The AI Paradox: Unlocking Billions in Potential and Overcoming Implementation Hurdles in Banking
In recent years, AI has emerged as a transformative force in banking, promising to enhance productivity and optimize costs. McKinsey estimates that generative AI alone could add up to $340 billion in annual value to the banking sector.
However, significant challenges persist. In Vietnam, despite a robust digital transformation wave, most AI applications in banking remain experimental or limited to surface-level tasks like customer service chatbots or traditional credit analysis. According to the State Bank of Vietnam’s 2025 survey, only 15% of commercial banks have achieved moderate AI adoption by April 2025, with no institution deploying AI agents at scale.
In the digital transformation journey, technology is necessary, but human capability is essential. Yet, a talent gap has become an invisible growth barrier. Banks face a dual resource crisis: a shortage of AI experts and limited capabilities within existing teams.
Annually, the market faces a deficit of 150,000 to 200,000 tech professionals, with AI specialists in the most critical demand. From 2025 to 2030, AI talent demand is projected to surge by 74%, intensifying competition.
The challenge extends beyond recruitment to the skill gaps within current teams. While some banks have begun upskilling employees in digital technologies, many still lack proficiency in critical areas like data analytics, system management, and AI applications.
BCG’s research reveals that only 25% of banks are truly prepared to integrate AI into their competitive strategies. The remainder risk falling behind, not due to insufficient investment, but because of a lack of structured plans to enhance AI capabilities among employees. Without ready mindsets and skills, AI implementation faces internal resistance, hindering its penetration into core operations for meaningful profitability.
Empowering Internal Capabilities: A Strategic Lever in Banking’s Digital Race
Amidst a talent shortage and fierce market competition, upgrading internal AI capabilities is a top priority for banks.
With over a decade of partnering with leading Vietnamese banks like Techcombank, VietinBank, BIDV, MSB, and PVcomBank, Agile Academy deeply understands the industry’s processes and culture. This insight forms the foundation for their AI solutions, focusing on practicality and effectiveness: optimizing existing AI tools for immediate productivity gains, embedding AI across all operations, and fostering an AI-Native organization where employees leverage AI for innovation and decision-making.
To achieve this, Agile Academy has designed a three-tiered capability transformation roadmap. The Foundation Phase equips all employees with basic AI mindsets and skills. The Advanced Phase offers tailored programs for leadership, management, and specialists to enhance operational efficiency. Finally, the Implementation & Scaling Phase standardizes successful use cases into processes, enabling bank-wide deployment.
Agile Academy has implemented numerous AI capability enhancement programs for banking teams.
In the era of rapid AI advancement, a bank’s success hinges not just on capital or technology infrastructure, but on its ability to translate AI into tangible value. Investing in people is the decisive factor for Vietnamese banks’ breakthrough potential in the AI age. With the right mindset, skills, and structured implementation, AI becomes more than a support tool—it becomes a strategic lever for sustainable growth.
RMIT Expert Explores Digital Banking in the New Era: AI Empowers, Enhances, and Personalizes the Banking Experience
Paying for iced tea, parking via QR codes, and settling electricity and water bills through banking apps are becoming the new norms for consumers. This shift not only reflects evolving spending habits among Vietnamese citizens but also marks a significant leap forward for digital banking in Vietnam.
Over 3,400 Bank Employees Laid Off Amid Severe AI Workforce Shortage
Amidst the AI revolution, a startling statistic emerges: over 3,400 bank employees have faced job cuts. Experts emphasize that to navigate this challenge, a collaborative effort between financial institutions and educational bodies is imperative.
The Digital Bank Cake: Mastering Technology, Captivating Customers
With its Next Gen AI Bank orientation, Cake by VPBank has had a remarkable year in 2024. The digital bank successfully executed key projects with reputable strategic partners and garnered prestigious awards in Vietnam and internationally. Cake continues to assert its appeal in the realm of digital finance, solidifying its position as a leading player in the industry.
“Personalization: Elevating the Digital Banking Customer Experience”
Today, customers seek not only excellent banking services but also genuine human connection during their online transactions. Thus, banks and credit unions must embark on a digital transformation journey to enhance their customers’ digital experience, employing strategies rooted in customer insights and advanced technology.
AI: The Growth Lever for Retail Banking
Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a plethora of advantages for retail banks. By leveraging AI, banks can enhance customer experiences, bolster security and fraud detection measures, optimize operational processes, innovate new products and services, and efficiently conduct credit analysis and risk assessments.
