ABSTRACT : This study examines the determinants of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices among Vietnamese banks using a dataset of 26 banks from 2014–2023. Employing the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) method, the results reveal that bank-specific characteristics significantly affect ESG outcomes, although the impacts differ across ESG dimensions. Bank size is positively associated with environmental and overall ESG scores. Bank age positively enhances environmental performance, while leverage negatively impacts environmental practices. Banks with greater foreign ownership demonstrate stronger social performance, whereas government-owned banks tend to underperform in this dimension. Further heterogeneity analysis shows interesting results for banks with different ownership characteristics. For private banks, bank age negatively influences social and overall ESG scores but positively affects governance. GDP growth shows positive impacts on social and overall ESG performance in private banks but has a negative effect on banks with substantial foreign ownership. Inflation reduces governance scores among foreign-owned banks. Based on the results, this study provides relevant recommendations for banks and regulators to improve ESG practices in the Vietnamese banking sector.

KEYWORDS – size, age, leverage, ownership, ESG, commercial banks, Vietnam.