribution to the country’s overall socio-economic development. He highlighted key accomplishments of the sector, including a more enabling institutional framework, pioneering financial infrastructure, flexible and well-managed policies, and tangible benefits for both the economy and the public.

It was reported at the conference that the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has since the start of 2025 maintained its key policy interest rates to support economic performance and ensure low-cost funding for credit institutions. Commercial banks were directed to cut operating costs and accelerate digital transformation to help lower lending rates for households and businesses.

Amid complex global developments, including uncertainty over US monetary policy, trade measures and US dollar fluctuations, the SBV managed the exchange rate flexibly in line with market conditions, using monetary policy tools and foreign exchange interventions to stabilize the market, control inflation and safeguard macroeconomic stability. Measures were also taken to manage the domestic gold market in the context of sharp global price volatility.

Credit policy was implemented in alignment with macroeconomic conditions to support growth while containing inflation. Greater transparency in credit growth management helped improve credit performance, with outstanding loans rising 17.87% from end-2024 to exceed VND18.4 quadrillion by December 24, 2025, mainly directed toward production, business and priority sectors.

Looking ahead, the Prime Minister urged the banking sector to accelerate institutional reform and administrative modernisation to meet the country’s development requirements, and to effectively manage banking activities in the coming international financial centre. He stressed that all banking operations must contribute to maintaining fiscal discipline, controlling budget deficits and managing public debt, identifying these tasks as core priorities for the entire sector in 2026.

He also called for stronger support for growth and investment through the effective implementation of policy credit programmes and preferential credit packages for social housing and major national infrastructure projects. Ensuring the safety of the monetary, credit and banking system was identified as a fundamental prerequisite for macroeconomic stability and for improving the investment and business environment, with particular attention to closely monitoring credit flows into potentially high-risk sectors.

In addition, the Prime Minister directed the banking sector to remain at the forefront of digital transformation and innovation, investing adequately in backup data systems and multi-layer security solutions to safeguard customer information and assets. He stressed the need to continue restructuring weak credit institutions, strictly control credit quality and non-performing loans, and intensify inspection, supervision and anti-money laundering efforts in order to promptly detect, prevent and handle risks and violations, thereby maintaining discipline and security in the monetary and banking markets.

The Government leader expressed his belief that the banking sector would continue to serve as one of the economy’s pioneers, making an important contribution to achieving double-digit growth and realizing Vietnam’s long-term strategic development goals toward a strong and prosperous nation.

SBV receives applications from nine firms seeking gold bar production licenses

VOV.VN - The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has received applications from nine enterprises seeking licenses to produce gold bars, said Dao Xuan Tuan, Head of the SBV’s Foreign Exchange Management Department at a press briefing on banking sector performance in 2025 and tasks for 2026, held in Hanoi on December 29.