Amid increasingly sophisticated and complex illegal activities in the financial and banking sector, the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) continues to implement comprehensive measures to enhance the effectiveness of anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), and the prevention of activities that exploit banking services for unlawful purposes.

In compliance with legal regulations and directives from the Government and the State Bank of Vietnam on anti-money laundering, Agribank has strengthened its specialized organizational structure, enhanced risk management capacity, and reinforced control mechanisms across the system. Agribank’s Anti-Money Laundering Center has been established and put into operation to advise on and implement measures to prevent, detect, and handle transactions showing unusual signs, while coordinating with relevant units throughout the system to improve the effectiveness of management and supervision related to AML activities.

Alongside improving management mechanisms, Agribank places strong emphasis on training and capacity building for its staff. In recent years, a number of specialized training courses on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing have been organized throughout the system, equipping employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and handle related risks. Through these training and capacity-building programs, staff members—particularly frontline tellers who interact directly with customers—are regularly updated on legal regulations and emerging financial crime methods, thereby improving their ability to detect and prevent violations.

In addition, Agribank has strengthened control measures to prevent the misuse of bank accounts, payment services, and transaction instruments for illegal activities. Customer identification and verification procedures are carried out rigorously, while transactions showing unusual signs are closely monitored, reviewed, and handled in accordance with regulations. The bank also intensifies oversight of the opening and use of payment accounts, promptly detecting and preventing cases where accounts are bought, sold, rented, lent, or otherwise used for unlawful purposes.

At the same time, Agribank continues to promote the application of information technology and digital solutions in transaction monitoring and analysis to enable early detection of potential risks. Internal inspection and supervision mechanisms have also been reinforced to improve risk management effectiveness and ensure that operational activities comply fully with legal requirements.

Beyond internal measures, Agribank also focuses on communication and awareness-raising for customers regarding the safe and lawful use of banking services. The bank regularly provides warnings about schemes that exploit bank accounts, e-wallets, or payment instruments for illegal purposes, particularly activities related to illegal lending, fraud, and money laundering.

By implementing a comprehensive set of measures—from improving governance mechanisms and strengthening staff capacity to enhancing technology application and internal control—Agribank reaffirms its commitment to building a safe and transparent banking environment, contributing to the prevention of financial crime, protecting customers’ interests, and supporting the sustainable development of the financial and banking system.

Kylie Nguyen