Timo

What Timo does

Timo is a Vietnam-based digital banking platform founded in 2015 and operated in partnership with BVBank (Ngân hàng TMCP Bản Việt), which provides the underlying banking license. Acquired 100% by Indonesia's Kredivo Group in March 2026, Timo serves Vietnamese individual consumers (18+) with a fully self-serve mobile banking proposition: account opening via NFC chip-based eKYC completes in minutes without a branch visit, and users access spend accounts, term deposits, goal-based savings, and group-spending features (Hũ Chi Tiêu / Money Pots) through a single iOS/Android app. The product portfolio extends beyond core banking to include NAPAS and Visa debit cards (virtual and physical), Visa credit cards, overdraft facilities, installment loans (10–70M VND), and embedded wealth and insurance products (VinaCapital funds, Liberty travel insurance).

Name

Timo

Legal name

Timo Digital Bank by BVBank

Website

https://timo.vn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Telecommunications Resellers (517121)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Carrier Billing & Telco Mobile Money (FSAMAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

mPOS & SoftPOS (Tap-to-Phone) Solutions (FSAMADAB)

Keywords

• Digital banking services
• Mobile banking platform
• Consumer lending products
• Debit credit cards
• Online savings accounts

Headquarters

HQ city

Ho Chi Minh City

HQ country

Vietnam

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income (Credit Products): Timo earns interest income from credit products including Timo Credit (personal loans/BNPL through Kredivo platform), installment loans (10-70 million VND, 3-12 month terms), and overdraft facilities (up to 100 million VND at 15%/year). Interest rates on Timo Credit are 2.1%/month on initial principal. These products are underwritten by BVBank with Kredivo providing the credit decisioning platform.
2. Card Interchange & Transaction Fees: Revenue from interchange fees on Visa debit and credit cards, plus cross-border transaction fees. Foreign currency transaction fee of 3.3% per transaction (min 11,000 VND), international POS transactions at 1.54% per transaction (min 5,500 VND). Credit card cash advance at 2% per transaction (min 40,000 VND) plus 33.5%/year interest.
3. Fee Income on Financial Services: Platform fees from credit products (e.g., Kredivo platform fee charged once at loan origination, varies by loan term), credit card installment conversion fee of 1%/month on the installment amount, and document issuance fees (e.g., bank-stamped account statements).
4. Cross-border Remittance Fees: Fee income from international money transfers received in foreign currencies (AUD, CAD, CHF, EUR, GBP, JPY, SGD, THB, USD) with a 0.05% credit notification fee (min $5, max $100) on amounts received.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Timo is a digital-first banking platform operating under BVBank's license, delivering spend accounts, savings products, debit and credit cards, BNPL and personal loans (Timo Credit), overdraft, installment loans, investment funds, and insurance through a single mobile app. All services are accessed via 100% digital NFC-based eKYC onboarding with no branch visit required for Vietnamese adults. Post-2026 Kredivo Group acquisition, Timo combines real-time lending decisioning with full banking services in one integrated super-app experience.

Product overview

Timo is a digital banking platform built on a platform-plus-modules architecture, developed in partnership with BVBank (Bank of Vietnam). The core offering consists of a Spend Account (Tài Khoản Thanh Toán) as the primary transaction account, complemented by Term Deposit and Goal Save savings products, and a full suite of card products including NAPAS Debit, VISA Virtual Debit, VISA Physical Debit, and VISA Credit Card. The platform extends into financial services including Timo Credit (Kredivo-powered BNPL and personal loans), overdraft (Thấu Chi), installment loans (Vay Trả Góp), VinaCapital investment funds, and insurance products. Smart features include Personal Financial Management, Schedule Transfer, Auto-Deposit, Split Bill, QR ATM Withdrawal, and Round-Up Savings (Tăng Tốc Có Dư). The March 2026 acquisition by Kredivo Group (Indonesia) added real-time credit decisioning capabilities, with Kredivo Vietnam rebranding to Timo Credit while Timo continues operating as a separate digital banking franchise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Timo Credit: A credit limit product provided by BVBank via the Kredivo platform, allowing buy now pay later and personal loans within the approved credit limit.
• Timo Signature

Products and services

• Spend Account (Tài Khoản Thanh Toán) Primary digital checking account for daily banking transactions supporting instant transfers via NAPAS 247 24/7, bill payments, phone top-ups, and international currency reception. No minimum balance, no monthly fees, and free domestic transfers via the Timo mobile app.
• Term Deposit (Tài Khoản Tiền Gửi Có Kỳ Hạn) Fixed-term savings account with competitive interest rates, auto-renewal options (principal only or full amount), and early withdrawal at demand deposit rates. Preferred promotional rates of +0.1–0.3%/year above standard for 6–12 month deposits with guaranteed minimum of 7.0%/year during promotional periods.
• Goal Save (Tài Khoản Tiền Gửi Không Kỳ Hạn) Demand savings sub-account for specific financial goals with flexible deposits and 0.2% annual interest paid monthly. Designed for users who want to earmark funds for personal financial goals while maintaining liquidity.
• Hũ Chi Tiêu (Money Pot) Virtual sub-account feature for budgeting that supports auto-funding on schedules, group savings with family/friends, and virtual Visa cards linked to specific spending pots. Allows users to split their account balance into named sub-accounts with auto-deposit scheduling and spending tracking.
• NAPAS Debit Card Domestic debit card operating on Vietnam's NAPAS network enabling cash deposits at CRM machines and fee-free withdrawals at 17,000+ NAPAS ATMs nationwide. Issued by BVBank under the Timo brand.
• Virtual Visa Debit Card Virtual international debit card for online payments domestically and internationally without requiring a physical card. Free for life, with instant issuance within the Timo app for secure online transactions.
• Physical Visa Debit Card Physical international debit card enabling online payments, POS transactions, and ATM cash withdrawals domestically and internationally. First physical card issued free of charge; 3.3% foreign transaction fee applies on foreign currency transactions.
• Visa Credit Card International credit card with up to 55 days interest-free period, automatic debt repayment from spend account, installment conversion option, and 3.3% foreign transaction fee. No annual fee for the lifetime of the card.
• Timo Credit Credit limit and personal loan product powered by Kredivo's real-time credit decisioning platform, enabling BNPL and cash loans up to 70 million VND with 2.1% monthly interest on initial principal, 3-12 month terms, and same-day disbursement after BVBank approval.
• Overdraft (Thấu Chi) Short-term overdraft facility secured by a term deposit offering up to 100 million VND credit limit with 15% annual interest charged only on drawn amounts. Free registration, no interest if full repayment made before 23:59 same day.
• Installment Loan (Vay Trả Góp) Unsecured installment loan product ranging from 10 to 70 million VND with 3 to 12 month terms, no collateral or processing fees required. Interest rate 2.1%/month on initial principal with 5.25%/month late payment interest on overdue principal.
• VinaCapital Investment Fund Investment fund product offered in partnership with VinaCapital, enabling customers to invest in diversified mutual fund portfolios directly through the Timo app. Positions the app as a comprehensive personal finance platform.
• Insurance Products Insurance products including Liberty travel insurance and YRT (Yearly Renewable Term) life insurance offered through the Timo app. Expands the financial super-app beyond core banking, credit, and investment into protection products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Account opening can be completed entirely online within minutes using NFC eKYC, compared to days or weeks at traditional banks
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BVBank (Ngân hàng TMCP Bản Việt)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2015Timo is the digital banking platform developed and guaranteed by BVBank. It operates as 'Timo Digital Bank by BVBank' and BVBank is the issuing bank for all Timo products including deposit accounts, Visa cards, and credit products. Timo is essentially a white-label digital banking service powered by BVBank's banking license. BVBank provides the regulatory backing, balance sheet, and branch network while Timo provides the digital interface and customer experience.
• MambucoreTechnology or IntegrationTimo partners with Mambu, an international cloud banking platform provider, for its digital core banking infrastructure. Timo has been live on Mambu's platform since 2020-2021 as one of Vietnam's digital pioneers, alongside TNEX and VPBank Cake, deploying digital cores alongside traditional systems to enable faster product rollouts and deeper ecosystem integration.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationTimo partnered with AWS as a major technology infrastructure provider. AWS partnership followed Timo's strategic shift after ending its prior alliance with VPBank. AWS provides cloud infrastructure supporting Timo's digital banking platform, enabling scalability, security, and reliability for the bank's digital operations.
• McDonald's VietnamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTimo runs a co-branded new customer acquisition campaign with McDonald's Vietnam. New Timo customers who sign up with referral code 'MCD', open a McDonald's spending jar, and complete qualifying transactions (minimum 200,000 VND) within 30 days receive 100,000 VND credited to their McDonald's spending jar. Campaign runs from June 1 to August 31, 2026, or until budget exhaustion.
• 7-Eleven VietnamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTimo runs a co-branded new customer acquisition campaign with 7-Eleven Vietnam. New Timo customers who sign up with referral code '711', open a 7-Eleven spending jar, and complete qualifying transactions (minimum 200,000 VND) within 30 days receive 100,000 VND credited to their 7-Eleven spending jar. Campaign runs from May 15 to July 6, 2026, or until budget exhaustion.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationTimo issues Visa-branded virtual debit cards, physical debit cards, and credit cards. The Visa partnership enables domestic and international card payments, ATM withdrawals, and Google Pay integration for contactless payments. Timo's Visa cards are issued by BVBank under the Visa program.
• NAPAScoreTechnology or IntegrationTimo participates in the NAPAS national payment network for instant interbank transfers (NAPAS 247, operating 24/7), ATM cash withdrawals, and card-to-card transactions. NAPAS connectivity enables Timo customers to transact across Vietnam's interbank payment infrastructure and access 17,000+ ATMs fee-free.
• VinaCapitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTimo offers Vinacapital investment fund products within its app, allowing users to invest in mutual funds managed by VinaCapital. This partnership expands Timo's product range from pure banking into wealth management, positioning the app as a comprehensive personal finance platform.
• Liberty InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTimo offers Liberty travel insurance products through its app as part of its financial services portfolio. This partnership adds insurance as a product category, expanding the financial super-app beyond core banking, credit, and investment.
• Dong Tam GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDong Tam Group is listed as a strategic partner on Timo's website, though specific partnership details are not detailed in the available source material. The logo appears in the strategic partners section alongside BVBank, 7-Eleven, McDonald's, Phoenix Holdings, AWS, and Mambu.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MoMo: Vietnam's largest e-wallet, directly competing with Timo on mobile payments, transfers, and consumer financial services. MoMo serves tens of millions of users and is integrated with Timo accounts, making it both a competitor and an interoperability partner.
• Cake by VPBank: VPBank's digital banking app, directly competing with Timo as a Vietnam-based neobank offering spend accounts, savings, and lending. Like Timo, Cake runs on Mambu core banking and targets similar digitally-native Vietnamese consumers.
• TNEX: Vietnamese digital bank also built on Mambu core banking, offering spend accounts, savings, and cards. Operates as a direct neobank competitor to Timo within Vietnam's emerging digital banking segment.
• ZaloPay: Vietnamese e-wallet linked to the Zalo messaging platform, competing with Timo on mobile payments, transfers, and merchant payments. Operates at scale across Vietnam with deep consumer brand recognition.
• ShopeePay Vietnam: Vietnam arm of Sea Group's e-wallet, competing with Timo on consumer payments and transfers. Backed by Shopee's marketplace reach and integrated with Timo accounts for fund transfers.

Broad incumbents

• Techcombank: One of Vietnam's largest joint-stock commercial banks with a strong digital strategy and consumer-facing app. Competes with Timo across deposit, card, and credit products but at much larger scale and with a broader customer base.
• Vietcombank: Vietnam's largest state-owned commercial bank with extensive branch network and dominant market position. While traditionally branch-led, Vietcombank is digitizing aggressively and represents a broad competitive threat to digital-only players like Timo.
• MB Bank: Major Vietnamese commercial bank with a strong digital app and consumer-focused strategy. Competes with Timo on retail banking, cards, and credit while offering a broader branch-supported proposition.

Others

• Kredivo: Indonesian fintech that completed a 100% acquisition of Timo in March 2026. Kredivo is the parent platform and provides the real-time credit decisioning engine behind Timo Credit, making it both a strategic owner and a technology supplier.
• VNPay: Vietnamese payment infrastructure provider behind the VietQR standard used by Timo. Acts as an enabling infrastructure partner rather than a direct competitor, but represents a key dependency for QR-based transactions and interbank connectivity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/yourtimo
• Xx.com/timovietnam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Timo