STATE BANK OF VIETNAM BANKING ACADEMY Foreign Language Faculty ------ GRADUATION THESIS ELECTRONIC BANKING IN VIETNAM: A SWOT ANALYSIS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING Student Name : Dao Thi Ngoc Mai Group : ATC A - K11 Supervisors : Nguyen Hong Ngoc MA Nguyen Tien Dung MA Hanoi, Jun 2012 STATE BANK OF VIETNAM BANKING ACADEMY Foreign Language Faculty ------ ELECTRONIC BANKING IN VIETNAM: A SWOT ANALYSIS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING By Dao Thi Ngoc Mai A THESIS Submitted to the Faculty of Foreign Languages of Banking Academy of Vietnam in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts Hanoi, Jun 2012 ABSTRACT ELECTRONIC BANKING IN VIETNAM: A SWOT ANALYSIS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING Dao Thi Ngoc Mai The constant innovations in telecommunications technology have changed the face of banking sector. Banks now target the provision of products and services through electronic channels, namely electronic banking or E-banking. In this study, the discussion was grounded on the framework of E-banking evolution as well as the theories of SWOT analysis and strategic planning. Another important aspect of the study is to develop more insight into the strengths and weaknesses, vis-à-vis the opportunities and threats faced by banks as E-banking is available in Vietnam.
While the strong growth of ATM transactions is the most outstanding advantage, the weak customers’ usage of online banking has mainly limited the development of E-banking in Vietnam. Whereas the large number of Internet and mobile phone users and golden population could bring greatest chances, the consumers’ habit of using cash poses E- banking to the fundamental challenge. For the further development of E-banking in Vietnam, it is highly recommended that the synchronic measures of product, human resources, technology, infrastructure, and security be properly performed. The final objective of the thesis is to make recommendations to the Government and the State Bank of Vietnam so that E-banking could be effectively managed.
Graduation Thesis Banking Academy DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my parents for their support and encouragement throughout my graduate study. Dao Thi Ngoc Mai iii ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude towards MS. NGUYEN HONG NGOC, M., my supervisor from the Banking Academy of Vietnam for leading me during the whole research and providing me with precious experience in this learning field. I own my warm thanks to MR.
NGUYEN TIEN DUNG, M., my supervisor from Hanoi University for taking the time and effort to read and offer comments on the English grammar mistakes of the manuscripts. My heartiest thanks to all the librarians of the National Library of Vietnam for giving the valuable time to help me find the reference materials. Finally, I would like give my sincere gratitude to all the respondents for the cooperation. I am highly thankful to all those who have contributed to the completion of the study.
Dao Thi Ngoc Mai iv ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES. vii LIST OF FIGURES. viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .1 Motivation for the Study .2 Objectives of the Study .4 Structure of the Study .6 Contributions of the Study.1 Electronic Banking – A General View .1 What is E-banking .2 Evolution of E-Banking.3 How E-banking Helps .2 Contents of SWOT analysis .2 Strategic planning process .3 Relationship between SWOT analysis and strategic planning. SWOT ANALYSIS ON ELECTRONIC BANKING IN VIETNAM .1 Strengths of E-Banking in Vietnam .1 Cost-effective distribution channels .3 Increased ATM transactions .2 Weaknesses of E-Banking in Vietnam .1 Small number of online banking users .19 Dao Thi Ngoc Mai v ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy 3.2 Limitation on E-Banking functionality .3 The concerns with ATM service and POS terminals .3 Opportunities of E-Banking in Vietnam.1 Vietnam’s WTO joining .2 Rising gross domestic product per capita .4 Regulatory and legal environment on E-banking .5 The connection of local card operators .4 Threats of E-Banking in Vietnam.1 The quality of the Internet and mobile network .3 Consumers’ custom of using cash .4 Demand for applying advanced technology.
STRATEGIC PLANNING ON ELECTRONIC BANKING IN VIETNAM .1 Missions and Objectives .2 E-banking Strategy Formulation .3 Technology and infrastructure.1 To the Government .2 To the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) .50 Dao Thi Ngoc Mai vi ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy LIST OF TABLES TABLE 2.1 Cost comparison among the service delivery channels .2 Number of card providers and brands .3 E-banking services in Vietnam .4 Online banking users by markets .5 Comparison on number of ATM and POS among countries.6 Internet and phone usage statistics .7 SWOT profile of E-banking in Vietnam. 34 Dao Thi Ngoc Mai vii ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 2. 6 Comparison between electronic banking and traditional banking services FIGURE 2.2 Contents of SWOT analysis .3 The strategic planning process .1 Number of cards in circulation 2006 – 2011 .2 ATM transactions: Value & Volume 2006 – 2011 .3 Gross domestic product per capita .4 Structure of population by age .5 The cash rate in total liquidity .32 Dao Thi Ngoc Mai viii ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ATM: Automated Teller Machine E-banking: Electronic banking E-channel: Electronic channel E-commerce: Electronic commerce EFTPOS/POS: Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale E-purse: Electronic purse GSO: General Statistics Office of Vietnam JSC: Joint Stock Company mil: million SBV: State Bank of Vietnam SMS: Short Message Service SWOT: Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats tn: trillion (Am.E) VBCA: Vietnam Bank Card Association Dao Thi Ngoc Mai ix ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Motivation for the Study The motivation for this study arose from the rapid development of electronic banking distribution channels in Vietnam. E-Banking derives benefits not only for banks but the customers as well thanks to its convenience, accuracy, and swiftness.
The emergence of information technology since the mid-1990s has facilitated the competitions among commercial banks in providing E-banking service to enlarge the customer base. Another motivation came from the reason that the development of E-banking demands for the key strategies. As E-banking is a special type of service that is delivered through electronic channels, it is necessary for banks to understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the service to formulate effective strategies. The final motivation is relevant to my career target.
As a candidate for Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in English for Banking and Finance, I realize the importance and advantages of E-banking, and always wish to work for the organizations providing electronic payment methods across the country and throughout the world. For those reasons, the study “Electronic Banking in Vietnam: A SWOT Analysis for Strategic Planning” was chosen as my graduation thesis.2 Objectives of the Study This study primarily aims to identify the concerns and challenges faced by E-banking in Vietnam. The analysis and the findings of the study will make a practical contribution to the marketing strategies of the banks that are currently offering E- banking services as well as the ones are going to launch such services. The study concentrates on three major issues: - Analysis on the strengths, limitations, chances, and challenges of E-banking Dao Thi Ngoc Mai 1 ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy - E-banking strategy formulation - Recommendations addressed to the Government and SBV 1.3 Research Questions Based on the information about E-banking environment in Vietnam as well as the theoretical background, the first research question arises: - How is E-banking environment in Vietnam assessed? SWOT analysis findings are the foundation for the second question to be designed: - What kinds of strategies should be formulated for the development of E-baking? 1.4 Methodology For the accomplishment of this study, the following methodologies are employed: - Analysis: SWOT analysis is used to evaluate the E-banking environment in Vietnam.
- Statistics: Secondary data is amassed from the published reports, articles, and documents relevant to E- banking, which are available either online or in print.5 Structure of the Study This study is divided into six chapters, of which the first two present the background of the study, the following three comprise the assessment, analysis, suggested strategies, and proposals for the growth of E-banking; and the final one draws conclusion for the whole thesis.6 Contributions of the Study E-banking today makes it easier for customers to access to the products offered by banks. The service itself presents the issues and challenges when being managed, however. The analysis and findings in this study, therefore, may be applied by the commercial banks to make competitive strategies among other competitors. Besides, the contribution is for the law makers to enact the policies concerning E-banking development.
Dao Thi Ngoc Mai 2 ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy Chapter 2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK The present chapter targets the wide perspective on electronic banking, including its evolution and benefits. The next section gives a brief introduction to SWOT analysis and strategic planning which are applied for the E-banking assessment and development strategies.1 Electronic Banking – A General View 2.1 What is E-banking Electronic banking (also E-banking) is defined as the automated delivery of new and traditional banking products and services directly to customers through electronic, interactive communication channels (FFIEC, 2003). This definition includes delivering services and products such as: - Account information - Funds - Business transactions and transfers through a public or private network These activities might take place using various types of intelligent interactive devices such as: - Automated Teller Machine (ATM), - Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale (EFTPOS), - Personal computers, - Telephones, - Mobile phones, - Banking kiosks, etc. Dao Thi Ngoc Mai 3 ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy 2.2 Evolution of E-Banking Since the late 1990s E-banking has developed from virtual insignificance to tens of millions of users worldwide (OECD, 2001).
However, E-banking is the product of different generations of electronic transactions, including ATM, POS, Phone banking, PC or Home banking, Internet banking, Mobile banking, etc. ATMs were the first well-know machines to provide electronic access to customers when POS devices allow cardholder to transfer funds automatically from his account to another’s by wiping the card through card readers. In Phone banking, users call their bank’s computer system on their ordinary phone and use the phone keypad to perform banking transactions. PC Banking superseded Phone banking and allowed users to interact with their bank by means of computer with a modem connected to the phone network.
Phone and PC Banking, however, have limitations on fairly high cost along with complex installation procedures. After those generations Deutsche Bank launched the very first Internet banking in Latin America in 1996 and Citibank has developed this service across all its branches worldwide (UNCTAD, 2002). Internet banking uses the web browser for use interface and the Internet for data transfer, so has potential for cost deduction. A more recent of E-banking development is wireless Internet applications of banking – called Mobile banking.
With the combination of the Internet and mobile phone, Mobile banking service is thus enabled. Electronic banking is pointed out to be fast becoming strategic necessity for most commercial banks.3 How E-banking Helps To Customers E-banking offers new value to customers. It makes available to customers a full range of services including some services not offered at branches. Fee Dao Thi Ngoc Mai 4 ATC A – K11 Graduation Thesis Banking Academy The greatest benefit of E-banking is that it is cheap and even free-of-charge to customers.
There is no need for so many bank staff or complicated papers for transactions to be conducted. For this reason, the cost of financial transactions is reduced, making it advantageous to clients. Speed The speed of processing transactions is the second advantage offered by E-banking services.