KB Financial creates 828.6 billion Korean won in social value through inclusive finance

KB Financial Group announced on the 23rd that, through inclusive finance and social contribution activities up to the first quarter of 2026, a total of 8.286 trillion Korean won in social value has been created.

This figure is the result of converting the positive effects of financial company activities on society into monetary value. Its significance lies in the fact that this is not simply a sum of donations, but a comprehensive assessment of corporate social roles, including financial support and welfare linkage, as well as contributions in environmental and caregiving fields. Recently, the financial industry has increasingly valued not only performance but also environmental, social, and governance (ESG) operational results, and KB Financial has continuously disclosed related achievements based on such standards.

Divided by sector, social value generated from youth support, small and medium-sized enterprise and small business support, and regional balanced development amounts to 3.481 trillion Korean won. The public safety sector accounts for the highest at 3.49 trillion won. Addressing low birth rates, future generations’ care, support for the elderly, and environmental fields together total 1.315 trillion Korean won. This shows that the financial industry’s social contribution is shifting from past one-time donations to expanding efforts to improve financial accessibility for vulnerable groups and strengthen the social safety net.

In particular, inclusive finance is especially important because it is closely linked to the public functions of banking. Inclusive finance refers to activities that help youth, micro-entrepreneurs, and credit-weak groups, who are relatively marginalized in the private financial market, access financial services. In the context of prolonged economic slowdown, high interest burdens, and increasingly strained finances of ordinary people and small businesses, whether financial institutions can play the role of a social safety net through their core business is becoming a key evaluation criterion.

KB Financial stated that it will review the effectiveness of social contribution activities based on such social value measurement results and plans to further strengthen a sustainable social contribution system. A related person from KB Financial said that through continuous social feedback, they will sincerely fulfill their financial responsibilities to support the common growth of all citizens. Such trends may in the future lead financial companies to compete not only in financial performance but also in how systematically quantifying and publicly disclosing social contributions.