Average compensation for bank employees in Vietnam has climbed sharply, with MB and TPBank both paying more than VND57 million (about US$2,290) per employee each month in the first half of 2026. The latest rankings also reveal a major reshuffle, as several banks that traditionally led the salary table have lost their top positions.

Separate financial statements from 27 domestic commercial banks (excluding Agribank, PVcomBank, BaoViet Bank, SCB, MBV, Vikki Bank, GPBank and VCBNeo) show that many lenders significantly increased employee compensation during the first six months of 2026, lifting average monthly income by tens of millions of dong at some institutions.

Among the 27 banks surveyed, 15 raised employee compensation during the period. TPBank and MB posted the strongest increases, while MB and TPBank ranked first and second, respectively, in terms of average employee income.

At TPBank, average monthly compensation, including salary and bonuses, jumped by VND21.77 million (US$860) to VND57.77 million (US$2,290) per employee during the first half of the year.

MB also recorded a substantial increase, with average monthly compensation rising by VND17.62 million (US$700) to VND57.93 million (US$2,300) per employee, making it the highest-paying bank in the system.

Sacombank reported a notable rise in employee compensation despite reducing its workforce by more than 3,700 employees compared with the end of 2025. Staff earned an average of VND44 million (US$1,740) per month during the first half of 2026, nearly VND14 million (US$550) higher than the previous year's average.

State-owned banking giant Vietcombank also made a strong leap, with employees receiving an average monthly income of VND52.6 million (US$2,090), up VND10.6 million (US$420) from the 2025 average.

Vietcombank now ranks third in average employee compensation, behind MB and TPBank. Apart from these three lenders, no other bank currently offers average monthly compensation exceeding VND50 million (US$1,980).

LPBank also recorded a significant increase. Average monthly compensation rose by VND9.3 million (US$370) to nearly VND37 million (US$1,460) per employee.

Other banks reporting higher average employee income compared with the 2025 average include ACB, VietBank, PGBank, BVBank, SeABank, MSB, OCB, Nam A Bank, Viet A Bank and Bac A Bank.

Most banks that increased employee compensation also posted stronger business performance in the second quarter. BVBank, for example, reported pre-tax profit of VND332 billion (US$13.2 million), up 24.5 times year-on-year, allowing the lender to complete 78% of its full-year profit target.

Among the highest-paying banks, following MB, TPBank and Vietcombank are Techcombank with average monthly compensation of VND46 million (around US$1,820), VietinBank at VND45.56 million (US$1,810), Sacombank at VND44.17 million (US$1,750) and ACB at VND40.33 million (US$1,600).

ACB recorded the widest gap between base salary and total compensation. Although average monthly compensation reached VND40.33 million (about US$1,600), the average base salary stood at only VND14.6 million (US$580). Compared with the 2025 average, total monthly compensation increased by VND2.58 million (US$100).

Across the 27 banks surveyed, average employee compensation generally ranged between VND30 million and VND40 million (US$1,190–1,580) per month. Banks in this group include BIDV at VND38.78 million, NCB at VND38.77 million, LPBank at VND36.95 million, VIB at VND36.55 million, VPBank at VND35.7 million, MSB at VND35.2 million, SHB at VND35 million, HDBank at VND34.5 million, ABBank at VND34 million and SeABank at VND33.5 million.

Among them, LPBank posted one of the strongest increases, with average monthly employee compensation rising by VND9.3 million compared with the 2025 average.

In contrast, SHB's average employee compensation fell by VND7 million (US$280) per month from the previous year's average. However, employee compensation at SHB typically rises significantly in the second half of the year.

Notably, two major private-sector lenders, Techcombank and VPBank, also reported lower employee compensation. Average monthly income declined by VND1 million (US$40) at Techcombank and VND5.4 million (US$210) at VPBank, leaving their averages at VND46 million and VND35.7 million, respectively.

Despite maintaining average employee compensation close to VND50 million (US$1,980) per month, Techcombank no longer holds the top position it occupied in previous years.

As a result, the top 10 ranking for average employee compensation has changed significantly compared with 2025. Last year's order was Techcombank, VietinBank, BIDV, SHB, Vietcombank, VPBank, MB, NCB, HDBank and ACB.

However, the previous ranking could return in the second half of the year, when banks release their full-year financial statements detailing total employee compensation.

Another notable finding is that none of the 27 banks surveyed reported average employee compensation below VND20 million (US$790) per month. Saigonbank and VietBank currently rank as the lowest-paying banks in the system, with average monthly compensation of VND20 million (US$790) and VND20.45 million (US$810) per employee, respectively.

Average monthly bank employee compensation in the first half of 2026

Tuan Nguyen