Circular 27/2026/TT-NHNN amend Circular 51/2024/TT-NHNN on independent audit of commercial banks, non-bank credit institutions, microfinance institutions and foreign bank branches

CIRCULAR

Amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 51/2024/TT-NHNN providing independent audit of commercial banks, non-bank credit institutions, microfinance institutions and foreign bank branches

Pursuant to the Law on the State Bank of Vietnam No. 46/2010/QH12;

Pursuant to the Law on Credit Institutions No. 32/2024/QH15, amended and supplemented under Law No. 96/2024/QH15;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 26/2025/ND-CP dated February 24, 2025, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the State Bank of Vietnam;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Banking System Safety;

The Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam hereby promulgates the Circular amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 51/2024/TT-NHNN providing independent audit of commercial banks, non-bank credit institutions, microfinance institutions and foreign bank branches.

Article 1. To amend and supplement a number of clauses of Article 15

1. To amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

“2. Within 30 days from the date of the decision selecting an independent audit firm, a written notice of the selected independent audit firm shall be sent to the State Bank (submitted directly to the State Bank, via postal services, or online (if available)) as follows:

a) Credit institutions and foreign bank branches shall send the notice to the State Bank (via the Credit Institutions Supervision Department), except for the cases specified at Point b of this Clause;     

b) Foreign bank branches subject to microprudential supervision and inspection and supervision by the SBV regional branches shall send the notice to the SBV regional branches where the foreign bank branches are headquartered.”.

2. To amend and supplement Clause 4 as follows:

“4. Within 90 days from the end of the financial year, the results of the independent audit shall be submitted to the State Bank (submitted directly to the State Bank, via postal services, or online (if available)) in accordance with Point a and Point b, Clause 2 of this Article.”.

Article 2. To amend and supplement Article 16

“Article 16. Responsibilities of SBV regional branches where credit institutions or foreign bank branches are headquartered

1. To analyze, evaluate, and process the results of the independent audit received in accordance with Clause 4 of Article 15 of this Circular.

Where it detects that a certified public accountant or an audit firm has violated the law in the course of conducting an independent audit of a credit institution or foreign bank branch, the SBV regional branch shall promptly report to and propose handling measures to the Governor of the State Bank (through the Credit Institutions Supervision Department).

2. To report to the Governor of the State Bank (through the Credit Institutions Supervision Department) upon receipt of the written notice from a credit institution or foreign bank branch as prescribed in Clause 5 of Article 15 of this Circular.

3. To inspect and examine the implementation of this Circular and, within the competence, handle violations or recommend that the Governor of the State Bank (through the State Bank Inspectorate) take action within his/her competence against credit institutions and foreign bank branches that violate the provisions of this Circular and other laws on independent audit.

4. To provide professional opinions on monetary and banking matters contained in the audit report and management letter of foreign bank branches within localities that are subject to the microprudential supervision and inspection of the SBV regional branch, upon request of a competent agency.”.

Article 3. To amend and supplement Article 17

“Article 17. Responsibilities of the Credit Institutions Supervision Department

1. To consolidate and submit to the Governor of the State Bank the reports of SBV regional branches as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 16 of this Circular.

2. To analyze, evaluate, and recommend the handling of the results of the independent audits of credit institutions and foreign bank branches.

3. To report and propose to the Governor of the State Bank the following matters:

a) The cases prescribed in Clause 5, Article 15 of this Circular;

b) To issue a notification to the Ministry of Finance upon detecting, or upon receipt of a report from the SBV regional branch as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 16 of this Circular regarding violations of law committed by a certified public accountant or an audit firm in the course of conducting an independent audit of a credit institution or foreign bank branch.

4. To supervise the implementation of this Circular and, within its competence, handle violations or recommend that the Governor of the State Bank take action within his/her competence against credit institutions and foreign bank branches that violate the provisions of this Circular and other laws on independent audit.”.

Article 4. To add Article 17a after Article 17

“Article 17a. Responsibilities of the State Bank Inspectorate

1. To inspect the implementation of this Circular and, within its competence, handle violations or recommend that the Governor of the State Bank take action within his/her competence against credit institutions and foreign bank branches that violate the provisions of this Circular and other laws on independent audit.

2. To report and propose to the Governor of the State Bank that a notification be sent to the Ministry of Finance where, through inspection activities, a certified public accountant or an audit firm is found to have violated the law in the course of conducting an independent audit of a credit institution or foreign bank branch.”.

Article 5. To remove the phrase in Article 22

To remove the phrase “the Chief of the Office, and the Chief of the Banking Supervision Agency”.

Article 6. Effect

This Circular takes effect from August 10, 2026.

Article 7. Implementation responsibility

Heads of units under the State Bank of Vietnam, commercial banks, non-bank credit institutions, microfinance institutions, foreign bank branches, independent audit firms, certified public accountants, auditors, and relevant organizations and individuals shall implement this Circular./.