SACOMBANK joins the youth in spreading the spirit of "Smart finance – Breakthrough future" through S-FINFEST 2025

S-FINFEST 2025: Learning, experiencing, and connecting in the digital age

Held on 22/11/2025 at the Academy of Finance (Hanoi), S-FINFEST 2025 offered students numerous opportunities for hands-on financial experiences. The technology booth area, hosted by SACOMBANK in collaboration with fintech partners such as VNPAY, NAPAS, CMC Global, and SmartOSC, attracted large crowds eager to explore digital banking solutions, smart spending management, cashless payments, and personal financial consulting from experts. Students were able to truly “learn by doing” – an approach that SACOMBANK consistently emphasizes in its efforts to accompany the younger generation.

At the S-Fin Battle Gameshow, financial knowledge was no longer presented as dry theory but vividly “gamified” through a challenge system built on the online learning platform thanhnienxanh.vn. The intense competition among four teams from leading economics universities created an energetic and engaging atmosphere throughout the program.

During the talk show “Digital Finance – Essential Skills for Gen Z”, speakers from the Advisory Board of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA Vietnam), the Expert and Technical Committee of the Vietnam Institute of Directors (VNIDA), and SACOMBANK shared practical insights. Topics such as account security, online risk management, smart consumption habits, and personal financial planning drew strong interest, especially as Gen Z currently represents the largest group of digital banking users.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thien Kim, representing the Advisory Board of IIA Vietnam and serving as a Member of the Expert and Technical Committee of VNIDA, emphasized: “Gen Z is the generation that adopts technology the fastest, but it is also the most exposed to financial risks. Equipping them with digital financial capabilities not only helps them manage money more effectively but also enables them to protect themselves in the digital environment.”

SACOMBANK and its partners awarded 39 scholarships worth a total of VND 93 million to outstanding students, demonstrating their sustained commitment to the younger generation.

The ceremonial button-press to launch the Digital Finance Activities Series, reaffirming the commitment to spreading financial knowledge to more than one million student union members nationwide.

The festival concluded with the S-FINFEST Nightshow, an emotional highlight featuring performances by popular young artists combined with modern lighting effects, creating an electrifying atmosphere that lasted until the final moments of the program.

Thousands of students raised their phone lights and sang together, creating a moment of vibrant connection that transformed S-FINFEST into not only an educational event, but also a memorable student experience.

SACOMBANK accompanying youth in building digital financial capability

Behind the vibrant activities of S-FINFEST 2025 lies a long-term strategy that SACOMBANK is consistently pursuing: enhancing digital financial capability for students and fostering a modern financial management mindset amid rapid digital transformation.

Despite being technologically savvy, many students still lack foundational knowledge of risk management, budgeting, and identifying unsafe transactions. Recognizing this need, SACOMBANK collaborated with the Vietnam National Union of Students to develop digital financial tools for students, directly contributing to training content at talk shows and workshops, while also designing suitable preferential programs for different target groups.

Beyond the on-site experience, the portal https://www.thanhnienxanh.vn was launched as an open online learning channel offering free courses on personal finance, basic investment, spending management, and account security. This initiative enables students to access financial knowledge in a friendly, practical, and sustainable manner.

Many students shared that this was their first time engaging with financial knowledge through such a lively and practical approach. Pham Minh Thu, a first-year student at the Academy of Finance, said: “Previously, my spending decisions were quite emotional, and I didn’t know how to assess online transaction safety. After the festival, I’ve learned how to set a budget and protect my bank account.”

In the coming period, the SFinTalk – Digital Finance Talkshow series is expected to expand to more provinces and cities, bringing financial knowledge to a wider student community. The “Union – School – Enterprise” cooperation model is also anticipated to scale up, creating an environment for learning, experience, and innovation in the digital economy.

The partnership between SACOMBANK and the Vietnam National Union of Students is therefore not merely a short-term initiative, but a long-term commitment to nurturing a generation of students with strong financial thinking – confident digital citizens of the future.