The Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Financial Performance: An Empirical Study of Commercial Banks in Vietnam

This article aims to examine the one-way relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the financial performance of Vietnamese commercial banks, mainly focusing on the moderating role of ownership structure. Net interest margin (NIM), return on assets (ROA), and return on equity (ROE) are selected to represent the financial performance of the bank. CSR was measured using a multi-method approach that included both quantitative and qualitative methods. Corporate Social Responsibility Expenditure (CSRE) was estimated using financial data. The Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure (CSRD) index was created using the content analysis method. Using a sample of Vietnamese commercial banks from 2012 to 2019 to perform regressions in the dynamic panel models with the two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator, the results show a positive effect of both CSRE and CSRD on the financial performance of the bank. Empirical evidence shows that the positive relationship between CSRE and financial performance is more robust in statecontrolled banks than non-state-controlled banks. In contrast, the positive impact of CSRD on the financial performance of state-owned commercial banks is weaker than that of private banks. Finally, the paper points out the limitations and proposes future research directions.