The 2012 ASEAN Banker Forum opened in Ho Chi Minh City on December 4, providing an interactive platform for domestic and regional bankers and technology experts to discuss and evaluate the development of the retail banking system in Vietnam.

It offers an opportunity for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian bankers to meet and share experiences to aid the development of the regional banking sector.

During the two-day forum, themed “Retail banking – Building competitive advantages that engage and retain customers”, participants discussed issues related to building competitive advantages and sustainable development strategies for the banking sector by improving trust among customers, operational efficiency and service quality.

According to organisers, in the face of a credit-growth standstill and fiercer competition in Vietnam , banks have shifted their strategy to developing services, which are accounting for 20-30 percent of the sector’s total revenue.

They have also expanded the network of distribution channels and improved the quality of services to win more customers