This enhances the customer experience, promotes non-cash payment habits, and contributes to the development of the digital economy and digital society.

Điện Biên is a mountainous, border province, with over 80% of its population being ethnic minorities. Developing digital banking helps to bridge the gap, reduce costs, and bring financial services closer to people in the highlands.

Banks have stepped up investment in technology infrastructure, gradually modernizing operational processes, and expanding digital banking utilities to serve customers. Many mobile applications and services like Internet Banking and Mobile Banking... have been implemented, helping people easily look up information, transfer money, pay bills, send savings, or apply for loans online without needing to go to a transaction counter. As a result, banking services are increasingly reaching people in remote areas, contributing to the development of the digital economy.

The Điện Biên provincial Branch of the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank Điện Biên) is a pioneer in digital transformation. Agribank Điện Biên has promoted digital transformation with many useful applications such as Agribank Plus - which allows 24/7 money transfers, sending savings, paying bills, scanning VNPAY-QR codes, and integrating online shopping, ticket, and room reservations. The AutoBank model helps customers deposit and withdraw money 24/7, reducing transactions at the counter. The bank also implements eKYC, chip cards, VietQR, Internet and Mobile Banking, and the “Account Plus” digital account starting with “8888”, which is easy to remember, fast for transactions, and free. Agribank Điện Biên has also expanded payment services for electricity, water, tuition, hospital fees, and more.

Thanks to promoting digitization, Agribank Điện Biên now has about 177,000 customers, of which over 134,000 use digital banking services, accounting for nearly 76%. The rate of transactions via digital channels reaches about 60% of total transactions and is increasing every year. The branch’s non-cash payment turnover increased sharply from VND 41,748 billion in 2020 to VND 61,684 billion in 2025, while the number of transactions increased from 3.7 million to 16.9 million, a 357% increase. Conversely, cash collection and payment turnover decreased by 17.1%, from VND 49,486 billion to VND 41,042 billion.

The digitization of records and internal processes is also a focus for Agribank Điện Biên. As of September 2025, Agribank Điện Biên has digitized about 80% of credit files and 70% of accounting-treasury processes. Records, documents, and professional forms are managed centrally on the electronic system, helping to speed up searches and reduce processing time by 20-30%. The branch also applies electronic document approval, digital signatures, and processes over 80% of internal work in a digital environment, reducing costs and making processes transparent. Digitization is synchronized with CoreBanking, CRM, E-office, and HRMS platforms, helping to reduce paper records by 40%, enhance security, and move towards a paperless, modern, and efficient working environment.

In recent times, the Điện Biên provincial Branch of the Bank for Social Policies has implemented an application for managing policy credit on smartphones, contributing to improving operational efficiency and serving customers better. The software operates on smart mobile devices, providing complete information on credit programs, lending procedures, inspection results, reconciliation, and guiding documents. The application is likened to an “electronic handbook,” helping users look up interest rates, repayment schedules, send savings, transfer principal payments, and also track the operational data of savings and loan groups quickly, accurately, and transparently.

The Tủa Chùa Transaction Office of the Bank for Social Policies currently has 229 savings and loan groups. The clearest benefit is that the management of policy credit has become more transparent, timely, and practical. Loans, debt collection schedules, and interest collections are updated promptly, minimizing manual errors. Bank staff can easily monitor the use of capital and quickly identify cases of late payment to provide appropriate support. Borrowers also benefit as loan information, outstanding balances, and repayment schedules are clearly communicated, helping them be more proactive in their financial planning.

Applying digitization, the provincial Bank for Social Policies is now providing services with applications including: Money transfer services (internal transfers to the same account holder, to different account holders; 24/7 fast transfers to account numbers, to card numbers at other banks; regular transfers to account numbers at other banks...); Payment services (electricity, water, telecommunications bills, train tickets, plane tickets, tuition; phone top-ups, e-wallets; data card, phone card purchases; tax payments...); QR Pay services...

However, the process of promoting digital banking in Điện Biên still faces many difficulties and challenges. Technical infrastructure and telecommunications networks in some border and highland areas are still weak. The rate of people using smartphones has increased rapidly, but in many ethnic minority villages, people still have the habit of using cash and are not familiar with electronic payment methods.

Currently, 30% of the entire provincial population does not have a smartphone; 84 villages do not have telecommunications services, and 261 villages do not have fixed broadband internet services. A portion of the population is still wary of risks, fearing scams when using digital banking services. Payment infrastructure at markets, small shops, and service points in remote areas still lacks synchronization, leading to a modest adoption of non-cash payments.

In 2025, the provincial banking sector strives for a capital source growth rate of 7-9%; a loan growth for the economy of 5-7%; and a non-performing loan ratio below 2% of total credit outstanding. To achieve these results, the banking sector is accelerating the digitization of its activities. The State Bank of Vietnam Region III is strengthening coordination with credit institutions, telecommunications enterprises, and fintech companies to expand the electronic payment infrastructure. At the same time, it is promoting communication and disseminating knowledge about digital banking to grassroots officials and the public, especially ethnic minorities.

Digital transformation in banking is an inevitable trend. When technology infrastructure, payment networks, and people’s awareness are improved, digital banking services will truly spread to every village, and all people will have equal access to modern, safe, and convenient banking services.