Four banks have so far registered programmes, with a combined scale of about 210 trillion VND, according to the SBV. Thang called on banks to cut operating and intermediary costs, accelerate digitalisation and improve productivity to create room for lower lending rates. Banks should make interest rates, fees and other borrowing costs more transparent so businesses can assess the actual cost of capital. The Deputy PM also called for a shift in banks' lending models. Dao Minh Tu, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Vietnam Banks Association, said businesses' three main concerns were access to larger loans, lower interest rates and longer repayment periods.