Soon after the US FED cut the prime interest rate, SBV also took a similar move.

SBV on March 16 released four decision on adjusting the interest rates, together with Circular No 01 which sets the legal framework to restructure bad debts caused by COVID-19.

However, analysts think the effects of the interest rate cuts will not be significant.

Bao Viet Securities (BVSC) commented that the interest rates SBV has cut mostly support the liquidity of the banking system and reduce short-term interest rates in the interbank market. The connection between these short-term interest rates with real lending interest rates is limited.

Bao Viet Securities (BVSC) commented that the interest rates SBV has cut mostly support the liquidity of the banking system and reduce short-term interest rates in the interbank market. The connection between these short-term interest rates with real lending interest rates is limited.

According to Bui Quang Tin, a respected finance and banking expert, adjusting the interest rates is suitable to the current inflation rate, exchange rate and other macroeconomic factors, but the interest rate cuts will have an impact in the medium and long term.

“This will mainly have an impact on new loans. As for old loans, they will be decided by commercial banks,” Tin said.

According to KBSV, the average lending interest rate may decrease in the time to come by 0.5 percent because loan demand is decreasing while the liquidity of the banking system is high. The capital mobilization cost in the interbank market has fallen, which is associated with the government’s policies to support enterprises.

But it will take time to see the indirect impact. Since the Covid-19 broke out, enterprises have been looking forward to support packages.

Analysts said the inflation rate is high (the CPI had increased by over 5 percent by the end of February).

“SBV still cannot slash the deposit interest rate ceiling sharply now as it fears the move many affect the deposits,” BVSC explained. The modest deposit interest rate ceiling cut was 0.25 percent, from 5 percent.

Therefore, inflation will be an important criterion to monitor in the time to come. Petrol and oil prices, however, have plummeted following recent world prices.

Experts are still discussing whether the government should apply more drastic measures, including a bailout, to rescue businesses which have been seriously affected by the epidemic.

Most experts believe that the support related to liquidity of enterprises will be better than the interest rate cuts for new loans, which has littlr significance because there is no demand for business expansion at this moment.

Kim Chi

Banks lower interest rates following SBV’s policy rate cut

By March 17 noon, most of the commercial banks in Vietnam had lowered their interest rates on savings accounts with terms of less than 6 months after the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) announced its policy rate cut a day earlier.

Central bank cuts interest rates to buffer COVID-19 impact

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) will cut its policy rates starting from March 17 in an attempt to support the economy which has been hurt by the COVID-19 outbreak.