Techcombank’s Jens Lottner: Vietnam’s Next Leap Up the Value Chain
Techcombank’s CEO discusses the forces driving Vietnam’s economy, the country’s drive to attract international capital, and how the bank transformed itself into an integrated financial ecosystem, after it was named Best Bank in Vietnam for the third consecutive year. The post Techcombank’s Jens Lottner: Vietnam’s Next Leap Up the Value Chain appeared first on Global Finance Magazine .
Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank, shared his insights with Global Finance after the bank was recognized as the Best Bank in Vietnam for 2026. The Vietnamese economy is demonstrating resilience even in the face of external challenges. The main drivers of this growth are exports, foreign direct investment, and public spending. Exports have increased by 36% year-on-year, public disbursements have risen by 46%, and consumption is expanding at an impressive 13%.
Lottner anticipates that this upward trend will continue in the coming years. The Vietnamese government has ambitious plans to enhance productivity, and Techcombank is part of this transformation, as the bank is currently facilitating a major restructuring process. As Vietnam moves up the value chain, shifting from low-cost labor to deeper integration into global supply chains, heavy investments in infrastructure are required.
Techcombank estimates that Vietnam will need around $1.1 trillion in capital formation over the next five years, with $200 billion to $300 billion sourced from overseas.
To attract this capital, the government is working on improving the country's international credit rating, and FTSE has recently upgraded Vietnam's capital markets. Additionally, the Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang is being developed, featuring a unique regulatory framework aimed at attracting international investment.
For Techcombank, winning the Best Bank in Vietnam award for the third consecutive year is a significant honor and inspiration for the entire organization. Lottner highlights this year's achievement as particularly meaningful as it marks the completion of the bank's five-year transformation journey. During this period, Techcombank has established a scalable platform and doubled its customer base to 18 million since 2021.
The bank's productivity has increased by 40%, and its returns on equity and assets remain strong. Lottner emphasizes that Techcombank has evolved from being solely a banking institution to the core of an integrated financial ecosystem.
Now, the bank offers a wide range of financial products, including life and general insurance, alongside its core lending and deposit services. In the next five years, Lottner expects artificial intelligence (AI) to play a crucial role in reimagining Techcombank's business models and operations, further boosting productivity. The bank aims to replicate the success of its initial transformation to maintain its competitive edge in the evolving Vietnamese financial landscape.
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