VPBank on Tuesday officially launched the “Household Business Academy” programme, which enables business owners to conduct transactions via online channels in light of the social distancing order, as well as to maintain their revenue sources.

The programme would provide support to some 50,000 household businesses nationwide by offering online training courses and direct training from the bank’s staff. This aims to help them shift from offline to online methods, thus maintaining their business amid the COVID-19 pandemic. All the training courses are free.

Household businesses could register to participate into the programme on Facebook https://bit.ly/hocvientt with the leading specialists in Viet Nam. After each lesson, people could easily apply the skills in doing business on social networks such as Zalo and Facebook; opening shops on e-commerce platforms (Tiki, Shoppee, Lazada); working with delivery firms (Now, Be, Grab) as well as upgrading management skills of non-cash payments and financial management.

A representative from VPBank said their survey showed that most household businesses only used social networks for communication and entertainment though 100 per cent have smartphones and 80 per cent join in social networks. As many as 70 per cent of household businesses have not had business online. This is mainly due to familiarity with the traditional selling method and not being instructed to do online business.

It was the reason that most of household businesses are suffering losses or even stopping operations during social distancing.

“We therefore determined to accelerate the Household Business Academy programme to help them do business online in the digital era. We will help them become 4.0 household businesses,” he added.

Earlier, VPBank has launched many programmes to support customers amid the pandemic such as reducing lending rates by 3 per cent for firms, restructuring and rescheduling debts. It also encourages customers using e-banking services such as internet banking and VPBank online for money transfers, bill payments and savings.

VPBank and its member companies have been one of the businesses pioneering in corporate social responsibility activities. The bank donated VND15 billion (US$641,399) to the Việt Nam Fatherland Front in fighting COVID-19 and launching the “Cheer up Viet Nam” programme. — VNS