VietNamNet Bridge - The government’s efforts to slash lending interest rates to make it easier for businesses to access bank loans may have been in vain as banks have begun raising deposit interest rates.

 VietNamNet Bridge - The total assets of the banking system reached nearly $310 billion last year, up 12.2% compared to 2013, State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has reported.

The Vietnam Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank) will merge with Petrolimex Group Commercial Joint Stock Bank (PG Bank) in the third quarter of this year, said Nguyen Van Thang, Chairman of Vietinbank's Board of Directors.

 VietNamNet Bridge – How will the position of the three state commercial joint stock banks in Vietnam - Vietinbank, Vietcombank, BIDV - change after their mergers?

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 – Vietinbank and Vietcombank, assessed at $197 million and $157 million, respectively, are among the top 500 banking brands worldwide, Brand Finance announced yesterday.

VietNamNet Bridge – Four state-owned commercial banks are considered the big guys in the banking sector, but there is no Number 1 bank.

 The Viet Nam Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) will soon announce its plan to merge with the Petrolimex Group Commercial Joint Stock Bank (PG Bank).

 The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) wants Vietinbank and Vietcombank to become the leading banks of Viet Nam, and boost their scale at the regional level.

 The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has allowed the Vietnam Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) to incorporate a subsidiary in Laos with total chartered capital of US$50 million.

 The Viet Nam Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) will list all shares owned by the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) on the HCM City Stock Exchange soon.

The appeal court upheld the life imprisonment sentence for Huynh Thi Huyen Nhu, former deputy chief of the Risk Management Department of the Ho Chi Minh City branch of Vietinbank, on January 7.

 Vietnam wins legal dispute; Vietnam Airlines operates over 118,000 safe flights in 2014; Massive fire in Quang Binh market destroys kiosks; Son La smashes 850 drug trafficking cases; HCM City's outstanding young citizens honoured

The Supreme People’s Procuracy in HCMC on December 25 told VietinBank to pay back $46.7 million deposited at the bank by five corporates but expropriated by Huynh Thi Huyen Nhu, former deputy chief of the risk management department of the lender.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Gold, vegetables and a bank feature in the story of Le Thi Bich Thuy, a customer at VietinBank who received the paltry sum of VND4,385 for a deposit made 30 years ago.

Overseas remittances to hit US$12 billion in 2014; Electronics, appliance sales surge to 1.3 billion USD; Quang Ngai’s Dung Quat economic zone attracts investment flows; Shutdowns exceed 60,000 in 11 months

Vietnam joins Summer Davos forum 2014; Vietnam issues rules for securities lending; Foreign banks offer syndicated loan to VietinBank; Building materials industry under realignment; Vung Ro oil refinery to turn out first products in 2020

Vietinbank pledges $81.9m for highway; Businesses unaware of competition rules; Outlook positive for local markets; HCM City hosts Int’l franchise exhibition; Vietnam to cut tax paperwork to 171 hours in 2015; Korean coffee shop chain enters Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Asia Commercial Bank has persistently declined to act as a civil plaintiff in the case of the bank’s former vice chairman Nguyen Duc Kien and is taking legal action against Vietnam Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade

 First Vietnamese business receives GTB Innovation Award; Trade surplus rises to over US$2 billion; Exports to Israel nearly double; Int’l cashew nut processors convene in Ba Ria-Vung Tau;