The Impact of Digital Transformation on the Operational Efficiency of Vietnamese Commercial Banks

This study analyzes the impact of digital transformation on the operational efficiency of Vietnamese commercial banks during the period 2018–2024. Research data was collected from 20 listed joint-stock commercial banks in Vietnam, totaling 140 observations. The study uses panel data regression to assess the influence of digital transformation on bank performance through ROA, ROE, and CIR indicators. The research results show that digital transformation has a positive and statistically significant impact on the operational efficiency of commercial banks. Specifically, a 1% increase in the level of digitalization leads to an average increase of 0.18% in ROA and approximately 0.24% in ROE, while simultaneously reducing the cost-to-income ratio (CIR). The research results indicate that investing in digital technology helps banks enhance their competitiveness, optimize operational processes, and improve customer service quality. However, the digital transformation process also poses many challenges related to technology investment costs, cybersecurity risks, and the need to improve the quality of human resources. Based on this, the study proposes several recommendations to promote digital transformation and enhance the operational efficiency of Vietnam's commercial banking system in the coming period.