Fulfilling the “Tam Nong - Agriculture, Rural Areas and Farmers” Mission and Corporate Culture

DNHN - Over 5 years of establishment and development, the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development - Nam Thanh Hoa Branch (Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa) has consistently fulfilled its “Tam Nong” mission and focused on building a model corporate culture.

To build its brand, Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa has always adhered to the principles, objectives, and development traditions of Agribank. Together with the system, it has been seriously and effectively implementing the policies and strategies of the Party and the State on currency, banking, especially credit policies that promote the transformation of the economic structure in agriculture, contributing to the construction of new rural areas, ensuring social security, and actively contributing to the process of socio-economic development of the country in general and Thanh Hoa province in particular.

Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa is a Grade I, Type I branch directly under the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank), established on January 1, 2019, based on a separation from Agribank Thanh Hoa Province. Immediately after its establishment, Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa quickly stabilised its organisational model, developed and implemented internal management regulations, and focused on directing the improvement of management and operation quality. Enhancing the quality of customer service was identified as a breakthrough to enable the branch’s rapid and sustainable development.

The branch has always identified capital mobilisation as a continuous core task, coupled with the continuous provision of diverse banking products and services, the enhancement of infrastructure, investment in modern equipment, and the rapid development of e-banking services towards digital banking, promoting cashless payments, and facilitating convenient transactions for customers anytime, anywhere. Over the past 5 years, the branch has invested in and upgraded its technology infrastructure, developed a system of POS machines and ATMs, put into operation the Autobank CDM automated banking system, and increased e-banking utilities such as payments via VietQR code, QR code, and online payment connectivity between the bank and public service providers such as hospitals, schools, etc.

In line with the socio-economic development orientations of the locality, Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa has effectively fulfilled its “Tam Nong - Agriculture, Rural Areas and Farmers” mission, focusing on prioritising capital for investment and development in agriculture, farmers, and rural areas. It has directed flexible credit growth according to the credit investment portfolio in line with market developments. The branch has effectively played a consultative role for local authorities in effectively implementing credit programmes such as Loans for agricultural and rural development following Decree 55/2015/ND-CP and Decree 116/2018/ND-CP of the Government; loans for expanding production and business to serve the goal of building new rural areas; and preferential interest rate loans according to Agribank’s programmes, etc. Credit capital has been brought closer to the people through coordination with the Farmers’ Association and the Women’s Association to establish a system of 1,300 loan groups in villages, communes, and residential areas, and to implement mobile transaction points using specialised vehicles. Credit quality is tightly controlled, with the bad debt ratio always below the permitted level and lower than the average of other credit institutions in the area, ensuring the permitted safety ratio. The branch consistently maintains the proportion of agricultural and rural loans at over 80% of the total outstanding debt; gradually increasing the proportion of outstanding loans to enterprises to meet the economic development needs in key economic zones, dynamic localities, and economic corridors under the orientation of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee. Through Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa’s investment capital, it has made significant contributions to job creation, labour restructuring, improving people’s lives in rural areas, and promoting the construction of new rural areas and socio-economic growth in the locality.

In implementing the directives of the National Assembly, the Government, the State Bank, and Agribank on policies to support people and businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa has seriously, promptly, and practically implemented policies to support customers such as reducing loan interest rates, restructuring debt terms while maintaining the debt group, providing new loans with preferential interest rates, and waiving domestic money transfer fees, etc., with nearly 70,000 borrowing customers receiving support; the total amount of fees and interest supported for customers is nearly VND 200 billion. This has contributed to effectively implementing the policies of the Party and the State on supporting people and businesses in overcoming difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to making its mark in business, Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa also dedicates significant resources to social welfare activities, demonstrating its responsibility as a community-oriented, compassionate, and sharing bank. Over the past 5 years, the branch has allocated nearly VND 14 billion to social welfare activities in the area, with many meaningful programmes and activities such as presenting schools worth VND 6 billion; donating 12 charity houses; presenting over 4,300 Tet gift packages to policy families and families in difficult circumstances worth over VND 2.1 billion; presenting bookshelves and learning equipment worth VND 320 million; donating over 70,000 seedlings; contributing over VND 1.9 billion to the Covid-19 prevention and control fund, etc. The acts of kindness bestowed by Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa have empowered many disadvantaged families to rise above their circumstances, creating beautiful stories in everyday life.

Throughout the process of establishment and development, Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa has always focused on directing the development of the enterprise, building a model corporate culture, effectively implementing the Regulations on Democracy at the Grassroots Level, and gradually improving the organisational model according to Agribank’s orientation; increasing investment in building infrastructure, headquarters, and a system of spacious and modern transaction floors; continuing to promote the application of information technology in developing business activities, improving labour productivity and customer service quality; establishing a smoke-free working environment and building a clean and beautiful office; effectively implementing emulation and reward activities to create development motivation, encouraging collectives and individuals to compete, strive to overcome difficulties, be creative, and be determined to excellently fulfil their tasks; regularly caring for the material and spiritual life of employees; creating conditions for mass organisations to operate effectively; and fulfilling all obligations to the State. The bank always focuses on building a strong collective, promoting the role of the Party organisation, the grassroots Trade Union, and the Youth Union; organising many activities to promote the spirit of solidarity, dynamism, creativity, discipline, and responsibility among the staff, employees, and workers in fulfilling their assigned tasks. Regular annual activities are organised, such as the Labour Congress; the conference to honour outstanding female cadres; the conference to honour outstanding young cadres; cultural and sports activities; photo contests, professional competitions, and competitions to learn about banking activities; presenting gifts on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival and Children’s Day to the children of cadres and employees in the agency, organising meetings with sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, etc. Through these activities, the bank collectively builds a united and cohesive Agribank community.

Up to now, after 5 years of establishment and development, with remarkable achievements in business and humanitarian activities for the community, Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa has built a prestigious and reputable brand among the people. The branch has achieved high growth in scale and quality, with safe and effective business operations, with total mobilised capital reaching over VND 14,600 billion (2.2 times higher than when it was first established), and total outstanding loans to the economy reaching over VND 16,400 billion (1.8 times higher than when it was first established). Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa has become one of the leading branches in terms of credit quality in the Agribank system; maintaining its position and role as a branch of the leading commercial bank in Vietnam, making significant contributions to the socio-economic development of Thanh Hoa province.

In recognition of the important achievements and contributions of Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa, the Prime Minister, the People’s Committee of the province, the State Bank of Vietnam, and the Agribank Board of Directors have presented many valuable awards to the branch’s collectives and individuals. Every year, the unit is consistently ranked by Agribank as a branch that has excellently fulfilled its business tasks; in 2021, it was ranked first in the emulation bloc of the North Central region by Agribank; in 2022, it was awarded a Certificate of Merit and an Emulation Flag by the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam; from 2020 to 2023, it continuously received Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; in 2021 and 2023, it was awarded the title of “Outstanding Enterprise of Xu Thanh” by the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee. These are testaments to the correctness and effectiveness of the business strategy, consistency in direction and management, and alignment with practical conditions. The achievements reaped today will further build the branch’s strength to seize opportunities and create breakthroughs.

Confidently moving into a new development phase, Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa sets the goal of continuing to comprehensively develop business activities, focusing on the rapid development of products and services that apply digital technology, actively increasing customer benefits and service quality as the core, and as the decisive factor in determining competitiveness to maintain and develop the market. At the same time, it will take care of the material and spiritual life of employees and carry out social welfare work in the best possible way; continue to be united, dynamic, and creative, and strive to overcome all difficulties and challenges, building the branch to develop rapidly, safely, and with high efficiency, making positive contributions to building a prosperous and beautiful homeland.

Song Ha