Agribank implements ESG comprehensively: from green capital to community security

In the context of Vietnam aiming for a net zero emission target by 2050, sustainable development has become the country’s strategic orientation. As a key state-owned commercial bank in the “three agriculture” sector, the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) has chosen a special path to fulfill its social responsibility - by “greening” credit flows, making sustainable development a core value in all business activities.

Green capital flow

Being closely attached to “agriculture, forestry, fishery, and agriculture”, Agribank has always steadfastly implemented policies on green banking, green credit, and sustainable growth, considering compliance with ESG (Environment - Society - Governance) standards as both a strategic requirement and a competitive advantage in the context of green transformation.

Faced with the challenge of climate change, Agribank proactively shifted capital flows from “brown” sectors (energy-intensive, polluting) to “green” projects and production models that are environmentally friendly. By the second quarter of 2025, Agribank’s green credit balance reached nearly VND 29,000 billion, growing steadily year by year; of which renewable energy accounted for 53% (over VND 15,000 billion), sustainable forestry about VND 6,900 billion, and green agriculture more than VND 6,500 billion.

Agribank proactively shifts capital flows from “brown” to “green” sectors, focusing on renewable energy projects, sustainable forestry and clean agriculture.

Along with that, Agribank implemented the preferential credit program "Clean agriculture for community health" with a minimum scale of 50,000 billion VND, promoting safe, circular agricultural production, applying high technology. In particular, being assigned by the Government to provide credit for the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta by 2030 further affirms Agribank's pivotal role in transforming agriculture to adapt to climate change.

Not only is it a preferential source of capital, Agribank's green credit lines also demonstrate its determination to develop green agriculture and green countryside, contributing to ensuring food security, increasing the value of agricultural products and moving towards sustainable agriculture for community health.

The embodiment of social responsibility

In addition to financial instruments, Agribank's green capital also carries profound humanistic values ​​in creating sustainable livelihoods, creating jobs, improving people's lives and narrowing regional gaps.

Through a network of more than 2,200 branches, more than 64,000 lending groups with nearly 1.5 million members, and dozens of mobile transaction vehicles covering hundreds of communes across the country, Agribank brings capital to people in remote and isolated areas, ensuring fairness in financial access. The Bank is the key unit implementing 07 policy credit programs and 02 National Target Programs (New Rural Development, Sustainable Poverty Reduction), directly contributing to realizing the motto "no one is left behind".

Mobile banking vehicles contribute to bringing Agribank capital to each village

In addition to credit activities, Agribank spends hundreds of billions of VND each year on social security work. According to the bank's announcement, on average, Agribank invests about 500-600 billion VND/year in social security activities. Since the beginning of 2025, Agribank has spent nearly 60 billion VND on disaster relief support out of a total of more than 400 billion VND spent on social security programs nationwide.

Not only oriented to society, the culture of “For a green future” is also cultivated from within the system. The movement “Agribank - For a green future” spreads widely among the team of nearly 40,000 officers and employees, through tree planting activities, environmental running, and energy saving. “Green seeds” are sown from awareness to action, forming a responsible, humane and sustainable corporate culture.

Sustainable governance standards, a foundation for action

Along with developing green credit and spreading social values, Agribank pays special attention to the governance factor, the core foundation in the ESG criteria set. Because only with a transparent, effective and honest governance system can green development and sustainable development goals be realized in a sustainable and long-term manner.

Realizing this, Agribank has developed and implemented regulations on environmental and social risk management (ESMS) in credit granting activities, and is closely integrating this system into the credit appraisal, approval and monitoring process. Each loan and each project is considered not only in terms of finance but also in terms of its environmental and social impacts, ensuring that capital is used for the right purposes, avoiding activities that harm the ecology, community or violate sustainable development commitments.

Projects considered for loans by Agribank are not only based on financial aspects but also on environmental and social impacts.

In addition, Agribank is standardizing its corporate governance system according to advanced international practices, such as ESG Reporting, IFRS International Accounting Standards, and OECD Corporate Governance Guidelines. The principles of disclosure, transparency, accountability, and professional ethics are deeply integrated into internal culture and operating processes. The internal control system, independent audit, and comprehensive risk management are regularly strengthened, helping Agribank maintain stability, safety, and customer trust, especially in the context of digital transformation and international financial integration.

Not stopping there, Agribank also plays a bridging role in attracting international capital for green development. The Bank actively cooperates with financial institutions, investment funds and multilateral development institutions such as the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Green Climate Fund (GCF) to mobilize ODA capital and green finance funds. These resources are being deployed for many projects to respond to climate change, develop renewable energy, circular agriculture and green infrastructure in key localities.

Attracting, managing and effectively allocating international capital sources not only demonstrates Agribank's integration capacity and reputation, but also affirms the strategic vision of a pioneering State bank in implementing Vietnam's Net Zero commitment. Agribank is gradually transforming its governance from a traditional model to a sustainable value-based development model, where economic profits go hand in hand with social benefits and environmental responsibility.

Action for a green future

From “farmer’s bank” to “community bank”, Agribank’s journey of nearly four decades has always been associated with the mission of serving the country’s development, improving people’s lives and protecting the ecological environment. The credit capital that Agribank persistently brings to each rural area and each production household is not only a financial resource but also a source of social energy, contributing to the creation of prosperous agriculture, innovative rural areas, and civilized farmers, the three basic pillars of a green economy.

A wind power project with loan from Agribank

Maintaining its role as a key bank in the “three agriculture” sector, Agribank continues to affirm its pioneering position in implementing ESG standards, realizing the goals: Green development - Green finance - Green society. The entire system is simultaneously implementing specific action programs such as promoting green credit, reducing internal emissions, sustainable digital transformation and integrating ESG criteria into performance evaluation and emulation and rewards.

These actions demonstrate Agribank’s strong commitment to greening all banking activities, from products and services to operational management. Not only accompanying customers and the community, Agribank also proactively works with the Government to realize international commitments on sustainable development and greenhouse gas emission reduction, towards the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

On that journey, social responsibility, professional ethics and human values ​​are always placed at the center. Through practical actions, Agribank not only cultivates the trust of tens of millions of customers but also contributes to spreading the image of a State-owned commercial bank for people, for the environment and for the green future of Vietnam.

Source: https://thoibaonganhang.vn/agribank-thuc-thi-esg-toan-dien-tu-von-xanh-den-an-sinh-cong-dong-173174.html