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Korean Banks Cap 2025 With Record Earnings as Non‑Interest Income Takes the Lead

Shareholder payouts are climbing under tighter household‑debt rules that curb loan growth.

Overview

  • KB Financial reported a record W5.84 trillion in net profit and said stronger fees and capital‑markets gains lifted results, with total shareholder returns reaching W3.06 trillion through buybacks and dividends.
  • Shinhan Financial posted a record W4.97 trillion in net profit as non‑interest income rose 14.4 percent, and it became the first Korean financial group to top W1 trillion in overseas pretax earnings.
  • Woori Financial logged W3.14 trillion in net profit, described as effectively a record after reflecting W51.5 billion in provisions tied to an LTV fine, with non‑interest income up 23.7 percent.
  • JB Financial achieved a record W710.4 billion in net profit, improved its preliminary CET1 ratio to 12.58 percent, and delivered about a 45 percent total shareholder return via dividends and share buybacks.
  • Kakao Bank earned W480.3 billion as non‑interest revenue surpassed W1 trillion for the first time, and it plans a Q2 investment tab and foreign‑exchange accounts plus a Thailand digital bank with SCBX in H2 2026 alongside M&A in payments and capital companies.