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South Korean Banks Boost Employee Pay Even as Branches Close

South Korean Banks Boost Employee Pay Even as Branches Close

SEOUL, Mar. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s major commercial banks rewarded employees with significant pay raises last year, despite continuing a cost-cutting drive that saw further reductions in staffing levels and branch networks across the country, according to financial filings. An analysis by Yonhap News of the 2023 business reports disclosed by the nation’s four [...]

Banking on Conversational AI: Revolutionizing Financial Services

Banking on Conversational AI: Revolutionizing Financial Services

SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial services by commercial banks is rapidly gaining momentum. Specifically, the integration of generative AI, which derives new value by learning from existing data, is being hailed as a pivotal driver of growth within the financial sector and a cornerstone of innovation in [...]

Government Accused of Demonizing Banks Amid Rising Interest Rates

Government Accused of Demonizing Banks Amid Rising Interest Rates

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – An official from a commercial bank expressed, “I am concerned about the government’s apparent effort to stigmatize banks as public enemies and deflect criticism towards us, beyond merely characterizing us as public resources, all in a bid to placate small business owners and the self-employed.” Once again, following earlier actions [...]

S. Korean Banks’ Q2 Net Profit Unchanged from 3 Months Earlier

S. Korean Banks’ Q2 Net Profit Unchanged from 3 Months Earlier

SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean banks’ second-quarter net profit was flat from the previous quarter as an increase in the Korea Development Bank’s (KDB) net profit offset a decline in ordinary banks’ net profit, preliminary data showed Tuesday. The combined net profit of 20 banks in the April-June period was 7.1 trillion [...]

Banks Introduce Employee Retirement Plans Despite Record Profits

Banks Introduce Employee Retirement Plans Despite Record Profits

SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s major banks have recently reported multi-year record profits. Ironically, they are now implementing voluntary retirement programs, even for employees in their 30s. At Shinhan Bank, labor and management recently reached an agreement on voluntary retirement conditions. They have decided to accept applications for several days, starting this [...]

Banking Sector Grapples with Corruption Scandals and Control Weaknesses

Banking Sector Grapples with Corruption Scandals and Control Weaknesses

SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean banking sector has become entangled in a series of massive corruption scandals, revealing serious weaknesses in its internal control systems. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) on Wednesday launched an emergency investigation after receiving allegations that employees of DGB Daegu Bank, located in the southeastern city of Daegu, [...]

Local Banks Show No Signs of Withdrawal Problems: Regulator

Local Banks Show No Signs of Withdrawal Problems: Regulator

SEOUL, March 27 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s financial regulator said Monday that local banks showed no signs of abnormality in their withdrawal and deposit operations. The assessment by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) came amid concerns of a global banking crisis following the recent failures of two U.S. banks — Silicon Valley Bank and [...]

Banks’ 2022 Net Gains 9.6 pct on Higher Interest Income

Banks’ 2022 Net Gains 9.6 pct on Higher Interest Income

SEOUL, March 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean banks saw their 2022 earnings rise nearly 10 percent from a year earlier on sharply increased interest income, data showed Thursday. Their combined net profit came to 18.5 trillion won (US$14.1 billion) last year, up 9.6 percent from the previous year, according to the preliminary data from [...]