Vietnam’s Banking Academy and Vantage Foundation Agree to Teach More People About Money — Here’s What That Means

MoU signed in Hanoi to broaden financial education

The Banking Academy of Vietnam and the Vantage Foundation formalised a strategic memorandum of understanding in Hanoi on December 18, 2025. The agreement sets up a joint effort to expand financial education across schools, banks and communities. Officials described the signing as the start of a multi-year push to give more people basic money skills and to strengthen the skills of banking staff.

What the agreement will actually do

The MoU lays out several clear aims. The partners plan to build courses and workshops that reach three main groups: students at the academy and other schools, staff working in banks and financial firms, and members of the general public who lack easy access to financial training.

Program types mentioned include short practical courses on topics like budgeting and saving, more advanced training for bank employees on customer service and digital banking, and public workshops aimed at vulnerable groups. The partnership also covers curriculum development — the two sides will work together to write course materials and trainer guides so lessons match local needs.

Funding and resources will come from both partners. The Vantage Foundation is expected to contribute money for pilot programs, scholarships and learning materials, while the Banking Academy will provide teachers, classroom space and accreditation. The MoU notes plans for scholarships to help students from low-income families join longer courses, and for online modules so people outside Hanoi can take part.

How leaders framed the deal

Leaders at the ceremony spoke in practical terms. Representatives of the Banking Academy emphasised the need to modernise training so graduates can work in a fast-changing banking sector. They described the partnership as a way to bring real-world skills into classrooms and to help banks lift service standards.

The Vantage Foundation’s remarks stressed outreach. Its spokespeople described the agreement as a chance to reach people who have been left out of mainstream financial education, and to back scholarships and pilot projects that test new teaching methods. The overall tone from both sides was cooperative and focused on results rather than publicity.

How this will be rolled out and when to expect results

The two organisations set out a phased rollout. In the first year they will run pilot courses in Hanoi and offer a mix of in-person workshops and online lessons. Pilots will include a short course for bank tellers on digital payments, a public workshop series on household budgeting, and a scholarship cohort for students studying finance-related subjects.

Following those pilots, the plan calls for a wider roll-out across other regions over the next two years. The Banking Academy will take primary responsibility for delivering accredited courses, while Vantage will lead fundraising for scholarships and digital learning tools. The partners also said they would set simple milestones to measure reach — for example, the number of trainees, number of scholarships awarded and the launch of new online modules.

Why this matters for everyday people and the banking workforce

At its best, the partnership tackles two persistent gaps in Vietnam. First, many people still lack clear, practical knowledge about money — how to manage budgets, how to use digital payments safely, and how to choose financial products. Second, banks need staff who can support customers through a wave of digital change.

By combining a training institution with a philanthropic fund, the pact could speed up work that otherwise moves slowly: developing easy-to-use learning materials, experimenting with online teaching, and funding students who can’t afford courses. If the pilots reach schools and provincial banks as promised, the result could be steadier service at branches and more confidence among everyday savers and borrowers.

Who the partners are and what to watch next

The Banking Academy of Vietnam is the country’s main higher-education institution focused on finance and banking. It trains students who go on to work in banks, regulatory bodies and financial firms. The Vantage Foundation is a philanthropic group that supports education and social programs; under this agreement it will fund pilots, scholarships and digital learning tools.

Keep an eye on the first-year pilots: announcements about the initial courses, scholarship recipients, and the launch of online modules will show whether the two sides can move from plans to results. If those steps succeed, the partnership could become a model for other education and finance partnerships in the region.

Sources

• prnewswire.com