The State Bank of Vietnam reported on a working session led by Deputy Governor Doan Thai Son with the banking sector in Region 5 and a related ceremony to announce and launch the State Bank of Vietnam Regional Branch 5. The update frames Regional Branch 5 as part of the State Bank of Vietnam’s organisational consolidation from 63 provincial branches into 15 regional branches, intended to streamline operations and reshape functions ranging from IT and asset management to payments, cash operations, inspection and supervision. Regional Branch 5 has operated under the new model since 1 March 2025, merging the former State Bank of Vietnam branches in Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan and Lang Son, with its headquarters in Thai Nguyen. The Governor’s decisions dated 24 February 2025 appointed Le Quang Huy as Director and appointed the deputy directors Bui Van Khoa, Nguyen Thac Quang, Doan Sy Quy, Hoang Van Cao, Vi Thi Hoa and Le Thi Hoang Ha; the branch is described as having seven specialist departments and 219 staff (121 in Thai Nguyen and 98 in the provinces). As at end-February 2025, total credit outstanding in the region exceeded VND 511 trillion (around 3.25% of national outstanding), with agriculture and rural lending at VND 163.651 trillion (31.96% of regional credit); total deposits reached VND 567.206 trillion, up 1.29% from end-2024, and the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies reported outstanding policy lending of over VND 30.9 trillion across 23 programmes. Operational priorities under the new structure include rapidly completing process and IT alignment to ensure safe and efficient operations, while credit institutions were directed to strengthen credit controls in potentially risky areas and to prioritise lending to production and business, key projects and other government priority sectors. Regional Branch 5 was also tasked with tightening supervision of interest rate, credit, foreign exchange and gold-market compliance, and coordinating with head office units to resolve pending recommendations in support of 2025 economic growth objectives.