Commercial banks� transaction bureaus are dependent units, which have their own seals and are tasked to perform part of the commercial banks� operations and several branch-related functions under the authorization of such commercial banks.

Commercial banks� branches are dependent units, which have their own seals and are tasked to perform part of the commercial banks� operations under the authorization of such commercial banks.

Commercial banks� representative offices are dependent units, which have their own seals and perform the tasks of representation under the authorization of the commercial banks. Representative offices shall not be allowed to conduct business operation.

Commercial banks� public-service units are dependent units, which have their own seals and perform the tasks of researching and applying banking technology, providing professional and technical training and fostering for officials and employees of the commercial banks as well as other tasks assigned by such commercial banks in accordance with law provisions.

Commercial banks shall open, establish and terminate the operation of their transaction bureaus, branches, representative offices and public-service units according to the Regulation issued together with this Decision.

This Decision takes effect 15 days after its signing.

This Decision replaces the provisions in the following documents:

- Decision No. 175/QD-NH5 of July 3, 1996 of the State Bank Governor promulgating the Regulation on the opening, operation and termination of operation of domestic branches and representative offices of Vietnamese joint-stock commercial banks.

- Other documents related to the opening, establishment and termination of operation of transaction bureaus, branches, representative offices and public-service units of commercial banks issued by the State Bank, which are contrary to this Decision.- (Summary)