Commercial banks as from early August have introduced new interest rates for deposits in US dollars, particularly long-term deposits.

The Saigon Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SCB) is leading the pack with the highest annual interest rates - 3.3 percent for sixty-month USD deposits, and 2.75 percent, 2.5 percent and 2.3 percent for deposits of 12, nine and six months.

The Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Seabank) is offering 3.1 percent for 18- and 24-month USD deposits and 2.95 percent for 12-months.

The Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), the Ocean Commercial Joint Stock Bank and the Bank for Import-Export of Vietnam (Eximbank) have introduced a rate of 2.9 percent for 36-month deposits.

According to the State Bank of Vietnam , the annual interest rates for short-term loans in US dollars at State-owned commercial banks hover around 3 percent. Mid- and long-term loans range from 3.5-5 percent.

Rates at joint stock banks are 3-5 percent for short-term and 4-6 percent for mid- and long-term USD loans./.