State Bank of Vietnam renames Ho Chi Minh City branch as Region 2 and details foreign exchange and gold public services

State Bank of Vietnam’s Region 2 office, formerly the State Bank of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City branch, issued a notice to Ho Chi Minh City departments, local authorities and business associations seeking continued coordination in communicating business support measures and promoting access to the office’s public administrative services. The notice follows the organizational restructure under which the Ho Chi Minh City branch was renamed State Bank of Vietnam Region 2 from 1 March 2025. The office set out that Region 2 performs state management over monetary, banking and foreign exchange activities in its area and carries out certain central banking operations under authorization from the Governor. It highlighted that, in line with State Bank of Vietnam Directive 01/CT-NHNN and related documents, local credit institutions have stabilized deposit interest rates and gradually reduced lending rates through cost reductions and technology application, including a willingness to share profits to support households and businesses’ access to credit. Region 2 also said it will continue implementing the 2025 bank–business connection programme and listed ongoing public services in the foreign exchange and gold domain, including approvals and registrations related to foreign-currency payment agencies, licensing and registrations for foreign exchange accounts and transactions such as unguaranteed foreign borrowing and repayment reporting, and certification and permitting processes for foreign exchange exchange agents and gold jewellery production and gold material imports. Region 2 asked relevant city bodies and business associations to support information dissemination and to help channel feedback on banking activities and administrative procedures through the office’s established reporting channels.