Expanding women’s access to formal lending

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) signed coordination regulations for the 2026–2030 period at a ceremony in Hanoi on the afternoon of October 19. The event was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation.

Politburo member, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc, and members of the Party Central Committee (PCC) attended the ceremony at the central venue. Representing the two signatories were Le Thi Thuy, Member of the PCC, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and President of the VWU; and Pham Duc An, Member of the PCC and Governor of the SBV.

At the Dong Nai venue, attendees included Nguyen Thi Hoang, Vice Chairwoman of the City People’s Committee; Le Thi Thanh Loan, Vice President of the Dong Nai VFF Committee and President of the Dong Nai Women’s Union (DNWU); and Pham Quoc Bao, Deputy Director of the SBV’s Region 2 Branch.

Representatives of the SBV’s Region 2 Branch and the DNWU sign a cooperation agreement. Photo: Nga Son

Speaking at the ceremony, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc commended the SBV and the VWU for their sustained efforts to strengthen coordination and channel formal credit, particularly preferential loans under government policy programs, to women through grassroots savings and loan groups. These efforts have helped millions of women improve their economic thinking, develop sustainable livelihoods, expand production and business activities, raise their incomes and gradually improve their quality of life.

To ensure the 2026–2030 cooperation program delivers tangible results and is implemented consistently and in greater depth, the Permanent Deputy Prime Minister called on the SBV to continue guiding credit institutions in developing lending products and financial services suited to the needs, scale and business cycles of household businesses, cooperatives and enterprises owned or run by women. He also urged the banking sector to simplify procedures, improve access to credit, strengthen risk management and ensure the effective allocation and use of financial resources.

Nguyen Thi Hoang (third from left), Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, and Le Thi Thanh Loan (second from right), Vice President of the Dong Nai VFF Committee and President of the DNWU, pose for a group photo with delegates after the signing ceremony. Photo: Nga Son

The VWU should continue to mobilize, connect with and support its members. Women’s union chapters at all levels should proactively identify members’ credit needs, strengthen advisory services and help them develop viable business and production plans. They should also foster closer links among banks, businesses, cooperatives, female entrepreneurs and women members, helping more women succeed in starting and running businesses and contribute to national development.

At the ceremony, the SBV and the VWU signed coordination regulations for the 2026–2030 period. At the regional and local levels, 15 SBV regional branches also signed cooperation programs with women’s unions in 34 provinces and cities.

In Dong Nai, the SBV’s Region 2 Branch and the DNWU also signed a cooperation program for 2026–2030. Under the program, the two sides will coordinate the implementation of policies on social policy credit and lending for agricultural and rural development. They will also step up support for businesses and production establishments owned or run by women, helping them gain better access to banking services and credit.

The two signatories will also promote green finance and sustainable development, expand financial inclusion and digital financial services for women, and strengthen women’s financial literacy and money-management skills. They will work to ensure that women can access and use banking services safely and effectively. Other areas of cooperation include promoting gender equality and women’s advancement in the banking sector, as well as carrying out social welfare and community outreach activities.

Pham Quoc Bao, Deputy Director of the SBV’s Region 2 Branch, presents flowers to Nguyen Thi Hoang, Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, and Le Thi Thanh Loan, President of the DNWU, ahead of Vietnamese Women’s Day on October 20.

On this occasion, the SBV Trade Union launched an emulation movement under the theme “Building women of the banking sector in the new era.”

By N. Son – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha