Will stop dealing with customers using passports

From January 1, 2026, many banks said they will stop doing business with Vietnamese customers using passports.

Banks will stop payment transactions and withdrawals via payment accounts and cards for customers using passports as identification documents from January 1, 2026.

This is a mandatory provision stipulated in Circular 17/2024 and Circular 18/2024 of the State Bank. These two circulars take effect from July 1, 2024, except for some provisions that take effect from January 1, 2026.

Accordingly, banks will not accept passports as identification when customers who are Vietnamese citizens make payments, withdraw money or use cards. To avoid transaction interruptions, people are advised to update their information at the bank as soon as possible using a chip-embedded citizen identification card (CCCD) or electronic identification card.

The conversion is a mandatory requirement from the regulatory agency. From January 1 next year, the banking system will only process transactions when customers have successfully authenticated their identity and compared their biometric data.

Will stop dealing with customers using passports

Specifically, according to Point c, Clause 5, Article 17 of Circular 17, any withdrawal or electronic payment transaction of individual customers is only allowed to be performed when the system has correctly compared the biometric data (face/fingerprint) of the person performing the transaction with the original data. This original data must be in the encrypted storage part of the chip-embedded CCCD card, the ID card issued by the Ministry of Public Security , or has been authenticated through the electronic identification account (VNeID).

Meanwhile, the current passport, even though it is a new type, still does not meet the process of direct biometric comparison with the national population database according to the technical standards that banks apply for the new regulations. Therefore, the group of customers who are Vietnamese citizens using passports to register for accounts will not meet the legal conditions for transactions from January 1, 2026.

In addition to cash withdrawals, Circular 18 also strictly regulates the process of opening new cards. Card issuers will require customers to provide CCCD cards, ID cards or level 2 electronic identification to identify customers. This means that passports - a type of document that was widely accepted under the old Circular in 2018 - will officially "expire" in the domestic bank account authentication process for Vietnamese people.

Banks have recommended that customers visit branches or transaction offices soon to update their ID cards or citizen identification cards according to the new regulations. According to the State Bank, tightening the identification process is to ensure accuracy, enhance fraud prevention, counterfeiting and standardize data throughout the banking system.

Therefore, customers need to act soon to avoid affecting their rights because from January 1, 2026, the banking system will only allow transactions when customers have successfully authenticated their information and biometric data. Along with that, it is necessary to update personal information as soon as possible, especially for those who regularly use digital banking services, to ensure smooth transactions after January 1, 2026.

Previously, banks have issued official notices on the suspension of payment transactions and electronic withdrawals for institutional customers who have not fully updated biometric information of legal representatives after July 1, 2025.

The above changes are a drastic step by the banking industry to prevent high-tech crimes, fake accounts and financial fraud. Therefore, users need to proactively update information as soon as possible to ensure that cash flow and financial transactions are not interrupted when entering 2026.

Source: https://thoibaonganhang.vn/se-ngung-giao-dich-voi-khach-hang-su-dung-ho-chieu-174017.html