TPBank pioneers digitalization, creating a prosperous E-Vietnam

TPBank affirmed its position by being honored by The Asian Banker as "Vietnam's Leading Sustainable Bank in 2025," based on its outstanding financial indicators. With a strong digitalization orientation, TPBank has become a technological icon of the industry, achieving 98% digital transactions and ranking among the banks contributing the most to the national budget, helping to promote a prosperous E-Vietnam.

In the context of Vietnam's booming digital economy, the banking industry is witnessing a strong transformation from traditional models to modern technology platforms. One of the prominent names in this journey is Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank).

THE DECISION TO TRANSFORM INTO DIGITAL MAKES TPBANK DIFFERENT

Established in 2008 with the mission of providing modern financial services, TPBank faced many challenges in its early stages. In the context of the banking industry facing numerous challenges, from the global credit crisis to strict regulations from the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) restricting the expansion of physical branches, competing with "giants" like Vietcombank, BIDV, or Agribank with their traditional models was a difficult task for a young bank like TPBank.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hung, CEO of TPBank, the bank had only one option at that time: focusing on digital channels to overcome the limitations of space and time. "Necessity is the mother of invention. In this challenging situation, TPBank made the only choice, and that choice proved to be on the right track," Mr. Hung emphasized.



This choice of digitalization was not accidental but stemmed from a deep analysis of the market context. In 2014, only about 20-30% of Vietnamese people owned bank accounts, but smartphones were booming with over 50 million users. TPBank realized that to reach millions of potential customers without geographical constraints, the digital channel was key.

This decision was not only a survival strategy but also a turning point shaping the bank's future. Instead of investing heavily in physical branches, TPBank focused on the digital channel to overcome spatial and temporal limitations, leveraging technology to reach customers effectively and cost-efficiently.

And reality shows that this development strategy was correct. TPBank has grown strongly with impressive business growth results and a foundation for sustainable development in the future. The bank's total assets have surged from VND 51,000 billion in 2014 to over VND 450,000 billion by the end of Q3/2025, with pre-tax profit reaching VND 6,050 billion, an increase of approximately 11% compared to the same period in 2024. The income structure has shifted positively, with total operating income exceeding VND 13,600 billion, of which income from services accounts for approximately 21% (nearly VND 3,000 billion), a strong growth of over 19% compared to the same period.

Based on these outstanding financial indicators, in 2025, TPBank will continue to be honored by The Asian Banker (TAB Global) as the "Leading Strong Bank in Vietnam". This is a well-deserved achievement for TPBank's persistent efforts in its strategy of safe financial management, efficient growth, and leading digital transformation. In the ranking of the top 1,000 strongest banks globally, published by TAB Global, TPBank is a prime example from Vietnam, standing alongside leading financial institutions worldwide.

Honored by The Asian Banker (TAB) as the "Leading Strong Bank in Vietnam" in 2025 based on its balance sheet, TPBank is a representative from Vietnam included in the ranking of the top 1,000 strongest banks globally.

By expanding its customer base through digital channels, TPBank's revenue from service fees, interest rates, and new financial products has continuously grown over the years, thereby increasing its contribution to the national budget.

With its strategic vision, TPBank has risen to become a symbol of technological innovation in the Vietnamese banking industry. This is evidenced by TPBank's ability to overcome the crisis and possess a long-term competitive advantage in the digital economy, as affirmed by Mr. Nguyen Hung: "Digital transformation has changed the future of banking."

AN IMPRESSIVE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY WITH PIONEERING PRODUCTS IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY

TPBank's digital transformation journey is an inspiring story, with a series of groundbreaking initiatives that have changed the way the Vietnamese banking industry operates.

A crucial step was the implementation of the 24/7 automated branch model – LiveBank. Allowed for early testing by the State Bank of Vietnam, LiveBank has become a new model in the banking industry, with approximately 400-500 automated transaction points nationwide. These locations not only save on operating costs but also provide a convenient experience, allowing customers to conduct transactions anytime, anywhere without needing a physical staff member. LiveBank demonstrates TPBank's pioneering spirit in automation, helping to expand its network without relying on physical branches.

Integration with VNeID – the national electronic identification platform – ensures nearly 100% accurate document verification, reducing risk to prevent fraud and enhance financial security.

TPBank also leads in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. Data helps the bank understand its customers, providing products that meet their needs at the right time. AI optimizes resources, automates processes, and analyzes customer behavior, reducing costs and shortening product launch times. Small consumer loans are approved online in minutes, without paperwork, expanding access to credit.

TPBank adopted AI early on with the T'Aio virtual assistant on Facebook in 2017 and VoicePay for contactless transactions using natural language processing (NLP). In collaboration with FPT Software, TPBank deployed akaBot – a robotic process automation (RPA) platform that helps the bank save on personnel and improve labor efficiency.

In 2025, TPBank launched ChatPay – a technology-integrated money transfer product with a chat-like interface, enhancing customer experience while minimizing the risk of transferring money to the wrong person. The product was honored as "Best Innovative Digital Banking Product in the Region" by The Asian Banker.

Furthermore, the "Paste to Pay" feature, allowing quick money transfers by pasting information, made a strong impression at the 2025 Digital Transformation Day for the Banking Industry. This technology contributed to the TPBank App being honored by The Asian Banker with the "Best Social Banking Initiative in Asia Pacific 2025" award – affirming technological innovation for the community.

TPBank also supports businesses in their digital transformation according to Decree 70/2021/ND-CP on business registration, with its "Smooth Management – ​​Top Business" solution suite. This solution provides tools for online financial management, payments, and loans, helping businesses digitize their operations, optimize costs, and improve efficiency.

To date, over 98% of TPBank's transactions are processed digitally, equivalent to more than 2 billion transactions annually. Over 5 million customers have accessed small loans through the digital platform, contributing to curbing illegal lending. Over 200,000 credit cards and nearly 10 million accounts and payment cards have been issued online, promoting financial inclusion.

With these results, TPBank was ranked among the Top 10 most reputable private banks in Vietnam in 2025 by Vietnam Report and received numerous awards from The Digital Banker. Recently, TPBank was once again honored as an outstanding digital transformation enterprise at the Vietnam Digital Transformation Awards (VDA) 2025. At the 2025 Awards Ceremony for Enterprises Contributing the Most to the State Budget, TPBank was among the Top 20 banks contributing the most to the budget.

These achievements affirm TPBank as a model of success through digital transformation, with continuously growing revenue from service fees and interest rates. This also confirms TPBank's innovative spirit and commitment to daily life, accompanying the country on its journey to rise in the digital age.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION LINKED TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT RESPONSIBILITY, CONTRIBUTING TO BUILDING E-VIETNAM

TPBank's digital transformation is not only focused on profit but also linked to sustainable development responsibility, contributing to building a prosperous E-Vietnam. In the context of Vietnam promoting a green economy, TPBank integrates sustainability elements into its operations. Comprehensive digitalization saves millions of sheets of paper annually, reducing carbon emissions.

TPBank also promotes green finance through loan products for renewable energy and sustainable agriculture projects. According to the State Bank of Vietnam's report, TPBank leads in supporting green credit, with an annual growth rate of over 20%. Since August 2023, TPBank has implemented a comprehensive ESG project, including a Sustainable Development Report, an ESG Governance Framework, and a Green Credit Strategy, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support women-owned businesses.

In addition, TPBank has contributed to advancing Vietnam's banking industry into the digital era with groundbreaking initiatives that have completely transformed how Vietnamese people experience financial services. Since 2017, LiveBank 24/7 – the first automated banking model in Vietnam – officially launched as a historic breakthrough, allowing customers to open accounts and issue cards in an instant, protected by advanced facial recognition and artificial intelligence technology. This model is considered the gold standard, prompting other banks to learn from and emulate it, thereby elevating the digital experience for millions of customers nationwide.

Not stopping there, TPBank continues to pave the way with bold steps: strategic partnerships with fintech companies through its Open Banking platform, deployment of intelligent chatbots operating 24/7, and pioneering the application of Voice Biometric voice authentication. These initiatives not only shape the future of digital banking but also create a wave of innovation, propelling the entire Vietnamese banking industry towards remarkable modernization.

Pioneering the digital transformation of the banking industry, TPBank transforms technology into a bridge, bringing digital finance and sustainable development to everyone.

The people are contributing to building a green and modern E-Vietnam.

Looking to the future, TPBank continues to affirm its pioneering role in building E-Vietnam – a prosperous digital nation. Mr. Nguyen Hung, General Director of TPBank, believes that E-Vietnam is not a distant prospect but can become a reality within this decade, thanks to the Party and Government's determination to reform. VNeID is clear evidence: from opening accounts and verifying transactions to proposing loans, everything can be integrated on this platform.

"I believe that for E-Vietnam to become a reality, VNeID will play a key role. Even I, when going to the airport, don't need to use a physical copy of my citizen ID card; VNeID is enough. When a series of daily life, financial, and public service utilities are integrated on VNeID, it will be a solid foundation for the successful implementation of E-Vietnam," Mr. Hung said.

Currently, TPBank is expanding its AI applications into new areas, such as economic trend forecasting and service personalization. With over 86% of Vietnamese adults owning bank accounts, TPBank plans to increase its customer base to 20 million in the next few years, focusing on the young and rural segments. This will not only increase budget contributions but also promote sustainable economic development.

However, challenges remain, such as cybersecurity and competition from fintech. TPBank is committed to continuously investing in infrastructure, ensuring its system can withstand disruptions like those experienced during the recent holiday season. At the same time, the bank emphasizes that the success of digital transformation depends on the actual needs of the people: small daily benefits will create habits, leading to significant changes.

From a struggling bank in 2011 to one of the top 14 banks contributing the largest amount to the national budget in 2024, TPBank's journey is an inspiring story about the power of technology in sustainable development. By pioneering the application of digitalization, AI, and data, TPBank has not only overcome challenges but also made a significant contribution to the national economy, bringing practical benefits to the people and society.