The State Bank of Vietnam has issued an official dispatch instructing banks, foreign bank branches, payment intermediary service providers and relevant SBV units to implement coordinated measures to keep payments safe, compliant and uninterrupted during the 2025 year-end settlement period and the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday. The measures focus on tighter risk management and fraud prevention across payment accounts, bank cards and payment services, with particular emphasis on complying with newly issued rules and strengthening cybersecurity, safety and confidentiality controls. Banks are required to intensify monitoring of merchant acceptance units to detect and stop misuse of payment transactions for illegal purposes, strengthen oversight of interbank payments by maintaining sufficient settlement balances and actively managing net debit and electronic clearing limits, and forecast peak demand to ensure adequate staffing and resources. The dispatch also calls for detailed ATM cash and maintenance plans, infrastructure and contingency testing by banks, payment system operators and intermediaries to prevent overload and service disruption, closer coordination to support state budget collection and disbursement (including resourcing to extend operating windows in line with SBV guidance for the national interbank electronic payment system), enhanced customer warnings on scam methods and the risks of sharing biometric data, timely regulatory reporting, and faster handling of customer investigations and complaints. Regional SBV units are tasked with increased local supervision and coordination with law enforcement to detect and address payment-related fraud and crime.
State Bank of Vietnam 2025-12-22
State Bank of Vietnam directs banks and payment providers to strengthen payment security and system continuity for year-end settlement and 2026 Tet peak
The State Bank of Vietnam has directed banks and payment service providers to implement measures ensuring safe and compliant payments during the 2025 year-end and 2026 Lunar New Year. Key actions include enhanced risk management, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, and compliance with new regulations. Banks must also improve monitoring, staffing, and infrastructure to prevent service disruptions and support state budget operations.