OCB targets green credit at 10 per cent of loan portfolio

OCB targets green credit at 10 per cent of loan portfolio

Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB) aims to maintain green credit at 10 per cent of its total loan book and rank among the top five Vietnamese joint-stock commercial banks based on sustainable development metrics by 2030.

The green development strategy was presented to shareholders during the bank's annual general meeting on April 15. By the end of 2025, OCB's green credit portfolio had climbed to more than $840 million, a rise of over 10 per cent from 2024, representing 10.7 per cent of total credit.

Renewable energy remains the primary focus, accounting for 49.5 per cent of the green portfolio. Sustainable water management follows at 17.4 per cent, green buildings at 16.6 per cent, and sustainable agriculture and forestry at 14.5 per cent, with clean transport comprising the remaining 2 per cent.

From 2026 onwards, OCB intends to maintain this ratio at approximately 9-10 per cent of total loans, above the industry average, while extending eligible sectors to include energy efficiency and sustainable farming.

CEO Pham Hong Hai stated that green credit remains a central operating priority.

“On the foundation of strategic cooperation with International Finance Corporation (IFC) and international financial institutions, OCB is progressively completing its green bank governance framework,” Hai said. "The bank is strengthening the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into credit activities and risk management."

OCB has secured long-term capital and technical assistance from international backers, including IFC and Germany’s DEG.

Hai noted that OCB will grow these ties to vary green capital sources and eventually use instruments like sustainability-linked loans as the market matures.

The IFC green banking advisory programme has been a key factor in bettering governance, helping OCB increase its number of eco-friendly ventures.

“Our bank is consistently monitoring cash levels to align with Basel III standards in a broader effort to meet international safety requirements,” he noted.

The green strategy sits alongside wider financial targets, with pre-tax profit aimed at $278.4 million this year, a 39 per cent surge on last year’s $200.8 million.

Total assets are targeted at $14.17 billion, while deposits and credit are projected to grow 14 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.

Chairman Trinh Van Tuan told shareholders that the strong targets rest on a meaningful improvement in asset quality following a difficult cycle.

“From 2022 to 2024 OCB’s business activity slowed due to the impact of changing monetary policies, which affected the bank’s operating results,” Tuan said. “Non-performing loans (NPL) are concentrated mainly among retail customers with collateral, and peaked in 2024, while the NPL ratio among corporate customers remains very low. In 2025, NPL control and debt collection saw significant improvement, reflected in debt recovery growth that doubled compared to the previous year. This forms the basis for OCB setting an ambitious plan for 2026.”

During the meeting, shareholders approved a plan to issue 399.46 million new shares at a 15 per cent ratio to existing shareholders from equity reserves, lifting charter capital from $1.07 billion to $1.23 billion.

The proceeds will support lending, tech investment, and product development. Japan’s Aozora Bank is expected to remain the bank’s sole major shareholder at 15 per cent, while OCB intends to issue convertible bonds in the near future to fill the remaining 10 per cent foreign ownership limit.

VIR