Co-opBank Thai Binh: The journey of bringing digital banking to the villages.

In the context of the nationwide digital transformation, the Vietnam Cooperative Bank (Co-opBank) Thai Binh branch not only supports people's credit funds (PCFs) in improving their financial and management capacity and digital transformation, but more importantly, through the PCF system, has developed digital banking services for beneficiaries of social welfare and retirement schemes in Thai Binh province…

Pham Huy Phuong, Director of Co-opBank's Thai Binh branch, stated: "Where Party committees and leaders pay due attention to and value emulation and reward activities, considering them as a driving force and an effective and positive measure in directing and leading the implementation of their unit's business tasks, the emulation movement will develop strongly and achieve practical results." This is the experience gained from implementing the emulation movement at Co-opBank Thai Binh in recent times.

Therefore, in addition to regularly and continuously organizing emulation movements, the branch leadership has directed that emulation and reward activities must be linked to assigned political tasks to build specific plans, content, and objectives for emulation, and must propose positive measures according to each appropriate theme. Emulation should be conducted in a spirit of solidarity and with close coordination between the Party, government, and mass organizations, and with the dedicated efforts of each employee in the branch participating in the emulation movement. At the same time, the branch focuses on improving the quality of rewards, making the reward system a driving force to commend and acknowledge the achievements of each individual and collective, paying attention to identifying, developing, and replicating advanced models. “Rewards must be timely, based on achievements, and given to the right recipients, ensuring transparency, democracy, and fairness in accordance with current State regulations. The honoring of achievements must be valued, and the awarding ceremonies must be solemn and practical, avoiding ostentation and formality,” Director Pham Huy Phuong stated. In particular, establishing a close and responsible relationship between the Party Committee, the government, and mass organizations within the branch has created a high level of consensus from the initiation and direction to the organization and implementation; it has fostered internal unity and the intelligence of individuals and groups throughout the branch, contributing to the successful fulfillment of the branch's political tasks.

Over the past five years, the branch has consistently performed well in its role as the central coordinating body for capital allocation within the provincial credit union system, contributing to the overall development of the system, particularly ensuring its safe and efficient operation and facilitating capital transfer to support economic development in each locality. By October 31, 2025, total capital reached VND 6,298 billion, a 237% increase compared to December 31, 2019; mobilized capital reached VND 5,929 billion, a 250% increase; total outstanding loans reached VND 1,423 billion, a 131% increase, with non-performing loans accounting for 0.024% of total outstanding loans. The branch has effectively managed capital allocation for credit unions, receiving deposits at higher interest rates than those offered to individual depositors. The branch has supported 85 credit unions to operate efficiently and achieve annual growth, thereby helping to create stable employment for thousands of local workers.

In particular, amidst the ongoing and inevitable digital transformation of the digital economy, including the banking sector – a vital part of the economy – despite its limited financial capacity, the Thai Binh branch proactively innovates, decisively and urgently researches and applies technology to compete in the digital age and aims to support the efficient and sustainable development of the People's Credit Fund system. It selects appropriate and focused solutions to optimize the effectiveness of digitalization, develop payment products and services, and strives to improve all aspects, aiming to fully meet the conditions for convenient, fast, safe, and efficient payment services. By October 31, 2025, the branch had opened 69,817 payment accounts, of which 62,084 were accounts for employees, members, and customers from People's Credit Funds who are beneficiaries of social welfare programs and pensions; the average CASA balance of individual and economic organization payment accounts in the first 10 months of 2025 reached VND 93 billion, an increase of 145% compared to the same period in 2024; the branch signed entrustment contracts to pay salaries for 1,853 employees and staff of 32 People's Credit Funds and 9 other organizations with an amount of approximately VND 9 billion each month.

The branch has signed cooperation agreements to deploy digital banking services with 80 People's Credit Funds (PCFs), of which 70 PCFs share revenue from digital banking services, totaling nearly 370 million VND in the first 10 months of 2025. To date, most of the branch's customers have changed their habit of using cash, with the rate of transactions through digital banking channels accounting for more than 73% of total transactions, minimizing paperwork, reducing some costs, and speeding up transaction processing. Customers can transfer money quickly, repay loans, deposit savings online, pay utility bills, train tickets, plane tickets, and various service fees from anywhere.

For credit unions in the area, most transactions with Co-opBank can be conducted electronically. In particular, the policy of opening accounts for social security and pensioners has had a tremendously positive impact on the people and enhanced Co-opBank's brand. The majority of people in rural areas are now familiar with Co-opBank in general and the Thai Binh branch in particular. Through this event, people in rural areas not only have the opportunity to access and experience modern digital banking services directly but also feel the dedication and professionalism of the Co-opBank system and the credit unions. This has contributed to spreading the spirit of community service, actively implementing the Government 's policy and the province's Project 06 in promoting cashless payments, and moving towards a digital economy.

Through the branch's efforts, the image of Co-opBank and the People's Credit Funds has been widely promoted, contributing to building strong customer trust in the close relationship between the Co-opBank system and the People's Credit Funds, clearly demonstrating Co-opBank's role as "the bank of the people's credit funds".

Source: https://thoibaonganhang.vn/co-opbank-thai-binh-hanh-trinh-dua-ngan-hang-so-ve-lang-173927.html