Few years ago, the highest rate of dividend payout was only 9 per cent. The threshold was also the cap that the central bank allowed commercial banks to pay as dividends for shareholders.

However, the situation is quite different this year with banks escaping from the regulation and paying dividends depending on their business performance. During the AGMs this year, many banks approved to pay high dividends, mainly by shares. This is good news for shareholders as the banking share price has risen sharply over the past year and still has a positive outlook.

The highest dividend payout so far has been reported at VPBank. At its recent AGM, the bank approved to pay dividends and bonus shares at the impressive rate of 67 per cent for 2017, a record high in the banking industry. The bank also said the dividend payout ratio this year would be more than 60 per cent if the bank achieved a profit of more than VND10 trillion (US$440.5 million).

VIB also approved the 2017 dividend payment plan for shareholders at its recent AGM, with 5 per cent in cash and 31 per cent in shares.

In the previous years, MB’s dividend payout ratio was some 10 per cent. But at this AGM, the bank announced the 2017 ratio at 25 per cent.

High dividend payout rates were also reported at LienVietPostBank with 15 per cent against 10 per cent last year, and OCB with 14.2 per cent.

According to TP Bank chairman Do Minh Phu, besides the plan of IPO (initial public offering) on April 19 and offering of 15 per cent of shares to investors, the bank may pay dividends this year at the rate of 28 per cent.

HDBank will conduct its AGM on April 21, when its board of directors is expected to submit to shareholders plans to pay dividends at 25-30 per cent. If being approved, this will be the highest dividend the bank has ever paid.

According to experts, besides making shareholders happy, the dividend payout in shares also helps banks to increase charter capital, improve their financial capacity and meet Basel II standards. — VNS