Leveraging AI to build a digital-minded banking workforce

Photo caption — Ms. Le Thi Thuy Sen, Editor-in-Chief of Banking Times, shared about the issue of utilizing AI to seize career opportunities in the digital age at the seminar "Human resource development in the AI era" organized by
Banking Times in collaboration with Banking Academy organized. Photo: MP

According to experts, many Vietnamese banks have been applying AI in areas such as process automation (RPA), data analysis, risk management, anti-money laundering and customer care. Virtual assistants and chatbots operate 24/7 to process requests, answer questions, support basic transactions such as checking balances, transferring money, and providing instructions on how to use services. Therefore, AI is becoming an effective support tool, helping bank employees focus on more complex and specialized tasks.

The opportunities from applying AI also pose many challenges for banking industry personnel. Financial reports show that the number of employees at 28 banks in the first 6 months of the year has been reduced by 3,445 compared to the end of 2024. This figure shows that this is a common story for most businesses: optimizing resources, cutting costs, increasing profits, and the banking system is no exception.

According to Ms. Le Thi Thuy Sen, Editor-in-Chief of Banking Times, at the Seminar on Human Resource Development in the AI Era, the development of any form of science and technology, including AI, has two sides of the problem. Therefore, the role of the knowledge “bridge” will be very important to support students in improving their digital capacity, nurturing creative thinking and the spirit of learning to adapt quickly in the digital age.

According to a survey by the Banking Academy, the demand for human resources in the field of AI in Vietnam is growing rapidly, but the supply has not met both the quantity and quality. Currently, the market lacks 150,000 - 200,000 technology workers each year, of which the group specializing in AI is the most serious shortage. In the period 2025 - 2030, the demand for AI human resources is expected to increase by 74%, focusing on areas such as data science, AI operation engineers, cybersecurity, and especially experts with experience in practical implementation.

In the banking industry, AI human resources are increasingly playing a key role in positions such as data management, risk modeling, fraud, digital customers and compliance. Highly specialized positions - from data engineers, data scientists, machine learning (ML/DL) experts to GenAI/NLP experts serving smart call centers, credit profile summaries, or document extraction are being sought by credit institutions. Along with that is a great demand for model risk experts, AI security and compliance control, ensuring transparency, safety and compliance with legal regulations in operating AI models.

In addition to proactively equipping existing staff with AI skills, banks are also "busy" looking for new staff with these skills. Dr. Nguyen Cong Thuong, Deputy Director of the Data and Artificial Intelligence Division of Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade ( VietinBank ), said that the Bank has great trust and expectations in human resources in this field. The Bank is also open when looking for candidates for technology sectors, not only prioritizing those with experience but also creating opportunities for young people with solid foundation knowledge.

In addition to human resource requirements, businesses themselves must also find ways to retain talent in the AI era. Ms. Vo Thi Ngoc Van, Head of Talent Development and Engagement at Homecredit Vietnam, shared: Young people, especially those in the technology sector, tend to change jobs for advancement. They not only need stable jobs but also require meaning, a clear career path and higher goals. To retain this team, businesses need to focus on core strategies such as ensuring a detailed career path, establishing a competency framework for employees to self-assess and outline a plan to strive.

There are also many opinions that the quality of human resources in the Vietnamese banking industry is uneven across sectors and generations of workers. A part of the human resources is still limited in digital skills, especially in data analysis, system administration and AI application...

To ensure a quality human resource supply in the digital age, some speakers suggested promoting the role of universities and training institutions, forming a close link between banks - schools - students. Training institutions specializing in finance - banking need to innovate their curricula, increase the content of digital technology knowledge, update courses on data analysis, fintech, financial AI and cybersecurity.

On the bank side, it is necessary to expand cooperation with schools through practical activities such as sending experts to teach, sponsoring scholarships, supporting learning equipment, organizing internship programs, managing trainees... to help students experience the digital working environment and form a young workforce to meet the practical needs of the industry.

From a training perspective, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Thi Hoang Anh - Deputy Director of the Academy in charge of the Board of Directors of the Banking Academy agreed that developing digital human resources is a task that cannot be done alone, requiring close coordination between the State Bank, training institutions and businesses.

From here, experts all affirm that people are still the center of digital transformation, and AI only brings out its value when operated by a team with knowledge, skills and professional ethics. This is the foundation for building a banking workforce with digital thinking, mastering technology and flexible adaptation - the key factor helping the Vietnamese banking industry pioneer innovation and sustainable development in the AI era.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/tan-dung-ai-de-xay-dung-doi-ngu-nhan-luc-ngan-hang-co-tu-duy-so-20251009082401628.htm