In an interview with Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio & Television, Mr. Tran Ngoc Minh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KienlongBank, stated that just ahead of the milestone when Dong Nai was approved by the National Assembly to become a city, the Bank’s 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on April 23 officially passed the plan to relocate its headquarters to Dong Nai. This move is not merely an administrative shift, but a strategic repositioning that opens up new growth opportunities, captures large-scale financial prospects, and reaffirms the Bank’s commitment to accompanying Dong Nai City’s sustainable development in its new phase.

We view Dong Nai as a “golden land” to realize our goals in the coming phase

*2025 has been regarded as a pivotal year, marking the most impressive results in KienlongBank’s 30-year history. Looking back on this breakthrough journey, what core factors enabled the Bank to achieve such outcomes?

In 2025, despite broader economic challenges, KienlongBank recorded pre-tax profit of VND 2,323 billion, achieving 168% of its target. Key indicators such as return on equity (ROE), net interest margin (NIM), and return on assets (ROA) ranked among the top in the industry. This also marked a year of comprehensive qualitative transformation, with initial success in the “Digital Breakthrough” strategy. With 98% of customer transactions conducted via digital channels, KienlongBank has effectively integrated into the daily lives of customers in a seamless and natural way.

In addition, the successful development and application of the Kiloba AI model in core processes has created a significant boost, helping optimize operations, reduce costs, and deeply personalize customer experiences, thereby enhancing service value and strengthening risk management with greater precision and efficiency.

The breakthrough performance in 2025 was driven not only by financial results, but also by the synergy of an innovation-driven corporate culture and a high-quality workforce. With a 5.0 competency framework, a spirit of dedication and professionalism, and a flexible mindset ready to adapt to technological change, KienlongBank’s team has together delivered a year of inspiring growth. This will serve as a solid foundation for the Bank to further strengthen its position and achieve its strategic objectives in the next phase of development.

*Amid ongoing economic challenges, KienlongBank’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Dong Nai—set to officially become a city by the end of this April—has drawn considerable attention. Could you elaborate on this strategic move?

Choosing Dong Nai as our new “home base” is a carefully calculated decision grounded in our 2026–2030 vision. We see a strong alignment between KienlongBank’s aspiration for breakthrough growth and the locality’s development vision.

Dong Nai is entering a new phase with fresh momentum, following the National Assembly’s approval of the resolution on its city establishment. It is emerging as a new growth pole of the region, ranking fourth nationwide in economic scale and serving as a key trade hub in southern Vietnam, supported by a comprehensive infrastructure network—from expressways to the Long Thanh International Airport mega-project.

For KienlongBank, Dong Nai is not merely the location of a new headquarters, but the place where we realize the mission of a technology-driven financial institution. We choose to become a strategic “link,” accompanying the authorities and the business and individual communities in shaping the future. The relocation of our headquarters to Dong Nai is not just a geographical shift, but a statement of forward-looking vision, positioning KienlongBank at the center of a dynamic economic axis and future financial flows.

This serves as an ideal launchpad for the Bank to realize its 2026–2030 strategic vision of becoming a fully-fledged digital bank with a dynamic and modern ecosystem. As a local bank in a new national growth pole, KienlongBank will have both the mindset and the resources to accelerate its breakthrough, delivering sustainable value to the locality, customers, and shareholders.

KienlongBank aims to become a model of enterprise–locality integration

Specifically, in the upcoming roadmap, KienlongBank will focus on three key solution groups:

First, developing and scaling the “non-stop banking” model and smart transaction networks (X-Digi) supported by AI, enabling businesses and residents in Dong Nai to access financial services 24/7.

Second, providing linked credit and supply chain financing packages for enterprises and industrial zones—Dong Nai’s core strengths. We will integrate financial solutions directly into corporate management systems, shortening approval times and optimizing cash flows.

Third, KienlongBank aspires to become a strategic partner in the locality’s digital transformation. The Bank will deliver technological solutions and digital payment services for public services and everyday needs of citizens and households, helping the people of Dong Nai truly become “digital citizens” in modern, high-standard smart urban areas.

*A commitment to partnership is often accompanied by concrete economic and social contributions. Could you elaborate on the specific targets KienlongBank has set upon establishing its presence in Dong Nai?

Having embraced the principle of “coming to co-create,” KienlongBank commits to contributing nearly VND 1,000 billion to the state budget annually from the initial phase of its headquarters establishment. This stands as the Bank’s strongest affirmation of its responsibility toward the overall development of Dong Nai City.

--For this journey to truly create sustainable value and become a model of collaboration between a technology enterprise and the local authority, we have identified three pillars to accompany the city government in the coming period:

First, partnership in building the investment environment. KienlongBank is committed to upholding the law and has strong confidence in the administrative reform efforts of Dong Nai’s authorities. We expect to benefit from a transparent and open legal environment so that the Bank can quickly stabilize and develop. The success of KienlongBank will serve as a vivid demonstration, sending a positive message to major investors about a Dong Nai ready to welcome leading financial institutions.

Second, partnership in digital infrastructure. KienlongBank aims to contribute its digital ecosystem and AI capabilities to the locality’s common goals. We are ready to coordinate with the authorities to address challenges in public service digitalization and smart payments, becoming a reliable financial–technology partner in the development of Dong Nai’s smart city.

Third, partnership in value chain connectivity. We look forward to support and facilitation from the authorities to help KienlongBank’s financial solutions reach industrial zones and the business community more effectively. This will help unlock capital flows, improve productivity, and enhance the competitiveness of the local economic ecosystem.

We believe that when KienlongBank’s financial and technological strengths align with Dong Nai’s development aspirations, we will together create a sustainable model of cooperation, where the Bank grows alongside the prosperity of the locality.

*A sincere thank you, Sir, for your valuable insights.

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Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/