When commercial banks complained at a meeting held in HCM City two weeks ago that they had no more debts to sell as requested, the State Bank replied that it was sure the bad debt ratio was not lower than VND300 trillion.

VietNamNet Bridge - Increasing demand for loans in Vietnamese dong has caused the lending interest rate to rise, while the stock market has been hurt by US dollar appreciation. 

VietNamNet Bridge - The dollar prices quoted by commercial banks are approaching the ceiling level. Sources says the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) will release a “strong message” on the exchange rate policy.

VietNamNet Bridge - At least 3.25 percent of the total outstanding loans at banks non-performing loans (NPL) at Vietnamese banks as of December 31, as reported by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

VietNamNet Bridge - It is still unclear how GP Bank will restructure itself: will it be nationalized by the State Bank or successfully call for more capital?

VietNamNet Bridge - The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has released an ultimatum for commercial banks that they must sell all their bad debts by the end of the third quarter of 2015.

Commercial banks have postponed listing their shares on the bourse, as requested by the State Bank (SBV) in an effort to make banking operations transparent.

VietNamNet Bridge - Commercial banks have shown determination to increase lending in 2015, while businesses are believed to have better conditions to apply for loans. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's central bank's plans to consolidate the country's banking system, and introduce new rules involving ownership structure under Circular 36 are likely to benefit the sector, said Fitch Ratings.

VietNamNet Bridge - The World Gold Council (WGC) has reported that Vietnam consumed 69.1 tons of gold in 2014. However, Vietnamese experts disagree with that assessment.

Credit institutions have been forced to sell their non-performing loans (NPLs) to national debt dealer Viet Nam Asset Management Company (VAMC) to meet regulated deadlines.

VietNamNet Bridge – A Hanoian got shocked after he was told that he can receive the sum of money big enough to buy three kilos of pork after 20 years of depositing money at bank.

VietNamNet Bridge – Both VietinBank and PG Bank have confirmed their merger and acquisition (M&A) deal, as have Vietcombank and Saigon Bank, Sacombank and Southern Bank, BIDV and MHB, and Maritime Bank and MDB.

VietNamNet Bridge – Economists from Hanoi National University have urged the government to adjust the dong/dollar exchange rate, while the National Finance Supervision Council said stabilizing the exchange rate is a top priority.

VietNamNet Bridge – Commercial banks have too many functions in Vietnam, from providing loans to businesses to funding long-term infrastructure projects, from lending to fund securities investments to trading government bonds.

Only when Vietnam tightens fiscal policy and loosens monetary policy will it be able to make a breakthrough in allocating resources, which would untie the knot of the national economy, experts have said.

 Vietnam must develop its capital market to avoid the current dependence of long-term investment capital on the banking system, State Bank of Viet Nam Governor NguyenVan Binh has suggested.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Year of the Horse (2014) was a grand time for many Vietnamese businessmen.

Vietnam has decided to loosen monetary policies in 2015 in an aim to hasten national economy recovery. However, the narrowing of the gap between the dong and US dollar interest rates will worsen the dollarization situation in Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge – Currently, foreign investors can hold no more than 30 percent of shares in one Vietnamese bank, but the proportion may rise to 100 percent by 2020.