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The State Bank of Vietnam has issued Circulars 17 and 18 to tighten security and protect people’s assets from high-tech fraud by requiring stricter verification of account holders’ identity. Since the start of 2026, major banks including Vietcombank, VietinBank, Agribank, and BIDV have applied measures to freeze withdrawal and transfer transactions on accounts that do not meet the required standards. To avoid unexpected account restrictions, customers are advised to proactively check and update their information.
The suspension applies across all channels, including in-branch services, online banking apps/web, ATMs, and POS terminals. The six cases that can trigger suspension for both individual and corporate customers are:
The most notable rule change concerns individuals who use passports. Under the current approach, accounts of Vietnamese citizens registered with a passport no longer support online payment features. The stated reason is that passports do not meet the technical standards required for direct biometric data verification against the National Population Database.
Under current law, electronic transfers and payments can be processed only when facial and fingerprint data match the original data supplied by the Ministry of Public Security. This verification must be carried out through the chip-based Citizen ID card, the new ID card, or the electronic identity VNeID. As a result, passports are no longer valid as an identity method for domestic financial transactions.
For corporate groups, the process of reviewing and updating biometric data has been tightened since mid-2025. Any delay in extending documents for the legal representative or authorized person can interrupt the entire cash flow of the business, affecting operations.
To restore transaction capabilities quickly and avoid disruption, users should proactively check the expiry dates of their identity documents. If identity documents are expired or about to expire—such as old ID cards or passports—customers should visit branches of Vietcombank, VietinBank, Agribank, or BIDV to update biometric data via the chip-based Citizen ID, the new ID card, or digital identity (VNeID). Updating biometric data in a timely manner is intended to help ensure smooth and secure financial transactions.
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