[New Year's Address] BNK Financial Chairman Bin Daein: "Realizing New Finance for Future Growth"

Chairman Bin Daein of BNK Financial Group. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Chairman Bin Daein of BNK Financial Group stated in his New Year's address on January 2 that "the 2026 management policy has been set as realizing new finance for future growth."

Chairman Bin emphasized, "A major transformation in our business approach based on productive finance is necessary. The bank must move away from a profit structure centered on interest margins and shift its focus toward expanding non-interest income and pursuing a specialized investment strategy. Non-bank subsidiaries should create new growth engines by expanding structured finance and strengthening functions such as venture capital."

He also argued that the role of regional financial groups needs to change. He said, "We must find opportunities in government policies such as the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the establishment of the Southeast Region Investment Corporation, and serve as a financial hub for regionally specialized industries such as shipbuilding, maritime, logistics, and infrastructure."

To this end, he urged, "The holding company should strengthen its control tower function, centered on the newly established Sustainable Finance Division, and enhance execution capabilities through collaboration among subsidiaries."

Chairman Bin further stated, "We need to restart our growth engine with artificial intelligence (AI)," adding, "AI should be applied across all work areas, including corporate analysis, investment and screening, and risk management, to enhance the precision of customer understanding and capital allocation, and to serve as a pillar in management decision-making."

He stressed, "Even a single case of financial consumer damage, information leakage, or failure in internal controls can undermine the trust of the entire group," and emphasized the need to strengthen financial consumer protection and internal control systems.