These days, on the social media platforms of many PCF staff and employees of Co-opBank Nghe An Branch, images from the campaign to open bank accounts for local residents are being fondly recalled. Looking back on the groundwork laid for this campaign, the leadership and staff of Co-opBank Nghe An Branch cannot help but feel emotional about a period marked by both significant challenges and deep pride.
In early 2023, determined to promote digital transformation by effectively delivering digital banking products to PCFs, the leadership of Co-opBank Nghe An Branch conducted surveys on cash-based disbursement activities in rural areas. Based on these findings, the branch decided to launch and plan a large-scale campaign to open bank accounts for citizens to receive social insurance and welfare payments. They recognized that delays in account and card issuance stemmed from traditional operating methods. Although the RLOS system had been available for several years, it had previously only been used for overdraft loans for PCF staff. The branch creatively leveraged the RLOS system’s capabilities, enabling PCFs to input customer information. Co-opBank Nghe An Branch also conducted training sessions for the PCF network on how to coordinate implementation and address questions regarding service and product features.
The branch organized training sessions for the PCFs and signed cooperation agreements following the training
Immediately afterward, with a strong spirit of dedication to serving their members and local residents and with active guidance and support from the branch PCFs enthusiastically joined the campaign. On some days, the branch opened over 1,000 accounts and issued Napas chip cards. At that time, Nghe An was experiencing hot, dry weather with intense Lao winds, yet Co-opBank staff, PCF officers, and local residents began opening accounts from early dawn and continued working until late at night. One unforgettable image posted on a PCF’s fanpage showed the sweat-covered foreheads of staff from Quynh Hau PCF as they served the local community, a truly moving and memorable moment.
Staff of Quynh Hau PCF Opening Bank Accounts for Local Residents
Branch Staff Sorting Bank Cards
In July 2023, Co-opBank Nghe An Branch, in coordination with Diễn Kỷ PCF, successfully piloted pension disbursement via bank accounts for a large number of beneficiaries. This initiative left a lasting impression on local authorities and residents. Pensioners quickly recognized the advantages of the new service quality at PCFs: they no longer had to rise before dawn, line up, and wait with their savings books in hand to receive payments. Instead, they were introduced to modern banking services enthusiastically supported by PCF staff receiving help with PIN resets, password recovery, mobile banking app guidance, and using Co-opBank chip cards with ease. Gradually, the fear of technology gave way to appreciation, and trust in PCFs grew stronger.
Following the success in Diễn Kỷ, other PCFs joined the effort to open accounts for pension recipients. According to Nghệ An Provincial Social Security data, in just two years, the number of pensioners receiving payments through Co-opBank accounts surpassed 10% of the province’s total social insurance recipients, earning Co-opBank the recognition of being a pioneer in this area.
The campaign’s rollout was not without challenges. The initiative faced skepticism from various stakeholders, who viewed PCFs with their relatively new role in digital banking under the Co-opBank brand as untested players. Yet through quiet determination and dedication, positive word spread. Departments of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs in several districts, along with local authorities, began reaching out to Co-opBank and PCFs to propose account opening initiatives for policy beneficiaries and social welfare recipients. Though these customer groups are notoriously difficult to serve and require considerable effort, Co-opBank and its PCFs remained firmly committed to fulfilling the mission.
In response to the surge in customer traffic, many PCFs installed extra service counters. Some even renovated their offices to create access ramps for people with mobility challenges. Truly humane and heartfelt gestures.
The success of the account-opening campaign significantly enhanced the reputation and status of PCFs with local authorities. More importantly, it elevated the visibility of PCFs among the public in their service areas, making it easier to promote additional products and services. Today, in rural areas, it’s common to see residents using mobile banking apps bearing the logos of both Co-opBank and their respective PCFs. This is a powerful symbol of the system’s strong internal linkage.
Building on this success, the Director of Co-opBank Nghe An Branch, along with several staff members, developed a grassroots-level scientific research project titled “Solutions for Implementing Digital Banking Services for the PCF System in Nghe An” and submitted it to Co-opBank’s Scientific Council to formalize and share implementation practices.
Reports from grassroots-level communes on the role of Co-opBank and PCFs in this campaign were officially recognized by the Party Committee of the Nghe An Business Sector. The Branch’s Party Cell was honored as an “Outstanding Grassroots Party Organization” in 2024. Additionally, CASA account balances from customers referred by PCFs grew exponentially—by nearly 700% in 2023—and exceeded planned growth targets in 2024. By the end of both 2023 and 2024, Co-opBank Nghe An Branch led the system in average CASA balance..
Co-opBank Nghe An Branch was officially recognized by the Party Committee of Nghe An’s Business Sector as an Outstanding Grassroots Party Organization in 2024, having successfully fulfilled all assigned duties.
Upholding its role as “The Bank for PCFs,” the branch has identified fee collection services as its key digital transformation focus for 2025. The leadership and the Digital Transformation Task Force have developed a detailed implementation plan, divided into three phases. To date, hundreds of account debit authorization forms have been submitted by PCFs to Co-opBank in preparation for the first peak fee collection campaign, scheduled for June 2025.
Co-opBank Nghe An Branch firmly believes that with the digital products and services already deployed—and those planned for the future—along with the strong, enduring bonds within the system, PCFs will continue to harness their grassroots advantages and community proximity to advance digital transformation on a broader and deeper scale.
