Banks loosen credit "valves", ready to support priority sectors

Reducing lending interest rates, simplifying procedures and developing flexible credit products are key solutions that the banking system in Can Tho City has vigorously implemented in the first half of 2025. Capital flows are effectively focused on areas of strength along with regular and effective bank-business connection activities, creating conditions for people and businesses to promptly access preferential capital sources to maintain and restore production and business activities.

Rice processing line for export of Trung An High-Tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company.

Credit quality assurance

According to Mr. Tran Quoc Ha, Acting Director of the State Bank Branch 14, there are 104 credit institutions in Can Tho City (new). In the first 6 months of 2025, the State Bank Branch 14 has directed credit institutions in the area to strengthen capital mobilization solutions, focus credit capital on lending to production and business sectors and priority sectors, and implement solutions to remove difficulties in credit relations with customers. Currently, credit capital flows are in line with the industry's orientation, focusing mainly on priority sectors, lending to industries and strong products of the city such as rice, seafood, etc. In accordance with the policies of the Government and the State Bank, credit institutions in the area have reduced lending interest rates, creating favorable conditions to support businesses and people to overcome difficulties to recover and develop production and business activities.

By June 30, 2025, the total mobilized capital in Can Tho City was VND 216,438 billion, an increase of 3.43% compared to the end of 2024. The mobilized capital met 70.16% of the credit capital demand in the area. The total outstanding loans in the area were VND 308,477 billion, an increase of 6.85% compared to the end of 2024. Bad debt in the area accounted for 2.62% of the total outstanding loans. By the end of June, agricultural and rural credit accounted for 40.73% of the total outstanding loans, an increase of 14.32% compared to the end of 2024; export credit accounted for 9.39% of the total outstanding loans, an increase of 16.48%, small and medium enterprise credit accounted for 16.35% of the total outstanding loans, etc.

Banking activities in the area have remained stable, achieved positive results, contributed to the implementation of monetary policy and made positive contributions to the socio-economic development of Can Tho City. According to Mr. Tran Quoc Dien, Deputy Director of Agribank Hau Giang Branch, the branch's outstanding credit balance as of July 23, 2025 was VND 17,833 billion, an increase of 9.8% compared to the beginning of 2025. Outstanding loans for the agricultural and rural sectors in the area reached VND 14,394 billion, accounting for 80.7% of the branch's total outstanding loans. The bad debt ratio is 0.7% and has remained below 1.0%, and has been stably controlled over the years. Short-term lending interest rates in VND for the agricultural and rural sectors are usually from 6-8%/year. The branch also implements many specific credit programs to support businesses and people to invest in developing some of the region's key agricultural products such as rice, seafood, fruit trees, etc.; encourages the development of high-tech agriculture and clean agriculture according to the Government's policies and directions; supports people and businesses to invest in purchasing machinery and equipment for production.

Direct capital flow into investment and production

In the last months of the year, the State Bank Branch Region 14 will continue to closely monitor the socio-economic situation; closely follow the contents of the direction and management of monetary and credit policies according to the orientation of the State Bank; direct credit institutions in the area to continue investing capital in credit programs and policies serving production and business... to contribute to supporting economic growth.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Trung, Director of Vietinbank Can Tho Branch, Vietinbank is continuing to simplify loan procedures through digital transformation and technology application in credit activities, helping customers in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fishery to access capital conveniently and quickly. At the same time, developing flexible credit products, suitable for the characteristics of each type of agricultural production such as value chain loans, production linkage loans, loans for high-tech agricultural projects.

In general, the agricultural, forestry and fishery sector is the economic pillar of the Mekong Delta in general and Can Tho City in particular. Accompanying and removing difficulties for people and businesses in this sector is not only the responsibility of the banking sector but also a commitment to accompany sustainable development. Therefore, VietinBank Can Tho commits to continue to closely follow the direction of the Government and the State Bank to research and develop financial products, innovate and create to best accompany customers, contributing to promoting the development of local agriculture in a modern, effective and sustainable manner.

According to Mr. Tran Quoc Ha, credit institutions need to effectively mobilize idle capital sources in the economy, ensuring adequate and timely response to capital needs of people and businesses; implementing solutions for safe and effective credit growth, improving credit quality, controlling and handling bad debts. At the same time, credit growth must be safe, effective, in accordance with legal regulations, ensuring liquidity risk management and related risks.

Mr. Tran Quoc Ha requested that credit institutions continue to support and facilitate customers to access bank credit capital on the basis of reviewing, simplifying and shortening processes and procedures, increasing the application of technology and digital transformation in the credit granting process to speed up the processing time of customer requests. Strengthen risk control in credit granting activities, improve credit assessment and appraisal capacity, promptly detect and strictly handle cases of law violations, regularly inspect, monitor and evaluate the use of loans, the repayment capacity of customers, especially customers in potentially risky areas, customers and related people with large outstanding debts.

At the conference "Promoting credit growth in Can Tho City" recently organized by the State Bank of Vietnam, Branch 14, Mr. Vuong Quoc Nam, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee, proposed that the city's banking sector firmly adhere to the credit growth target of 16% to actively contribute to the city's GRDP growth rate of over 10% in 2025. Banks need to be determined and bold in providing capital to businesses, supporting investment, business, controlling credit growth, ensuring diverse forms of capital mobilization; paying attention to credit growth in the area, especially housing credit, loans to buy social housing for young people under 35 years old. It is necessary to pay attention to credit investment in priority areas, consumer credit, and management to improve credit quality; Pay attention to credit guarantees and support access to capital for small and medium enterprises, startups, etc. In addition, the State Bank of Vietnam, Regional Branch 14, needs to continue directing credit institutions in the area to complete the 2025 business plan targets to effectively contribute to the city's socio-economic development.

Article and photos: MINH HUYEN

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/ngan-hang-noi-van-tin-dung-sn-sang-tiep-suc-cho-cac-linh-vuc-uu-tien-a189247.html