As bank account holders in Vietnam are required to verify their biometric data to perform online transactions starting from Wednesday, many commercial banks extended their working hours on Tuesday to assist customers with such updates.

The State Bank of Vietnam announced on Tuesday that approximately 79 million customer profiles nationwide had been collected and verified with biometric data by the end of the previous day.

This effort is part of a policy aimed at ensuring uninterrupted online financial transactions.

Nguyen Quoc Hung, secretary general of the Vietnam Banks Association, stated that the new policy requiring mandatory biometric verification aims to protect customers from potential fraud and ensure their accounts are legally secure.

State-owned lender Agribank extended its working hours until 6:30 pm on Tuesday to help customers update their personal and biometric information.

However, despite these efforts, more than a third of accounts remain unverified or lack updated identity documents, Hung said.

Customers updating their information online through bank websites or apps must complete the process by January 1.

Tran Cong Quynh Lan, deputy general director of VietinBank, another state-owned lender, highlighted that January 1 falls on the New Year holiday, during which in-person banking services will be unavailable.

VietinBank and other banks have urged customers to complete their updates online or visit branches for assistance well before the deadline.

They also cautioned customers about potential fraud schemes, emphasizing the importance of updating biometric data exclusively through official channels.

Agribank asserted that biometric updates are only conducted at official branches nationwide or through the Agribank Plus and Retail eBanking apps.

As per regulations under the 2023 Law on Identity and guidance from the State Bank of Vietnam, customers who fail to update their biometric data and identification by January 1, 2025 may face temporary suspension or restrictions on online transactions.

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