Vietnam banks to freeze accounts lacking biometric data or valid ID

Vietnam's major state‑owned banks – Vietcombank, VietinBank, Agribank and BIDV – will automatically freeze or suspend accounts that have not updated biometric information or possess expired identification documents. The measures follow the State Bank of Vietnam's Circular 17/2024 and Decision 2345, which take effect on 1 January 2025. Any payment account without a matching national biometric record or with a nine‑digit ID card that expired after 31 December 2024 will be blocked from electronic cash‑out and transfer operations.

Banks must also freeze funds when ordered by courts, prosecutors, investigative or enforcement agencies under Decree 52/2024 on non‑cash payments, or when suspicious transactions trigger anti‑money‑laundering rules. In addition, artificial‑intelligence security systems will lock accounts after multiple failed logins, abnormal large‑value night‑time transfers, or logins from foreign IP addresses. Starting 1 March 2026, mobile‑banking apps of the four banks will automatically log users out if security risks are detected.