Vietnamese banks are accelerating stock dividend payouts to boost charter capital and meet Basel III capital adequacy standards, industry experts said. Vietcombank plans to issue a record 49.5% stock dividend, raising charter capital to VND83.56tr. VietinBank and BIDV also unveiled major issuance plans to expand equity and support credit growth. Stock dividends, now preferred over cash payouts, help banks retain capital for investment, technology upgrades, and risk management. The move aligns with the State Bank of Vietnam’s push for stronger capital buffers. Analysts said capital increases will improve competitiveness, lending capacity, and resilience amid rising non-performing loans. BIDV Chairman Phan Durc Tu urged authorities to allow banks to retain profits, while economists noted Vietnam’s capital adequacy ratio still lags behind regional peers.