Circular No. 26/2019/TT-NHNN Amending and supplementing certain articles of the Regulation on issuance, use, and management of bank card issuing organization codes issued together with Decision No. 38/2007/QĐ-NHNN dated October 30, 2007 of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam.

CIRCULAR

Amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Regulation on issuing, using, and managing the bank card issuer code issued together with Decision No. 

38/2007/QĐ-NHNN dated October 30, 2007 of the Governor

of the State Bank of Vietnam

State Bank of Vietnam

_________________________

Pursuant to the Law on the State Bank of Vietnam dated June 16, 2010;

Pursuant to the Law on Credit Institutions dated June 16, 2010; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Law on Credit Institutions dated November 20, 2017;

Pursuant to Decree No. 101/2012/NĐ-CP dated November 22, 2012 of the Government on non-cash payment; Decree No. 80/2016/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2016 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 101/2012/NĐ-CP dated November 22, 2012 of the Government on non-cash payment;

Pursuant to Government Decree No. 16/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 17, 2017 on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the State Bank of Vietnam;

At the proposal of the Payment Department Director;

The Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam promulgates this Circular amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Regulation on issuing, using, and managing the bank card issuer code issued together with Decision No. 38/2007/QĐ-NHNN dated October 30, 2007 of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam.

Article 1. Amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Regulation on issuing, using, and managing the bank card issuer code issued together with Decision No. 38/2007/QĐ-NHNN dated October 30, 2007 of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam

1. Clause 4 shall be amended and supplemented as follows:

"Article 4. Subjects eligible for issuance of BIN code

The subjects eligible for issuance of BIN code are organizations that issue cards in accordance with the laws on bank card activities."

2. Article 6 is amended and supplemented as follows:

"Article 6. Procedures for issuance of BIN code

1. When there is a need for issuance of BIN code, the card issuer organization must submit directly or through postal service to the State Bank of Vietnam (Payment Department) or through the online public service portal of the State Bank of Vietnam a request for issuance of BIN code according to Model No. 01 issued together with this Regulation.

2. Within five working days from the date of receipt of a valid request for issuance of BIN code, the State Bank of Vietnam shall issue a decision on issuance of BIN code for the card issuer organization and notify in writing or through the online public service portal of the State Bank of Vietnam to the card issuer organization.

3. The State Bank of Vietnam shall issue one unique BIN code for each card issuer organization within the scope of eligibility for issuance of BIN code."

3. Article 7 is amended and supplemented as follows:

"Article 7. Management of BIN code

1. Card issuer organizations are permitted to use digits following the issued BIN code to distinguish types of products, services, card technology, or geographic location. Card issuer organizations must establish internal regulations on management and use of BIN code including the BIN code issued by the State Bank of Vietnam and the code established by the card issuer organization.

2. Within 180 days from the date of issuance of BIN code, card issuer organizations must be responsible for putting the BIN code into use. In case card issuer organizations do not use the BIN code within the prescribed period, they must send a written notice to the State Bank of Vietnam (Payment Department) requesting an extension. The maximum extension period is 90 days from the date the State Bank of Vietnam issues a written acceptance of the extension request submitted by the card issuer organization.

3. Card issuer organizations must use the BIN code issued by the State Bank of Vietnam in accordance with the purpose stated in the request for issuance of BIN code and are not allowed to transfer the BIN code under any form. In case the name of the card issuer organization changes, within five working days from the date of change, the card issuer organization must send a written notice to the State Bank of Vietnam (Payment Department) about the change of its name.

4. In case a card issuer organization (which has been issued BIN code by the State Bank of Vietnam) carries out merger or consolidation, the card issuer organization formed after the merger or consolidation may choose one BIN code among the BIN codes currently in use by the participating card issuer organizations. Within three years from the date of merger or consolidation, the card issuer organization formed after the merger or consolidation must be responsible for converting the cards of the card issuer organizations with unselected BIN codes to the selected BIN code. After this period, the card issuer organization must send a written notice to the State Bank of Vietnam (Payment Department) about the cessation of use of the unselected BIN code.

5. In case a card issuer organization undergoes a change in legal form in accordance with the regulations on restructuring credit institutions, the card issuer organization may continue to use the current BIN code issued by the State Bank of Vietnam. Within five working days from the date of completion of the change in legal form, the card issuer organization must send a written notice to the State Bank of Vietnam (Payment Department) about the use of the issued BIN code at its organization; simultaneously, it must bear full responsibility or risk arising from the BIN code during the process of changing the legal form and commit to fully comply with all provisions of this Regulation and relevant laws governing bank card activities.

6. In case a card issuer organization (which has been issued BIN code by the State Bank of Vietnam) is a foreign bank branch permitted to change its business model to a wholly foreign-owned bank, after obtaining the license for establishment and operation, the wholly foreign-owned bank may reuse the BIN code of the foreign bank branch without having to go through the procedures for issuance of BIN code as stipulated in Article 6 of this Regulation. During the transfer process:

a) At least five working days before the transfer of BIN code to the wholly foreign-owned bank, the foreign bank branch must send a written notice to the State Bank of Vietnam (Payment Department) about this transfer. During the period when the foreign bank branch has transferred the BIN code to the wholly foreign-owned bank but has not yet completed the procedures to cease operations, the foreign bank branch must immediately stop issuing cards with the issued BIN code;

b) Immediately upon receiving the transfer of the BIN code, a wholly foreign-owned bank shall carry out card issuance operations and provide related services for cards with the transferred BIN code. Within a minimum of five working days from the date of receiving the BIN code transfer, the wholly foreign-owned bank is responsible for notifying the State Bank of Vietnam (Payment Department) in writing about the use of the transferred BIN code; at the same time, it commits to fully comply with the provisions of this Regulation and relevant laws governing banking card activities.

4. Article 8 is amended and supplemented as follows:

Article 8. Recovery of BIN Code

1. The State Bank of Vietnam shall recover the BIN code issued to the card issuer organization in any of the following cases:

a) When discovering inaccurate or misleading information or evidence in the application file for the BIN code;

b) The card issuer organization is dissolved, bankrupt, or ceases operations;

c) After the deadline specified in Clause 2, Article 7, if the card issuer organization does not put the BIN code into use;

d) After the deadline specified in Clause 4, Article 7, if the card issuer organization does not submit a written notice to the State Bank of Vietnam regarding the cessation of use of the unselected BIN code, except in the cases stipulated in Clause 5 and Clause 6, Article 7 of this Regulation;

đ) Using the BIN code for purposes other than those stated in the application for the BIN code.

2. The document for recovering the BIN code issued by the State Bank of Vietnam shall be sent to the card issuer organization, except for the case stipulated in Point b, Clause 1 of this Article.

5. Article 10 is amended and supplemented as follows:

Article 10. Responsibilities of Units within the State Bank of Vietnam

1. Payment Department

a) Implementing the issuance, management, and recovery of the BIN code; receiving notifications from the card issuer organization regarding the use of the BIN code; supervising the use of the BIN code according to the provisions of this Regulation;

b) Serving as the coordinating unit to work with related units to advise the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam on handling issues arising during the implementation process;

c) Cooperating with related units in inspecting and auditing the use of the BIN code according to the provisions of this Regulation;

d) Updating annually (before January 15 of the following year) the list of BIN codes issued by the State Bank of Vietnam on the State Bank of Vietnam's website.

2. Information Technology Department

Cooperating with related units in monitoring, inspecting, and auditing the use of the BIN code according to the provisions of this Regulation.

3. Banking Inspection and Supervision Authority

Conducting inspections, audits, and handling violations within its authority concerning the card issuer organizations' compliance with the provisions of this Regulation and reporting the results to the Payment Department.

Article 2

1. Abolish Article 9.

2. Replace Model No. 01 promulgated together with Decision No. 38/2007/QĐ-NHNN dated October 30, 2007, of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam on the Regulation on the Issuance, Use, and Management of Card Issuer Organization Codes with Model No. 01 promulgated together with this Circular.

This Circular takes effect from December 25, 2025/.

The Head of the Office, Heads of Departments under the State Bank of Vietnam, Heads of State Bank of Vietnam Branches in provinces and centrally-administered cities, Chairpersons of Management Boards, Chairpersons of Board of Members, General Directors (Directors) of card issuer organizations are responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.

Article 4. Implementation provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from March 1, 2020.

2. This Circular abolishes Article 1 of Circular No. 23/2011/TT-NHNN dated August 31, 2011, of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam on implementing the plan to simplify administrative procedures in payment activities and other fields according to the Government Resolution on simplifying administrative procedures within the scope of the State Bank of Vietnam's management functions./.