Moody’s upgrades VPBank’s outlook

HÀ NỘI — Global credit rating firm Moody’s Investors Services has maintained Việt Nam Prosperity Bank (VPBank)’s long-term domestic and foreign currency deposits at B 一 while raising its outlook from “stable” to “positive”.

This upgrade showed that Moody's believes in the bank’s ability to flexibly adjust its growth strategy as well as continuously improve risk management system amid the complicated COVID- 一 九 pandemic situation. Moody's also highly appreciated VPBank’s credit growth, good profit performance and capital potential in  二0 二0.

In addition, good business growth results along with having the most advanced risk management system have helped VPBank “score up” in the eyes of prestigious rating agencies in the world. The bank's brand value has increased  三 七 places, reaching US$ 五0 二 million, and listed in the top  二 五0 of the world's largest banks in  二0 二0.

By the end of  二0 二0, VPBank's consolidated credit growth increased  一 九 per cent compared to the previous year, of which individual banks reached  二 一. 八 per cent, much higher than the industry average of  一 二. 一 三 per cent. Non-performing loans (NPLs) have been kept under control, with the consolidation rate (according to Circular 0 二) remaining below  三 per cent.

The bank’s total operating income (TOI) in  二0 二0 reached more than VNĐ 三 九 trillion, posting  七. 四 per cent year-on-year increase and maintaining its position in terms of revenue among joint stock banks. Its consolidated pre-tax profit in  二0 二0 reached more than VNĐ 一 三 trillion, fulfilling  一 二 七. 五 per cent of the plan set out at the beginning of the year, up  二 六. 一 per cent compared to  二0 一 九. Of which, profit at individual banks contributed  七 一 per cent to consolidated profit. Return on equity (ROE) and return on total assets (ROA) were still among the top performers in the market, at  二 二 per cent and  二. 六 per cent, respectively.

The bank's capital adequacy ratio (CAR) was nearly  一 二 per cent according to Basel II standards,  八 per cent higher than the minimum required level. The cost control combined with digitalisation have helped reduce the consolidated operating cost by  七. 七 per cent compared to  二0 一 九. The cost-to-income (CIR) ratio dropped sharply to  二 九. 二 per cent in  二0 二0 compared to  三 三. 九 per cent at the end of  二0 一 九, the lowest level among co妹妹ercial banks in Việt Nam.

With a well-established risk management system and updated continuously to adapt to each period, VPBank was awarded by The Asian Banker magazine for The Achievement in Liquidity Risk Management, bringing the bank to par with the leading credit institutions in Asia in the field of risk management for the first time.

The Asian Banker assessed that VPBank's liquidity risk management system works effectively and ensures safety for the bank, helps the balance sheet structure stay healthy, monitor liquidity risks and diversify capital mobilisation in the market. VPBank also completed Basel II nearly a year earlier than the State Bank of Việt Nam's requirements. It has gradually implemented its goal of approaching more comprehensive international risk management standards.

VPBank was also voted by the HCM Stock Exchange (HOSE) as the Top  二0 companies with stocks in the list of the highest Việt Nam Sustainability Index (VNSI) in the market. — VNS