Techcombank's ESG vision: Driving sustainability and community engagement

How important is ESG in Vietnam and specifically to Techcombank?

Techcombank was founded 31 years ago with a charter capital of only VND20 billion ($800,000) and has since grown to become one of the leading private banks in Vietnam. Throughout the bank’s journey, we have always strived to be an enabler of the country’s economic growth and development and to achieve success together with the Vietnamese people. Our goal - to be an enabler of Vietnam - is reflected in Techcombank’s brand promise to always ‘Be Greater.’

The Vietnamese people have a strong aspirational spirit, which means they are constantly striving to achieve greater things and find success on their own terms. This spirit has propelled Vietnam’s GDP growth over the last 30 years, from around $13 billion to $430 billion, as millions of Vietnamese have achieved their own success.

Techcombank is proud to have been a partner in Vietnam’s growth over the past three decades, providing financial products and services that have empowered the Vietnamese people. As Vietnam’s economy has expanded and its citizens have become wealthier, sustainability has grown increasingly important, and the term ESG has gained prominence.

Today, Techcombank is committed to taking a lead on ESG and embedding ESG factors into the heart of its business strategy and operations. We recognize that for Techcombank to continue growing and succeeding for another 30 years, we must do so sustainably by helping to protect the nation’s environment and making a positive contribution to society. We have embarked on a long-term ESG journey with the aim of becoming a pioneer in sustainability within Vietnam’s banking industry.

Techcombank is the strategic partner for the HCMC marathon; can you elaborate on why the bank supports this event?

The 7th edition of the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) International Marathon was held over the weekend of December 6–8 and was the best yet! Techcombank has been the strategic partner for the marathon for the past seven years because it is a fantastic event that enables the bank to uplift Vietnam and the community in HCMC. Through our support for the marathon, we help showcase Vietnam’s vibrancy to the world, provide an economic boost to the city, and give back to the community by encouraging mass participation and promoting healthy lifestyles.

The marathon saw 18,000 runners from 64 Vietnamese provinces and many other countries take part in various races. Mass participation sports, like the Ho Chi Minh City Marathon, align with Techcombank’s ‘Be Greater’ promise by enabling the community to come together to conquer new challenges and achieve success. The strong turnout reflects the aspirational spirit of the Vietnamese people striving to achieve their own personal greatness.

How does Techcombank integrate mass participation sports into its wider ESG approach?

Techcombank’s strategic partnership with the Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon is part of our broader “Run for a Greater Vietnam” initiative, which also includes support for the Hanoi Marathon. We recognize the positive impact mass participation sporting events can have in terms of engaging with the community, uplifting the economy, and linking Techcombank’s brand with achievement and the aspirational spirit of the Vietnamese people.

Our support for the HCMC and Hanoi marathons is a key element of Techcombank’s ESG approach, particularly the “S” — making a positive social contribution. In 2024, the Hanoi and HCMC marathons together attracted close to 30,000 runners. When the Techcombank HCMC Marathon first began seven years ago, it had only around 2,000 participants. By partnering with local government, we’ve turned these events into powerful experiences that inspire thousands to embrace active lifestyles and push beyond their limits. This phenomenal growth highlights the power of mass participation sports to connect with people and foster a spirit of community and social engagement.

This year’s 3rd edition of the Techcombank Hanoi Marathon was particularly significant because it was scheduled to take place in September, right after Typhoon Yagi hit northern Vietnam, causing significant damage and loss of life. We made the difficult decision to postpone the marathon by a week and donate around VND3 billion ($120,000) to support relief efforts and help those impacted by the storm. Despite the rain and winds, over 10,000 runners participated when the race was eventually held, demonstrating the indomitable spirit and pride of the Vietnamese people as Hanoi celebrated the 70th anniversary of its Liberation Day.

What specific steps has Techcombank taken to integrate sustainability into the HCMC Marathon?

When Techcombank considers our support for mass participation sporting events like the HCMC Marathon, we focus on maximizing the positive impacts in relation to seven sustainability pillars: Partnership, Participation, People, Planet, Power, Profile, and Prosperity. These pillars are defined by the organization Global Sustainable Sport (GSS).

We believe our support for the Hanoi and HCMC Marathons delivers significant positive sustainability outcomes across five of these seven pillars. Our support fosters partnerships with local government and community organizations, encourages mass participation, delivers positive social impact by promoting physical fitness and healthy lifestyles, uplifts the economy through tourism, and helps to profile Techcombank’s brand, connecting it with aspirational Vietnamese.

As with any activity, there is inevitably some environmental impact from running mass participation sporting events. However, we are working with the event’s organizer and local government departments to minimize these effects through recycling waste and providing buses to transport participants to and from the racecourse.

How does Techcombank plan to develop its involvement in the HCMC Marathon and similar events to deepen its ESG impact?

I joined Techcombank in 2020 as CMO, and since then, the marathon has grown and changed so much, becoming a truly spectacular and inspiring event. Since its inception, the Techcombank HCMC International Marathon has expanded its participation from just over 4,000 runners to around 18,000 this year, with side events running over a full three days.

HCMC should be hugely proud of the event, which helps to showcase the city, the community, and all of Vietnam to the world. But we don’t want to stop here. Techcombank’s aim is to create an official city marathon that can become a truly world-class sporting event, comparable to the marathon in Singapore and even to world majors like those in Tokyo, New York, and now Sydney.

An official HCMC marathon, supported by Techcombank, would help put the city on the global map and attract visitors from around the world, further boosting the economy and tourism industry. We are currently working with the local government and building community support for what would be a truly special marathon event in HCMC, one that would unite the community and showcase the vibrancy of this wonderful city.

Beyond Techcombank’s support for mass participation sports, what else is the bank doing to advance its ESG priorities and support Vietnam’s sustainability goals?

ESG and sustainability are now key pillars of Techcombank’s transformation strategy and are more important to the management team than ever before. As a leading Vietnamese bank, we want to be a partner in the country’s progress through sustainable growth and development. We are therefore actively seeking ways to help protect Vietnam’s environment, make positive contributions to the community, support and develop our people, and foster strong and effective corporate governance within our bank and across the industry.

As one of the leading banks in Vietnam, there are two main areas where we can deliver a positive environmental impact. First is in the provision of debt financing for green projects. In 2023, Techcombank provided more green financing than ever before, with funding for green projects in Vietnam now surpassing $5 billion. Techcombank also became the first private bank in Vietnam to introduce a Green Bond Framework to ensure that proceeds from Green Bond issuance are allocated to projects that deliver tangible environmental benefits for Vietnam.

Second, Techcombank is introducing policies to improve energy efficiency across its operations and supporting individual and business customers to adopt sustainable practices. The bank’s digital transformation strategy has enhanced productivity while reducing environmental impact by lowering energy consumption and waste. The new energy-efficient head office buildings in Hanoi and HCMC, certified as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), are estimated to deliver energy savings of approximately 26 per cent compared to older offices.

Techcombank is also taking the lead in helping customers live greener lifestyles. In 2024, we became the first bank in Vietnam to launch a Visa EcoCard. This innovative product enables retail customers to lead more sustainable lives by helping them track carbon emissions linked to their spending, offset their carbon footprint easily, and enjoy eco-friendly benefits, such as subscriptions to an EV taxi service.

Our social contributions also go beyond the Run for a Greater Vietnam initiative. Techcombank has donated approximately VND148 billion ($5.92 million) to community and social development organizations. Internally, the bank is committed to gender diversity and talent development. Women hold 19 per cent of board positions, while approximately 61 per cent of managerial roles are filled by women. On average, Techcombank provides around 77 hours of training per employee each year, enabling staff to enhance their skills and advance their careers.