At the Asian Banking & Finance Awards 2026, Saigon – Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) further affirmed its position among Vietnam’s Top 5 private commercial banks and strengthened its presence in the regional financial market by winning four prestigious awards across both Retail Banking and Wholesale Banking.
SHB wins four major awards at the Asian Banking & Finance Awards 2026
Under the ABF Retail Banking Awards 2026, SHB received the “SME Loan Initiative of the Year” and “SME Payment Solution Initiative of the Year” awards. Meanwhile, under the ABF Wholesale Banking Awards 2026, the Bank was honored in two key categories: “ESG Program of the Year – Vietnam” and “Digital Transformation Bank of the Year – Vietnam.”
The awards were determined by an independent judging panel comprising experts from leading global audit and consulting firms, including PwC, Deloitte, EY, and Bain & Company.
According to a SHB representative, being honored with four awards at the Asian Banking & Finance Awards 2026 is a clear testament to the Bank’s strong and comprehensive transformation journey in recent years. The achievement reflects SHB’s strategy of building a modern, customer-centric bank while advancing green finance and ESG initiatives, further affirming its position among Vietnam’s Top 5 private commercial banks.
“In the new phase of development, SHB will continue to accelerate investment in technology, strengthen its digital capabilities, and optimize customer experience, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of its support for the economy. With its ambition to become a ‘new-generation bank of national significance,’ SHB is committed to accompanying the business community and making a positive contribution to the country’s development in the new era,” the representative emphasized.
Comprehensive financial solutions for household businesses and SMEs
SHB was honored with the “SME Loan Initiative of the Year” and “SME Payment Solution Initiative of the Year” awards, recognizing its outstanding initiatives in expanding access to credit and promoting digital payments for household businesses, SMEs, and Micro SMEs in Vietnam.
On the lending side, SHB has developed a data-driven lending model for SME and Micro SME customers, leveraging transaction data from its payment ecosystem, including payment accounts, QR payments, and SHB Payment Speakers. Rather than relying primarily on traditional financial documentation, the Bank uses real-time cash flow data to assess customers’ creditworthiness, thereby providing a more accurate reflection of their actual business activities.
At the core of the solution is an unsecured working capital overdraft facility, enabling customers to access funding quickly through a fully digitized process, with approval available within just a few hours when all required data has been fully verified. In addition, SHB offers secured lending products with flexible terms, helping businesses expand their operations and strengthen their financial capacity.
SHB provides comprehensive solutions and accompanies household businesses, SMEs, and Micro SMEs in the digital era
In parallel, on the payments side, SHB has introduced an integrated solution for small merchants and household businesses, combining payment accounts, QR payments, and SHB Payment Speakers to optimize cash flow management and promote digital payments. The Payment Speaker provides an audible confirmation when a transaction is successfully completed, enabling instant verification, reducing errors, and enhancing operational transparency.
The solution is gaining broad adoption among merchants at traditional markets, individual household businesses, and retail stores, with significant potential for nationwide growth. Beyond payment functionality, the system can be readily integrated with other financial services and business management tools, such as revenue tracking, point-of-sale management software, and e-invoicing, helping enhance the transparency of cash flows.
Mobilizing international ESG funding to promote green growth in Vietnam
In 2025, SHB successfully raised two medium-term USD syndicated loans under ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria, with a combined value of USD 600 million. Both transactions attracted strong interest from international markets, with subscriptions exceeding the initial offered amounts. SHB subsequently exercised the greenshoe option to increase the size of the facilities, optimizing its funding structure and meeting the financing needs of green projects.
This success reaffirmed SHB’s reputation in international financial markets and contributed to the Bank being honored with the “ESG Program of the Year – Vietnam” award, recognizing its efforts in implementing its sustainable development strategy.
The two transactions attracted a total of 26 international financial institutions, reflecting SHB’s appeal and credibility among the international investor and lending community, while also highlighting the strong shift of global capital toward ESG-compliant transactions in Vietnam.
Notably, the 2025 ESG syndicated loan was jointly mandated and arranged and underwritten by five institutions – Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), CTBC Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Mashreq Bank, and State Bank of India (SBI) – all reputable international financial institutions. The participation of these institutions as joint mandated lead arrangers and underwriters demonstrates the high level of confidence among leading banks in the transaction’s attractiveness, SHB’s execution capabilities, and its ability to attract broad participation from international investors.
The mobilization of USD 600 million from international markets has enabled SHB to strengthen its medium- and long-term foreign-currency funding base and expand its capacity to finance businesses and projects aligned with green growth and sustainable development, contributing to the achievement of Vietnam’s national development objectives.
Digital Transformation Bank of the Year – Vietnam
The “Digital Transformation Bank of the Year – Vietnam” award recognizes SHB’s significant progress in its strong and comprehensive, customer-centric digital transformation journey. Closely aligned with the spirit of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, SHB is proactively accompanying customers and the community on their digital transformation journey, contributing to the development of digital finance and digital consumption and making a practical contribution to the modernization and digitalization of Vietnam’s economy.
The Bank is accelerating the application of technology and data in its operations while developing next-generation digital platforms such as SHB SAHA and SHB Corporate, together with a smart payment solutions ecosystem for schools, hospitals, and public administrative units. These initiatives not only enhance customer experience and promote cashless payments, but also contribute to expanding the digital ecosystem and increasing access to modern financial services.
With technology identified as one of its strategic pillars, SHB is implementing its “Future Bank” model based on the “5 First” approach: Data & AI First, People First, Cloud First, Security First, and Mobile First, laying the foundation for a modern, secure, and agile digital bank.
Powered by technology, SHB applies the “5 First” approach as the foundation for building a modern, secure, and agile digital bank
Beyond the ABF awards, SHB has also been recognized by numerous prestigious domestic and international organizations, including being named among the Top 200 largest companies in Southeast Asia (Fortune SEA 500), the Top 10 Most Reputable Commercial Banks in Vietnam (Vietnam Report), and the “Best Financial Solution for Small Merchants and Household Businesses in Vietnam” (The Asian Banker). The Bank’s continued recognition through prestigious domestic and international awards is a testament to the comprehensive recognition SHB has earned across product and service quality, financial strength, operational efficiency, brand reputation, and its ongoing efforts to innovate and deliver sustainable value to customers, partners, and the community.
By 2030, SHB aims to become the No. 1 bank in terms of efficiency; a favorite digital bank; the best retail bank; and a leading provider of capital, financial products, and services to strategic corporate customers with green supply chain, green value chain and green-development ecosystems, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, and individual customers. By 2035, SHB aspires to become a modern, digital, and green bank among the leading banks in the region.