Integrating ESG as a core development strategy

As sustainable finance becomes a global trend, fully implementing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria in credit activities, investment, and bank management is a core strategy for banks to enhance credit quality, mitigate risks, and effectively attract green capital from international financial institutions.

Recognizing this importance, VietinBank has incorporated ESG into its medium and long-term development strategy, aligning it with credit activities, risk management, and growth orientation. The bank publicly announces its sustainable development goals and commitments, forming the foundation for implementing green financial activities.

To actualize this direction, VietinBank developed a Sustainable Finance Framework, which serves as the guiding principle for financing and managing the bank's green financial assets. Morningstar Sustainalytics rated this framework as "credible and impactful."

Alongside completing its strategic framework, VietinBank also established an ESG implementation apparatus across its entire system. A Steering Committee for Sustainable Development was formed with the participation of Board of Directors and Board of Management leaders to ensure that ESG-related decisions are driven at the highest level. The ESG and Sustainable Finance Coordination Department coordinates ESG activities throughout the system, while ESG personnel are also deployed at branches nationwide, creating a foundation for the synchronous implementation of sustainable development standards.

At the Vietnam Economic Forum 2025 - Outlook 2026, Le Thanh Tung, a Board Member of VietinBank, stated that the bank identifies green transformation as a key strategy aimed at achieving safe, effective, and sustainable development.

Le Thanh Tung, Board Member of VietinBank. Photo: VietinBank

Developing a green financial ecosystem

In parallel with building a strategic foundation, VietinBank has launched many financial products and solutions targeting green economic sectors.

The bank introduced the Green Up green finance package, valued at 5,000 billion dong, providing preferential capital for clean energy projects, green exports, green buildings, green transportation, and the circular economy.

Additionally, the V-Green Power Up package, with a scale of 4,000 billion dong, was deployed to fund the V-Green electric vehicle charging station system, contributing to the development of green transportation infrastructure.

In agriculture, VietinBank participates in financing the one million hectare high-quality, low-emission rice project in the Mekong Delta. It also develops financial solutions for renewable energy projects, rooftop solar power, and waste-to-energy facilities.

In the retail segment, the bank implements solutions to promote digital payments and reduce operational emissions. VietinBank is one of the units connecting automatic train ticket payments using bank cards. It also developed the digiGOLD online gold trading platform on the VietinBank iPay Mobile application. The bank also links social welfare payment accounts with the VNeID application, helping users conduct transactions more conveniently and reducing paperwork.

Tran Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of Corporate Banking Division, VietinBank. Photo: VietinBank

Alongside green credit activities, VietinBank develops green deposit products to mobilize capital for sustainable development projects. The bank also strengthens cooperation with international financial organizations such as ADB, MUFG, JBIC, to prepare for green capital mobilization and green bond issuance when market conditions are favorable.

"For many years, VietinBank has collaborated with international organizations to implement green credit. After Vietnam committed to the NetZero goal by 2050 at COP26, green credit activities at VietinBank have been increasingly promoted," shared Tran Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of Corporate Banking Division, VietinBank.

For these efforts, IDG Vietnam honored VietinBank as "Outstanding Green Credit Bank 2025," marking the second consecutive year receiving this award. These steps demonstrate that ESG is a long-term development orientation for VietinBank, implemented from strategy to products and business operations. Through this, the bank contributes to promoting green finance and the sustainable transformation of the economy.

Minh Ngoc