SHB marks 40 years of reform as a leading private bank in Vietnam

Vietnam’s 40-year reform and modernization process has built sufficient strength, momentum, and institutional capacity for the country to enter a new phase of development, with an emphasis on accelerating growth and achieving comprehensive breakthroughs. In this context, the financial-banking system is positioned as a key pillar of the economy, supporting capital flows to priority sectors while helping maintain system safety and monetary stability.

Vietnam’s reform progress and the role of banking

Over the past four decades, Vietnam’s socio-economic landscape has improved steadily. The article cites a 2025 GDP projection of about 510 billion USD, placing Vietnam 32nd globally. GDP per capita is reported to have exceeded 5,000 USD by 2025, moving Vietnam into the upper-middle income group. It also notes that economic structure has shifted clearly and sustainably, reflecting a more mature institutional framework, improved macro-management capacity, and higher economic resilience.

Within this broader picture, the Vietnamese banking sector has evolved from a single-tier system operating under administrative orders into a more modern and diversified architecture in both ownership and functions. The transition is described as being driven by reforms linked to macro stability, inflation control, bad-debt resolution, and safeguarding system safety.

SHB’s development approach in private banking

The article presents SHB as a representative example of a private bank that aligns its strategy with directions from the Party and the State. It describes SHB’s growth as sustainable rather than focused on “hot growth,” emphasizing financial capacity building, governance improvements, and business alignment with national development priorities.

SHB is said to have operated for more than three decades as a financial partner to enterprises, citizens, and the public sector, with nearly 600 branches nationwide. The article also states that SHB’s capital flows have tracked multiple stages of Vietnam’s economic development, including industrialization, modernization, and shifts in the growth model.

Capital allocation toward priority value chains

Rather than pursuing short-term expansion, SHB is described as focusing on long-term credit relationships with core value chains. The article says this approach supports growth while improving capital efficiency and creating spillovers to related industries.

Since the early 2000s, as Vietnam deepened integration, SHB is reported to have established strategic cooperation with major state-owned economic groups, including Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group and Vietnam Rubber Group. By 2025, the article says this cooperation orientation has expanded to include Tasco, Vietnam Chemicals Corporation, and Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co. Ltd, among others. The stated goal is to channel funding into priority sectors, align lending with supply chains, and strengthen long-term competitiveness rather than focusing only on loan volumes.

Comprehensive financial solutions and digital services

The article quotes Dr. Le Duy Binh, Director of Economica Vietnam, saying that SHB and other private banks have positioned themselves as trusted partners for Vietnam’s new development era. It highlights that private banks seek to maintain competitiveness while best serving the economy.

SHB is described as providing not only credit but also comprehensive financial solutions that combine lending, payments, cash-flow management, supply-chain financing, and digital banking. The article states that this helps enterprises optimize operations, improve capital efficiency, and adapt to digital transformation and international integration.

It also notes that SHB strengthens cooperation with public-sector units, particularly in education and healthcare, through cashless payments, salary disbursement, and digitized operations—aiming to deliver modern financial services to essential social needs and improve overall economic-social efficiency.

Retail expansion and “future bank” direction

Building on its cooperation ecosystem, the article says SHB is deepening its retail banking footprint by leveraging relationships with enterprises, large groups, and government units. It states that products and services are designed for specific customer segments, linking credit, payments, savings, investment, and digital banking to enhance customer experience and long-term value.

SHB’s strategy is described as accelerating digital transformation and moving toward a “future bank” model, with the bank positioned as a bridge connecting capital with enterprises, the public sector, and society—supporting national priority sectors and sustainable development of the private sector.

“Bank of happiness”: crisis support and social responsibility

The article frames SHB’s philosophy as being reflected in operational practice, including support during the health crisis. It says SHB implemented multiple measures such as preferential credit packages, debt rescheduling, and interest relief for hundreds of thousands of enterprises and individuals. The article adds that these measures helped enterprises maintain cash flow, reduce production disruptions, and protect livelihoods, while also contributing system-wide to reducing NPL pressure and stabilizing asset quality in the medium term.

In addition to financial support, SHB is reported to have mobilized more than VND 1,500 billion for healthcare, social welfare, and community support. The article describes this as a systemic approach to social responsibility aligned with the bank’s financial capacity.

For natural disasters, the article cites SHB’s response after Typhoon Yagi in 2024, when it cooperated with provincial Fatherland Front committees to assess needs and provide financial and moral support to help communities recover.

Outlook toward 2035

Looking ahead, the article states that from 2026 onward SHB’s development aims to maintain a strong platform—leading retail banking, digital banking, and sustainable finance—by 2035. It adds that SHB aspires to be among the top regional banks in efficiency and digital services.

Overall, the article argues that SHB’s 40-year journey illustrates how a private bank can integrate with Vietnam’s reform process, support macro stability, and develop its own distinctive role in the economy’s next phase.