Bad debts continue to squeeze banks’ profits

In the third quarter of 2016, Kienlongbank’s gross profit decreased by nearly 12 percent.
Bad debts continue to squeeze banks’ profits ảnh 1Kienlongbank’s gross profit decreased by nearly 12 percent in Q3 of 2016 (Photo: Kienlongbank)

Hanoi (VNA) -In the third quarter of 2016, Kienlongbank’s gross profit decreased by nearly12 percent.

As a result, in thefirst nine months of the year Kienlongbank’s pre-tax profits were worth only 19.8billion VND (880,000).

The bank managementattributed the profit drop to increasing operation costs and risk provision forbad debts.

The lender’s bad debtsratio increased from 1.12 per cent at the beginning of the year to 1.46 percent. Significantly, irrecoverable debts increased by 54 per cent to 187billion VND (8.3 million USD).

Kienlongbank will thusfind it difficult to achieve the year’s pre-tax profit target of 300 billionVND (13.3 million USD).

Eximbank, quicklyrecognising the difficult business situation, has tweaked its business plans.

By late second quarterthe bank’s bad debts had increased sharply to 5.3 per cent despite the fact itscredit growth rate was minus 4.62 per cent.

Consequently, its firsthalf pre-tax profit was only 80 billion VND.

In the first nine monthsof the year Eximbank had a pre-tax profit of 202 billion VND but an after-taxloss of 43 billion VND.

Its bad debts were 3.35per cent of total outstanding loans.

In the face of thedownbeat situation, Eximbank’s executive board slashed the full-year profittarget by 44 per cent to 400 billion VND.

State giant BIDV had tomake risk provision of nearly 7 trillion VND in the first nine months of 2016,an 80 per cent rise over the same period last year.

According to the HCMCity Banking University, in 2016 the banking sector had to set aside 91.374trillion VND as bad debts provisions, much higher than the 74.828 trillion VND in2015 and 59.287 trillion VND in 2014.

Of this figure,provision for bad debts amounted to 53.098 trillion VND, and bonds issued bythe Vietnam Asset Management Company against bad debts were worth 38.276trillion VND.

These ate into theprofits of banks, including major ones, and as a result shareholders did notget dividends.-VNA
VNA

See more

Products showcased at the Investment & Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

Businesses must embrace new trends to boost exports to US: experts

Trade cooperation between Vietnam and the US presents both vast opportunities and significant challenges, as the latter enters a new phase with major adjustments to its economic and foreign policies, which are expected to have a wide-reaching impact on global trade and investment activities.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Do Minh Hung (centre), embassy staff and VBUK members (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Business Association in UK sets 2025 agenda

The Vietnamese Business Association in the UK (VBUK) has announced plans to reshape the landscape of Vietnam-UK trade relations, focusing on driving business community forward, fostering its unity and strengthening connections with their Vietnamese partners both at home and abroad.

Durians being prepared for export. (Photo: phunuonline.com.vn)

Vietnam tightens fruit inspections after warning from China

The Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has requested that local authorities and relevant agencies enhance inspections and monitoring of cultivation areas and export packing facilities for fresh fruit, including durians and jackfruit.

Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

VinFast posts record monthly, yearly car sales

Vietnamese car maker VinFast announced that it delivered over 20,000 vehicles in December 2024, a sales record in the domestic market, raising its total last year to more than 87,000.

The prices of SJC-branded gold bars have surged by 2.6 million VND (102.5 USD) per tael since the beginning of this year (Photo: VNA)

Gold prices hit new peak

The prices of SJC-branded gold bars have surged by 2.6 million VND (102.5 USD) per tael since the beginning of 2025.

Vietnamese products at a supermarket in Laos. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese products gain market share in ASEAN countries

Vietnamese products are gaining traction and increasing their market share in the ASEAN bloc, particularly in neighbouring countries such as Cambodia and Laos, according to businesses and a report by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).