Hana Financial Group is boosting its initiatives for financial inclusion after having utilized 60 percent of its 3.1 trillion won ($2.18 billion) budget for 2026 in the year's first half, the group announced.
To lead the initiative, it designated Vice Chairman Lee Seung-lyul as its inaugural chief inclusive finance officer, tasked with aligning pertinent strategies throughout the organization.
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The group’s post-halftime strategy centers on four key areas: increasing support for youth and small business proprietors, integrating financial inclusion more thoroughly into the group’s functions, enhancing safeguards for borrowers and fighting financial misconduct, and boosting funding for the social economy.
A key initiative focuses on young adults facing housing challenges. The team intends to launch a support initiative centered on rental fraud insurance to safeguard tenants from losses associated with the nation’s ongoing “jeonse” deposit fraud schemes.
Hana Bank has placed specialized advisers at branches close to universities and other areas frequented by younger customers to enhance access to financial advice.
Small local enterprises are also expected to gain extra assistance through 84 billion won in loans backed by guarantees, aligned with the intended move of the group’s headquarters from Seoul to Cheongna International City in Incheon this September.
In addition to launching new lending programs, Hana Financial is evaluating a comprehensive set of key performance indicators to enhance the measurement of its financial inclusion initiatives, while also updating its credit assessment model for clients with sparse credit histories, aiming to expand financing access.
The group intends to increase its involvement in social investment funds and broaden financing choices for social economy organizations that frequently find it difficult to obtain funding from traditional institutions.
“Financial inclusion is no longer a choice but a fundamental responsibility for financial groups. What matters most is delivering tangible changes that customers can experience in their daily lives,” Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo says.
Earlier, Hana Financial Group has initiated a company-wide promotional campaign prior to moving its headquarters to Cheongna International City in Incheon next month, aiming to enhance its footprint in the area. The campaign, lasting until Sept. 30, unites the group's key affiliates like Hana Bank, Hana Securities, Hana Card, and Hana Savings Bank, as stated by the group.
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Hana Bank plans to distribute 50,000 special interest rate coupons that increase the annual interest rate on its monthly savings product to as high as seven percent. Customers registering for the product will be included in prize draws for rewards such as cruise vouchers from Incheon, hotel accommodations, and dining experiences.
Hana Securities will host a promotional event for the initial 70,000 clients who buy at least one domestic stock. Participants can qualify for prize draws featuring airline vouchers and domestic stock trading coupons valued at up to 5,000 won ($3).
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Hana Savings Bank is set to introduce a unique savings product for residents of Incheon, providing an annual interest rate reaching as high as 8 percent. The product will be offered for as many as 5,000 accounts.
The financial group plans to hire university students in Incheon for a supporter program and a contest for a promotional video concerning the move of the headquarters. Teams that participate will be given activity grants of 500,000 won, and the best submissions will receive scholarships totaling as much as 2 million won.