Vietnam

VietinBank became the first Vietnamese financial institution to successfully issue US$250 million worth of bonds in international markets at an annual real coupon of 8.25%.

Sacombank may sell shares to foreign investors up to 15 percent of it chartered capital.

The draft plan to merge Hanoi Building Commercial Bank into Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Bank has been approved by shareholders of both banks.

Loan growth moderated to 10.9% in 2011, about half the government's target of 20%, according to Standard & Poor's.

Petrovietnam has approved the plan to change the operational model of Petrovietnam Finance Corp and convert it into a bank.

Habubank’s shareholders have approved the plan to merge with Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank.

The chartered capital of Laos-Vietnam Joint Venture Bank may be raised from $35 million to US$70 million in May 2012.

ACB reported a net interest income of 1.651 trillion dong in the first quarter of 2012, increasing by 29 percent over the same period last year.

Habubank announced its draft plan to merge with the SHB.

Despite assurances to the contrary from the government, Vietnam will not loan as much to private business as it planned.

BBVA warns weak banks should first be recapitalized by the government before being merged.

Sacombank is earmarking one trillion dong or US$48 million for soft loans to agro-forestry andfisheries sectors until May 11, 2012.

VietinBank has expanded its Western Union Online through its IPay system.

Maritime Bank has been appointed as the service bank for the Da Nang – Quang Ngai Expressway Project by the State Bank of Vietnam.

Vietnamese banks are seeking to introduce ATM charges to avoid big losses on ATM services.

It will open a representative office in Hanoi on May 7.