Supporting businesses is among the focal tasks of the banking system till 2020, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) Đào Minh Tú has said. – Photo bnews.vn

HÀ NỘI – Supporting businesses is among the focal tasks of the banking system till 2020, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) Đào Minh Tú has said. 
He and bankers across Việt Nam conducted a teleconference late last week on enforcing the Government’s Resolution 19-2016/NQ-CP on tasks and solutions to improve the business climate, and Resolution 35/NQ-CP on supporting and developing businesses till 2020. 
In late June, the central bank issued an action plan on implementing the resolutions across the banking system, focusing on improving credit access for enterprises and assisting their development. 
Nguyễn Hoàng Minh, deputy director of the SBV’s HCM City branch, said banks in the southern city co-ordinated with local district people’s committees to survey companies that wanted to get bank loans to provide help. 
No firm has complained about facing obstacles while accessing bank loans so far, he said, adding that the SBV branch and commercial banks have considered loans for companies that did not meet some conditions of eligibility, such as having collateral, but had feasible business plans. 
Minh said though current lending interest rates were rather reasonable, businesses still wanted stable mid- and long-term rates, which have been ensured by some banks. 
Khúc Văn Họa, deputy general director of Tiên Phong Bank (TPBank), said as most small- and medium-sized enterprises had a collateral problem, his bank was ready to give loans, regardless of their collateral status, provided they had effective business plans. 
However, one hindrance was that businesses’ internal strength remained modest, making banks reluctant to provide loans, he said, while asking for co-ordination between banks and ministries to promote companies’ capacity. 
Meanwhile, SBV Deputy Governor Tú told banks to regularly overhaul their relevant policies to improve the business climate and assist enterprises, especially by simplifying administrative procedures. 
Banks also needed to offer reasonable loan interest rates, promote their own loan verification capacity, and diversify credit products to facilitate credit access for firms, he said. – VNS

SBV reassures people of Maritime Bank’s operations

HÀ NỘI – The State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) confirmed yesterday that it has the full capacity to support and maintain the normal operation of credit institutions, ensuring the interests of consumers.

The central bank made the announcement to reassure customers following rumours related to Maritime Bank’s operations, which had a negative impact on the banking and finance market.

Based on its investigation, the SBV affirmed Maritime Bank was conducting its business according to normal standards and its liquidity was ensured.

The central bank urged depositors to remain calm and assess rumours by closely following official announcements released by the relevant authorities.

Earlier, Maritime Bank Chairman Trần Anh Tuấn had sent a letter to his staff saying all operations of the bank were in line with State regulations, noting the bank had been seeing positive growth when pursuing set strategies. – VNS