HDBank contributes to development of Ho Chi Minh City
HDBank contributes to development of Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City Development Commercial Joint-Stock Bank (HDBank) has been on a journey of more than 30 years, contributing to the creation and development of Ho Chi Minh City.
Established in 1990, HDBank is one of the first joint-stock commercial banks in the country established under the policy of reforming the economic management mechanisms of the Party and the state.
Implementing the resolution of the sixth Party Congress, Ho Chi Minh City changed from a centrally planned economy to a socialist-oriented market economy. HDBank was established with the initial mission of housing development and urban embellishment, contributing to the development of a civilised and modern Ho Chi Minh City.
HDBank has consistently followed the renovation process of Ho Chi Minh City in particular and the country in general.
In 2011, with a broader vision after 22 years of operation, the bank decided to change its name to Ho Chi Minh City Development Commercial Joint-Stock Bank to implement a new development strategy for the new era.
In 2013, HDBank made a mark on the market as the first case of a voluntary merger of a healthy bank, Dai A Commercial Joint-Stock Bank, which had 20 years of operation and a charter capital of $132.2 million.
Also in 2013, it acquired 100 per cent capital share of Societe Generale Viet Finance Company (SGVF), a subsidiary of France's Societe Generale Group, and renamed SGVF to HDFinance. After that, HDFinance formed a joint venture with 49 per cent capital from Japanese partner Credit Saison, which was renamed HD SAISON.
HDBank, which operated only within Ho Chi Minh City and the southeastern region, has gained new resources and expanded its operations across the country. The bank has also broadened its services in different fields, bringing better value to customers, partners, shareholders, and employees alike.
In early 2018, nearly 981 million of HDBank's shares were listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX), quickly joining the top 20 largest-capitalisation stocks on the bourse. The event opened the door for large-cap companies to enter the stock market, improving the opportunities for both domestic and foreign investors.
These achievements reflect HDBank's efforts to contribute to the development of Ho Chi Minh City as a dynamic financial centre in the region.
In 2022, HDBank's state budget payment reached the milestone of VND2 trillion ($85.3 million). This contribution value continues to rise, following impressive growth momentum in 2022. Accordingly, the bank generated a pre-tax profit of over $437.6 million last year, up 27.2 per cent on-year and fulfilling 105 per cent of its plan.
Despite the challenging economic conditions in 2023, HDBank is expected to continue to grow and meet its new targets.
At a conference in March 2022, HDBank proposed that the city continue to develop and upgrade its stock market, realising its ambition to compete with advanced markets around the world such as New York, London, and Singapore.
HDBank aims to build Ho Chi Minh City as an international tourist destination with diverse markets in finance, cuisine, and culture. The bank also suggested promoting public investment while encouraging and focusing on the private economy.
Regarding its specific proposals, the bank is ready to support building the digital economy and public administrative services through a fintech platform. It has experience building and operating large tech systems with hundreds of millions of users that comply with international IT standards. It believes that online banking and financial services should prioritise individuals and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
In July 2021, HDBank, Sovico, and FPT Corporation successfully solved the problem of order congestion on HSX, contributing to the stability and continuity of this important capital market.
HDBank said that, together with other large enterprises, it will continue its long-term companionship with state management agencies and organise and operate units for the Vietnamese stock market to ensure the continuation of its transparent and sustainable development in the future.
From the beginning of 2023, after the signing between HD SAISON and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, a VND10 trillion ($426.53 million) loan package was urgently deployed to provide support for those working in industrial parks across the country.
The loan package was implemented following the direction of the government and the State Bank of Vietnam to provide loans that will improve the workers' lives and help prevent black credit. HDBank has given approval for HD SAISON to implement this practical support package.
As soon as this was committed to, HD SAISON was quickly able to reach customers in nine provinces, including Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Nghe An, Binh Duong, Long An, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Quang Nam, and Danang. HD SAISON will continue to expand the coverage of this preferential loan package to workers in other provinces and cities.
HDBank has continuously engaged in corporate social responsibility activities within the community, joining hands with the poor, and leaving no one behind.
During the outbreak of the pandemic, HDBank implemented a series of social security activities to mitigate the negative impacts. Particularly during the largest wave in 2021, it donated VND100 billion ($4.26 million) to the government's vaccine fund and provided medical equipment to many localities across the country worth hundreds of billions of VND.
The bank, together with its benefactors, also handed over thousands of welfare gift packages to bring meals and free testing equipment to more than 2 million people, along with tens of tons of food for doctors, field hospitals, and poor people in Ho Chi Minh City.
HDBank was honoured to receive a certificate of merit from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and another from the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, for its positive contributions to the prevention of COVID-19.
The bank also regularly takes care of families, the elderly, soldiers, and those in difficulty. At the same time, it also organises the annual programme Wings to Love with hundreds of voluntary activities across the country.
In addition, with the support of HDBank, futsal and chess have become two sports that put Vietnam on the world sports map. The bank has sponsored annual futsal tournaments such as the National Championship, the National Cup, and the Southeast Asian Championship. As a result, Futsal Vietnam has made miraculous progress.
It has also been a companion of the annual HDBank International Chess Tournament since 2011. The tournament attracts nearly 1,400 international players from 41 countries on five continents.
HDBank's 30-year journey is constantly expanding to resonate with the prosperity and happiness of the entire country.
