SHB’s commitment to sustainable development is anchored in safe growth, social responsibility, human development, and environmental stewardship.
As a pioneering Bank, we have established a comprehensive and rigorous ESG management framework that aligns with international guidelines and best practices, paving the way for a sustainable future for both our nation and the world.
The Sustainable Development Report is compiled by SHB, gathering information and data from the actual activities of SHB and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2023. The information disclosure is structured based on Circular 96/2020/TT-BTC.
At SHB, the highest authority responsible for sustainable development policies is the CEO. Environmental and social policies are detailed in internal documents issued by the Board of Directors and the CEO. The Board of Management follows the directives and orientations of the Board of Directors, clearly defining SHB’s mission and role in the economy as a partner in the nation’s comprehensive development, minimizing environmental impacts, and creating long-lasting, sustainable positive effects on the community.
Sustainable development actions at SHB are not limited to isolated programs but are elevated and directed according to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, encompassing strategic vision and direction to annual business operations. Accordingly, SHB’s sustainable development will be evaluated under three major aspects: Policies and activities related to employees and corporate culture; Community engagement activities; and Production and business activities associated with environmental impacts.
At SHB, we believe in “People-centricity”. Our human resource policies are meticulously designed to prioritize and empower our employees, ensuring their growth and wellbeing.
As of December 31, 2023, SHB employs 6,246 staff members, with an average age between 30 and 35 years. This young and dedicated workforce is central to SHB’s operations. At SHB, we uphold the principle of “People-centricity”, one of the four strategic pillars in our transformation journey. Accordingly, SHB has implemented human resource policies to maximize human potential, underpinning the bank’s development. In 2023, the average income of SHB employees was VND 23.01 million, a 3.2% increase from 2022.
SHB’s workforce has been expanding in both quantity and quality to align with strategic business objectives. The Bank focuses on developing a succession plan to ensure a young, well-trained management team with comprehensive financial knowledge, market economy insights, language proficiency, and adaptability to a modern, integrated business environment. The proportion of female employees at SHB consistently exceeds 60%, with women constituting about 50% of the management team. This highlights SHB’s commitment to valuing women and recognizing their significant impact on the Bank’s operations.
Presented below are key analytical insights into the personnel structure at SHB:
Personnel structure in 2023
Personnel structure by qualification
Personnel structure by gender
Personnel structure by seniority
Personnel structure by age
Every individual is afforded the opportunity to be trained and to flourish
SHB takes pride in offering significant values beyond salary and benefits. We believe this is SHB’s competitive advantage in the recruitment market:
In 2022, the average income of SHB employees reached VND 22.3 million per person per month, an increase of 1% compared to 2021. In 2023, SHB continued to innovate by restructuring employee income based on job titles, performance outcomes, salary grades, and regions. As a result, SHB’s employee salaries are ranked 7th in the entire banking sector.
At SHB, salaries are determined by performance evaluations (KPIs), and our KPI system is continually refined to ensure fair and accurate monthly compensation aligned with each employee’s contribution and role responsibilities. Compensation is directly linked to individual effectiveness, contribution levels, and SHB’s business outcomes.
The KPI framework empowers employees to influence their earnings based on performance. Annual salary reviews are transparent, fair, and reflect SHB’s commitment to staff development. Additionally, employees receive bonuses on holidays, anniversaries, and other significant occasions, contributing to meaningful earnings enhancements. Furthermore, our competitive reward policy is revised annually for each unit and branch, fostering a culture of recognition and motivation. Awards such as quarterly or annual certificates of appreciation are issued by the Chairman of the BOD or the CEO to commend teams and individuals for exceptional achievements, surpassing targets, or introducing innovative solutions.
One of the key highlights that make SHB’s salary and benefits policy unique and attractive is the “net” salary approach instead of “gross” salary. SHB covers employee contributions to social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, personal income tax, and union fees. This policy not only ensures and improves employees’ income but also demonstrates the Bank’s commitment to its staff.
Additionally, SHB places great emphasis on health care benefits, specific allowances, and the provision of uniforms. Annually, SHB organizes regular health checkups for employees at leading hospitals and provides comprehensive health insurance through the SHB Care program in collaboration with BSH Insurance, offering increasingly beneficial insurance policies for employees.
Specific allowances, such as hazardous duty allowances, makeup allowances for cash handling and customer service staff, dual responsibility allowances, incentives for high-performing employees, fuel and parking allowances, are paid monthly to 100% of employees. SHB also arranges private car transportation for headquarters and branch leaders for work and external assignments.
Beyond legal requirements, SHB offers various beneficial programs for employees, including work uniforms, modern work tools appropriate for their tasks, annual vacations for all staff, preferential loans for home and car purchases, consumer loans at favorable interest rates, and regular team-building activities such as football tournaments and cultural events. In 2023, the 30th anniversary of SHB was marked by a year of vibrant activities, including events like SHB Shine and SHB Icon. These programs provide a creative playground where SHB employees can showcase their talents, foster camaraderie, and create a joyful and warm atmosphere, motivating all staff.
Human resource development is one of SHB’s four strategic pillars. SHB provides every opportunity for individual career growth and focuses on training highquality personnel based on three key factors:
With the policy that every employee has the opportunity for training and development, SHB sponsors all training course costs, both for internal training programs and for external training programs attended by employees.
In 2023, SHB enhanced and cultivated employee capabilities through six categories of training programs: (1) Information Technology; (2) Personal Effectiveness and Management; (3) Marketing, Sales, and Service; (4) Legal Compliance; (5) Risk Management and Finance; (6) Products and Processes, totaling 130 courses.
SHB has organized a series of “UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL” training seminars, with nearly 350 management staff from business units participating. The program successfully equipped participants with the essential knowledge needed for SHB’s transformation process. All attendees found the program extremely valuable, practical, and inspiring, bolstering their confidence and motivation for the success of the transformation journey.
In 2023, SHB provided a total of 369,490 training hours, averaging 63.7 training hours per employee per year.
| Object | Total number of training hours performed | Average number of training hours/ employee/year |
|---|---|---|
| Staff | 309,345 | 65.6 |
| Managers | 60,145 | 55.6 |
| All SHB employees | 369,490 | 63.7 |
Training programs are tailored to specific target groups as follows:
SHB conducts training based on the competency framework for each job title and the required competency levels for each position. The training programs are diverse, continuously improved, updated in content and format, and designed to cater to various target groups. They are structured around four categories of job titles: (i) Senior Management; (ii) Middle Management; (iii) Frontline Management; and (iv) Specialists/Employees.
The effectiveness of training programs is regularly assessed through periodic evaluations and professional competency tests across the entire system to motivate and encourage staff.
SHB employs a flexible approach to training, incorporating various methods such as external training, in-house training, online training, and blended learning. Technology is extensively utilized, with many training modules digitized and integrated into the e-learning system. Training programs with instructors are conducted through online classes using platforms like MS Teams, Zoom, and video conferencing. Additionally, the SHB-LMS system is used for learning and testing, and SHB-Survey and Google Docs are employed for online surveys.This modern training system provides positive learning experiences, making it easier and more effective for staff to acquire knowledge, while also optimizing training costs.
Recruitment Policy
“Transparency and openness, coupled with the use of professional standards to assess candidates’ qualifications and skills, form the cornerstone of our recruitment process”
The strategy of attracting, developing and nurturing talents has always been valued in SHB’s recruitment policy. From internship programs and talent introduction initiatives to targeting a wide range of candidates, from potential students to outstanding managers and experts, SHB consistently places trust in and provides opportunities for young individuals ready to face challenges, innovate, and create. In 2023, SHB signed strategic partnerships with major universities such as the National University, the National Economics University, and the Banking Academy. Additionally, SHB participated in 10 job fairs and workshops at universities and colleges nationwide, thereby reaching and sharing job opportunities with over 7,000 potential students.
At SHB, we prioritize people at the center, aiming to create a sustainable working environment that forms the core of our strength and aligns with our common goals. Therefore, SHB’s corporate culture is built on six core values: “Heart - Faith – Trustworthiness - Knowledge - Wisdom - Greater Heights” with “Heart” as the cornerstone, guiding all actions. Each SHB employee acts from the heart, placing customers at the center of every action to deliver the best experiences. SHB believes that by acting from the heart, we and our employees will build trust and establish our reputation. Concurrently, to serve our customers with dedication, SHB employees continuously cultivate knowledge, share insights, and apply their expertise to elevate both themselves and the organization.
In 2023, SHB’s culture, embodied by the six core values, was promoted and expanded through the 30th anniversary celebration program “SHB - From Heart to Greater Heights - Advance with National Prosperity”.
SHB has built its corporate culture on six core values: “Heart - Faith - Trustworthiness - Knowledge - Wisdom - Greater Heights” with “Heart” regarded as the foundation. Every SHB employee acts from the heart, placing customers at the center of their actions.
During the five-year period from 2019 to 2023, SHB allocated a total of VND 490 billion to social welfare activities. In the year 2023 alone, SHB committed over VND 87 billion to various community support programs.
In line with the perspective of SHB’s Chairman, “To be an entrepreneur means always aspiring to create wealth. However, this should not be achieved at any cost, but with integrity, dedication, and national pride”, SHB has not only aligned itself with national strategies across various phases to foster comprehensive economic growth but has also been recognized as a commercial bank actively fulfilling its community responsibilities through a series of sustainable and impactful social welfare programs.
Rooted in the core value of “Heart”, SHB’s leadership and employees have committed their goodwill and actions towards building a sustainable society in Vietnam, focusing on three key pillars: advancing education to empower the younger generation, promoting sports and culture to enhance the spiritual well-being of the people, and supporting the underprivileged in society.
In support of national educational development, SHB allocates social welfare funds to sponsor learning and teaching equipment and to upgrade facilities at schools in disadvantaged areas. Items such as desks and chairs, libraries, computers, and clean water tanks, while simple, are crucial in improving and enhancing the quality of education for teachers and students. Through its branch network and social welfare programs like “Sharing Love” and “Lighting Up the Future”, SHB has provided thousands of gifts to students at kindergartens and primary schools in disadvantaged areas such as Lang Son, Nghe An, Thai Binh, and many other regions across the country.
In 2023 alone, SHB sponsored hundreds of scholarships for students with outstanding academic achievements or those who have shown perseverance in their studies despite difficult circumstances nationwide. Examples include: Awarding scholarships to final-year students at the Banking Academy who have excelled academically or have overcome significant hardships. Providing 150 computers to Thai Binh University and committing to further support talented students in difficult situations within the province. Supporting scholarships for students at the Banking Academy and developing the Bank’s Scholarship Fund in 2023.
In November 2023, SHB sponsored the establishment of the “SHB – VNU Financial and Banking Practice Center” at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, to enhance the quality of financial and banking education. Earlier, at the 2023 academic year opening ceremony of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the SHB Financial Support and Talent Nurturing Fund donated VND 10 billion, to be utilized over five years. This funding aims to support the investment in facilities for learning, teaching, and research, as well as to provide financial support and nurture talented and underprivileged students who have overcome difficulties to excel academically. Additionally, SHB donated 30 water purifiers and 50 benches to Vietnam National University, Hanoi, for use in the school campus and dormitories, creating a modern and convenient environment, with a total value of nearly VND 800 million.
SHB has also been a leader in supporting large-scale programs for the younger generation, such as “Internet and Computers for Children” and “Spring for Children”. The Bank contributes to scholarship funds, education promotion funds, charitable homes, and child protection centers. Through these activities, SHB aims to instill hope in students facing hardships, ignite passions, and uphold the tradition of valuing education among the young generation of Vietnam.
SHB Financial Support and Talent Nurturing Fund
Providing 150 computers to Thai Binh University
SHB Financial Support and Talent Nurturing Fund
With the desire to make a positive contribution to national sports and the spiritual values of the Vietnamese people, SHB has long been a steadfast supporter of Vietnamese football. Over the years, the Bank has sponsored various tournaments and covered broadcasting rights for significant competitions.
As the main sponsor of the SHB Da Nang Football Club since 2008, SHB has been closely associated with the club’s remarkable success over the past 15 years. Annually, SHB invests and sponsors between VND 40 to 60 billion to nurture young football talent at the club.
In 2023, SHB also sponsored the broadcasting of 2023 Women’s World Cup matches with a value of more than VND 3.5 billion, the National 7-a-side Football Tournament, the V-League, etc. With more than 30 years of accompanying the national sports industry, SHB is proud to have contributed to spreading good spiritual values to the Vietnamese people.
Besides accompanying sports, from 2023 to 2024 SHB also sponsored VND 10 billion to the Vietnamese Buddhist Church to spread beautiful living concepts to the Vietnamese people.
to children and families in need
at the Hospitals Nationwide
Supporting Those in Need
SHB’s impactful contributions to the community and society have been recognized with significant awards both domestically and internationally, such as:
Outstanding Bank for the Community 2023” award presented by the International Data Group (IDG) in collaboration with the Vietnam Banking Association
“Best Bank for CSR” Award, conferred for the second time by Asia’s premier magazine on Economics, Finance, and Banking - Asia Money
“Bank with the Best COVID Management Initiative in Vietnam” award by The Asian Banking and Finance (ABF) magazine
“Bank with the Best ESG Impact 2023” by Finance Asia.
SHB has long recognized that sustainable development extends beyond effective and safe financial growth indicators to include the rational exploitation, conservation of natural resources, and the enhancement of environmental quality.
At SHB, environmental policies are formalized in regulations issued by the Board of Directors and the CEO.
The CEO is responsible for implementing these policies and, along with the Board of Management, follows the directives and guidance of the Board of Directors. They actively engage in activities related to social responsibility and environmental protection to bring greater benefits to the community and society.
“GREEN DEVELOPMENT” A STRONG COMMITMENT FROM A BANK ALIGNING WITH NATIONAL STRATEGY
As a service provider in the financial and banking sectors, SHB’s business activities do not produce much greenhouse gas emissions and do not place a significant impact on the environment. The sources of greenhouse gas emissions, if any, mainly come directly from the use of work tools and equipment, and indirectly from lighting activities in buildings, repair and maintenance of equipment, power generation, air conditioning system, as well as the means of transportation of employees and customers around the transaction points. Nevertheless, within SHB, efforts to raise awareness about environmental protection are actively promoted, encompassing initiatives such as conserving electricity and minimizing plastic waste. Moreover, the expansion and refinement of digital channels for transactions and meetings play a vital role in mitigating environmental emissions.
SHB prides itself on effective resource management, with office material costs per employee decreasing annually.
As a provider of financial and banking services, SHB primarily uses materials such as paper, ink, and office supplies. Although the total annual material usage costs have increased with the bank’s business expansion, efficient saving measures have kept material costs per employee low. In 2023, the material usage cost was VND 0.87 million per employee per year, a 30.6% reduction compared to 2022.
SHB’S MATERIAL COSTS
Unit: VND million
| Items | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stationery costs, printing paper, and ink | 8,292 | 11,424 | 11,222 | 8,970 |
| Stationery costs per employee per year | 1.00 | 1.36 | 1.18 | 0.87 |
Energy used for business activities at SHB is mainly electricity for lighting and maintaining computer operation, air conditioning, fuel for staff transportation vehicles, etc. Each year, SHB implements optimal measures to reduce energy consumption in these areas.
SHB’s primary fuel consumption comes from various vehicles such as operational cars, cash transport vehicles, and employee transport vehicles. The operation costs and fuel consumption are specifically managed and controlled according to set limits for both leaders and staff using company vehicles. All travel activities must be pre-registered to ensure optimal work-related usage, cost savings in operations and fuel consumption, and reduced wear and tear on vehicles.
In 2023, the fuel consumption per employee at SHB decreased to VND 0.36 million, a reduction of 23% compared to 2022 and 38% compared to 2021.
| ITEMS | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel costs (VND million) | 6,295 | 6,218 | 5,600 | 3,760 |
| Fuel costs per employee per year (VND million/person/year) | 0.76 | 0.74 | 0.59 | 0.36 |
SHB made maximum saving in electricity consumption, which was also a measure to reduce business cost by equipping energy-saving bulbs and air conditioners that met greenhouse air emission standards and were maintained constantly. In addition, energy saving was seriously implemented by the leaders and staff such as turning off the circuit breaker when leaving, paying attention to closing the doors so that air-conditioners worked efficiently, arranging reasonable seating to save electricity for lighting equipment, etc.
Water is also a resource of concern at SHB. Water usage within the workplace is minimal and adheres to building regulations. SHB covers the costs of drinking water for employees and guests with a strong emphasis on conservation. Measures such as pouring just enough water for consumption and using glass water bottles for internal meetings are implemented. Additionally, small-capacity water bottles are provided for external meetings and receptions to prevent waste.
Ensuring compliance with environmental protection laws is a fundamental commitment for SHB. This encompasses efforts ranging from maintaining cleanliness in both external surroundings and workspaces to effectively managing wastewater and emissions. Additionally, the Bank implements measures to reduce travel expenses by embracing digital technology. All SHB employees adhere to the 5S principles in their daily activities, striving to establish an environmentally conscious institution and contribute to sustainable development goals.
With a firm commitment to adhering strictly to legal regulations concerning environmental protection, SHB has maintained a flawless record, having never received sanctions for any violations related to environmental issues throughout its operations.
“SHB is committed not only to growth but also to sustainable development, aligned with community values and a focus on environmental concerns. This strategic direction reflects SHB’s dedication to contributing to the nation’s green and circular economy initiatives, in line with the Government’s Renewable Energy Development strategy up to 2030 and its vision through 2050”.
