Korea Federation of Banks Awards Best Practices in Small Business Consulting from Six Banks

NongHyup, Woori, Busan, Shinhan, KB Kookmin, IM
From Business Feasibility Reviews at the Startup Stage
to Management Improvement, Closure, and Business Recovery Support

On December 16, the Korea Federation of Banks held the "2025 Banking Sector Small Business Consulting Best Practices Presentation" at the Korea Federation of Banks building in Jung-gu, Seoul. The event aimed to review and share the achievements of small business consulting in the banking sector and to promote field-oriented consulting activities.

Since announcing the "Banking Sector Customized Small Business Support Plan" in December last year in cooperation with the Financial Services Commission, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Financial Supervisory Service, the banking sector has been working to expand consulting services for small businesses. To ensure that small business owners can receive a certain level of consulting at any bank, banks have introduced work manuals and nearly doubled the number of small business consulting centers (from 32 last year to 61 this year) to improve access to consulting services in local areas. For areas that are difficult for banks to handle directly, they have collaborated with specialized consulting agencies to supplement their services, thereby establishing a foundation for providing customized consulting tailored to customer needs.

The banking sector has accumulated a variety of consulting cases, ranging from business feasibility reviews at the startup preparation stage to management improvement, closure, and business recovery support. At this presentation, six representative best practices from leading banks were shared. Specifically, these included: ▲NongHyup Bank’s "Review of Marketing Strategies and Financial Analysis" ▲Woori Bank’s "Online Marketing Methods for Niche Markets" ▲Busan Bank’s "Review of Appropriate Business Types and Financial Counseling Linked to Career Backgrounds of Aspiring Entrepreneurs" ▲Shinhan Bank’s "Digital Marketing Consulting for Small Businesses in Namyangju Valley" ▲KB Kookmin Bank’s "Consulting on Management Direction, Brand Enhancement, and Value Improvement" ▲IM Bank’s "Support for Designation as a Centennial Small Business and Establishment of Brand Value System."

At the awards ceremony of the "Banking Sector Small Business Consulting Best Practices Presentation" held on the 16th at the Korea Federation of Banks building in Jung-gu, Seoul, Park Suhyun, Assistant Manager of Woori Bank SOHO Business Department (front row, from left), Park Cheonju, Team Leader of NongHyup Bank SME Customer Department, Seo Youngjin, Manager of Busan Bank Regional Economy Hope Center, Park Choonghyun, Deputy Director of the Financial Supervisory Service, Lee Taehun, Executive Director of the Korea Federation of Banks, Lee Jaeyong, Deputy Manager of IM Bank Innovation Finance Consulting Center, Kim Jongwon, Team Leader of Shinhan Bank Customer Solutions Department, Koo Honggi, Senior Specialist of KB Kookmin Bank SME Analysis Promotion Department, Park Junseok, Manager of Woori Bank SOHO Business Department (back row, from left), Park Jaemyung, Head of NongHyup Bank SME Customer Department, Kang Seokrae, Vice President of Busan Bank, Seo Jeongo, Deputy Vice President of IM Bank, and Lee Seungmok, Head of Shinhan Bank, are posing for a commemorative photo. Korea Federation of Banks

This year, in particular, to review the banking sector’s efforts in small business consulting and to encourage cases that have achieved outstanding results in the field, the Financial Supervisory Service and the banking sector jointly presented awards to outstanding consultants. Beyond sharing best practices, this event also marks the first time that training for bank-affiliated consultants will be conducted, supporting banks in further enhancing their own consulting capabilities.

The banking sector plans to continue advancing its consulting services, building on accumulated field experience and best practices, and to develop a support system that provides practical help to small businesses through collaboration with relevant ministries and specialized support agencies. Startup and closure consulting applications can be submitted via the BANKiT website and application (app).

Lee Taehun, Executive Director of the Korea Federation of Banks, stated, "To resolve the difficulties faced by small business owners, non-financial support such as customized consulting is just as important as financial support," adding, "I hope that sharing best practices and providing consultant training will help strengthen the banking sector’s small business consulting."

Park Choonghyun, Deputy Director of the Financial Supervisory Service, emphasized, "Through management consulting provided by the banking sector, we are supporting struggling small business owners in restructuring their businesses and making a comeback. At the same time, continuous efforts are needed to ensure that financial support is organically linked to the results of management consulting, and this process will lead to a virtuous cycle in which both small businesses and banks grow together."