Over the past 30 years, the Trade Union of the Co-operative Bank of Vietnam (Co-opBank) has grown in tandem with the Bank’s development. It has remained committed to connecting and supporting employees, safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, and affirming its role as a trusted partner to both the leadership and staff. Together, they have worked to build a more sustainable institution, making meaningful contributions to the development of the People’s Credit Fund (PCF) system and the national economy.
August 1995 marked a significant milestone in the development journey of the PCF system, with the establishment of the Central People’s Credit Fund (CCF) as the coordinating body responsible for capital balancing and linkage functions across the entire system. This was one of the first concrete steps to materialize the Party and State’s directives aimed at meeting capital demands for agricultural and rural development, and at diversifying credit institution models to support the national goal of industrialization and modernization in agriculture and rural areas. In 1996, the Trade Union of CCF—operating as a grassroots-level union under the Vietnam National Union of Bank Workers—was formed. Despite facing numerous difficulties and limitations during the 1996–2001 period, the Trade Union succeeded in fostering unity and motivating staff to fulfill their professional duties, thereby contributing to the political mission of the entire CCF system. This also laid the foundation for transitioning into a new phase: the establishment of a sectoral-level trade union directly overseeing grassroots trade unions within the system—the CCF Sectoral Trade Union.
From 2001, CCF entered a new phase of consolidation, completion, and growth. Consequently, restructuring the trade union to align with practical demands became imperative. CCF Sectoral Trade Union was formally established under Decision No. 81/ToC-CĐNH dated August 23, 2002, issued by the Executive Committee of the Vietnam National Union of Bank Workers. Since then, the trade union network has seen strong growth in both quantity and quality, operating under a structure comprising one upper-level trade union and 27 grassroots trade unions.
Between 2013 and 2020, the CCF was transformed into the Co-operative Bank of Vietnam (Co-opBank) in accordance with the Law on Credit Institutions (2010), marking a new development phase with a more modern and dynamic operational model. At this time, the CCF Sectoral Trade Union was officially renamed the Co-opBank Trade Union, pursuant to Decision No. 175/QĐ-CĐNH dated July 15, 2013, issued by the Vietnam National Union of Bank Workers.
To date, the Co-opBank has steadily expanded its operational network, enhanced its financial capacity, refined its organizational model, and developed modern banking products and services to meet the ever-increasing demands of the market. Alongside this growth, the Co-opBank Trade Union has also flourished. It now comprises nearly 2,000 staff and union members across 33 grassroots trade unions. The Union has progressively affirmed its role as a strong and reliable support system for employees throughout the institution.
With a focus on grassroots-level engagement, the Party Committee and leadership team of Co-opBank have continuously supported the Trade Union in launching meaningful, unified initiatives across the system—ensuring fairness among union members and employees.
The Trade Union has taken a proactive role in collective bargaining, signing labor agreements, and holding regular dialogues with management to address issues related to benefits, labor policies, and rights. It frequently collaborates with the Bank’s leadership to review, revise, and introduce regulations and internal policies in line with practical conditions, aiming to protect employees’ lawful interests. The Union also monitors the implementation of labor policies and represents employees in signing collective labor agreements, while working closely with the Bank to plan business operations, assign suitable personnel, and ensure employment contracts comply with the Labor Code. The Trade Union supervises the implementation of State policies and regulations concerning employees and represents them in signing collective labor agreements.
In terms of awareness-raising and education, the Trade Union has actively promoted the Party’s directives, State laws, and banking industry policies to improve political awareness, professional competence, and soft skills among Co-opBank staff. Campaigns have encouraged employees to fulfill their responsibilities in supporting PCFs, ensuring safe, efficient, and sustainable operations. The Union has also promoted the Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics as part of efforts to maintain workplace civility and elevate service quality.
One of the Union’s key goals has been to cultivate a sustainable corporate culture. Activities such as annual health check-ups, health insurance, vacations, and Tet (Lunar New Year) support programs—such as the “Tet Reunion” initiative—have all been implemented to foster a positive working environment. These efforts ensure employee well-being and strengthen long-term commitment to the Bank. Moreover, aligning with the Bank’s strategic goals, the Trade Union has launched patriotic emulation movements tied to each unit’s business objectives.
Recognizing that human resources are the cornerstone of development, the Union has co-organized professional training programs, including courses on management skills, soft skills, and most notably, training in artificial intelligence (AI), helping staff stay adaptive in the rapidly evolving finance-banking landscape.
To improve quality of life for employees, the Union regularly carries out welfare activities, providing timely support to those facing difficulties. Notably, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, under the leadership’s guidance, the Union issued instructions to grassroots unions on preventive measures to safeguard member health. It worked with management to implement flexible work plans, arranged isolation accommodations and transport, and provided support for affected staff—demonstrating a spirit of solidarity and resilience.
The Co-opBank Trade Union has also promoted cultural and sports activities to boost morale. In collaboration with the Vietnam Association of People’s Credit Fund (VAPCF), it has organized regional Sports Festivals for PCFs and Co-opBank units across the North, Central, and South, attracting thousands of athletes and supporters nationwide. It also participated in the first Sports Festival of the banking sector organized by the Vietnam National Union of Bank Workers. Special attention has been given to gender equity, with initiatives such as tailoring traditional ao dai uniforms for all female staff—a cultural symbol of Co-opBank’s identity. Emulation movements like “Excellence at Work, Dedication at Home” and “Women Actively Study, Work Creatively, and Build Happy Families” have been sustained to encourage personal and professional growth.
Beyond internal engagement, the Trade Union has actively contributed to community development. The Bank has launched numerous charitable and gratitude programs, supported remote and disadvantaged communities, contributed to scholarship funds for underprivileged students, honored war veterans and martyrs’ families, distributed Tet gifts to highland communities, and joined disaster relief and public health efforts. It has also participated in national poverty reduction programs, including the Government-led initiative to eliminate dilapidated housing.
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30 years of Co-opBank’s development is a proud and honorable journey, and along that path, the Co-opBank Trade Union has remained a loyal companion—unifying employees and fostering sustainable growth. With solidarity and continuous effort across the entire system, we believe that Co-opBank will continue to affirm its position as a leading institution contributing to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, while the Trade Union continues its mission—innovating and advancing in step with the Bank and its employees toward a brighter future.
Some Highlighted Images:
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Cuong – Party Secretary and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Co-opBank – delivered a speech to encourage, instruct, and assign tasks to the Co-opBank Sports Delegation at the send-off ceremony for the 1st Banking Sector Sports Festival (2023).
The Executive Committee of the Co-opBank Trade Union for the 2023–2028 term posed for a commemorative photo with the leadership of the Vietnam Bank Trade Union and Co-opBank’s senior management at the 5th Co-opBank Trade Union Congress (2023).
Representatives of various units within the Co-opBank system were honored to receive Emulation Flags and Certificates of Merit from the Governor of the SBV in recognition of their outstanding achievements in emulation movements and their significant contributions to the activities of the Vietnam Bank Trade Union (2023).
The leadership of Co-opBank consistently places great emphasis on the well-being and welfare of employees across the entire Co-opBank system.
The Co-opBank Sports Delegation at the Opening Ceremony of the 1st Banking Sector Sports Festival (2023).
Health care, insurance, vacation, and financial support programs are regularly maintained.
