A number of commercial banks have recently advised their customers to update their biometric authentication or personal identification documents before January 1, 2025, in accordance with the State Bank’s regulations.
According to Circulars 17/2024/TT-NHNN and 18/2024/TT-NHNN issued by the State Bank of Vietnam, which pertain to the opening and usage of payment accounts and bank card operations, account holders will be unable to perform online transactions such as cash withdrawals, fund transfers, bill payments, and top-ups; as well as ATM transactions if they have not completed the biometric data verification and updated their personal identification documents.
VPBank, one of the banks, has communicated that from January 1, 2025, customers will not be able to conduct online transactions if they have not completed biometric authentication. For account holders who do not have biometric data or have expired personal identification documents, and whose information does not match the data held by the Ministry of Public Security, all transactions will be halted.
The bank is encouraging its customers to promptly update their personal identification documents and biometric data either through their mobile banking application or by visiting any of the bank’s branches and transaction offices nationwide.
Bank customers are encouraged to update their biometric data and personal identification documents before January 1, 2025, to avoid disruptions in their banking transactions.
“We have just announced a gift program worth nearly VND 7 billion for customers who complete biometric verification and update their personal identification documents between November 7, 2024, and January 12, 2025,” said a VPBank representative. “By complying with the current regulations, our customers will contribute to reducing risks and enhancing security when using our banking products and services.”
Similarly, Nam A Bank has also notified its customers that from the beginning of 2025, the bank will temporarily suspend card transactions, payment transactions, and withdrawals from payment accounts if the customer’s personal identification documents or proof of residence in Vietnam have expired or are no longer valid.
For card transactions, cash withdrawals, and electronic payment transactions, Nam A Bank will temporarily halt these operations if the customer’s personal identification documents and biometric data have not been verified and matched.
Ngưòi Lao Động newspaper has reported that several other banks, including Vietcombank, Sacombank, OCB, LPBank, Agribank, SHB, and ACB, have also communicated the new regulations and encouraged their customers to proactively update their personal identification documents, proof of residence in Vietnam (for foreigners), and biometric data.
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