At the annual general meeting on 18/4, many shareholders of MB raised concerns about the bank's credit growth, which exceeded the general market average. In 2025, MB's outstanding loans surpassed 1 quadrillion dong, marking a nearly 40% increase from the previous year and double the system's average of 19%. However, deposit mobilization grew by nearly 30% to approximately 921,400 billion dong, lagging behind the pace of credit expansion.

Responding to shareholders, Pham Nhu Anh, CEO of MB, stated that a portion of the outstanding loans was transferred to MBV Bank, a bank MB mandatorily acquired, to generate income-producing assets for MBV. He assured that the disparity between MB's deposit mobilization and lending is not a cause for concern.

The CEO also highlighted that while the bank's rapid lending growth exceeded market averages, it presents a unique opportunity for advancement. Regulators granted MB an approximately 35% increase in credit growth following its mandatory acquisition of a struggling credit institution. "This is an opportunity to accelerate our pace, expand our operations, and solidify our standing within the financial system," he affirmed.

Pham Nhu Anh, CEO of MB, addressing shareholders at the annual general meeting on 18/4. *Photo: MBB.*

MB's funding is diversified, drawing from customer deposits (market 1), equity of approximately 150,000 billion dong, USD 3 billion in international funding, and the interbank market. This diverse capital base allows the bank to maintain liquidity balance.

By the end of 2025, MB's loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) was only 79%, meaning for every 100 dong mobilized, 79 dong was lent. This level is lower than the 85% ceiling regulated by the State Bank of Vietnam. This indicates the bank's robust safety metrics. "Even as the market faced liquidity challenges from late Quarter IV/2025, MB maintained a healthy balance between lending and deposit mobilization, unlike many other institutions that had reached their regulatory limits," Anh observed.

Profit growth is closely tied to the scale of total assets and outstanding credit, given that the net interest margin (NIM) typically hovers around 3-4%. Consequently, expanding operations is a key factor for boosting profitability, according to Pham Nhu Anh. MB's leadership plans to maximize the remaining three-year period of this high growth cycle, prioritizing safety and risk control.

Despite rapid growth, MB's asset quality has improved. The non-performing loan ratio has continuously decreased over the past three years and is projected to be around 1,5% on a consolidated basis this year, with the parent bank striving for less than 1%.

Beyond credit growth, shareholders inquired about MB's strategy for the digital asset sector. MB Chairman Luu Trung Thai disclosed plans for a partnership with a foreign entity to manage digital assets.

However, he clarified that the bank's primary interest is not in operating a digital asset exchange itself, but in providing services to investors. Therefore, MB will focus on collaborating with existing digital asset exchanges, ensuring secure payment processes and cross-selling products. "Even without a direct operating license, our objective is to ensure we do not miss the opportunity to engage in this segment," Thai stated.

At the general meeting, shareholders approved MB's business plan for this year, with pre-tax profit increasing by approximately 15% compared to 2025, reaching 39,400 billion dong. Total assets are targeted to increase by 28%, surpassing the 2 quadrillion dong mark.

Trong Hieu