As climate change, natural resource depletion and the need to transform growth models become global challenges, green development is no longer a choice but an imperative for every economy. For Vietnam, the green transition has been identified as one of the key drivers for achieving rapid and sustainable development and enhancing national competitiveness. In this process, Agribanking sector not only provides capital but also plays a leading role in channelling capital towards green sectors, environmentally friendly production models and projects that create lasting value for society.

As a key state-owned commercial bank in financing agriculture, farmers and rural areas, Agribank fully recognises that green development is not only an environmental responsibility but also a pathway to improving the quality of growth, securing sustainable livelihoods for people and strengthening the economy’s resilience to future uncertainties. Accordingly, Agribank is focused on building a sustainable financial ecosystem in which capital is primarily channelled towards sectors that generate economic value alongside social and environmental value.

In recent years, Agribank has proactively implemented a range of large-scale credit programmes to promote green growth in line with the directions of the Government and the State Bank of Vietnam. Agribank has actively participated in the credit programme supporting the development of high-tech and clean agriculture, while implementing credit programmes for green projects, renewable energy projects, organic agricultural production, the circular economy and climate-resilient farming models.

In particular, Agribank is among the credit institutions at the forefront of providing financing for the Scheme for the Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares Dedicated to High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Cultivation Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong Delta – a programme of strategic significance to the transformation of Vietnam’s agriculture towards a modern, efficient and low-carbon agricultural sector.

In addition to focusing on specialised credit programmes, Agribank is progressively integrating environmental and social criteria into its lending activities, risk management and business strategy formulation. Enhanced assessment of environmental and social factors during project appraisal, together with the prioritisation of production models that conserve resources, reduce emissions and use clean technologies, is helping direct capital towards sectors with the potential for long-term sustainable development.

This is not only a requirement of international integration but also an important foundation for Agribank to progressively realise its development objectives in line with ESG practices, improve governance quality and strengthen its competitiveness in the new phase of development.

Alongside green growth, Agribank is vigorously advancing digital transformation across all areas of its operations. For Agribank, digital transformation is not simply the adoption of new technologies, but a comprehensive transformation of its governance model, operating methods and approach to customer service.

Investments in modernising information technology infrastructure, developing digital banking, expanding the cashless payment ecosystem, applying big data and artificial intelligence, and automating business processes are gradually shaping a modern, secure and environmentally friendly banking model.

As of May 2026, more than 15 million customers were registered to use the Agribank Plus application, while the total number of customers using Agribank Plus and SMS Banking exceeded 19.6 million. Nearly 1.2 million payment accounts had been opened electronically. Transactions conducted through digital channels accounted for approximately 96% of all transactions.

Agribank’s digital ecosystem continues to expand, encompassing electronic banking services, online payments, QR-code payments, Agribank Plus, and thousands of ATMs, CDMs and automated transaction points nationwide. In addition to providing greater convenience for customers, advances in digital transformation have also helped significantly reduce paper use, lower operating costs, optimise resources and reduce emissions from banking operations – key elements of a green banking model.

Agribank’s green transition has always been closely linked to the goal of advancing financial inclusion. For many years, Agribank has consistently extended financial services to rural, mountainous, remote and far-flung areas through its network of branches and transaction offices, mobile banking units operating from specialised vehicles, and more than 64,000 lending groups with over 1.2 million members nationwide.

This extensive network has enabled Agribank to bring capital, modern banking services and digital financial solutions closer to people, helping narrow development gaps between regions and realise the goal of leaving no one behind in the digital and green transitions.

Kylie Nguyen