KB Kookmin Bank Nurturing Global Talent to Stay on Top of Industry Trends

KB Kookmin Bank is expanding global projects based on its sharpened competitiveness in strategic business areas such as corporate and investment banking (CIB), consumer finance and digital banking.

The bank has nurtured talent in these areas to stay on top of the new trends in the financial industry, which are fueled by the development of digital technology and increase of overseas investment demand of domestic investors.

Over the past two years, the bank accomplished average annual growth of 38.1% in customer loans in overseas markets by pursuing organic growth strategies in Southeast Asia and CIB-centric sales in developed countries.

KB strengthened its corporate finance base by increasing the capital of its Ho Chi Minh City branch in Vietnam and has been stepping up efforts to create synergies through collaboration with the Vietnamese subsidiary of KB Securities acquired last year.

In addition, KB Kookmin Bank established KB Cambodia Bank in April 2009 and is now operating four branches in Cambodia. In particular, the bank is harmonizing advanced financial techniques with local financial practices by appointing local staff members nurtured by KB Cambodia Bank.

In March 2017, KB Kookmin Bank established KB Microfinance Myanmar and is operating a total of four branch offices in Myanmar. It secured 22 million customers in a year. This year, KB Kookmin Bank will continue to expand operations in the economic capital of Yangon and the administrative capital of Naypyidaw through a business model which combines micro-loans and housing loans.

In September 2016, KB launched "Liiv KB Cambodia," a global digital bank platform, and now has more than 30,000 registered users. This model will be applied to neighboring countries in the future.

KB Kookmin Bank's Hong Kong branch is serving as an outpost for expanding synergies among KB Financial Group affiliates, including KB Securities, in the investment banking sector. It is also acting as the bank’s hub for expanding the CIB business in Asia.

KB Kookmin Bank will expand the IB Deal Sourcing Network in New York by installing the IB Unit at its New York branch in the second half of the year.

The Tokyo branch has also been restructuring its asset portfolio under a changed business model, with the focus put on large excellent corporations/IB credit. It is also actively participating in the Asian syndication market.

Besides, KB Kookmin Bank is moving forward with turning its subsidiary in London into a branch in order to revitalize its operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and will also establish a 24-hour trading desk in London to expand the capital market business at the international financial center.

The Chinese corporation of KB Kookmin Bank established in 2012, is currently operating branches in Beijing, Guangzhou, Harbin, Suzhou and Shanghai.

Moreover, in order to provide financial services to Korean-based corporate clients in India and South-East Asia, the bank is currently opening a branch office in Gurgaon, a new city near New Delhi, the capital city of India. Currently, the Korean lender runs an office in Gurgaon.

Meanwhile, the Auckland branch established in New Zealand in 1997 is expanding its customer base by strengthening digital banking in order to overcome its weakness of having only one branch office in New Zealand. Currently, the Auckland branch is providing internet banking and mobile banking services and carrying out customer visit services using the Campad System.

KB Kookmin Bank has been preparing for its future expansion in overseas operations by fostering global human resources under an improved mid- to long-term human resources development system. In order to promote the global business successfully, the bank is running global talent development programs such as local expert development programs and on the job training (OJT) programs at overseas branches and the Korea Desks at overseas banks with ties with KB Kookmin Bank.