Announcement of the 2026 Banking Industry Digital Transformation Event
On August 11, 2026, in Hanoi, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) held a press conference to announce the 2026 Banking Sector Digital Transformation Event.
Digital Transformation Is Comprehensively Changing Banking Operations
As the lifeblood of the economy, the banking sector has always been at the forefront of the nation’s digital transformation process. The achievements made have not only comprehensively transformed the sector’s internal operations but have also created a powerful impetus, bringing tangible benefits to the people, businesses, and the entire economy.
The most striking milestone—and the clearest measure of this success—is the cashless payment revolution. To date, most banking services are conducted through digital channels. Many banks have achieved a 95% rate of transactions processed via digital channels. In the first six months of 2026, cashless payment activity continued to maintain positive growth compared to the same period in 2025. Accordingly, the total volume of cashless payment transactions reached over 15 billion transactions with a total value exceeding 190 million trillion dong, an increase of 34.28% in volume and 12.24% in value. The average transaction value reached 1.05 million billion VND, equivalent to 40 billion USD per day.
This is one of the standout results of the process by which banks have been building a smart digital ecosystem with cross-sector connectivity. Rather than operating independently, the banking system is now deeply and broadly integrated with sectors such as telecommunications, e-commerce, and public administrative services... Using a single banking app on a smartphone, individuals and businesses can fully meet their daily needs—from paying bills and filing taxes to applying for loans…
“This seamless connectivity not only optimizes the user experience but also significantly reduces transaction costs and time for society as a whole,” Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hai affirmed.
To create a transparent and flexible legal environment that facilitates the strong application of science and technology and promotes digital transformation across the entire banking sector, Mr. Hoang Minh Tien, Deputy Director of the Information Technology Department, of the SBV, stated that, in line with the principle that “institutional frameworks must take the lead to pave the way for innovation,” the SBV has gradually improved the legal framework, proactively conducted research, provided recommendations to the relevant authorities, and directly issued numerous legal documents to remove bottlenecks and promote the application of information technology, digital transformation, and cashless payments.
The event will be held over two days, August 18–19, 2026, at the I.C.E Hanoi International Exhibition Center, 91 Tran Hung Dao Street, Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi. Specifically, the opening ceremony and main seminar will take place on the morning of August 18, 2026; the exhibition area will be open to the public and businesses for viewing and experiencing products and services until noon on August 19, 2026.
The event is expected to attract approximately 324 delegates and feature about 21 booths from financial institutions, payment intermediary service providers, and technology companies.
In addition, a system of guiding circulars, and directives on electronic transactions and ensuring information security and safety in banking operations are regularly and comprehensively updated, enabling the full digitization of processes ranging from account opening, biometric verification, loan services, guarantee issuance, payments, to savings deposits.... All of these can be conducted online.
The interbank electronic payment system operates smoothly, securely, and efficiently. The financial switching and electronic clearing system, operated by Vietnam National Payment Corporation (NAPAS), continues to be strengthened through the integration and connection of products and and platform services with various industries and sectors to deliver public services through the National Public Service Portal, focusing on areas such as healthcare, education, and transportation.
In addition, the digital payment infrastructure has developed, expanding the scope of bilateral retail payment connectivity via QR codes to countries in the region such as Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, China, South Korea, and Singapore; prioritizing investment in and upgrading new data infrastructure to enhance the efficiency of management and the development of products and services; and ensuring that data is “accurate, complete, clean, and up-to-date,” with a unified, shared data system.
One of the landmark achievements was the close coordination with agencies of the Ministry of Public Security to clean up data in accordance with Project 06. To date, the banking sector as a whole has verified biometric information for over 167.8 million individual customer records and over 2.78 million corporate customer records with payment accounts using chip-enabled national ID cards or the VNeID app.
“This large-scale data integration and utilization not only helps improve service quality but also eliminates inactive accounts and effectively prevents identity theft and financial fraud,” Mr. Hoang Minh Tien affirmed.
Building and Serving the People, Businesses, and the Economy
To reflect on the banking sector’s digital transformation journey, assess the achievements made, and lay the foundation for the next phase of development, the Acting Editor-in-Chief of the Banking Times noted that 2026 marks the fifth consecutive year that the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has organized the Banking Sector Digital Transformation event series, and also marks the five-year milestone of implementing the Digital Transformation Plan under SBV Decision No. 810 and continuing to carry out the Digital Transformation Strategy through 2030 under SBV Decision No. 3579.
In line with the spirit of Resolution No. 57/NQ-TW of the Politburo and the Government’s guidelines on the development of data and artificial intelligence, this year’s event carries the theme: “Smart Banking in the Era of Data and AI,” with the overarching message: “Data Leads the Way, AI Accompanies, Banking Builds the Digital Ecosystem.”
Sharing the rationale behind this theme and message, Mr. Le Anh Dung, Deputy Director of the Payment Department, of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), stated that the theme not only positions the Vietnamese banking sector within a development phase shaped and driven by data and AI but also embodies the spirit of Politburo Resolution No. 57/NQ-TW and the government’s national digital transformation strategies. In this context, the development of artificial intelligence and the data economy are major priorities and key components.
The message “Banks Building a Digital Ecosystem” conveys the banking sector’s aspiration to serve the people and businesses. It affirms the commitment to building an open, inclusive financial ecosystem that leverages technology and centers on the people and businesses to understand their needs, accompany them on their journey, and serve them. At the same time, this year’s event theme also emphasizes deep and extensive domestic and cross-border connectivity to deliver new value.
“Through this event, the most important message the banking sector wants to convey is that digital transformation is not just about technology; above all, it is about serving people. Data and AI are ultimately just tools; the ultimate goal remains to provide superior convenience and experiences for customers and deliver tangible value to society,” Mr. Le Anh Dung affirmed.
