SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – A growing number of South Koreans are seeking help from the state financial watchdog for damages caused by loan sharks amid a prolonged economic slump, official data showed Friday. A total of 2,306 relevant cases were reported to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) last year, up 89 percent from [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – A growing number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea are turning to high-interest loans from nonbank lenders as banks tighten their loan screening, data showed Tuesday. As of end-October, outstanding SME loans from nonbank financial institutions came to 76.6 trillion won (US$64.4 billion), up 31.2 percent [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – Household loans extended by local banks rose 11.8 percent in September from a year earlier due to an increase in collective loans, central bank data showed Wednesday. Outstanding household loans from local lenders came to 688.4 trillion won (US$613 billion) as of end-September, compared with 615.7 trillion won from [...]
SEOUL, Dec.1 (Korea Bizwire) – K Bank Consortium, which has gained preliminary approval as an internet-only bank, pledged that it will create an innovative success model and lead the revitalization of the economy. Company officials also mentioned their vision to make ‘community neo-banks’ that are friendly and easy to use for everyone. Officials also laid [...]
SEOUL, Jul. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s major banks reduced loans to large companies over the past year as they became more reluctant to lend to them amid a series of massive bankruptcies, industry data showed Sunday. Six lenders, including industry leaders Kookmin Bank and Shinhan Bank, extended a combined 95.7 trillion won (US$83.5 [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – A “loan shark” is a derogatory term referring to a person or body that offers loans at extremely high interest rates. Interest rates are so high that their lending practices are often being accused of exploiting a borrower’s financial troubles. Cash loans to people in dire need of money, [...]