Flexible savings

Many people save money out of habit, while simply changing their method, especially by utilizing online channels, can help their money earn better returns while maintaining control and flexibility.

Ms. Tran Bich Le, residing in Rach Gia ward, used to think that saving money was simple; just deposit it into a bank when you had money, choose a long term to enjoy high interest rates. However, when her family urgently needed 20 million VND to handle an unexpected matter, she was forced to withdraw her entire 200 million VND savings account prematurely. As a result, the money that should have earned over 7% interest per year was reduced to less than 1% per year, the rate for non-term deposits. "Just because I needed a small amount, I lost almost all of my year's interest," Ms. Le said.

Online savings accounts help people proactively manage their cash flow and optimize interest rates. Photo: AN LAM

Ms. Le's story is not uncommon. According to financial experts, a common mistake many people make when depositing savings is putting all their money into a single long-term account without considering unexpected expenses. When they need money, they are forced to withdraw it early, meaning they lose a large portion of their profits.

One simple yet effective solution is to divide your savings into multiple accounts. Instead of depositing all your money into one account, you can split it into 3-5 accounts with different terms such as 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. This method ensures that you always have a portion of your money ready for regular maturity, without affecting the entire amount. Ms. Tran Thi My Ni, Deputy Head of Business Development Department at Vikki Bank Limited, Kien Giang branch, stated: “Dividing your savings also helps preserve interest on the portion of money you don't need to use. For example, if you divide 200 million VND into 4 accounts, each with 50 million VND, when you need 20 million VND, you only need to close one account. The remaining 3 accounts will continue to earn interest at the initially agreed rate.”

Currently, savings interest rates at many banks range from approximately 3.5% to 4.75% per year for short-term deposits (1-6 months), 5% to 6.5% per year for long-term deposits (6-12 months), and 5.2% to 7% per year for terms over 12 months. This difference shows that, with proper allocation across different terms, depositors can both take advantage of high interest rates and ensure flexible cash flow.

Furthermore, the trend of online savings is becoming increasingly popular due to its convenience and more attractive interest rates. Mr. Phan Van Phu, residing in An Minh commune, chose to deposit money through a banking app instead of going to the counter. With 650 million VND, he divided it into two accounts and deposited them online for different terms. Thanks to online interest rates being typically 0.2-0.5 percentage points higher than at the counter, he earns a significant amount of extra interest each year. "Managing everything on my phone allows me to easily monitor, renew, or adjust my deposits at any time. It only takes a few minutes to rearrange my cash flow, which is very convenient while still maximizing my profits," Mr. Phu said.

According to financial experts, another important factor is clearly defining savings goals. Instead of pooling all the money together, depositors can separate it into individual goals such as emergency funds, major purchases, or long-term savings. Each goal corresponds to a separate savings account, making it easier to track and preventing misuse.

New regulations on special loans

The State Bank of Vietnam has just issued Circular No. 02/2026/TT-NHNN, amending and supplementing some provisions of Circular No. 35/2025/TT-NHNN on special lending to credit institutions. The Circular takes effect from May 1, 2026.

According to the new regulations, the preferential policy continues to be maintained with a 0% annual interest rate on the principal of special loans, and no interest is applied to overdue interest payments. This regulation aims to support organizations in urgent situations and reduce financial cost pressure.

The circular also stipulates strict procedures for borrowing, disbursing, and repaying loans. When needed, the deposit insurance organization must submit a complete application to the State Bank of Vietnam, clearly stating the amount, purpose, term of the loan, and a commitment to use the funds in accordance with regulations. Within a maximum of 20 working days from the date of receiving the complete application, the State Bank will review and decide on the loan.

AN LAM

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/gui-tiet-kiem-linh-hoat-a484579.html