TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
ITEM 3.A.
ITEM 10.A.
i
ITEM 11.
ITEM 12.A.
ITEM 12.B.
ITEM 12.C.
PART II
ITEM 13.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 15.
ITEM 16.
ITEM 16A.
ITEM 16B.
ITEM 16C.
ITEM 16D.
ITEM 16E.
ITEM 16F.
ITEM 16G.
ITEM 16H.
ITEM 16I.
ITEM 16J.
ITEM 16K.
PART III
ITEM 17.
ITEM 18.
ITEM 19.
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS, CONVENTIONS AND CURRENCY OF PRESENTATION
Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires:
the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Shinhan Financial Group,” “SFG” and the “Group” mean Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries;
the terms “Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.,” “our company” and “our holding company” mean Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.; and
“Shinhan Card” refers to Shinhan Card Co., Ltd., “Shinhan Life Insurance” refers to Shinhan Life Insurance Co., Ltd., “Shinhan Securities” refers to Shinhan Securities Co., Ltd. and “Orange Life Insurance” refers to Orange Life Insurance, Ltd.
All references to “Korea” contained in this annual report are to the Republic of Korea. All references to the “Government” are to the government of the Republic of Korea. References to the “Financial Services Commission” are to the Financial Services Commission of Korea, and references to the “Financial Supervisory Service” are to the Financial Supervisory Service of Korea, the executive body of the Financial Services Commission.
The fiscal year for us and our subsidiaries ends on December 31 of each year. Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, all references to a particular year are to the year ended December 31 of that year.
Our primary operating currency is the Korean Won. In this annual report, unless otherwise indicated, all references to “Korean Won”, “Won” or “ W ” are to the currency of the Republic of Korea, and all references to “U.S. Dollars,” “Dollars,” “$” or “US$” are to the currency of the United States of America. Unless otherwise indicated, all translations from Won to Dollars were made at W1,444.6 to US$1.00, which was the noon buying rate in the City of New York on December 31, 2025 for cable transfers according to the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board (the “Noon Buying Rate”). No representation is made that the Won or U.S. Dollar amounts referred to in this report could have been or could be converted into Dollars or Won, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.
Unless otherwise indicated, the financial information presented in this annual report has been prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) Accounting Standards, which are the accounting standards and related interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).
Any discrepancies in the tables included herein between totals and sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so that investors can better understand a company’s future prospects and make informed investment decisions. This annual report contains forward-looking statements.
Words and phrases such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “positioned,” “predict,” “project,” “risk,” “seek to,” “shall,” “should,” “will likely result,” “will pursue” and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance or our expectations, plans, projections or business prospects identify forward-looking statements. In particular, the statements under the headings “Item 3.D. Risk Factors,” “Item 4.B. Business Overview” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” regarding our financial condition and other future events or prospects are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are management’s present expectations of future events and are
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subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
In addition to the risks related to our business discussed under “Item 3.D. Risk Factors,” other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:
our ability to successfully implement our strategy;
future levels of non-performing loans;
our growth and expansion;
the adequacy of allowances for credit and other losses;
technological changes;
interest rates;
investment income;
availability of funding and liquidity;
our exposure to market risks; and
adverse market and regulatory conditions.
By their nature, certain disclosures relating to these and other risks are only estimates and could be materially different from what actually occurs in the future. As a result, actual future gains, losses or impact on our income or results of operations could materially differ from those that have been estimated. For example, revenues could decrease, costs could increase, capital costs could increase, capital investment could be delayed and anticipated improvements in performance might not be fully realized.
In addition, other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the forward-looking statements contained in this annual report could include, but are not limited to:
general economic and political conditions in Korea or other countries that have an impact on our business activities or investments;
the monetary and interest rate policies of Korea;
inflation or deflation;
unanticipated volatility in interest rates;
foreign exchange rates;
prices and yields of equity and debt securities;
the performance of the financial markets in Korea and globally;
changes in domestic and foreign laws, regulations and taxes;
changes in competition and the pricing environment in Korea; and
regional or general changes in asset valuations.
For further discussion of the factors that could cause actual results to differ, see the discussion under “Item 3.D. Risk Factors” contained in this annual report. We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this annual report. Except as required by law, we are not under any obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this annual report.
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IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
KEY INFORMATION
[Reserved]
Capitalization and Indebtedness
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Risk Factors
An investment in the American depositary shares (“ADSs”) representing our common shares involves a number of risks. You should carefully consider the following information about the risks we face, together with the other information contained in this annual report, in evaluating us and our business.
Summary
The following summarizes some, but not all, of the risks provided below. Please carefully consider all of the information discussed in this Item 3.D. “Risk Factors” in this annual report for a more thorough description of these and other risks:
Risks Relating to Our Overall Business
Difficult conditions and turbulence in the Korean and global economy and financial markets may adversely affect our business, asset quality, capital adequacy and earnings.
High rates of global inflation or the occurrence of a recession could have a material and adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Competition in the Korean financial services industry is intense, and may further intensify.
We and our subsidiaries need to maintain our capital ratios above minimum required levels, and failure to so maintain could result in the suspension of some or all of our operations.
Liquidity, funding management and credit ratings are critical to our ongoing performance.
Our business may be materially and adversely affected by legal claims and regulatory actions against us, including with respect to financial products sold by us or our subsidiaries.
Changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, bond and equity prices, and other market factors have affected and will continue to affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We may incur losses associated with our counterparty exposures.
Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, such as actual events or concerns involving liquidity, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
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Risks Relating to Our Banking Business
We have significant exposure to small- and medium-sized enterprises, and financial difficulties experienced by such enterprises may result in a deterioration of our asset quality.
A decline in the value of the collateral securing our loans or our inability to fully realize the collateral value may adversely affect our credit portfolio.
Real estate project financing exposure poses significant risks, and guarantees received in connection with such financing may not be sufficient to cover potential losses.
A limited portion of our credit exposure is concentrated in a relatively small number of large corporate borrowers, and future financial difficulties experienced by them may have an adverse impact on us.
The asset quality of our retail loan portfolio may deteriorate.
Any deterioration in the asset quality of our guarantees and acceptances will likely have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Our Credit Card Business
Future changes in market conditions as well as other factors, such as stricter regulation, may lead to reduced revenues and deterioration in the asset quality of our credit card receivables.
Risks Relating to Our Insurance Business
Our profitability may be adversely affected if actual benefits and claims amounts on our in-force insurance policies exceed the amounts that we have reserved, or we increase the amount of reserves due to a change in our underlying assumptions.
Our insurance subsidiaries may be required to raise additional capital or reduce their growth or business scale if their solvency ratios deteriorate or the applicable capital requirements change in the future.
Prolonged periods of declining or low interest rates or changes in related accounting standards may reduce or turn negative our investment margin on savings insurance products and result in an increase in the valuation of our liabilities associated with these products.
Risks Relating to Our Other Businesses
We may experience significant losses from our investments and, to a lesser extent, trading activities due to market fluctuations.
We may generate losses from our brokerage and other commission- and fee-based business.
We may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of and encounter significant risks in connection with mergers and acquisitions.
Other Risks Relating to Our Business and Operations
Our ability to continue to pay dividends and service debt will depend on the level of profits and cash flows of our subsidiaries.
Damage to our reputation could harm our business.
Our risk management policies and procedures may not be fully effective at all times.
Labor unrest may adversely affect our operations.
We may experience disruptions, delays and other difficulties relating to our information technology systems.
Our activities are subject to cybersecurity risk.
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Our customers may become victims to “voice phishing” or other financial scams, for which we may be required to make monetary compensation and suffer damage to our business and reputation.
We may be required to make transfers from our general banking operations to cover shortfalls in our guaranteed trust accounts, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Risks Relating to Law, Regulation and Government Policy
We are a heavily regulated entity and operate in a legal and regulatory environment that is subject to change, and violations could result in penalties and other regulatory actions.
The Government may encourage targeted lendings to, or investments in, certain sectors in furtherance of policy objectives, which we may take into account in making lending or investment decisions.
The level and scope of government oversight of our retail lending business, particularly regarding mortgage and home equity loans, may change depending on the economic or political climate.
We have engaged in limited settlement transactions involving Iran in the past, and we also engage in limited business in or related to Russia, which may subject us to legal or reputational risks.
Evolving regulatory framework for artificial intelligence and machine learning technology may have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Korea
Unfavorable financial and economic conditions in Korea and globally may have a material adverse impact on our asset quality, liquidity and financial performance.
Escalations in tensions with North Korea could have an adverse effect on us, the price of our common shares and our ADSs.
Risks Relating to Our ADSs
There are restrictions on withdrawal and deposit of common shares under the depositary facility.
Ownership of our shares is restricted under Korean law.
Holders of our ADSs will not have preemptive rights in certain circumstances.
Holders of our ADSs will not be able to exercise dissent and appraisal rights unless they have withdrawn the underlying shares of our common stock and become our direct stockholders.
The market value of your investment in our ADSs may fluctuate due to the volatility of the Korean securities market.
Your dividend payments and the amount you may realize upon a sale of your ADSs will be affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and the Won.
If the Government deems that certain emergency circumstances are likely to occur, it may restrict the depositary bank from converting and remitting dividends in U.S. Dollars.
Other Risks
We are generally subject to Korean corporate governance and disclosure standards, which differ in significant respects from those in other countries.
You may not be able to enforce a judgment of a foreign court against us.
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Most of our assets are located in, and we generate most of our income from, Korea. Accordingly, our business and profitability are largely dependent on the general economic and social conditions in Korea, including interest rates, inflation, exports, personal expenditures and consumption, unemployment, demand for business products and services, debt service burden of households and businesses, the general availability of credit, the asset value of real estate and securities and other factors affecting the financial well-being of our corporate and retail customers.
The Korean economy is closely integrated with, and is significantly affected by, developments in the global economy. In light of elevated energy and commodity prices, ongoing global supply chain realignments, heightened geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the military conflicts between Iran and other countries, including the United States and Israel, and broader regional instability in the Middle East, continued shifts in monetary policy by major central banks, volatility in global financial markets, capital flow risks affecting emerging markets, credit risks associated with the Chinese real estate sector, ongoing trade tensions and tariff measures among major economies, and signs of economic slowdown in China and other key markets, among others, significant uncertainty remains as to the global economic prospects in general, which has adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, the Korean economy. The Korean economy also continues to face other difficulties, including subdued domestic consumption and investment, high levels of corporate and household debt, volatility in the real estate market, rising delinquencies and credit risk associated with project financing loans, demographic pressures arising from an aging population and persistently low birth rates, and labor market challenges, including youth unemployment. More recently, Korea has experienced heightened political uncertainty in recent years following the declaration of martial law by former President Yoon Suk-yeol in December 2024 that led to his impeachment and subsequent removal in April 2025 and the election of Mr. Lee Jae-myung as President in June 2025. Any future deterioration of the global and Korean economies could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In particular, difficulties in financial and economic conditions could result in significant deterioration in the quality of our assets and accumulation of higher provisioning, allowance for credit losses on loans and charge-offs as an increasing number of our corporate and retail customers declare bankruptcy or insolvency or otherwise face increasing difficulties in meeting their debt obligations. For example, from time to time, difficulties in certain industries such as real estate and shipbuilding have led to increased delinquency among our corporate borrowers, including some Korean commercial conglomerates known as “chaebols,” and in certain cases, even insolvency, workouts, recovery proceedings and/or voluntary arrangements with creditors. Sustained downturns in the real estate market have also led to increased delinquency among our retail borrowers, and in particular, borrowers with collective loans for pre-sale of newly constructed apartment units. The Government has also led a number of initiatives for Korean financial institutions, including Shinhan Bank, aimed at enhancing the debt-servicing capacity of borrowers, such as a pre-workout program that provides maturity extensions and/or interest reductions to certain eligible retail borrowers with outstanding short-term debt in default. In addition, several policies for small business owners were announced in December 2024, including the introduction of customized debt restructuring, mutual prosperity guarantee and loan programs, consulting programs, and low-interest and long-term installment repayment programs for small business owners who have recently closed their businesses. Shinhan Bank’s delinquency ratio was 0.26% as of December 31, 2023, 0.27% as of December 31, 2024 and 0.28% as of December 31, 2025. Despite such financial support programs, there is no assurance that Shinhan Bank will not experience increased level of credit losses on loans from borrowers, particularly those in troubled industries, since the quality of loans to such borrowers may further deteriorate due to a continued slump in volatile industries resulting from sluggish economic conditions or for other reasons. Further, Government-led financial support programs or other countermeasures may not achieve their intended results and could also result in unintended consequences or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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In addition, given the highly integrated nature of financial systems and economic relationships worldwide, there may be other unanticipated systemic or other risks that may not be presently predictable. Any of these risks, if materialized, may have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Recently, the global markets have experienced higher rates of inflation driven by several market factors, including in the form of increased costs pertaining to labor, materials, shipping, tariffs and overhead costs. Furthermore, recent geopolitical tensions, including the military conflicts between Iran and other countries, including the United States and Israel, has resulted in higher oil prices and could lead to further increases in oil prices and inflation. Governments in many countries usually respond to such inflationary pressures by implementing tighter monetary policies, which could slow the growth rate of local economies and restrict the availability of credit. To the extent that inflationary pressures, shifts in fiscal or monetary policy, or financial market volatility results in slower economic growth or a recession, demand for our products and services could decline, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, including by increasing general and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue. Moreover, in the event that a global recession were to occur, it could adversely affect the financial condition of our key counterparties, potentially reducing their demand for our products and services.
Competition in the Korean financial services industry is, and is likely to remain, intense, including as a result of subdued domestic economic growth, the growing maturation and saturation of the industry as a whole, the entry of new market participants and regulatory changes, among others.
In the banking sector, Shinhan Bank competes principally with other national commercial banks in Korea, but also faces competition from a number of additional banking institutions, including branches and subsidiaries of foreign banks operating in Korea, regional banks, Internet-only banks, government-owned development banks and Korea’s specialized banks, as well as various other types of financial service providers, including savings institutions (such as mutual savings and finance companies, credit unions and credit cooperatives), investment companies (such as securities brokerage firms, merchant banking corporations and asset management companies) and life insurance companies. As of December 31, 2025, Korea had seven major nationwide domestic commercial banks, five regional banks, three Internet-only banks and a number of branches and subsidiaries of foreign banks. Foreign financial institutions, many of which have greater experiences and resources than we do, may continue to enter the Korean market and compete with us in providing financial products and services either by themselves or in partnership with existing Korean financial institutions.
In the small- and medium-sized enterprise and retail banking segments, which have been Shinhan Bank’s traditional core businesses, competition is expected to increase further. In recent years, Korean banks, including Shinhan Bank, have increasingly focused on stable asset growth based on quality credit, such as corporate borrowers with high credit ratings, loans to “small office/home office” enterprises (“SOHOs”) with high levels of collateralization, and mortgage and home equity loans within the limits of the prescribed loan-to-value ratios and debt-to-income ratios. This common shift in focus toward stable growth based on lower-risk assets has intensified competition as banks compete for the same limited pool of quality credit by engaging in price competition or by other means. In addition, such competition may result in lower net interest margin and reduced overall profitability. Even if interest rates were to increase, the effect on Shinhan Bank’s results of operations may not be as beneficial as expected, or at all, due to factors such as increased volatility of market interest rates and tighter regulations regarding SOHO loans. For additional details on the impact changes in interest rates have on our business, see “— Changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, bond and equity prices, and other market factors have affected and will continue to affect our business, results of operations and financial
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condition.” Furthermore, if competing financial institutions seek to expand market share by lowering their lending rates, Shinhan Bank may suffer customer loss, especially among customers who select their lenders principally on the basis of lending rates. In response thereto or for other strategic reasons, Shinhan Bank may lower its lending rates to stay competitive, which could lead to a further decrease in its net interest margins and outweigh any potential positive impact on the net interest margin from a general rise in market interest rates. Any future decline in Shinhan Bank’s customer base or its net interest margins could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
In the credit card sector, Shinhan Card competes principally with existing “monoline” credit card companies, the credit card divisions of commercial banks, consumer finance companies, other financial institutions and, recently, credit card service providers allied with mobile telecommunications service providers in Korea. Competition has been historically intense in this sector, and the market has shown signs of saturation as existing and new credit card service providers make significant investments and engage in aggressive marketing campaigns and promotions to acquire new customers and target customers with high credit quality. Despite stricter government regulations such as curbs on excessive marketing expenses, competition remains intense, and credit card issuers may continue to compete with Shinhan Card for customers by offering lower interest rates and fees, higher credit limits, more attractive promotions and incentives and alternative products such as credit card reward points, gift cards and low-interest consumer loan products. As a result, Shinhan Card may lose customers or service opportunities to competing credit card issuers and/or incur higher marketing expenses.
Competition in the credit card sector is partially constrained by regulatory developments, including the reduction of the maximum interest rate on loans from 24% to 20% in 2021 and restrictions on debt collection activities under the Debtor Rehabilitation and Bankruptcy Act implemented in 2024, which have increased pressure on the profitability and operations of credit card companies, including Shinhan Card. These measures have contributed to challenges in collection activities, which may lead to higher delinquencies and increased operating costs. In addition, enhanced consumer protection and personal data protection guidelines introduced by the Government may result in additional compliance costs. Fee and interest rate pressure, customer attrition, higher marketing expenses, and potential deterioration in customer credit quality, together with broader social, economic and regulatory developments in Korea, could adversely affect Shinhan Card’s ability to compete effectively and put downward pressure on its growth, market share, profitability and asset quality. Similar competitive pressures exist across other financial services sectors in which our subsidiaries operate.
Consolidation among our competitors and the Government’s privatization efforts may also add competition in the markets in which we and our subsidiaries conduct business. In January 2019, Woori Financial Group was established pursuant to a comprehensive stock transfer under the Korean Commercial Code whereby holders of the common stock of Woori Bank and certain of its subsidiaries transferred all of their shares to Woori Financial Group (the new financial holding company) and in return received shares of Woori Financial Group. As a result, Woori Bank and certain of its former wholly-owned subsidiaries became direct and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Woori Financial Group. The Korea Deposit Insurance Corp., which in 2021 owned 17.25% of the outstanding common stock of Woori Financial Group, has since sold all of its remaining shares and, as of the date of this annual report, holds no ownership interest in Woori Financial Group. In the asset management business sector, Woori Financial Group acquired two asset management companies, Tongyang Asset Management and ABL Global Asset Management (former Allianz Global Investors) in 2019. In the life insurance sector, KB Financial Group completed the acquisition of Prudential Life Insurance, the former Korean unit of Prudential Financial Inc., in August 2021, and Woori Financial Group acquired 75.3% of the shares of TONGYANG Life Insurance Co., Ltd. and 100.0% of the shares of ABL Life Insurance Co., Ltd. in July 2025. Any of these developments may place us at a competitive disadvantage and outweigh any potential benefit to us in the form of opportunities to attract new customers dissatisfied with the level of services at the newly reorganized entities or to provide credit facilities to corporate customers who wish to maintain relationships with a wide range of banks in order to diversify their sources of funding. We expect consolidation and other structural changes in the financial industry to continue, which may intensify competition as larger and more diversified institutions exert increased pricing pressure, potentially reducing margins and adversely affecting our future profitability.
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In addition, online service providers and technology companies with large-scale user networks, such as Kakao Corp., NAVER and Samsung Electronics, have recently made significant inroads in providing virtual payment services through a system based on a growing convergence of financial services and technology commonly referred to as “fintech,” which has intensified competition for online customers among online and mobile payment service providers. Moreover, the introduction of Internet-only banks in Korea has led to an increase in competition in the Korean banking industry. For example, KT consortium’s Kbank, Kakao consortium’s Kakao Bank and Viva Republica consortium’s Toss Bank have been operating Internet-only banks since April 2017, July 2017 and October 2021, respectively. Internet-only banks have certain advantages over traditional banks as the former can pass savings in labor and overhead costs to their customers by offering higher interest rates on deposit accounts, lower loan costs and reduced service fees. Accordingly, commercial banks are facing increasing pressure to upgrade their service platforms to attract and maintain online users, which represents a growing customer base compared to traditional customers who have primarily conducted banking in-person at physical banking branches.
Regulatory reforms and the general modernization of business practices in Korea have also led to increased competition among financial institutions in Korea. Since 2019, commercial banks, including Shinhan Bank, as well as fintech companies, have offered open banking services that allow customers to access, and transact on, accounts held at multiple financial institutions, reducing customer reliance on any single bank. In addition, the MyData service, which was launched in 2020, allows financial institutions that have been approved by the Financial Service Commission as MyData service providers to collect, aggregate and manage (upon the customers’ request and subject to compliance requirements) customers’ personal, credit and transaction data so that customers can easily access such data in one place. Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Card have each obtained a license from the Financial Services Commission to operate as a MyData service provider. Shinhan Bank launched its MyData business in January 2021, followed by Shinhan Card in December 2021. As of December 31, 2025, the Financial Services Commission has granted licenses to 60 companies to operate as MyData service providers, 19 of which are fintech or IT firms. In May 2023, the Government launched a platform where consumers can compare loan products from various financial institutions and apply for debt consolidation on a single platform, which was expanded in January 2024 to include mortgage and long-term deposit-based rental loans. Further expansion to additional loan products may further intensify competition among commercial banks in Korea. In recent years, the Financial Services Commission announced various measures designed to encourage competition within the banking industry, including its intention to issue more banking licenses (including those for Internet-only banks) and actively permitting the conversion of existing regional or savings banks into nationwide commercial banks. For example, in May 2024, the Financial Services Commission approved DGB Daegu Bank’s application to convert from a regional bank into a nationwide commercial bank. DGB Daegu Bank subsequently became Korea’s seventh commercial bank and rebranded itself as iM Bank in June 2024.
Since the global financial crisis, the Government has subjected Korean financial institutions to stricter regulatory requirements and guidelines in areas of asset quality, capital adequacy, liquidity and residential and other lending practices. For further details of such capital adequacy requirements, see “— We and our subsidiaries need to maintain our capital ratios above minimum required levels, and failure to so maintain could result in the suspension of some or all of our operations.” There is no assurance that these measures will have the effect of curbing competition or that the Government will not reverse or reduce such measures or introduce other measures, which may further intensify competition in the Korean financial services industry. For further details on the capital requirements applicable to us, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies — Capital Adequacy.”
If, despite our efforts to adapt to the changing macroeconomic environment while complying with new regulations, we are unable to compete effectively in the changing business and regulatory environment, our profit margin and market share may erode and our future growth opportunities may become limited, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We and our subsidiaries in Korea are required to maintain specified capital adequacy ratios. For example, since May 2024, we and our banking subsidiaries in Korea have been required to maintain a minimum common equity Tier I capital adequacy ratio of 9.0%, a Tier I capital adequacy ratio of 10.5% and a total capital (BIS) ratio of 12.5%. These ratios measure the respective regulatory capital as a percentage of risk-weighted assets on a consolidated basis and are determined based on guidelines of the Financial Services Commission. In addition, as further described below, Shinhan Bank is also required to maintain a capital conservation buffer and additional capital as a domestic systemically important bank and may be required to maintain a counter-cyclical capital buffer. Also, our subsidiaries Shinhan Card, Shinhan Life Insurance and Shinhan Securities are each required to maintain a consolidated adjusted equity capital ratio of 8.0%, a Korean-Insurance Capital Standard (“K-ICS”) ratio of 100% and a net capital ratio of 100%, respectively.
The current capital adequacy requirements of the Financial Services Commission are derived from bank capital rules issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (the “Basel Committee”) in December 2010 in respect of (i) a global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems and (ii) an international framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring, which together are commonly referred to as “Basel III.” Beginning in July 2013, the Financial Services Commission implemented the capital requirements of Basel III through a series of amendments to the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business and the Detailed Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business. Pursuant to these regulations, commercial banks in Korea are required to maintain a minimum common equity Tier I ratio of 4.5%, a minimum Tier I capital ratio of 6.0% and a minimum total capital (BIS) ratio of 8.0% from January 1, 2015. The Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business was further amended in December 2014 to implement the liquidity coverage ratio requirements under Basel III in increments of 5% annually, from 80% as of January 1, 2015 to 100% as of January 1, 2019, and although the liquidity coverage ratio requirement was temporarily lowered during the COVID-19 pandemic, the liquidity coverage ratio requirement has been restored to 100% since January 1, 2025. Capital conservation buffer requirements have also been phased in from January 1, 2016, and accordingly, since January 1, 2019, commercial banks in Korea have been required to maintain a capital conservation buffer of 2.5%. Pursuant to the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business and the Detailed Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business, the Financial Services Commission may designate banks with significant influence (based on size and connectivity with other financial institutions) on the domestic financial system as a domestic systemically important bank and require the accumulation of additional capital in accordance with the highest of: (i) ratio of common equity capital to risk-weighted assets, ranging from 0.0% to 2.0%, depending on the systematic importance evaluation score, (ii) if the bank’s holding company is a domestic systemically important bank holding company, the capital ratio corresponding to the additional capital required for the bank holding company under the Financial Holding Company Supervision Regulations, or (iii) if the bank is also a global systemically important bank, as defined by the Basel Committee, the capital ratio as required by the Basel Committee. Since January 1, 2019, the Financial Services Commission has required domestic systemically important banks to maintain an additional capital buffer of 1.00%, and we and Shinhan Bank have each been designated by the Financial Services Commission since July 2021 as a domestic systemically important bank holding company and domestic systemically important bank, respectively. Accordingly, we and Shinhan Bank are subject to this additional capital buffer of 1.00%. The Financial Services Commission may also, upon quarterly review, determine and require banks to accumulate a level of counter-cyclical capital buffer within the range of 0% to 2.5% of risk-weighted assets, taking into account factors such as the degree of increase in credit relative to the gross domestic product. As announced by the Financial Services Commission in May 2023, banks and their holding companies, including Shinhan Bank and us, have been required to accumulate a counter-cyclical capital buffer of 1.00% since May 1, 2024. The Financial Services Commission also announced in September 2024 the introduction of a stress buffer capital regulation, which may require banks and their holding companies to accumulate up to 2.5% of additional capital (in addition to, and separate from, the aforementioned minimum capital ratios) depending on the results of stress testing and evaluation of risk management status by the Financial Supervisory Service. In December 2024, the Financial
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Services Commission initially announced that the introduction of the stress buffer capital regulation would be delayed until at least the second half of 2025, with the timing and other details to be determined in 2025. In December 2025, the Financial Services Commission announced further delays, stating that the stress buffer capital regulation would be implemented in June 2026 or later, with the specific timing and other implementation details to be determined in 2026.
We and our banking subsidiaries are currently, and have been, in full compliance with Basel III requirements as implemented in Korea since its introduction in December 2013. Although we and our subsidiaries currently maintain capital adequacy ratios in excess of the respective required regulatory minimum levels, we or our subsidiaries may not be able to continue to satisfy the capital adequacy requirements for a number of reasons, including an increase in high-risk assets and provisioning expenses, substitution costs related to the disposal of problem loans, declines in the value of securities portfolios, adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in the capital ratio requirements, the guidelines regarding the computation of capital ratios, or the framework set by the Basel Committee upon which the guidelines of the Financial Services Commission are based, or other adverse developments affecting our asset quality or equity capital. If the capital adequacy ratios of us or our subsidiaries were to fall below the required levels, the Financial Services Commission might impose penalties which may range from a warning to a suspension or revocation of our or our subsidiaries’ business licenses. In addition, additional capital requirements may increase our or our subsidiaries’ credit risk and require us or our subsidiaries to either improve asset quality or raise additional capital. In order to maintain the capital adequacy ratios above the required levels, we or our subsidiaries may be required to raise additional capital through equity financing, and there is no assurance that we or our subsidiaries will be able to do so on commercially favorable terms or at all and, even if successful, any such capital raising may have a dilutive effect on our shareholders with respect to their interest in us or on us with respect to our interest in our subsidiaries.
Liquidity is essential to our business as a financial intermediary, and we may seek additional funding in the near future to satisfy liquidity needs, meet regulatory requirements, enhance our capital levels or fund the growth of our operations as opportunities arise.
For example, Basel III includes an international framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring, as noted above, including a new minimum liquidity standard, known as the liquidity coverage ratio, which is designed to ensure that banks have an adequate stock of unencumbered high quality liquid assets (“HQLA”) that can be easily and speedily converted into cash in the private marketplace to withstand a significant stress scenario lasting 30 calendar days. The liquidity coverage ratio is computed as (a) the value of a banking organization’s HQLA, divided by (b) its total expected net cash outflows over the next 30 calendar days under stress scenarios. In January 2013, the Basel Committee released a revised formulation of the liquidity coverage ratio. The Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business was further amended in December 2014 to implement the liquidity coverage ratio requirements under Basel III in increments of 5% annually, from 80% as of January 1, 2015 to 100% as of January 1, 2019, and although the liquidity coverage ratio requirement was temporarily lowered during the COVID-19 pandemic, the liquidity coverage ratio requirement has been restored to 100% since January 1, 2025.
A substantial part of the liquidity and funding requirements for our banking subsidiaries is met through short-term customer deposits, which typically roll over upon maturity. While the volume of our customer deposits has generally been stable over time, customer deposits have from time to time declined substantially due to the popularity of other, higher-yielding investment opportunities, primarily stocks and mutual funds, for example, during times of bullish stock markets. During such times, our banking subsidiaries were required to obtain alternative funding at higher costs. There is no assurance that a similar development will not occur in the future. In addition, in recent years, we have faced increasing pricing competition from our competitors with respect to our deposit products. If we do not continue to offer competitive interest rates to our deposit customers,
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we may lose their business, which has traditionally provided a stable and low-cost source of funding. In addition, even if we are able to match our competitors’ pricing, doing so may result in an increase in our funding costs, which may have an adverse impact on our results of operations.
We and our subsidiaries also raise funds in capital markets and borrow from other financial institutions, the cost of which depends on market rates and the general availability of credit and the terms of which may limit our ability to pay dividends, make acquisitions or subject us to other restrictive covenants. While we and our subsidiaries are not currently facing liquidity difficulties in any material respect, if we or our subsidiaries are unable to obtain the funding we need on terms commercially acceptable to us for an extended period of time for whatever reason, we may not be able to ensure our financial viability, meet regulatory requirements, implement our strategies or compete effectively.
Credit ratings affect the cost and other terms upon which we and our subsidiaries are able to obtain funding. Domestic and international rating agencies regularly evaluate us and our subsidiaries, and their ratings of our and our subsidiaries’ long-term debt are based on a number of factors, including our financial strength as well as conditions affecting the financial services industry and the Korean economy in general. There can be no assurance that the rating agencies will maintain our current ratings or outlooks. There is no assurance that Shinhan Bank, Shinhan Card, any of our other major subsidiaries or our holding company will not experience a downgrade in their respective credit ratings and outlooks for reasons related to the general Korean economy or reasons specific to such entity. Any downgrades in the credit ratings and outlooks of us and our subsidiaries will likely increase our cost of funding, limit our access to capital markets and other borrowings, or require us to provide additional credit enhancement in financial transactions, any of which could adversely affect our liquidity, net interest margins and profitability, and in turn, our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to risk of legal claims and regulatory actions. We are also subject to a variety of other lawsuits, claims, disputes, legal proceedings and government investigations in Korea and other jurisdictions where we are active, including with respect to financial products sold by us or our subsidiaries. For example, in the past there have been incidents of alleged improper sales of financial products, such as those involving Lime Asset Management Co., Ltd. products, Discovery Asset Management Co., Ltd. products and certain German Heritage derivative-linked securities. Although we have taken measures and strive to improve our risk management systems and internal controls to prevent similar incidents, including updating the internal controls and performance evaluation systems for Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities, no assurance can be given that similar incidents have not occurred or will not occur in the future or that such incidents will always be detected, deterred or prevented. We may be required to compensate purchasers of such financial products sold by us or suffer losses and record provisions in connection with such financial products, and we may also suffer harm to our and our subsidiaries’ reputation, any of which may increase our operational and compliance costs and subject us to greater scrutiny by regulators and other parties. These types of claims, disputes, proceedings or investigations may expose us to substantial monetary and/or reputational damages, legal defense costs, injunctive relief, criminal and civil penalties and the potential for regulatory restrictions on our businesses or sanctions against our management and employees. See “Item 8.A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information — Legal Proceedings” and Note 48 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
While we plan to rigorously defend our positions in such disputes, lawsuits or other regulatory proceedings against us, the outcome of these matters are highly uncertain and difficult to predict, and they could adversely affect our results of operation and future business. The total amount in dispute or subject to regulatory action may increase during the course of these legal claims and regulatory actions, and other lawsuits may be brought against us based on similar allegations. Accordingly, these legal claims and regulatory actions may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation.
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The most significant market risks we face are interest rate, foreign exchange and bond and equity price risks. Changes in interest rate levels, yield curves and spreads may affect the interest rate margin realized between lending and borrowing costs. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly in the Korean Won to U.S. Dollar exchange rates, affect the value of our assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, the reported earnings of our non-Korean subsidiaries and income from foreign exchange dealings, and substantial and rapid fluctuations in exchange rates may cause difficulty in obtaining foreign currency-denominated financing in the international financial markets on commercial terms acceptable to us or at all. The performance of financial markets may affect bond and equity prices and, therefore, cause changes in the value of our investment and trading portfolios. Moreover, because the secondary market for corporate bonds in Korea is not fully developed, the market value of many of our debt securities is determined by reference to suggested prices posted by Korean rating agencies or the Korea Financial Investment Association, which may differ significantly from the actual value that we could realize in the event we elect to sell these securities. While we have implemented risk management systems and risk thresholds to mitigate and control these and other market risks to which we are exposed, it is difficult to predict with accuracy changes in economic or market conditions and to anticipate the effects that such changes could have on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Historically, Korea, like many other countries, has experienced interest rate fluctuations, in part due to the Government’s policy to stabilize the economy through active rate-controlling measures. The Bank of Korea lowered its policy rate to 0.75% in March 2020 and to 0.50% in May 2020 in response to deteriorating economic conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the economy began to show signs of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic starting from the second half of 2021, the Bank of Korea gradually raised its policy rate to pre-pandemic levels of 1.25% from August 2021 through January 2022. Furthermore, in response to rising levels of household debt and inflation in Korea as well as globally, the Bank of Korea continued to raise its policy rate to 3.50% from April 2022 through January 2023. More recently, however, the Bank of Korea lowered its policy rate to 3.25% in October 2024, 3.00% in November 2024, 2.75% in February 2025 and 2.50% in May 2025 in response to weak economic conditions in Korea.
Interest rate movements, in terms of magnitude and timing as well as their relative impact on our assets and liabilities, have a significant impact on our net interest margin and profitability, particularly with respect to our financial products that are sensitive to such movements. For example, if the interest rates applicable to our loans (which are recorded as assets) increase at a slower pace or by a smaller margin than the interest rates applicable to our deposits (which are recorded as liabilities), our net interest margin will shrink and our profitability will be negatively affected. In addition, the relative size and composition of our variable rate loans and deposits (as compared to our fixed rate loans and deposits) may also impact our net interest margin. Furthermore, the difference in the average repricing frequency of our interest-earning assets (primarily loans) compared to our interest-bearing liabilities (primarily deposits) may also impact our net interest margin. For example, since our deposits tend to have longer terms, on average, than those of our loans, our deposits are on average less sensitive to movements in the base interest rates on which our deposits and loans tend to be pegged, and therefore, a decrease in the base interest rates tends to decrease our net interest margin while an increase in the base interest rates tends to have the opposite effect. While we continually manage our assets and liabilities to minimize our exposure to interest rate volatility, such efforts by us may not mitigate the impact of interest rate volatility in a timely or effective manner, and our net interest margin, and in turn our financial condition and results of operations, could suffer significantly.
We cannot assure you as to when and to what extent the Bank of Korea will in the future adjust the base interest rate, to which the market interest rate correlates. A decision to adjust the base interest rate is subject to many policy considerations as well as market factors, including the general economic cycle, inflationary levels, interest rates in other economies and foreign currency exchange rates, among others. In general, a decrease in
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interest rates adversely affects our interest income due to the different maturity structure for our assets and liabilities as discussed above. In contrast, a significant or sustained increase in interest rates, all else being equal, would lead to a decline in the value of traded debt securities and increase our funding costs, while reducing loan demand, especially among retail customers. Rising interest rates may therefore require us to re-balance our assets and liabilities in order to minimize the risk of potential mismatches in our asset liability management and to maintain our profitability. In addition, rising interest rates may adversely affect the Korean economy and the financial condition of our corporate and retail borrowers, including holders of our credit cards, which in turn may lead to a deterioration of the asset quality of our credit portfolio. Since most of our retail and corporate loans bear interest at rates that adjust periodically based on prevailing market rates, a sustained increase in interest rates will increase the funding costs of our borrowers and may adversely affect their ability to make payments on their outstanding loans. See “Item 5.A. Operating Results — Interest Rates.”
We face the risk that counterparties will be unable to honor contractual obligations to us or our subsidiaries. These parties may default on their obligations to us or our subsidiaries due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. This risk may arise, for example, from entering into swaps or other derivative contracts under which counterparties have obligations to make payments to us or our subsidiaries or in executing currency or other trades that fail to settle at the required time due to non-delivery by the counterparty or systems failure by clearing agents, exchanges, clearing houses or other financial intermediaries. Any realization of counterparty risk may adversely affect our business, operations and financial condition.
In early 2023, financial troubles at several banks in the United States and Europe caused uncertainty and fear of instability in the global financial system generally, particularly in the banking sector. Such difficulties were caused, among others, by rising levels of inflation and rapid increase in base interest rates by the governments globally. Many financial institutions have experienced volatile stock prices and significant losses in their equity value, and many have faced heightened risk of bank runs. Any negative perceptions resulting from such developments concerning the soundness of savings banks, Internet-only banks or the banking system generally in Korea could affect customers’ decision on where to maintain their deposits, which may result in financial distress and closure for certain banks in Korea. Also in cases where such distress could pose a systemic risk, the Government may require us or Shinhan Bank, as one of the largest bank holding companies and commercial banks, respectively, in Korea, to actively participate in the Government’s initiative to mitigate such difficulties, which could strain our resources, divert our management’s attention and have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect the financial services industry generally or financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry, may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems or increase our risk in various dealings with its counterparties, among others. If, as a result of such developments, any parties with whom we conduct business are unable to access their deposits with a distressed financial institution or any of their other funds loaned to such distressed financial institution, including through financial instruments or lending arrangements, such parties’ credit quality, ability to pay their obligations to us, or to enter into new commercial arrangements requiring additional payments to us could be adversely affected. In addition, our ability to access funding sources and other arrangements in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our current and future business operations or to fulfill our financial obligations could also be affected by such disruptions or instability in the financial services industry or financial markets. Furthermore, we could be impacted by current or future negative perceptions, expectations or rumors about the prospects for the financial services industry, which could worsen over time and result in downward pressure on, and continued or accelerated volatility of, bank securities. Any of these developments resulting from the general instability of the financial services industry could materially adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
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Our banking activities are conducted primarily through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Shinhan Bank. One of our core banking businesses has historically been and continues to be lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises (as defined in “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Our Principal Activities — Corporate Banking Services — Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises Banking”). Shinhan Bank’s loans (before allowance for credit losses and deferred loan origination costs and fees) to such enterprises amounted to W134,271 billion as of December 31, 2023, W145,327 billion as of December 31, 2024 and W150,048 billion as of December 31, 2025, representing 32.2%, 31.9% and 31.9%, respectively, of our total loan portfolio as of such dates.
Compared to loans to large corporations, which tend to be better capitalized and better able to withstand business downturns, or loans to individuals and households, a majority of which are secured by residential properties and have historically exhibited lower delinquency ratios, loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises have historically had a relatively higher delinquency ratio. Many small- and medium-sized enterprises represent sole proprietorships or small businesses that are dependent on a relatively limited number of suppliers or customers and are generally affected to a greater extent than large corporate borrowers by fluctuations in the Korean and global economy. In addition, small- and medium-sized enterprises often maintain less sophisticated financial records than large corporate borrowers. Therefore, it is generally more difficult for banks to assess the level of risk inherent in lending to such enterprises, as compared to large corporations. In addition, many small- and medium-sized enterprises are dependent on business relationships with large corporations in Korea, primarily as suppliers. Difficulties encountered by large corporations could adversely affect the liquidity and financial condition of small- and medium-sized enterprises that engage in business relationships with such entities, including those to which we have exposure, which in turn may result in an impairment of their ability to repay loans.
Financial difficulties experienced by small- and medium-sized enterprises as a result of, among other things, recent economic difficulties in Korea and globally and aggressive marketing and intense competition among banks to lend to this segment, despite our efforts to counter asset quality deterioration through a conservative lending policy, have led to a deterioration in the asset quality of our loans to this segment. As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, Shinhan Bank’s delinquent loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises were W542 billion, W645 billion and W730 billion, respectively, representing delinquency ratios (net of charge-offs and loan sales) of 0.40%, 0.44% and 0.49%, respectively. If the ongoing difficulties in the Korean or global economy were to continue or worsen, the delinquency ratio for our loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises may rise.
In particular, we have exposure to the Korean real estate, leasing and service, and construction industries. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank had outstanding loans (before allowance for credit losses on loans and deferred loan origination costs and fees) to enterprises in the real estate, leasing and service, and construction industries (many of which are small- and medium-sized enterprises) of W53,232 billion and W5,219 billion, respectively, representing 13.2% and 1.3%, respectively, of its total loan portfolio as of such date. We also have other exposure to borrowers in these sectors of the Korean economy, including extending guarantees for the benefit of such companies and holding debt and equity securities issued by such companies. In addition, Shinhan Bank has exposure to borrowers in the shipbuilding and shipping industries, which have yet to stage a meaningful turnaround.
Enterprises in the real estate development and construction industries in Korea, which are heavily concentrated in the housing market, may in turn face difficulties if the housing market experiences a downturn, for example, due to Government policy measures to stabilize the real estate market, oversupply of residential property, ongoing economic sluggishness in Korea and globally or demographic changes in the Korean population. We also have limited exposure to real estate project financing, particularly involving construction
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companies that have built residential units in provinces outside the Seoul metropolitan area, where delinquency levels have recently increased primarily due to a relatively low rate of pre-sales, on which construction companies primarily rely as a key source for liquidity and cash flow.
Any of the foregoing developments may result in deterioration in the asset quality of our banking subsidiaries. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Description of Assets and Liabilities — Loans — Credit Exposures to Companies in Workout and Recovery Proceedings.” We have been taking active steps to curtail delinquency among our small- and medium-sized enterprise customers, including by strengthening loan application review processes and closely monitoring borrowers in troubled sectors. Despite such efforts, there is no assurance that the delinquency ratio for our loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises will not increase in the future, especially if the Korean economy were to face additional difficulties and, as a result, the liquidity and cash flow of these borrowers deteriorate. A significant increase in the delinquency ratios among these borrowers may lead to increased charge-offs and higher provisioning and reduced interest and fee income, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Most of our mortgage and home equity loans are secured by borrowers’ homes, other real estate, other securities and guarantees (which are principally provided by the Government and other financial institutions), and a substantial portion of our corporate loans are also secured, including by real estate. As of December 31, 2025, the secured portion of Shinhan Bank’s loans amounted to W278,115 billion, representing 68.7% of its total loans. No assurance can be given that the collateral value of such loans will not materially decline in the future. Shinhan Bank’s general policy for mortgage and home equity loans is to lend up to 40% to 85% of the appraised value of the collateral, but subject to the maximum loan-to-value ratio, debt-to-income ratio and debt service ratio requirements for mortgage loans implemented by the Government, and it periodically re-appraises such collateral. In order to mitigate its loss in the event of a decrease in the value of collateral, Shinhan Bank has made efforts to increase the proportion of installment principal repayment-based loans and manage the loan-to-value ratio of secured loans. As of December 31, 2025, installment principal repayment-based housing loans accounted for 39.0% of the housing loans extended by Shinhan Bank, and the loan-to-value ratio of mortgage and home equity loans of Shinhan Bank was 51.2%. Despite these efforts, however, if the real estate market in Korea experiences a downturn, the value of the collateral may fall below the outstanding principal balance of the underlying mortgage loans. Borrowers of such under-collateralized mortgages or loans may be forced to pay back all or a portion of such mortgage loans or, if unable to meet the collateral requirement through such repayment, sell the underlying collateral, which sales may lead to a further decline in the price of real estate in general and set off a chain reaction for other borrowers due to the further decline in the value of collateral. Declines in real estate prices reduce the value of the collateral securing our mortgage and home equity loans, and such reduction in the value of collateral may result in our inability to cover the uncollectible portion of our secured loans. A decline in the value of the real estate or other collateral securing our loans, or our inability to obtain additional collateral in the event of such decline, may result in the deterioration of our asset quality and require us to make additional loan loss provisions. In Korea, foreclosure on collateral generally requires a written petition to a Korean court. Foreclosure procedures in Korea generally take 7 to 12 months from initiation to collection depending on the nature of the collateral, and foreclosure applications may be subject to delays and administrative requirements, which may result in a decrease in the recovery value of such collateral. No assurance can be given that we will be able to realize the full value of collateral as a result of, among others, delays in foreclosure proceedings, defects in the perfection of collateral and general declines in collateral value. Our failure to recover the expected value of collateral could expose us to significant losses.
Primarily through Shinhan Bank, we, alone or together with other financial institutions, provide financing to real estate development projects, which are largely concentrated in the construction of residential complexes. As
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of December 31, 2025, the total outstanding amount of our real estate project financing-related exposure, consisting of loan balances and debt guarantee commitments, was approximately W7.0 trillion, of which approximately W3.1 trillion was attributable to Shinhan Bank. These amounts were determined based on the feasibility evaluation criteria for real estate development projects set forth by the Financial Supervisory Service, as further discussed below.
Real estate project financing involves inherent risks for lenders, including project delays, cost overruns, declines in real estate market conditions and deterioration in the financial condition of developers and contractors. These risks may be exacerbated by adverse changes in construction costs, disruptions in global supply chains affecting the availability or pricing of construction materials, including those arising from geopolitical conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and tightening financing conditions or reduced investor appetite for real estate development projects. In addition, developers involved in real estate project financing transactions are often relatively small and highly leveraged, which may increase the risk of project delays, financial distress or default. Deterioration in real estate market conditions or financing environments may therefore adversely affect the performance of such projects and the ability of borrowers to repay their obligations.
We have designated real estate project financing exposure as a key risk management area and apply a unified risk management approach across relevant subsidiaries by establishing an annual Group-wide aggregate limit and allocating the applicable limits to each relevant subsidiary. We also evaluate the soundness of underlying real estate development projects in accordance with the enhanced feasibility evaluation criteria set forth by the Financial Supervisory Service in 2024. Under these criteria, projects are classified into four categories of soundness: normal, watch, caution and insolvency concern. We monitor projects classified as caution or warning more closely and, where appropriate, establish allowances for credit losses or recognize charge-offs. As of December 31, 2025, real estate project financing extended to real estate development projects classified as caution or insolvency concern represented 3.41% of our total real estate project financing exposure.
Lenders in project financing transactions typically receive various forms of credit support, including completion guarantees from general contractors for the completion of development projects and payment guarantees for loans raised by special purpose financing vehicles established by developers. However, there can be no assurance that such guarantees will be sufficient to cover potential losses if a project fails, the guarantor experiences financial difficulties or the guarantor is otherwise unable to fulfill its obligations.
Although we intend to continue our Group-wide efforts to prudently manage our real estate project financing exposure, if defaults under our existing real estate development project loans were to increase significantly, the quality of such loans were to deteriorate, or the relevant guarantors were unable to honor their guarantee obligations in an amount sufficient to cover the relevant financing, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Of Shinhan Bank’s ten largest corporate exposures as of December 31, 2025, two were companies for which Shinhan Bank was a main creditor bank. All of the ten companies are members of the “main debtor groups” as identified by the Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, which largely comprise the largest Korean commercial conglomerates known as “chaebols.” As of such date, the total amount of Shinhan Bank’s exposures to the ten companies was W43,797 billion, or 15.8%, of its total exposures. As of that date, Shinhan Bank’s single largest outstanding exposure to a main debtor group amounted to W7,038 billion, or 2.5%, of its total exposures. If the credit quality of Shinhan Bank’s exposure to large corporations, including those included in the main debtor groups, deteriorates, Shinhan Bank may be required to record additional loan loss provisions in respect of loans and impairment losses in respect of securities, which would adversely affect its financial condition, results of operations and capital adequacy. No assurance can be given that the allowances established by Shinhan Bank against these exposures will be sufficient to cover all future losses arising from such exposures, especially in the case of a prolonged or renewed economic downturn.
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Some of the main debtor groups to which Shinhan Bank has credit exposure are, or may become in the future, subject to restructuring programs or are otherwise making significant efforts to improve their financial conditions, such as by obtaining intragroup loans and entering into agreements to further improve their capital structures. No assurance can be given that there will not be future restructuring with Shinhan Bank’s major corporate customers or that such restructuring will not result in significant losses to Shinhan Bank with less than full recovery. In addition, if the Government decides to pursue an aggressive restructuring policy with respect to distressed companies, Korean commercial banks, including Shinhan Bank, may face a temporary rise in delinquencies and intensified pressure for additional provisioning. Furthermore, bankruptcies or financial difficulties of large corporations, including chaebol groups, may lead to delinquencies in and/or impairment of Shinhan Bank’s loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises that supply parts or labor to such corporations. If Shinhan Bank experiences future losses from its exposure to large corporations, including chaebol groups, such losses may have a material adverse effect on Shinhan Bank’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
In recent years, consumer debt, including borrowings by households and small unincorporated businesses, has continued to increase in Korea. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank’s retail loan portfolio (before allowance for credit losses and deferred loan origination costs and fees and excluding credit card loans) was W161,157 billion, representing 39.8% of its total loans outstanding. As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, Shinhan Bank’s non-performing retail loans (excluding credit card loans) were W377 billion, W446 billion and W474 billion, respectively, representing non-performing loan ratios (net of charge-offs and loan sales) of 0.27%, 0.29% and 0.29%, respectively.
Our large exposure to consumer debt means that we are exposed to changes in economic conditions affecting Korean consumers. For example, a rise in unemployment, an increase in interest rates or a decline in housing prices in Korea could adversely affect the ability of consumers to make payments and increase the likelihood of potential defaults. Economic difficulties in Korea that hurt consumers could result in increasing delinquencies and a decline in the asset quality of our household loan portfolio, which may in turn require us to record higher provisions for credit losses and charge-offs and may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In the normal course of banking activities, primarily through Shinhan Bank, we make various commitments and incur certain contingent liabilities in the form of guarantees and acceptances. Financial guarantees, which are contracts that require us to make specified payments to reimburse the beneficiary of the guarantee for a loss such beneficiary incurs if the debtor in respect of which the guarantee is given fails to make payments when due in accordance with the terms of the relevant debt instrument, are recognized initially at fair value, and such initial fair value is amortized over the life of the financial guarantee. Other guarantees are recorded as off-balance sheet items in the notes to our financial statements, while those guarantees that we have confirmed to make payments are recorded on our statements of financial position. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank had aggregate guarantees and acceptances of W26,062 billion, for which it provided allowances for losses of W107.3 billion. If there is significant deterioration in the quality of assets underlying our guarantees and acceptances, our allowances may be insufficient to cover actual losses resulting from these liabilities.
As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, Shinhan Card’s income-generating assets, including credit card receivables, installment financing and leases, amounted to W39,388 billion, W40,199 billion and
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W39,206 billion, respectively. Our large exposure to credit card and other consumer debt means that we are exposed to changes in economic conditions affecting Korean consumers in general. For example, a rise in unemployment, an increase in interest rates, a downturn in the real estate market, or a general contraction or other difficulties affecting the Korean economy may lead Korean consumers to reduce spending (a substantial portion of which is conducted through credit card transactions), which in turn would lead to reduced earnings for our credit card business, as well as to higher default rates on credit card loans, deterioration in the quality of our credit card assets and increased difficulties in recovering written-off assets from which a significant portion of Shinhan Card’s revenues is derived. Any of these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Increasing consumer and corporate spending and borrowing on our card products and growth in card lending balances depend in part on Shinhan Card’s ability to develop and issue new or enhanced card and prepaid products and increase revenue from such products and services, as well as the level of discretionary income among our cardholders, which is largely affected by macroeconomic factors beyond our control. In addition, credit card companies in Korea, including Shinhan Card, may not be able to enjoy any rapid growth in revenue over the long term due to the maturing nature of the credit card industry, in part due to oversaturation of credit card service providers. Shinhan Card’s future earnings and profitability also depend on its ability to attract new cardholders, reduce cardholder attrition, increase merchant coverage and capture a greater share of customers’ total credit card spending in Korea and abroad. Shinhan Card may not be able to manage and expand cardholder benefits in a cost-effective manner or contain the growth of marketing, promotion and reward expenses to a commercially reasonable level. If Shinhan Card is not successful in increasing customer spending, maintaining or expanding its market position and asset growth, or containing costs or cardholder benefits, its financial condition, results of operations and cash flow could be negatively affected.
In addition, Government policies and regulations aimed at protecting small- and medium-sized enterprises, such as the reduction of fees chargeable to small- and medium-sized merchants, may have a material adverse effect on our revenues from Shinhan Card. Pursuant to the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, the rates of fees chargeable to merchants are subject to review and revision every six years. Under the most recent adjustments made in early 2025, merchants with annual sales of less than W300 million are subject to merchant fees chargeable with respect to credit cards of 0.4%, merchants with annual sales of more than W300 million and up to W500 million are subject to merchant fees chargeable with respect to credit cards of 1.0%, merchants with annual sales of more than W500 million and up to W1 billion are subject to merchant fees chargeable with respect to credit cards of 1.15%, and merchants with annual sales of more than W1 billion and up to W3 billion are subject to merchant fees chargeable with respect to credit cards of 1.45%. Additionally, in 2018, the Seoul metropolitan and other regional governments launched “Zero Pay”, a government sponsored QR code-based mobile payment platform charging little to no transaction fees (up to 0.5% depending on volume of sales) and aimed at reducing transaction fees small businesses pay to credit card companies. The Financial Services Commission also announced its plans to establish an open banking system that would provide fintech firms access to banks’ payment systems at lower costs. Additional amendments to regulations requiring further downward adjustments on merchant fees or Government policies aimed at reducing transaction fees paid to credit card companies may be implemented in the future, placing further downward pressure on the results of operations for credit card companies, including Shinhan Card.
Over the years, the Government has implemented various measures affecting the credit card industry, including restrictions on marketing practices and interest rates, as well as policies encouraging the use of check cards over credit cards. These measures have limited revenue growth opportunities for credit card companies by constraining pricing, marketing and interest income and may continue to adversely affect the revenues and results of operations of credit card companies, including Shinhan Card. In 2018, the Financial Services Commission introduced additional guidelines aimed at curtailing excessive marketing expenses for credit card companies, for example by limiting the benefits credit card companies may offer to large corporate credit card clients or merchants as well as requiring a reasonable level of annual service fees for credit card holders. Although these and similar Government initiatives and measures may result in a reduction in marketing expenses, which in turn
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may help reduce the overall expenses of our credit card business, there is no assurance that Government measures will achieve their intended results, and such measures may result in a decline in the volume of credit card transactions or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We operate our insurance business through Shinhan Life Insurance, our life insurance subsidiary, and Shinhan EZ General Insurance, Ltd., our non-life insurance subsidiary that we acquired in June 2022. With respect to our insurance operations, we establish and carry, as a liability, policy reserves based on the greater of statutory reserves and actuarial estimates of how much we will need to pay for future benefits and claims on our in-force life insurance and non-life insurance policies. The profitability of our insurance operations depends significantly upon the extent to which our actual claims results are consistent with the assumptions used in setting the prices for our insurance products and establishing the liabilities in our financial statements for our obligations for future insurance policy benefits and claims. We establish the liabilities for obligations for future insurance policy benefits and claims based on the expected payout of benefits, calculated through the use of assumptions for investment returns, mortality, morbidity, expenses and persistency, as well as certain macroeconomic factors such as inflation. We also use methods to analyze loss trends with respect to certain risk assumptions relating to natural disasters. These assumptions are based on our previous experience and published data from third party industry sources, as well as judgments made by our management. These assumptions and estimates may deviate from our actual experience due to various factors that are beyond our control, including as a result of unexpected changes in the scope of coverage by the Korean national health insurance program and advancements in health care that result in increased life expectancy and early detection of diseases, as well as re-interpretations of our insurance policy terms by Korean regulators or courts. In addition, the occurrence of unexpected catastrophic events in Korea, including pandemics or natural or man-made disasters, may result in claims that significantly exceed our expectations. As a result, we cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that we will pay for, or the timing of payment of, actual benefits and claims or whether the assets supporting the insurance policy liabilities will grow to the level we assume prior to payment of benefits or claims. These amounts may vary from the estimated amounts, particularly when those payments may not occur until well into the future.
We evaluate the adequacy of our insurance policy liabilities periodically based on changes in the assumptions used to determine our best estimates of claims, expenses, persistency rates and interest rates, as well as based on our actual policy benefits and claims results. To the extent that trends in actual claims results are less favorable than our underlying assumptions used in establishing these liabilities, and our total insurance policy liabilities are considered to be inadequate to meet our future contractual obligations as and when they arise, we could be required to increase our liabilities. We record increases in our insurance policy liabilities as expenses in the period in which the liabilities are established or re-evaluated. If actual benefits and claims amounts exceed the amounts that we have reserved, or we increase the amount of insurance policy liabilities due to a change in our underlying assumptions, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Pursuant to the solvency requirements implemented by the Financial Services Commission, insurance companies in Korea are required to maintain a statutory ratio of available capital to required capital of not less than 100% on a consolidated basis. In addition, under the Regulation on Supervision of Insurance Business, a K-ICS ratio of at least 130% (which was lowered from 150% in June 2025) currently applies to certain regulatory
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matters, including early redemption conditions for subordinated obligations and certain licensing requirements. We believe that a K-ICS ratio of not less than 130% is generally considered standard in the Korean insurance industry. Furthermore, in January 2026, the Financial Services Commission announced new regulations to become effective on January 1, 2027, which would require the ratio of core capital to required capital to be maintained at 50% or higher. Solvency requirements require insurance companies to hold adequate capital to cover their exposures to life/long-term non-life insurance risk, general non-life insurance risk, market risk, credit risk and operational risk by reflecting such risks in their calculation of required capital. Shinhan Life Insurance and Shinhan EZ General Insurance, Ltd. had solvency ratios of 205.98% and 231.20%, respectively, as of December 31, 2025.
Since the introduction of K-ICS by the Financial Supervisory Service in January 2023, insurance contract liabilities are measured based on market value, rather than book value, at the time of the computation of available capital. K-ICS has also introduced new risk subcategories, including those related to termination, business expenses, longevity, catastrophes and asset concentration, to be considered at the time of the computation of required capital. These changes, among others, have required a number of insurance companies in Korea with a large portfolio of high guaranteed rate of return products to obtain additional capital to meet their solvency requirements. However, the Financial Supervisory Service has allowed for a gradual deduction from available capital and a gradual recognition of risks in relation to required capital, for up to ten years (until 2032). In order to ease the burden on insurance companies, corrective measures will be withheld for up to five years (until 2027) even if the solvency ratio under K-ICS is less than 100%, if the risk-based capital adequacy ratio exceeds 100%. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Insurance Companies — Capital Adequacy.”
There is no guarantee that our insurance subsidiaries will not be required to raise additional capital to sustain their solvency ratio above the required level in connection with the implementation of K-ICS. Any material deterioration in the solvency ratio of our insurance subsidiaries, as a result of the implementation of K-ICS or otherwise, could change their customers’ or business counterparties’ perception of their financial health, which in turn could adversely affect their business and profitability. Furthermore, if they grow rapidly or if their asset quality deteriorates in the future, our insurance subsidiaries may be required to raise additional capital, which we may need to provide in whole or in part, to meet their capital adequacy requirements. If we or our insurance subsidiaries are not able to raise any required additional capital, we may be forced to reduce the growth or scale of our insurance operations.
We, principally through Shinhan Life Insurance, offer fixed rate insurance policies such as savings insurance products that include guaranteed benefits. These products expose us to the risk that changes in interest rates will reduce our investment margin, which is the difference between the amounts that we are required to pay under the contracts and the rate of return we earn on investments intended to support obligations under such contracts. During periods of declining or low interest rates, we may have to invest insurance cash flows and reinvest the cash flows we received as interest or return of principal on our investments in lower yielding instruments. In addition, during periods of declining or low interest rates, fixed rate policies may become relatively more attractive investments to consumers. This could result in an increase in payments we are required to pay on such products and higher percentage of such products remaining in-force from year to year, during a period when our new investments carry lower returns. During periods of sustained lower interest rates, our reserves for policy liabilities may not be sufficient to meet future policy obligations and may need to be strengthened.
Significantly lower or negative investment margins may cause us to accelerate amortization, thereby reducing net income in the affected reporting period and potentially negatively affecting our credit instrument
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covenants or rating agency assessment of our financial condition. In addition, under IFRS 17, which became effective beginning 2023, insurance contract liabilities are calculated in terms of their market value (representing the present value of future insurance cash flows with a provision for the associated risks) instead of their book value. As the applicable discount rate for such calculation reflects current interest rates rather than book yields, we may have a significantly higher debt balance under IFRS 17 due to higher insurance liabilities, thereby resulting in a decrease in our risk-based capital.
We enter into and maintain large investment positions in fixed income products, primarily through our treasury and investment operations. These activities are described in “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Our Principal Activities — Other Banking Services.” We also maintain smaller trading positions, including equity and equity-linked securities and derivative financial instruments as part of our operations. Taking these positions entails making assessments about financial market conditions and trends. The revenues and profits we derive from many of these positions and related transactions are dependent on market prices, which are beyond our control. When we own assets such as debt or equity securities, a decline in market prices, for example, as a result of fluctuating market interest rates or stock market indices, can expose us to trading and valuation losses. If market prices move in a way that we have not anticipated, we may experience losses. In addition, when markets are volatile and subject to rapid changes in price directions, actual market prices may be contrary to our assessments and lead to lower than anticipated revenues or profits, or even result in losses, with respect to the related transactions and positions.
We, through our investment and other subsidiaries, currently provide, and seek to expand the offerings of, brokerage and other commission- and fee-based services. Downturns in stock markets typically lead to a decline in the volume of transactions that we execute for our customers and, therefore, a decline in our non-interest revenues. In addition, because the fees that we charge for managing our clients’ portfolios are often based on the size of the assets under management, a downturn in the stock market, which has the effect of reducing the value of our clients’ portfolios or increasing the amount of withdrawals, also generally reduces the fees we receive from our securities brokerage, trust account management and other asset management services. Even in the absence of a market downturn, below-market performance by our securities, trust account or asset management subsidiaries may result in increased withdrawals and reduced cash inflows, which would reduce the revenue we receive from these businesses. In addition, protracted declines in asset prices can reduce liquidity for assets held by us and lead to material losses if we cannot close out or otherwise dispose of deteriorating positions in a timely way or at commercially reasonable prices.
In July 2019, we made a capital contribution of W660 billion to Shinhan Securities by subscribing for new shares of its common stock, enabling Shinhan Securities to satisfy the W4 trillion capitalization requirement required to apply for designation as a mega-investment bank (“mega-IB”) by the Financial Services Commission. In December 2025, the Financial Services Commission designated Shinhan Securities as a mega-IB, allowing it to issue debt securities of up to 200% of its capitalization amount to fund corporate lending and other businesses. Although our capital contribution was made in line with our strategic initiative to strengthen our non-banking businesses and capital market activities, we cannot guarantee that such initiatives will be successful. In addition, we cannot assure that our capital contribution, the designation of Shinhan Securities as a mega-IB or any resulting developments will not have a negative impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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We continue to seek and evaluate opportunities for diversification and growth of our business, including through strategic acquisitions, and have experienced substantial growth through several mergers and acquisitions. Some of our notable strategic acquisitions in recent years include the following:
In February 2019, we acquired a 59.15% interest in Orange Life Insurance, the former Korean unit of ING Life Insurance, as part of our efforts to diversify and enhance our non-banking businesses. In January 2020, we acquired the remaining interests in Orange Life Insurance, which was subsequently merged with and into Shinhan Life Insurance in July 2021.
In September 2020, we acquired a 96.8% interest in Neoplux Co., Ltd. (“Neoplux”), a venture capital company formerly under the Doosan Group. We acquired the remaining interest in Neoplux in December 2020 and changed the company’s legal name to Shinhan Venture Investment Co., Ltd. in January 2021.
In June 2022, we acquired a 94.54% interest in BNP Paribas Cardif General Insurance, which then changed its name to Shinhan EZ General Insurance, Ltd. Following a paid-in capital increase in November 2022, our ownership interest in Shinhan EZ General Insurance, Ltd. has decreased to 85.1%.
We expect to integrate these and any future acquisitions with our existing businesses and generate synergies and expand our business capabilities. However, we may encounter significant risks, including difficulty in successfully integrating acquired businesses, increased expenses such as working capital requirements or capital expenditures, regulatory risks and financial risks such as potential liabilities of the businesses we acquire. In addition, evaluating potential acquisitions may require us to incur significant expenses or divert management’s attention away from other business issues. As such, no assurance can be given that any completed or contemplated acquisitions will not have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations that outweigh any potential benefits.
In addition, as part of our business strategy, we have been seeking opportunities to expand our operations in markets outside Korea, including through the opening of additional overseas branches and offices as well as strategic acquisitions and investments. However, the expansion of our operations abroad may be difficult due to the presence of established competitors in the relevant local markets. Moreover, overseas expansion and the management of international operations may require significant financial expenditures as well as management attention, and will subject us to the challenges of operating in an unfamiliar business environment with different regulatory, legal and taxation systems and political, economic and social risks. Accordingly, there is no guarantee that we will be successful in executing our overseas expansion strategy. The failure of our overseas expansion strategy could have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We are a financial holding company with minimal operating assets other than the shares of our subsidiaries. Our primary source of funding and cash flow is dividends from, or disposition of our interests in, our subsidiaries or our cash resources, most of which are currently the result of borrowings. Since our principal assets are the outstanding capital stock of our subsidiaries, our ability to pay dividends on our common and preferred shares and service debt will mainly depend on the dividend payments from our subsidiaries.
Companies in Korea are subject to certain legal and regulatory restrictions with respect to payment of dividends. For example, under the Korean Commercial Code, dividends may only be paid out of distributable income, which is calculated by subtracting the aggregate amount of a company’s paid-in capital and certain
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mandatory legal reserves from its net assets, in each case as of the end of the prior fiscal year. In addition, financial companies in Korea, including banks, credit card companies, securities companies and life insurers, such as our subsidiaries, must meet minimum capital requirements and capital adequacy ratios applicable to their respective industries before dividends can be paid. For example, under the Banking Act of 1950, as amended (the “Banking Act”), a bank is required to credit at least 10% of its net profit to a legal reserve each time it pays dividends on distributable income until such time when this reserve equals the amount of its total paid-in capital, and under the Banking Act, the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and the regulations promulgated by the Financial Services Commission, if a bank or a credit card company fails to meet its required capital adequacy ratio or is otherwise subject to the management improvement measures imposed by the Financial Services Commission, then the Financial Services Commission may restrict the declaration and payment of dividend by such a bank or credit card company. In addition, if our or our subsidiaries’ capital adequacy ratios fall below the required levels, our ability to pay dividends may be restricted by the Financial Services Commission.
We are one of the largest and most influential financial institutions in Korea by virtue of our financial track records, market share and the size of our operations and customer base. Our reputation is critical to maintaining our relationships with clients, investors, regulators and the general public. Our reputation can be damaged in numerous ways, including, among others, employee misconduct (including embezzlement), cyber or other security breaches, litigation, compliance failures, corporate governance issues, failure to properly address potential conflicts of interest, the activities of customers and counterparties over which we have limited or no control, prolonged or exacting scrutiny from regulatory authorities and customers regarding our trade practices, or uncertainty about our financial soundness and our reliability. If we are unable to prevent or properly address these concerns, we could lose our existing or prospective customers and investors, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. For details of the claims, disputes, legal proceedings and government investigations we are subject to, see “Item 8.A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information — Legal Proceedings.”
In the course of our operations, we must manage a number of risks, such as credit risks, market risks and operational risks. We seek to monitor and manage our risk exposures through a comprehensive risk management platform, encompassing centralized risk management organization and credit evaluation systems, reporting and monitoring systems, early warning systems and other risk management infrastructure, using a variety of risk management strategies and techniques. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Risk Management.” Although we devote significant resources to developing and improving our risk management policies and procedures and expect to continue to do so in the future, our risk management practices may not be fully effective at all times in eliminating or mitigating risk exposures in all market environments or against all types of risk, including risks that are unidentified or unanticipated. For example, in the past, a limited number of our and our subsidiaries’ personnel engaged in embezzlement of substantial amounts for an extended period of time before such activities were detected by our risk management systems. In response to these incidents, we have strengthened our internal control procedures by, among others, implementing a real-time monitoring system, but there is no assurance that such measures will be sufficient to prevent similar employee misconducts in the future. Management of credit, market and operational risk requires, among others, policies and procedures to record properly and verify a large number of transactions and events, and we cannot assure you that these policies and procedures will prove to be fully effective at all times against all the risks we face.
Economic difficulties in Korea or increases in corporate reorganizations and bankruptcies could result in layoffs and higher unemployment. Such developments could lead to social unrest and substantially increase government expenditures for unemployment compensation and other costs for social programs. According to
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statistics from the Korea National Statistical Office, the unemployment rate increased from 2.7% in 2023 to 2.8% in each of 2024 and 2025. Increases in unemployment and any resulting labor unrest in the future could adversely affect our operations, as well as the operations of many of our customers and their ability to repay their loans, and could adversely affect the financial condition of Korean companies in general, depressing the price of their securities. These developments would likely have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We rely on our information technology systems to seamlessly provide our wide-ranging financial services as well as for our daily operations, including billing, online and offline financial transactions settlement and record keeping. We continually upgrade, and make substantial expenditures to upgrade, our group-wide information technology system, including in relation to customer data-sharing and other customer relations management systems, particularly in light of the heightened cybersecurity risks from advances in technology. Despite our best efforts, however, we may experience disruptions, delays, cyber or other security breaches or other difficulties relating to our information technology systems, and may not timely upgrade our systems as currently planned. Any of these developments may have an adverse effect on our business, particularly if our customers perceive us to not be providing the best-in-class cybersecurity systems and failing to timely and fully rectify any glitches in our information technology systems.
Our activities have been, and will continue to be, subject to an increasing risk of cyber-attacks, the nature of which is continually evolving. Cybersecurity risks include unauthorized access, through system-wide “hacking” or other means, to privileged and sensitive customer information, including passwords and account information, and illegal use thereof. Cybersecurity risk is generally on the rise as a growing number of our customers increasingly rely on our Internet- and mobile phone-based banking services for various types of financial transactions. While we vigilantly protect customer data through encryption and other security programs and have made substantial investments to build and upgrade our systems and defenses to address the growing threats from cyber-attacks, there is no assurance that such data will not be subject to future security breaches. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will not experience a leakage of customer information or other security breaches as a result of illegal activities by our employees, outside consultants or hackers, or otherwise. Although we have not experienced any material security breaches or any similar large scale leakage of customer information recently, given the unpredictable and continually evolving nature of cybersecurity threats due to advances in technology or other reasons, there is no assurance that, notwithstanding our continual efforts to maintain robust cybersecurity systems, we will not be vulnerable to major cybersecurity attacks in the future.
In recent years, regulatory authorities in Korea and globally have been placing greater emphasis on data protection by financial service providers, and cybersecurity and ensuring the confidentiality of customers’ information have become more important than ever for financial institutions. For example, under the Personal Information Protection Act, financial institutions, as personal information managers, may not collect, store, maintain, utilize or provide resident registration numbers of their customers, unless other laws or regulations specifically request or permit the management of resident registration numbers. Moreover, under the Use and Protection of Credit Information Act, a financial institution has a higher duty to protect credit information, including the information necessary to assess the creditworthiness of the counterparty to financial transactions and other commercial transactions. Such regulations have considerably restricted a financial institution’s ability to transfer or provide the information to its affiliates or holding company, and quintuple damages can be imposed on a financial institution for a leakage of such information. In addition, under the Electronic Financial Transaction Act, a financial institution is primarily responsible for compensating its customers harmed by a breach in the financial institution’s cybersecurity, even if the breach is not directly attributable to the financial institution. We maintain an integrated system that closely monitors customer information to ensure compliance with data protection laws and regulations as well as our internal policies. See “Item 16K. Cybersecurity.”
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If a cybersecurity or other security breach were to happen with respect to us or any of our subsidiaries, it may result in litigation by affected customers or other third parties (including class actions), compensation for any losses suffered by victims of cybersecurity attacks, reputational damage, loss of customers, heightened regulatory scrutiny and related sanctions, imposition of more stringent compliance requirements with present and future regulatory restrictions, and other costs related to damage control, reparation and reinforcement of information security systems, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In recent years, financial scams known as voice phishing have been on the rise in Korea. While voice phishing takes many forms and has evolved over time in terms of sophistication, it typically involves the scammer making a phone call to a victim under false pretenses (for example, the scammer pretending to be a member of law enforcement, an employee of a financial institution or even an abductor of the victim’s child) and luring the victim to transfer money to an untraceable account controlled by the scammer. More recently, voice phishing has increasingly taken the form of the scammer “hacking” or otherwise wrongfully obtaining personal financial information of the victim (such as credit card numbers or Internet banking login information) over the telephone or other means and illegally using such information to obtain credit card loans or cash advances through automated telephone banking or Internet banking.
In response to the growing incidents of voice phishing, regulatory authorities have undertaken a number of steps to protect consumers against voice phishing and other financial scams. Also in response to the heightened risk, Shinhan Card and our other subsidiaries have established fraud detection systems that identify questionable transactions based on deviations from a customer’s conventional transaction patterns. There is no assurance, however, that these regulatory activities and fraud detection systems will have the desired effect of substantially eradicating or even containing the incidents of voice phishing or other financial scams. Also given continual advances in technology and the increasing sophistication of the financial scammers, there is no assurance that we will be able to prevent future financial scams or that the frequency and scope of financial scams will not increase. If financial scams involving us and our subsidiaries were to continue or to become more prevalent, it may result in compensation for any losses suffered by victims thereof, reputational damage, loss of customers, heightened regulatory scrutiny and related sanctions, compliance with the present and future regulatory restrictions, and other costs related to damage control, reparation and reinforcement of our preventive measures, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We manage a number of money trust accounts through Shinhan Bank, our banking subsidiary. Under Korean law, trust account assets of a bank are required to be segregated from the assets of that bank’s general banking operations. Those assets are not available to satisfy the claims of a bank’s depositors or other creditors of its general banking operations. For most of the trust accounts that we manage, we guarantee the principal amount of the investor’s investment.
If, at any time, the income from our guaranteed trust accounts is not sufficient to pay any guaranteed amount, we will have to cover the shortfall first from the special reserves maintained in these trust accounts, then from our fees from such trust accounts and finally from funds transferred from our general banking operations. As of December 31, 2025, we had W108 billion of special reserves in respect of trust accounts for which we provided guarantees of principal. There was no transfer from general banking operations to cover deficiencies in guaranteed trust accounts in 2023, 2024 and 2025. However, we may be required to make transfers from our general banking operations to cover shortfalls, if any, in our guaranteed trust accounts in the future. Such transfers may adversely impact our results of operations.
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As a financial services provider, we are subject to a number of regulations that are designed to maintain the safety and soundness of Korea’s financial system, to ensure our compliance with economic and other obligations and to limit our risk exposure. These regulations may limit our activities, and changes in these regulations may increase our costs of doing business. Regulatory agencies frequently review regulations relating to our business and implement new regulatory measures, including by increasing the minimum required provisioning levels or capital adequacy ratios applicable to us and/or our subsidiaries from time to time. We expect the regulatory environment in which we operate to continue to change. Changes in regulations applicable to us, our subsidiaries and our or their business or changes in the implementation or interpretation of such regulations could affect us and our subsidiaries in unpredictable ways and could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
For example, the Financial Consumer Protection Act (the “FCP Act”), which became effective in March 2021, unifies the systems for the protection of consumers of financial products, which had been dispersed across various laws, while tightening the existing consumer protection systems to strengthen the rights afforded to consumers of financial products. Banks under the Banking Act are financial instrument distributors subject to the FCP Act, and deposit and loan products under the Banking Act are financial instruments subject to the FCP Act. Under the FCP Act, we, as a financial instrument distributor, are subject to heightened investor protection measures, including stricter distribution guidelines, improved financial dispute resolution procedures, increased liability for customer losses and newly imposed penalty surcharges. Following the enactment of the FCP Act, the financial regulators have published subordinate regulations to such Act, including the Enforcement Decree, Supervisory Regulations and Enforcement Rules to the Supervisory Regulations governing consumer protection within the financial industry. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks — The Financial Consumer Protection Act.”
We and our subsidiaries have been proactively taking actions necessary to comply with the FCP Act, including the examination of our financial products and training of our officers and employees. However, no assurance can be given that the implementation of the FCP Act will not adversely affect us our subsidiaries’ businesses or lead to a material adverse effect on their reputation, business, results of operations or financial condition. We may also become subject to other restrictions on our operations as a result of future changes in laws and regulations, including more stringent liquidity and capital requirements under Basel III, which have been adopted in phases in Korea in consideration of, among others, the pace and scope of international adoption of such requirements. Any of these regulatory developments may have a material adverse effect on our ability to expand operations or adequately manage our risks and liabilities. For further details on the principal laws and regulations applicable to us as a holding company and our principal subsidiaries, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation.”
In addition, violations of law and regulations could expose us to significant liabilities and sanctions. For example, the Financial Supervisory Service conducts periodic audits on us and, from time to time, we have received institutional warnings from the Financial Supervisory Service. If the Financial Supervisory Service determines as part of such audit or otherwise that our financial condition, including the financial conditions of our operating subsidiaries, is unsound or that we have violated applicable law or regulations, including Financial Services Commission orders, the Financial Supervisory Service may ask the Financial Services Commission to order, among other things, cancellations of authorization, permission or registration of the business, suspensions of a part or all of the business, closures of branch offices, recommendations for dismissal of officers or suspensions of officers from performing their duties, or may order, among other things, institutional warnings, institutional cautions, reprimanding warnings on officers, cautionary warnings on officers or cautions on officers. From time to time, our subsidiaries, including Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Card, have been subject to investigations and/or sanctions from the Financial Supervisory Service. See “Item 8.A. Consolidated Statements
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and Other Financial Information — Legal Proceedings.” If any such measures are imposed on us or our subsidiaries as a result of unsound financial condition or failure to comply with minimum capital adequacy requirements or for other reasons, it will have a material adverse effect on us and our subsidiaries’ business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Government has encouraged and may in the future encourage targeted lending to certain types of enterprises and individuals in furtherance of government initiatives. The Government, through its regulatory bodies such as the Financial Services Commission, from time to time announces lending policies to encourage Korean banks and financial institutions, including us and our subsidiaries, to lend to particular industries, business groups or customer segments, and, in certain cases, has provided lower cost funding through loans made by the Bank of Korea for further lending to specific customer segments.
For example, the Government has taken and is taking various initiatives to support small- and medium-sized enterprises and low-income individuals. As part of these initiatives, the Financial Supervisory Service has encouraged banks, over the years, to increase lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises in order to ease the financial burden on such enterprises during times of deteriorating economic conditions. The financial regulators have also adopted several measures designed to improve certain lending practices of the commercial banks which practices were perceived as having an unduly prohibitive effect on extending loans to small- to medium-sized enterprises. Our participation in such Government initiatives may lead us to extend credit to small- and medium-sized enterprises that we would not otherwise extend, or offer terms on such credit that we would not otherwise offer, in the absence of such initiatives. There is no guarantee that the financial condition and liquidity of the small- and medium-sized enterprises benefiting from such initiatives will improve sufficiently for them to service their debt on a timely basis or at all. Accordingly, an increase in our exposure to small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers resulting from such Government initiatives may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, amid concerns about increasing household debt, in 2020 the Financial Services Commission increased target proportions for fixed interest rate loans and installment principal repayment-based housing loans to 52.5% and 60.0%, respectively, which have remained the same through 2025. Fixed interest rate and installment principal repayment-based housing loans accounted for 62.5% and 66.5%, respectively, of the housing loans extended by Shinhan Bank as of December 31, 2025. Furthermore, in October 2025, the Government launched the New Leap Fund, a program under which unsecured debts in the aggregate amount of W50 million or less of low-income individuals and small businesses that have been delinquent for seven or more years may be purchased from financial institutions and subsequently extinguished or restructured based on an assessment of the borrowers’ repayment capacity. In November 2025, Korean banks, including Shinhan Bank, agreed to contribute an aggregate of W360 billion to such program, of which Shinhan Bank contributed W49.7 billion in December 2025. In 2025, the Government also advanced inclusive financial initiatives intended to improve access to low-income or financially vulnerable borrowers by encouraging banks to provide preferential lending to such borrowers. Our efforts to respond to such policy initiatives could require adjustments to our business practices that may increase the risk of defaults by our customers, which may in turn lead to an increase in our delinquency ratios and a deterioration in our asset quality.
We, on a voluntary basis, may factor the existence of the Government’s policies and encouragements into consideration in making loans although the ultimate decision whether to make loans remains with us and is made based on our internal credit approval procedures and risk management systems independently of Government policies. In addition, in tandem with providing additional loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises and low-income individuals, Shinhan Bank takes active steps to mitigate the potential adverse impacts from making bad loans to enterprises or individuals with high risk profiles as a result of such arrangement, such as by strengthening its loan review and post-lending monitoring processes. However, we cannot assure you that such
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arrangement did not or will not, or similar or other government-led initiatives in the future will not, result in a suboptimal allocation of our loan portfolio from a risk-reward perspective compared to what we would have allocated based on purely commercial decisions in the absence of such initiatives. The Government may implement similar or other initiatives in the future to spur the overall economy or encourage the growth of targeted industries or relief to certain segments of the population. Specifically, the Government may introduce lending-related initiatives or enforce existing ones in a heightened fashion during times when small- and medium-sized enterprises or low-income households on average are facing an increased level of financial distress or vulnerability due to an economic downturn, which makes lending to them in the volume and the manner suggested by the Government even riskier and less commercially desirable. Accordingly, such policy-driven lending may create enhanced difficulties for us in terms of risk management, deterioration of our asset quality and reduced earnings, compared to what would have been in the absence of such initiatives, which may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition to targeted lending, the Government may from time to time encourage or request the financial institutions in Korea, including us and our subsidiaries, to make investments in, or provide other forms of financial support to, certain institutions in furtherance of the Government’s policy objectives. In response thereto, we have made and will continue to make the ultimate decision on whether, how and to what extent we will comply with such encouragements or requests based on our internal risk assessment and in accordance with our risk management systems and policies. At the same time, as a leading member of the financial service industry in Korea and as a responsible corporate citizen, we will also fully give due consideration to such encouragements or requests of the Government, including in relation to the long-term benefits of furthering the policy objective of maintaining a sound financial system, even if complying with such requests may involve additional short-term costs and risks to a limited extent. No assurance can be made that any investments or financial support made in response to such policy objective or otherwise would not have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Real estate comprises the most significant asset for a substantial number of households in Korea, and movements in housing prices have generally had a significant impact on the domestic economy. Accordingly, regulating housing prices, either in terms of attempting to stem actual or anticipated excessive speculation during times of a suspected housing price bubble and spur the pricing and/or volume of real estate transactions during times of a depressed real estate market by way of tax subsidy, guidelines to lending institutions or otherwise, has been a key policy initiative for the Government.
The regulations on mortgage and home equity loans are susceptible to the changes in housing market cycles and have been revised from time to time. From 2017 to 2022, the Moon Jae In administration implemented a series of robust polices aimed at taming speculation and deterring the rise of housing prices. However, since the second half of 2022, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration implemented a series of policies to ease the demand-side regulations in the real estate market in order to prevent housing prices from crashing due to a recent hike in interest rates. Such measures included scaling back “regulated area” designations and relaxing high-priced home lending restrictions, among others. More recently, amid renewed housing market concerns, the Government tightened lending rules again and expanded regulated area designations, including by designating all of Seoul as regulated areas in October 2025 and imposing additional mortgage constraints. For a detailed description of the current regulations applicable to our mortgage and home equity loans, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks — Recent Regulations Relating to Retail Household Loans.”
The Financial Services Commission also introduced a debt service ratio and a modified debt-to-income ratio in order to modernize credit review methods and stabilize the management of household debt. The modified debt-to-income ratio, which has been implemented beginning January 31, 2018 reflects (i) both principal and
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interest payments on the applicable mortgage and home equity loan and existing mortgage and home equity loans and (ii) interest payments on other loans. Previously, debt-to-income ratio had only reflected (i) both principal and interest payments on the applicable mortgage and home equity loan and (ii) interest payments on existing mortgage and home equity loans. Debt service ratios reflect principal and interest payments on both the applicable loan and other loans and have been fully implemented since October 2018. The modified debt-to-income ratios are used as the primary reference index in the evaluation and approval process for mortgage and home equity loans, and debt service ratios are generally used as a supplementary reference index providing additional limits on mortgage and home equity loans. For example, debt service ratios applicable to a loan applicant with a total aggregate loan amount exceeding W100 million (including the applied but not yet extended loan amount) should not exceed 40% unless otherwise specified by the applicable regulations.
Meanwhile, in December 2023, as a measure to help prevent excessive household debt, the Financial Services Commission introduced the “stress debt service ratio” system for floating rate loans, mixed rate loans (loans where a fixed interest rate shifts to a floating interest rate after a certain period of time), and periodic loans (loans where a fixed interest rate is adjusted periodically). The “stress debt service ratio” system imposes a certain level of interest rate spread (a stress rate) when calculating the debt service ratio, taking into consideration the possibility that a borrower of a floating rate loan may be subject to an increased burden when repaying principal and interest if the interest rate were to increase during the loan period. The “stress debt service ratio” system was initially implemented in February 2024 and applied to mortgage loans in the banking sector. In September 2024, the scope of such system was expanded to apply to mortgage loans across all financial institutions as well as credit facilities in the banking sector, and in July 2025, it was further expanded to apply to mortgage loans, credit facilities with outstanding balances exceeding W100 million and other household loans across all financial institutions.
In June 2023, a special law aimed at protecting victims of lease fraud and ensuring housing stability came into effect. In connection therewith, the Financial Services Commission has decided to provide special treatment for victims of lease fraud, notwithstanding existing regulations on loan-to-value ratios, debt-to-income ratios and debt service ratios. Victims of lease fraud are eligible for a loan-to-value ratio of up to 80%, and in the case of mortgage loans obtained through auction winnings, the loan may be granted regardless of the regulatory status of the area, provided that the loan amount does not exceed W400 million. Furthermore, such victims may be exempt from the application of regulations on debt-to-income ratios and debt service ratios. On the other hand, the supervising authorities in Korea from time to time issue administrative instructions to Korean banks, which have the effect of regulating borrowers’ access to housing loans and, as such, demand for real estate properties. For example, the Financial Supervisory Service over time has issued administrative instructions to financial institutions (except in limited circumstances) to verify the borrower’s ability to repay based on proof of income prior to making a mortgage and home equity loan regardless of the type or value of the collateral or the location of the property, which has had the effect of practically barring the grant of any new mortgage and home equity loans to borrowers without verifiable income.
Pursuant to the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business, Shinhan Bank must maintain a loan to deposit ratio of no more than 100%. Since January 1, 2020, in calculating such loan to deposit ratio, retail loans and corporate loans have been subject to differential weighting, with retail loans weighted at 115% and corporate loans (excluding loans to SOHOs) weighted at 85%, thereby increasing the impact of retail loans and reducing the impact of corporate loans in calculating such ratio. In addition, effective April 1, 2026, the Financial Services Commission further lowered the risk weight applied to corporate loans to enterprises located in non-metropolitan areas (i.e., areas other than Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province), from 85% to 80%, while maintaining the risk weight for retail loans at 115%.
There is no assurance that Government measures will achieve their intended results. While any Government measure that is designed to stimulate growth in the real estate sector may result in the growth of, and improved profitability for, our retail lending business (particularly with respect to mortgage and home equity loans) at least for the short term, such measure could also result in unintended consequences, including potentially excessive
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speculation resulting in a “bubble” for the Korean real estate market and a subsequent market crash. In contrast, any Government measure changing the direction of its stimulus measures (for example, in order to preemptively curtail an actual or anticipated bubble in the real estate market) may result in a contraction of the real estate market, a decline in real estate prices and consequently, a reduction in the growth of, and profitability for, our retail and/or other lending businesses, as well as otherwise have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations or profitability. See “— Risks Relating to Our Banking Business — A decline in the value of the collateral securing our loans or our inability to fully realize the collateral value may adversely affect our credit portfolio.”
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) administers and enforces certain laws and regulations (“OFAC Sanctions”) that impose restrictions upon dealings with or related to certain countries, governments, entities and individuals that are the subject of OFAC Sanctions, including Iran and Russia, and maintains a list of specially designated nationals, whose assets are blocked and with whom U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing. OFAC Sanctions may apply to non-U.S. persons when there is a U.S. nexus. Non-U.S. persons can be held liable for violations of OFAC Sanctions on various legal grounds, such as causing U.S. persons to violate sanctions by routing transactions through the United States or the U.S. financial system. The European Union also enforces certain laws and regulations that impose restrictions upon nationals and entities of, and business conducted in, member states with respect to activities or transactions with certain countries, governments, entities and individuals that are the subject of such laws and regulations (“EU Sanctions”). The United Nations Security Council and other governmental authorities (including the United Kingdom and Korea) also impose similar sanctions.
The United States also maintains so-called “Secondary Sanctions” authorities that allow for the imposition of OFAC Sanctions on non-U.S. persons that engage in targeted transactions or activities with no connection to U.S. jurisdiction, including the provision of material support to parties or sectors subject to OFAC Sanctions. OFAC has targeted a growing number of entities and individuals under Secondary Sanctions authorities in recent years, particularly with respect to transactions with Iran, Russia and North Korea. Iran has also been designated as a “jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern” under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act, potentially subjecting banks dealing with Iranian financial institutions to increased regulatory scrutiny.
Violations of OFAC Sanctions via transactions with a U.S. jurisdictional nexus can result in substantial civil or criminal penalties. Even when no such jurisdictional nexus exists, parties that engage in activities targeted by Secondary Sanctions authorities may themselves become the target of OFAC Sanctions, including, among other things, the blocking of any property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which the sanctioned party has an interest, which would include a prohibition on transactions or dealings within U.S. jurisdiction involving securities of the sanctioned party. Financial institutions engaging in such targeted activities could in some instances be sanctioned by termination or restriction of their ability to maintain correspondent accounts in the United States. The imposition of sanctions against non-U.S. financial institutions pursuant to the Secondary Sanctions is discretionary and not automatic, requiring affirmative action by the U.S. administration.
In August 2016, the Government authorized Shinhan Bank to act as a settlement bank for Euro-denominated transactions between Korean and Iranian businesses. Prior to the granting of this permission, payments for business activities were settled only in Korean Won and we did not participate in such settlements. From August 2016 through August 2017, Shinhan Bank processed ten such transactions that resulted in a minimal amount of revenue. Since August 2017, Shinhan Bank has ceased processing any such transactions and has no intention to process any such transactions in the future. We are committed to engaging only in lawful activities and in complying with all relevant OFAC Sanctions and EU Sanctions but cannot guarantee that actions taken by our employees will not violate such sanctions.
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Shinhan Bank engages in certain limited lending activities in or related to Russia. In response to the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S., EU, UK, Korean and other governments have imposed economic sanctions on Russia, Belarus and certain regions of Ukraine. Such sanctions target, among other persons, a wide range of Russian financial institutions as sanctioned parties as well as the Russian Central Bank and certain other state and state-owned entities. Such sanctions also target specific sectors of the Russian economy, including the technology, defense and related materiel, construction, aerospace, energy and manufacturing and other sectors. In December 2023, Executive Order 14114 authorized OFAC to impose Secondary Sanctions on foreign financial institutions when they conduct or facilitate significant Russia-related transactions or provide certain Russia-related services, in particular involving Russia’s military-industrial base, including all persons blocked pursuant to OFAC Sanctions against Russia, such as sanctioned Russian banks, as well as persons operating in targeted sectors or supporting the sale, supply, or transfer of critical items to Russia. Russia-related activities may subject us to sanctions and potential legal or reputational risk.
While we have implemented policies and controls to comply with applicable sanctions, U.S. and other sanctions authorities are afforded wide discretion and there is no guarantee that our activities will not be found to have violated OFAC Sanctions, EU Sanctions or other applicable sanctions, or to have involved sanctionable activity under Secondary Sanctions. Sanctions and similar trade or restrictive measures, including those against Iran and Russia, continue to evolve rapidly, and future changes in law could also adversely affect us.
Our business and reputation could be adversely affected if the U.S. government were to determine that our past or ongoing activities, including those relating to Iran or Russia, violated OFAC Sanctions or involved sanctionable activity under Secondary Sanctions, or if any other government were to determine that such activities violated applicable sanctions of other countries. For example, any prohibition or conditions placed on our use of U.S. correspondent accounts could effectively eliminate our access to the U.S. financial system, including U.S. dollar clearing transactions, which would adversely affect our business, and any other sanctions or civil or criminal penalties imposed could also adversely affect our business. We intend to take all necessary measures to the extent possible to ensure that such prohibitions or conditions are not placed on us.
We utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technology in various ways to enhance efficiency, security and customer experience, such as by providing customer support and personalized financial advice based on user behavior, as well as aiding our employees in routine tasks. The regulatory framework for AI and machine learning technology is evolving and remains uncertain. It is possible that new laws and regulations will be adopted, or existing regulations, notably those relating to data and copyright protection, may be interpreted in new ways that would affect our operations and the way in which we use AI and machine learning technology, including with respect to our digital platforms provided to our customers. Further, the cost of complying with such laws or regulations could be significant and would increase our operating expenses, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are incorporated in Korea, where most of our assets are located and most of our income is generated. As a result, we are subject to political, economic, legal and regulatory risks specific to Korea, and our business, results of operations and financial condition are substantially dependent on developments relating to the Korean economy. As Korea’s economy is highly dependent on the health and direction of the global economy, and investors’ reactions to developments in one country can have adverse effects on the securities price of companies in other countries, we are also subject to the fluctuations of the global economy and financial markets.
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Factors that determine economic and business cycles in the Korean or global economy are for the most part beyond our control and inherently uncertain. In addition to discussions of recent developments regarding the global economic and market uncertainties and the risks relating to us as provided elsewhere in this section, factors that could have an adverse impact on Korea’s economy in the future include, among others:
declines in consumer confidence and a slowdown in consumer spending in the Korean or global economy, including as a result of higher levels of market interest rates;
political uncertainty or increasing strife among or within political parties in Korea following the declaration of martial law by former President Yoon Suk-yeol in December 2024 that led to his impeachment and subsequent removal in April 2025 and the election of Mr. Lee Jae-myung as President in June 2025;
the imposition of significant tariffs on Korea’s exports by any of its major export markets, including the United States, as well as any countermeasures or policy responses adopted by the Government that may entail significant costs;
hostilities or political or social tensions involving countries in the Middle East (including those resulting from the hostilities in the Middle East following the military conflicts between Iran and other countries, including the United States and Israel) and Northern Africa and any material disruption in the global supply of oil or sudden increase in the price of oil;
rising inflationary pressures leading to increases in the costs of goods and services and a decrease in purchasing power;
the occurrence of severe health epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in Korea or other parts of the world;
deterioration in economic or diplomatic relations between Korea and its trading partners or allies, including deterioration resulting from territorial or trade disputes or disagreements in foreign policy;
adverse conditions or developments in the economies of countries and regions that are important export markets for Korea, such as China, the United States, Europe and Japan, or in emerging market economies in Asia or elsewhere, including as a result of the deterioration of economic and trade relations among such countries (including escalations of tariffs) and increased uncertainties in the global financial markets and industry;
adverse changes or volatility in foreign currency reserve levels, commodity prices (including oil prices), exchange rates (including fluctuation of the U.S. Dollar, Euro or Japanese Yen exchange rates or revaluation of the Chinese Renminbi), interest rates, inflation rates or stock markets;
hostilities, political or social tensions involving Russia (including the Russia-Ukraine war and the ensuing sanctions against Russia) and the resulting adverse effects on the global supply of oil and other natural resources and the global financial markets;
increased sovereign default risks in select countries and the resulting adverse effects on the global financial markets;
a continuing rise in the level of household debt and increasing delinquencies and credit defaults by retail and small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers in Korea;
a deterioration in the financial condition or performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises and other companies in Korea;
investigations of large Korean business groups and their senior management for possible misconduct;
shortages of imported raw materials, natural resources, rare earth minerals or component parts, including semiconductors, due to disruptions in the global supply chain;
social and labor unrest;
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substantial changes in the market prices of Korean real estate;
a substantial decrease in tax revenues or a substantial increase in the Government’s expenditures for fiscal stimulus measures, unemployment compensation and other economic and social programs, which could lead to a national budget deficit as well as an increase in the Government’s debt;
financial problems or lack of progress in the restructuring of chaebols, other large troubled companies (including those in the construction, shipbuilding, shipping and real estate project financing sectors) and their suppliers or the financial sector;
loss of investor confidence arising from corporate accounting irregularities or corporate governance issues at certain chaebols;
increases in social expenditures to support an aging population in Korea or decreases in economic productivity due to the declining population size in Korea;
a continued decrease in the population and birthrates in Korea;
the economic impact of any pending or future free trade agreements or of any changes to existing free trade agreements;
geo-political uncertainty and the risk of further attacks by terrorist groups around the world;
natural or man-made disasters that have a significant adverse economic or other impact on Korea or its major trading partners;
increased reliance on exports to service foreign currency borrowings, which could cause friction with Korea’s trading partners;
an increase in the level of tensions or an outbreak of hostilities between North Korea and Korea or the United States; and
changes in financial regulations in Korea.
Any future deterioration of the Korean economy could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Relations between Korea and North Korea have been tense throughout Korea’s modern history. The level of tension between Korea and North Korea has fluctuated and may increase abruptly as a result of current and future events. In particular, there have been heightened security concerns in recent years stemming from North Korea’s nuclear weapon, ballistic missile and satellite programs as well as its hostile military actions against Korea.
North Korea renounced its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in January 2003 and has conducted six rounds of nuclear tests since October 2006, including claimed detonations of hydrogen bombs and warheads that can be mounted on ballistic missiles. Over the years, North Korea has continued to conduct a series of missile tests, including missiles launched from submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles that it claims can reach the United States mainland. North Korea has increased the frequency of such activities since the beginning of 2022, firing numerous ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, and in November 2023, successfully launched its first spy satellite. In response, the Government has repeatedly condemned North Korea’s provocations and flagrant violations of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Over the years, the United Nations Security Council has passed a series of resolutions condemning North Korea’s actions and significantly expanding the scope of sanctions applicable to North Korea, as did the United States and the European Union.
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North Korea’s economy also faces severe challenges, which may further aggravate social and political pressures within North Korea. Although bilateral summit meetings were held between Korea and North Korea in April, May and September 2018 and between North Korea and the United States in June 2018, February 2019 and June 2019, there can be no assurance that the level of tensions affecting the Korean peninsula will not escalate in the future. Any increase in tensions, which may occur, for example, if North Korea experiences a leadership crisis, high-level contacts between Korea and North Korea or between the United States and North Korea break down or military hostilities occur, could have a material adverse effect on the Korean economy and on our business, financial condition and results of operations and the market value of our common stock and ADSs.
Under the deposit agreement, holders of shares of our common stock may deposit those shares with the depositary bank’s custodian in Korea and obtain ADSs, and holders of ADSs may surrender ADSs to the depositary bank and receive shares of our common stock. However, under current Korean laws and regulations, the depositary bank is required to obtain our prior consent for the number of shares to be deposited in any given proposed deposit which exceeds the difference between (1) the aggregate number of shares deposited by us for the issuance of ADSs (including deposits in connection with the initial and all subsequent offerings of ADSs and stock dividends or other distributions related to these ADSs) and (2) the number of shares on deposit with the depositary bank at the time of such proposed deposit. We have consented to the deposit of outstanding shares of common stock as long as the number of ADSs outstanding at any time does not exceed 40,432,628. As a result, if you surrender ADSs and withdraw shares of common stock, you may not be able to deposit the shares again to obtain ADSs.
Under the Financial Holding Companies Act, any single shareholder (together with certain persons in a special relationship with such shareholder) may acquire beneficial ownership of up to 10% of the total issued and outstanding shares with voting rights of a bank holding company controlling national banks such as us. In addition, any person, except for a “non-financial business group company” (as defined below), may acquire in excess of 10% of the total voting shares issued and outstanding of a financial holding company which controls a national bank, provided that a prior approval from the Financial Services Commission is obtained each time such person’s aggregate holdings exceed 10% (or 15% in the case of a financial holding company controlling regional banks only), 25% or 33% of the total voting shares issued and outstanding of such financial holding company. The Government and the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation are exempt from this limit. Furthermore, certain non-financial business group companies (i.e., (i) any same shareholder group with aggregate net assets of all non-financial business companies belonging to such group of not less than 25% of the aggregate net assets of all members of such group; (ii) any same shareholder group with aggregate assets of all non-financial business companies belonging to such group of not less than W2 trillion; (iii) any mutual fund in which the same shareholder group identified in (i) or (ii) above owns more than 4% of the total shares issued and outstanding of such mutual fund; (iv) any private equity fund (a) where a person falling under any of items (i) through (ii) above is a limited partner holding not less than 10% of the total amount of contributions to the private equity fund, or (b) where a person falling under any of items (i) through (iii) above is a general partner, or (c) where the total equity of the private equity fund acquired by each affiliate belonging to several enterprise groups subject to the limitation on mutual investment is 30% or more of the total amount of contributions to the private equity fund; or (v) the investment purpose company concerned, where a private equity fund falling under item (iv) above acquires or holds stocks in excess of 4% of the shares or equity of such company or exercises de facto control over significant managerial matters of such company through appointment or dismissal of executives or in any other manner)) may not acquire beneficial ownership in us in excess of 4% of our outstanding voting shares, provided that such non-financial business group companies may acquire beneficial ownership of up to 10% of
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our outstanding voting shares with the approval of the Financial Services Commission under the condition that such non-financial business group companies will not exercise voting rights in respect of such shares in excess of the 4% limit. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies — Restrictions on Financial Holding Company Ownership.” To the extent that the total number of shares of our common stock that you and your affiliates own together exceeds these limits, you will not be entitled to exercise the voting rights for the excess shares, and the Financial Services Commission may order you to dispose of the excess shares within a period of up to six months. Failure to comply with such an order would result in a fine of up to W100 million, plus an additional charge of up to 0.03% of the book value of such shares per day until the date of disposal.
The Korean Commercial Code and our Articles of Incorporation require us, with some exceptions, to offer shareholders the right to subscribe for new shares in proportion to their existing ownership percentage whenever new shares are issued. If we offer any rights to subscribe for additional shares of our common stock or any rights of any other nature, the depositary bank, after consultation with us, may make the rights available to you or use reasonable efforts to dispose of the rights on your behalf and make the net proceeds available to you. The depositary bank, however, is not required to make available to you any rights to purchase any additional shares unless it deems that doing so is lawful and feasible and:
a registration statement filed by us under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is in effect with respect to those shares; or
the offering and sale of those shares is exempt from or is not subject to the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
We are under no obligation to file any registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If a registration statement is required for you to exercise preemptive rights but is not filed by us, you will not be able to exercise your preemptive rights for additional shares and you will suffer dilution of your equity interest in us.
Under Korean law, in some limited circumstances, including the transfer of the whole or any significant part of our business and the merger or consolidation of us with another company, dissenting stockholders have the right to require us to purchase their shares under Korean law. However, under our deposit agreement, holders of our ADSs do not have, and may not instruct the depositary as to the exercise of, any dissenter’s rights provided to the holders of our common shares under Korean law. Therefore, if holders of our ADSs wish to exercise dissenting rights, they must withdraw the underlying common stock from the ADSs facility (and incur charges relating to that withdrawal) and become our direct stockholders prior to the record date of the shareholders’ meeting at which the relevant transaction is to be approved, in order to exercise dissent and appraisal rights.
Our common stock is listed on the KRX Korea Composite Stock Price Index (“KOSPI”) Division of the Korea Exchange, which has a smaller market capitalization and is more volatile than the securities markets in the United States and many European countries. The market value of ADSs may fluctuate in response to the fluctuation of the trading price of shares of our common stock on the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange. The Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange has experienced substantial fluctuations in the prices and volumes of sales of listed securities and the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange has prescribed a fixed range in which share prices are permitted to move on a daily basis. Like other securities
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markets, including those in developed markets, the Korean securities market has experienced problems including market manipulation, insider trading and settlement failures. The recurrence of these or similar problems could have a material adverse effect on the market price and liquidity of the securities of Korean companies, including our common stock and ADSs, in both the domestic and international markets.
The Government has the potential ability to exert substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector business community, and in the past has exerted that influence from time to time. For example, the Government has promoted mergers to reduce what it considers excess capacity in a particular industry and has also encouraged private companies to publicly offer their securities. Similar actions in the future could have the effect of depressing or boosting the Korean securities market, whether or not intended to do so. Accordingly, actions by the Government, or the perception that such actions are taking place, may take place or has ceased, may cause sudden movements in the market prices of the securities of Korean companies in the future, which may affect the market price and liquidity of our common stock and ADSs.
Investors who purchase the ADSs will be required to pay for them in U.S. Dollars. Our outstanding shares are listed on the Korea Exchange and are quoted and traded in Won. Cash dividends, if any, in respect of the shares represented by the ADSs will be paid to the depositary bank in Won and then converted by the depositary bank into U.S. Dollars, subject to certain conditions. Accordingly, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Won and the U.S. Dollar will affect, among other things, the amounts a registered holder or beneficial owner of the ADSs will receive from the depositary bank in respect of dividends, the U.S. Dollar value of the proceeds which a holder or owner would receive upon sale in Korea of the shares obtained upon surrender of ADSs and the secondary market price of the ADSs.
If the Government deems that certain emergency circumstances are likely to occur, it may impose restrictions such as requiring foreign investors to obtain prior Government approval for the acquisition of Korean securities or for the repatriation of interest or dividends arising from Korean securities or sales proceeds from disposition of such securities. These emergency circumstances include any or all of the following:
sudden fluctuations in interest rates or exchange rates;
extreme difficulty in stabilizing the balance of payments; and
a substantial disturbance in the Korean financial and capital markets.
The depositary bank may not be able to secure such prior approval from the government for the payment of dividends to foreign investors when the Government deems that there are emergency circumstances in the Korean financial markets.
Companies in Korea, including us, are subject to corporate governance standards applicable to Korean public companies which differ in many respects from standards applicable in other countries, including the United States. As a reporting company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, we are, and in the future will be, subject to certain corporate governance standards as mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. However, foreign private issuers, including us, are exempt from
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certain corporate governance requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. For significant differences, see “Item 16G. Corporate Governance.” There may also be less publicly available information about Korean companies, such as us, than is regularly made available by public or non-public companies in other countries. Such differences in corporate governance standards and less public information could result in less than satisfactory corporate governance practices or disclosure to investors in certain countries.
We are a corporation with limited liability organized under the laws of Korea. All or substantially all of our directors and officers and other persons named in this annual report reside in Korea, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of our directors and officers and other persons named in this annual report and substantially all of our assets are located in Korea. As a result, it may not be possible for holders of the American depository shares to effect service of process within the United States, or to enforce against them or us in the United States judgments obtained in United States courts based on the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. There is doubt as to the enforceability in Korea, either in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of United States courts, of civil liabilities predicated on the United States federal securities laws.
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
History and Development of the Company
Introduction
We are one of the leading financial institutions in Korea in terms of total assets, revenues, profitability and capital adequacy, among others. Incorporated on September 1, 2001, we are the first privately-held financial holding company to be established in Korea. Since inception, we have developed and introduced a wide range of financial products and services in Korea. We seek to deliver comprehensive financial solutions to our customers through a convenient one-portal online network and mobile application.
As of December 31, 2025, we have 15 direct and 32 indirect subsidiaries offering a wide range of financial products and services, including commercial banking, corporate banking, private banking, credit card, asset management, brokerage and insurance services. We believe that such breadth of services will help us to meet the diversified needs of our present and potential clients. We currently serve approximately 21 million active customers, which we believe is one of the largest customer bases in Korea, through approximately 29,620 employees at approximately 1,344 network branches group-wide. While over 80% of our revenues have been historically derived from Korea, we aim to serve the needs of our customers through a global network of 242 offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, the People’s Republic of China, Germany, India, Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Poland, Indonesia, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.
Our legal and commercial name is Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. Our registered office and corporate headquarters are located at 20, Sejong-daero 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea 04513 and our telephone number is +822 6360 3000. The address of our English website is https://www.shinhangroup.com/en.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov), which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Our History and Development
On September 1, 2001, we were formed as a financial holding company under the Financial Holding Companies Act, as a result of acquiring all of the issued shares of the following four entities from their former
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shareholders in exchange for shares of our common stock: (i) Shinhan Bank, a nationwide commercial bank listed on the Korea Exchange, (ii) Shinhan Securities, a securities brokerage company listed on the Korea Exchange, (iii) Shinhan Capital Co., Ltd. (“Shinhan Capital”), a leasing company listed on the Korea Exchange Korean Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (“KRX KOSDAQ”), and (iv) Shinhan Investment Trust Management Co., Ltd., a privately held investment trust management company. On September 10, 2001, the common stock of our holding company was listed on what is currently the KRX KOSPI Market.
Since our inception, we have substantially expanded our operations, including by engaging in strategic acquisitions and establishing subsidiaries and joint ventures. Our significant acquisitions, capital contributions and joint ventures include the following:
Date of Acquisition
Entity(1)
Principal Activities
Method of Establishment
April 2002
Acquisition from Korea
Deposit Insurance
Corporation
July 2002
August 2002
Joint venture with
BNP Paribas
August 2003
Acquisition from
creditors
December 2005
shareholders
March 2007
creditors of LG Card
January 2012
January 2013
October 2017
February 2019, January 2020
May 2019
August 2019
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September 2020, December 2020
January 2021
June 2022
Acquisition of BNP Paribas
Cardif General Insurance
Notes:
Entity name represents the name of the acquired entity at the time of the relevant acquisition.
Renamed from Goodmorning Securities Co., Ltd. to Goodmorning Shinhan Securities Co., Ltd. in August 2002, and subsequently renamed to Shinhan Investment Corp. in August 2009 and to Shinhan Securities in October 2022.
In January 2009, SH Asset Management Co., Ltd. and Shinhan BNP Paribas Investment Trust Management merged to form Shinhan BNP Paribas Asset Management.
In April 2006, Shinhan Bank merged with and into Chohung Bank, and the surviving entity was renamed Shinhan Bank.
Renamed from LG Card to Shinhan Card in October 2007.
Shinhan Hope Co., Ltd. was established in December 2011 to purchase and assume certain assets and liabilities of Tomato Mutual Savings Bank. Later in the same month, Shinhan Hope Co., Ltd. obtained a savings bank license, changed its name to Shinhan Savings Bank and became our direct subsidiary.
In April 2013, Shinhan Savings Bank and Yehanbyoul Savings Bank merged into a single entity, with Yehanbyoul Savings Bank being the surviving entity and the newly merged bank being named Shinhan Savings Bank.
In February 2019, we acquired a 59.15% ownership interest in Orange Life Insurance, the former Korean unit of ING Life Insurance. In January 2020, we acquired the remaining outstanding ownership interest in Orange Life Insurance by effecting a comprehensive stock exchange under Article 360-2 of the Korean Commercial Code whereby holders (other than us) of Orange Life Insurance’s common stock transferred all of their shares to us and in return received shares of our common stock. Orange Life Insurance subsequently merged with and into Shinhan Life Insurance in July 2021.
Renamed from Asia Trust Co. Ltd. to Shinhan Asset Trust Co., Ltd. in May 2022.
In July 2024, we announced the liquidation and dissolution of Shinhan AI. Co., Ltd., and such entity is no longer our subsidiary.
In September 2020, we acquired a 96.8% ownership interest in Neoplux, a venture capital company formerly under the Doosan Group. In December 2020, we acquired the remaining outstanding ownership interest in Neoplux by effecting a small-scale stock exchange under Article 360-10 of the Korean Commercial Code. In January 2021, Neoplux changed its legal name to Shinhan Venture Investment Co., Ltd.
In January 2021, we acquired the remaining 35% ownership interest in Shinhan BNP Paribas Asset Management from BNP Paribas Asset Management Holding and changed its legal name to Shinhan Asset Management.
In June 2022, we acquired a 94.54% ownership interest in BNP Paribas Cardif General Insurance, which then changed its name to Shinhan EZ General Insurance, Ltd. Subsequently in November 2022, Shinhan EZ General Insurance, Ltd. conducted a paid-in capital increase and our ownership interest decreased to 85.1%.
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Business Overview
Unless otherwise specifically mentioned, the following business overview is presented on a consolidated basis under IFRS.
Our Strategy
We have maintained a vision of becoming a “customer-centered, top-tier Shinhan” recognized by our clients as well as the broader community. In line with this vision, we have identified three core agendas as foundational principles to guide our overall strategic direction: (i) “Scandal Zero,” (ii) enhanced customer experience and convenience, and (iii) sustainable revenue generation. We are committed to maintaining and enhancing our position as a leading financial institution in Korea and globally. To this end, we have identified four key strategic initiatives for 2026 as outlined below.
Establishing Effective Internal Controls
We aim to elevate our robust internal control systems into a core differentiating competitive advantage, establishing and strengthening the trust we have gained from our customers and other participants in the industry. To this end, we have introduced responsibility maps delineating roles and responsibilities with appropriate checks and balances at the holding company as well as subsidiary levels, and we plan to further strengthen our infrastructure with respect to internal controls. We also seek to further refine our credit evaluation system to align incentives among stakeholders and utilize advanced technologies, including AI, to strengthen our fraud detection and internal controls monitoring systems. We also aim to expand and strengthen ethics training programs for our officers and employees to further our professional responsibility and ethics initiatives.
Creating Differentiated Customer Value
We plan to continue our pursuit of unique value propositions for customers through three specific initiatives: (i) enhancing customer experience and convenience, (ii) expanding the adoption of digital and AI-driven innovations, and (iii) strengthening our presence in the senior and wealth management markets. We plan to evaluate customer touchpoints to refine our products and services, with a particular emphasis on streamlining processes and improving the speed and efficiency of customer transactions in order to enhance customers’ overall user experience. We are also seeking to provide more customized and tailored financial services to our customers by integrating AI technology into key interfaces. In light of evolving demographic trends, particularly the growing senior segment, we plan to devote more resources and increase our expertise in wealth management, aiming to provide comprehensive solutions that adapt to our customers’ diverse financial needs.
Enhancing Corporate Citizenship
As a responsible corporate citizen, we are committed to proactively addressing social and environmental challenges. Our efforts include expanding green and transition financing to support climate change mitigation initiatives and reducing our carbon footprint. We also plan to continue support programs to address social issues such as low birth rate and support challenged families in need of financial assistance. We also focus on our human resources capabilities to ensure fairness within our organization and promote “self-leadership” among our employees, thereby strengthening our workforce and long-term competitiveness.
Enhancing Corporate Value
We plan to continue our efforts to deliver enhanced value to our customers as well as shareholders through prudent management of our capital ratios and strengthening our financials and credibility in the market. In addition, in order to preemptively respond to increased volatility in the economy and financial markets, and the resulting uncertainty in our operating environment, we intend to strengthen our portfolio management
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capabilities and continue to enhance our corporate structure in order to achieve sustainable growth. At the same time, we intend to enhance our overall risk management infrastructure through the adoption of AI- and digital-based technologies, thereby strengthening our ability to identify, measure and respond to risks, as well as fuelling our pursuit of stable medium- to long-term growth opportunities amidst changing market conditions.
Our Principal Activities
We provide comprehensive financial services, principally consisting of the following:
commercial banking services provided through the following four business sub-segments:
channel division segment, primarily focused on retail banking services and corporate banking services, which include providing loans to and receiving deposits from individuals, corporations (other than large corporations) and wealth management customers;
capital market division segment, primarily focused on corporate banking services for large corporations as well as securities investing and trading, derivatives trading and investment banking services within other banking services;
international group segment, primarily focused on international business including management of overseas subsidiaries and branch operations and other international businesses; and
others segment, consisting of treasury business within other banking services, including internal asset and liability management activities, as well as various other business support functions.
credit card services;
securities services;
insurance (including life insurance and non-life insurance) services;
credit services; and
other services, including asset management services, savings banking services, real estate trust services, financial system development and supply services, collective investment administrative services, real estate investment services, and trust and collective investment services.
In addition to the above-mentioned business activities, we, at the holding company level, have the following business departments and planning offices, the primary functions of which are to support cross-divisional management with respect to these specific business areas: group & global investment banking business department, global market & securities planning office, global business planning office, wealth management planning office and retirement pension planning office.
Our principal business activities are not subject to any material seasonal trends. Although we have a number of overseas branches and subsidiaries, a substantial majority of our assets are located, and a substantial majority of our revenues are generated, in Korea.
Deposit-Taking Activities
Principally through Shinhan Bank, we offer many deposit products that target different customer segments with features tailored to each segment’s financial and other profiles. Our deposit products consist principally of the following:
Demand deposits. Demand deposits do not accrue interest or accrue interest at a lower rate than time deposits and allow the customer to deposit and withdraw funds at any time. Interest on interest-bearing demand deposits is accrued at a fixed or variable rate depending on the period and the amount of deposit. Demand deposits constituted 17.0%, 16.1% and 16.7% of our total deposits as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. Demand deposits paid average interest of 1.00%, 1.04% and 0.98% for 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
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Time and savings deposits. Time deposits generally require the customer to maintain a deposit for a fixed term during which the deposit accrues interest at a fixed rate or a variable rate based on certain financial indexes, including the “cost of funds index,” or COFIX, published by the Korean Federation of Banks. If the deposit is withdrawn prior to the end of the fixed term, the customer is paid a lower interest rate than that originally offered. The term typically ranges from one month to five years. Time deposits constituted 53.8%, 56.7% and 54.4% of our total deposits as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively, and paid average interest of 3.83%, 3.66% and 3.08% for 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. Savings deposits allow the customer to deposit and withdraw funds at any time and accrue interest at an adjustable interest rate, which is typically lower than the rate applicable to time deposits. Savings deposits constituted 26.0%, 24.7% and 25.1% of our total deposits as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively, and paid average interest of 0.85%, 0.84% and 0.70% for 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Other deposits. Other deposits consist mainly of certificates of deposit. Certificates of deposit typically have maturities from 30 days to two years. Interest rates on certificates of deposit are determined based on the length of the deposit and prevailing market interest rates. Certificates of deposit are sold at a discount to their face value, reflecting the interest payable on the certificates of deposit. Certificates of deposit constituted 3.2%, 2.5% and 3.8% of our total deposits as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively, and paid average interest of 3.80%, 4.02% and 3.30% for 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
We also offer deposits via general housing subscription savings accounts, which provide the customer with preferential rights to housing subscriptions under the Housing Law and Rules on Housing Supply and eligibility for mortgage and home equity loans. The contribution period is from the subscription date to the date on which the account holder is selected as the purchaser of a house, and the required monthly contribution amount (subject to certain exceptions) is from a minimum of W20,000 to a maximum of W500,000. The interests accrued on these accounts are paid in lump sum upon termination of the account, and are calculated at the interest rate determined and announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Those who have a general housing subscription savings account and meet certain other criteria are granted a preferential subscription right for the purchase of a house. In the case of privately funded houses, the aggregate amount of contributions made to the account must be at least the applicable deposit threshold amount for the location and area of the relevant house (from W2 million up to W15 million). Only one account per person is generally allowed, and customers are typically not allowed to transfer accounts between one another. For information on our deposits in Korean Won based on the principal types of deposit products we offer, see “— Description of Assets and Liabilities — Funding — Deposits.”
The rate of interest payable on our deposit products may vary significantly, depending on average funding costs, the rate of return on our interest-earning assets, prevailing market interest rates among financial institutions and other major financial indicators.
We also offer court deposit services for litigants in Korean courts, which involve providing effectively an escrow service for litigants involved in certain types of legal or other proceedings. Chohung Bank historically was a dominant provider of such services since 1958, and following our acquisition of Chohung Bank, we continue to hold a dominant market share in these services. Such deposits typically carry interest rates lower than the market rates (by approximately 0.35% per annum) and amounted to W6,421 billion, W6,975 billion and W7,057 billion as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Korea imposes a reserve requirement on Won currency deposits at commercial banks at rates ranging from 0% to 7%, based generally on maturity and the type of deposit instrument. See “— Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks — Liquidity.”
The Depositor Protection Act provides for a deposit insurance system where the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation guarantees to depositors the repayment of their eligible bank deposits. The deposit insurance system
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insures up to a total of W100 million per depositor per bank, which limit increased from W50 million through an amendment to the Presidential Decree to the Depositor Protection Act of Korea that became effective in September 2025. See “— Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks — Deposit Insurance System.”
Retail Banking Services
Overview
We provide retail banking services primarily through Shinhan Bank, and, to a significantly lesser extent, through Jeju Bank, a regional bank. Our retail loans, before allowance for credit losses on loans and deferred loan origination costs and fees and excluding credit card receivables, amounted to W173,570 billion as of December 31, 2025.
Retail banking services include retail lending and deposit-taking activities as well as checking account services, electronic banking and automatic teller machines (“ATM”) services, bill paying services, payroll and check-cashing services, currency exchange and wire fund transfer. We believe that providing modern and efficient retail banking services is important to maintaining our public profile and as a source of fee-based income. Accordingly, we believe that our retail banking services and products will become increasingly important in the coming years as the domestic banking sector further develops and becomes more complex.
Retail banking has been and will continue to remain one of our core businesses. Our strategy in retail banking is to provide prompt and comprehensive services to retail customers through increased automation and improved customer service, as well as a streamlined branch network focused on sales. The retail segment places an emphasis on targeting high net-worth individuals.
Retail Lending Activities
We offer various retail loan products, consisting principally of loans to individuals and households. Our retail loan products target different segments of the population with features tailored to each segment’s financial profile and other characteristics, including customer’s occupation, age, loan purpose, collateral requirements and the duration of the customer’s relationship with Shinhan Bank. Our retail loans consist principally of the following:
Mortgage and home equity loans, which mostly comprise mortgage loans that are used to finance home purchases and are generally secured by the housing unit being purchased; and
Other retail loans, which are loans made to customers for any purpose other than mortgage and home equity loans and the terms of which vary based primarily on the characteristics of the borrower and which are either unsecured or secured, or guaranteed by deposits or by a third party. Other retail loans also include advance loans extended on an unsecured basis to retail borrowers the use of proceeds for which is restricted to financing of home purchases prior to the completion of the construction.
As of December 31, 2025, our mortgage and home equity loans and other retail loans accounted for 62.4% and 37.6% of our total retail loans, respectively.
For secured loans, our policy is to lend up to 40% to 100% of the appraisal value of the collateral, after taking into account the value of any lien or other security interest that has priority over our security interest (other than petty claims). For mortgage and home equity loans, our general policy is to lend up to 40% to 85% of the appraisal value of the collateral, but subject to the maximum loan-to-value ratio, debt-to-income ratio and debt service ratio requirements for mortgage loans implemented by the Government. The loan-to-value ratio of secured loans, including mortgage and home equity loans, is updated on a monthly basis using the most recent appraisal value of the collateral, and maximum loan-to-value ratios are further adjusted based on factors such as the location of the secured property, nature and purpose of the loans and level of competition in the market. Since
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January 11, 2019, maximum loan-to-value ratios are determined and may be adjusted in increments of 1% (as opposed to increments of 5%, which was the case prior to January 11, 2019), allowing us to set more precise and tailored maximum loan-to-value ratios for secured loans. As of December 31, 2025, the loan-to-value ratio of mortgage and home equity loans of Shinhan Bank was 51.2%. As of December 31, 2025, substantially all of its mortgage and home equity loans were secured by residential property.
Under the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business and the Detailed Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business, when extending mortgage and home equity loans, our banking subsidiaries are subject to a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 70% (subject to certain exceptions, including certain regulated areas) and a maximum debt-to-income ratio of 60% (only in respect of housing units located in the greater Seoul metropolitan area, subject to certain exceptions).
Korean regulations on mortgage and home equity loans are susceptible to changes in housing market cycles and have been revised from time to time. In recent years, such regulatory changes included measures that seek to promote stability in the real estate market, modernize credit review methods and stabilize the management of household debt, help prevent excessive household debt, protect the victims of lease fraud and ensure housing stability. For a detailed description of the current regulations applicable to our mortgage and home equity loans, see “— Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks — Recent Regulations Relating to Retail Household Loans” and “Item 3.D. Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Law, Regulation and Government Policy — The level and scope of government oversight of our retail lending business, particularly regarding mortgage and home equity loans, may change depending on the economic or political climate.”
Our banking subsidiaries extend mortgage and home equity loans in compliance with the applicable regulations and administrative instructions by the relevant supervising authorities.
The following table sets forth a breakdown of our retail loans.
Retail loans(1)
Mortgage and home equity loans
Other retail loans
Percentage of retail loans to total gross loans
Note:
Before allowance for credit losses on loans and deferred loan origination costs and fees and excludes credit card receivables.
Our total mortgage and home equity loans amounted to W108,268 billion as of December 31, 2025, which consisted of amortizing loans (the principal portion of which is repaid by part of the installment payments) in the amount of W75,109 billion and non-amortizing loans in the amount of W33,159 billion. In addition, as of December 31, 2025, we also provided lines of credit in the aggregate outstanding amount of W158 billion as part of our non-amortizing loans.
Pricing
The interest rates payable on Shinhan Bank’s retail loans are either periodically adjusted floating rates (based on a base rate determined for three-month, six-month or twelve-month periods derived using an internal transfer price system, which reflects the market cost of funding, as adjusted to account for expenses related to lending and the profit margin of the relevant loan products) or fixed rates that reflect the market cost of funding, as adjusted to account for expenses related to lending and the profit margin. Fixed rate loans are offered only on
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a limited basis and usually at a premium to floating rate loans. For unsecured loans, which Shinhan Bank provides on a floating or fixed rate basis, interest rates thereon reflect a margin based on, among other things, the borrower’s credit score as determined during its loan approval process. For secured loans, the credit limit is based on the type of collateral, priority with respect to the collateral and the loan-to-value ratio. Shinhan Bank may adjust the pricing of these loans to reflect the borrower’s current and/or expected future contribution to Shinhan Bank’s profitability. The interest rate on Shinhan Bank’s loan products may be adjusted at the time the loan is extended. If a loan is repaid within three years following the date of the loan, the borrower is required to pay an early repayment fee, which is typically 0.03% to 0.85% (depending on types of loans and applicable interest rates) of the outstanding principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest on the loan, multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of the remaining days on the loan until maturity and the denominator of which is the number of days comprising the term of the loan or three years, whichever is greater.
As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank’s three-month, six-month and twelve-month base rates were 2.87%, 2.84% and 2.81%, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank’s lending rates for mortgage and home equity loans that remained fixed for a period of five years before being recalculated ranged from 4.15% to 5.56%, while those that remained fixed for a period of six months before being recalculated ranged from 3.94% to 5.34%. Shinhan Bank’s fixed rates for other retail loans with a maturity of one year ranged from 3.61% to 14.00%, depending on the credit scores of its customers. As of December 31, 2025, 89.2% of Shinhan Bank’s total retail loans were floating rate loans and 10.8% were fixed rate loans. As of the same date, 88.5% of Shinhan Bank’s retail loans with maturity of more than one year were floating rate loans and 11.5% were fixed rate loans.
The interest rate charged to customers by our banking subsidiaries is based, in part, on the “cost of funds index”, or COFIX, which is published by the Korean Federation of Banks. COFIX is computed based on the weighted average interest rate of select funding products (including time deposits, housing and other installment savings deposits, repos, discounted bills and senior non-convertible financial debentures) of eight major Korean banks (Shinhan Bank, Kookmin Bank, Woori Bank, KEB Hana Bank, Nonghyup Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea, Citibank Korea Inc. and Standard Chartered Bank Korea Limited). Each bank then independently determines the interest rate applicable to its respective customers by adding a spread to the COFIX based on the difference between the COFIX and such bank’s general funding costs, administration fees, the customer’s credit score, the maturity of the loan and other customer-specific premiums and discounts based on the customer relationship with such bank. These interest rates are typically adjusted on a monthly basis.
Private Banking
We have historically focused on customers with high net worth. Our retail banking services include providing private banking services to high net-worth customers who seek personal advice on complex financial matters. Our aim in private banking is to help enhance wealth accumulation by, and increase the financial sophistication of, our high net-worth clients by offering them customized wealth management solutions and comprehensive financial services including asset portfolio and fund management, tax consulting, real estate management and family office services, among others. In order to preemptively respond to evolving customer needs and promote asset growth by inducing greater synergy between commercial banking and investment advisory services offered by Shinhan Securities, Shinhan Bank operates private wealth management centers which combine certain branches of Shinhan Bank with those of Shinhan Securities located in the same area.
We provide premier private banking services to meet the increasing demand from ultra-high-net-worth individuals. In December 2019, we launched the Private Investment and Banking Center, which integrates investment banking and private banking services. In 2022, we established a family office center aimed at managing family assets to ensure continuity across generations. Our offerings include exclusive membership services tailored for a select clientele, along with advisory services provided by specialized teams from Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities.
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As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank operated 25 private wealth management centers nationwide, including 17 in Seoul, four in the Gyeonggi province and four in other regions in Korea. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank had approximately 22,724 private banking customers, who typically are required to have W500 million or more in deposits with Shinhan Bank to qualify for its private banking services.
Corporate Banking Services
We provide corporate banking services, primarily through Shinhan Bank, to small- and medium-sized enterprises, including SOHOs, which are small enterprises operated by individuals or households, and, to a lesser extent, to large corporations, including corporations that are affiliated with chaebols. We also lend to government-controlled enterprises.
The following table sets forth the balances and percentage of our total loans (before allowance for credit losses on loans and deferred loan origination costs and fees) attributable to each category of our corporate lending business as of the dates indicated.
Small- and medium-sized enterprises loans(1)
Large corporate loans
Others(2)
Total corporate loans
Represents the principal amount of loans extended to corporations meeting the definition of small- and medium-sized enterprises under the Framework Act on Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises and its Presidential Decree.
Includes loans to governmental agencies, loans to banks and other corporate loans, including loans originated by subsidiaries other than Shinhan Bank which are classified as corporate loans for purposes of financial reporting.
Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises Banking
Under the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises (the “SME Framework Act”), and the related Presidential Decree, in order to qualify as a small- and medium-sized enterprise, (i) the enterprise’s total assets at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year must be less than W500 billion, (ii) the enterprise must meet the standards prescribed by the Presidential Decree in relation to the average and total annual sales revenues applicable to the type of its main business, and (iii) the enterprise must meet the standards of management independence from ownership as prescribed by the Presidential Decree, including non-membership in a conglomerate as defined in the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act. An enterprise cannot qualify as a small- or medium-sized enterprise if it is incorporated into, or is deemed to be incorporated into a business group subject to disclosure under the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act. Non-profit enterprises that satisfy certain requirements prescribed by the SME Framework Act and its Presidential Decree may qualify as a small- and medium-sized enterprise. Furthermore, cooperatives and federations of cooperatives as prescribed by the Presidential Decree are deemed as small- and medium-sized enterprises, effective from April 15, 2014. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank had loans to 416,602 small- and medium-sized enterprises in an aggregate amount of W150,048 billion (before allowance for credit losses on loans and deferred loan origination costs and fees).
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We believe that Shinhan Bank, which has traditionally focused on small- and medium-sized enterprise lending, is well-positioned to succeed in the small- and medium-sized enterprises market in light of its marketing capabilities (which we believe have provided Shinhan Bank with significant customer loyalty) and its prudent risk management practices, including conservative credit rating systems for credit approval. To maintain or increase its market share of small- and medium-sized enterprises lending, Shinhan Bank:
has accumulated a market-leading expertise and familiarity as to customers and products. We believe Shinhan Bank has an in-depth understanding of the credit risks embedded in this market segment, allowing Shinhan Bank to develop loan and other products specifically tailored to the needs of this market segment;
operates a relationship management system to provide customer services that are tailored to small- and medium-sized enterprises. Shinhan Bank currently has relationship management teams in 184 banking branches, of which 7 are corporate banking branches and 177 are hybrid banking branches designed to serve both retail customers and, to a limited extent, corporate customers. These relationship management teams market products, and review and approve smaller loans with less credit risks; and
continues to focus on cross-selling loan products with other products. For example, when Shinhan Bank lends to small- and medium-sized enterprises, it also explores opportunities to cross-sell retail loans or deposit products to the employees of these enterprises or to provide financial advisory services.
Large Corporate Banking
Large corporate customers consist primarily of member companies of chaebols and financial institutions. Our large corporate loans amounted to W70,535 billion (before allowance for credit losses on loans and deferred loan origination costs and fees) as of December 31, 2025. Large corporate customers tend to have better credit profiles than small- and medium-sized enterprises, and accordingly, Shinhan Bank has been focusing on these customers as part of its risk management policy.
Shinhan Bank seeks to serve as a one-stop financial solution provider that also partners with its large corporate clients in their corporate expansion and growth endeavors. To that end, Shinhan Bank provides a wide range of corporate banking services, including investment banking, real estate financing, overseas real estate project financing, large development project financing, infrastructure financing, structured financing, equity investments/venture investments, mergers and acquisitions consulting, securitization and derivatives services, including securities and derivative products and foreign exchange trading. Shinhan Bank also arranges financing for, and offers consulting services to, Korean companies expanding their business overseas, particularly in Asia.
Corporate Lending Activities
Our principal loan products for corporate customers are working capital loans and facilities loans. Working capital loans, which include discounted notes and trade financing, are generally loans used for general working capital purposes. Facilities loans are provided to finance the purchase of equipment and construction of manufacturing plants. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank’s working capital loans and facilities loans amounted to W80,195 billion and W112,038 billion, respectively, representing 41.1% and 57.5% of Shinhan Bank’s total Won-denominated corporate loans. Working capital loans generally have a maturity of one year, which may be extended on an annual basis for an aggregate term of three years in the case of unsecured loans and five to ten years in the case of secured loans. Facilities loans have a maximum maturity of 15 years, which are typically repaid in semiannual installments and may be entitled to a grace period not exceeding one-third of the loan term with respect to the first repayment. Facilities loans with a term of three years or less may be paid in full at maturity.
Loans to corporations may be unsecured or secured by real estate, deposits or guaranty certificates. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank’s secured loans and guaranteed loans (including loans secured by guaranty
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certificates issued by credit guarantee insurance funds) accounted for 67.5% and 8.1%, respectively, of Shinhan Bank’s Won-denominated corporate loans. As of December 31, 2025, 51.5% of the corporate loans of Shinhan Bank were secured by real estate.
When evaluating whether to extend loans to corporate customers, Shinhan Bank reviews their creditworthiness and credit score, the value of collateral and/or third party guarantees, if any. The value of collateral is computed using a formula that takes into account the appraised value of the collateral, any prior liens or other claims against the collateral and an adjustment factor based on a number of considerations including, with respect to property, the average value of any nearby property sold in a court-supervised auction during the previous year. Shinhan Bank revalues collateral when a secured loan is renewed or if a trigger event occurs with respect to the loan in question.
Shinhan Bank determines the price for its corporate loan products based principally on their respective cost of funding and the expected loss rate based on the borrower’s credit risk. As of December 31, 2025, 71.8% of Shinhan Bank’s corporate loans with outstanding maturities of one year or more had variable interest rates as determined by the applicable market rates.
More specifically, interest rates on Shinhan Bank’s corporate loans are generally determined using the following formula: Interest rate = (Shinhan Bank’s periodic market floating rate or reference rate) plus transaction cost plus credit spread plus risk premium plus or minus discretionary adjustment.
Depending on market conditions and the agreement with the borrower, Shinhan Bank may use either its periodic market floating rate or the reference rate as the base rate in determining the interest rate for the borrower. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank’s periodic market floating rates (which are based on a base rate determined for a three-month, six-month, one-year, two-year, three-year or five-year period, as applicable, as derived from Shinhan Bank’s market rate system) were 2.87% for three months, 2.84% for six months, 2.81% for one year, 2.98% for two years, 3.21% for three years and 3.50% for five years. As of the same date, Shinhan Bank’s reference rate was 4.00%. The reference rate refers to the base lending rate used by Shinhan Bank and is determined annually by Shinhan Bank’s Asset & Liability Management Committee based on, among others, Shinhan Bank’s funding costs, cost efficiency ratio and discretionary margin.
Transaction cost reflects the standardized transaction cost assigned to each loan product and other miscellaneous costs, including contributions to the Credit Guarantee Fund, and education taxes. The Credit Guarantee Fund is a statutorily created entity that provides credit guarantees to loans made by commercial banks and is funded by mandatory contributions from commercial banks in the amount of approximately 0.41% of all loans (excluding certain loans such as facilities loans) made by them.
The credit spread is added to the periodic floating rate to reflect the expected loss based on the borrower’s credit rating and the value of any collateral or payment guarantee. In addition, Shinhan Bank adds a risk premium which takes into account the potential of unexpected loss that may exceed the expected loss from the credit rating assigned to a particular borrower.
A discretionary adjustment rate is added or subtracted to reflect the borrower’s current and/or future contribution to Shinhan Bank’s profitability. If additional credit is provided by way of a guarantee, the adjustment rate is subtracted to reflect such change in the credit spread. In addition, depending on the price and other terms set by competing banks for similar borrowers, Shinhan Bank may reduce the interest rate to compete more effectively with other banks.
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International Business
Shinhan Bank also engages in treasury and investment activities in international capital markets, principally including foreign currency-denominated securities trading, foreign exchange trading and services, trade-related financial services, international factoring services and foreign banking operations through its overseas branches and subsidiaries. Shinhan Bank aims to become a leading bank in Asia and expand its international business by focusing on further bolstering its overseas network, localizing its overseas operations and diversifying its product offerings, particularly in terms of asset management, in order to meet the various financing needs of its current and potential customers overseas.
Other Banking Services
Other banking businesses conducted by Shinhan Bank include its treasury business (including internal asset and liability management and other non-deposit funding activities); its trading of, and investments in, debt securities and, to lesser extents, equity securities for its own accounts; and its derivative trading activities.
Treasury
Shinhan Bank’s treasury division provides funds to all of Shinhan Bank’s business operations and ensures the liquidity of its operations. To secure stable long-term funds, Shinhan Bank uses fixed and floating rate notes, debentures, structured financing and other advanced funding methods. As for overseas funding, Shinhan Bank closely monitors the feasibility of raising funds in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, such as the Japanese Yen and Euro. In addition, Shinhan Bank makes call loans and borrows call money in the short-term money market. Call loans are short-term lending among banks and financial institutions in either Korean Won or foreign currencies with a minimum transaction amount of W100 million and maturities of typically one day.
Securities Investment and Trading
Shinhan Bank invests in and trades securities for its own accounts in order to maintain adequate sources of liquidity and to generate interest income, dividend income and capital gains. Shinhan Bank’s trading and investment portfolio consists primarily of Korean and international treasury securities and debt securities issued by Government agencies, local governments or certain government-invested enterprises, debt securities issued by financial institutions and equity securities listed on the KRX KOSPI Market and KRX KOSDAQ Market of the Korea Exchange. For a detailed description of our securities investment portfolio, see “— Description of Assets and Liabilities — Investment Portfolio.”
Derivatives Trading
Shinhan Bank provides to its customers, and to a limited extent, trades for its proprietary accounts, a broad range of derivatives products, which include:
interest rate swaps, options, and futures relating to interest rate risks;
cross-currency swaps, largely for the Korean Won against the U.S. Dollar, Japanese Yen and Euro;
equity and equity-linked options;
foreign currency forwards, options and swaps;
credit derivatives; and
KOSPI 200 indexed equity options.
Shinhan Bank’s outstanding derivatives commitments in terms of notional amount were W251,507 billion, W321,240 billion and W394,922 billion in 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. Such derivative operations
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generally focus on addressing the needs of Shinhan Bank’s corporate clients to enter into derivatives contracts to hedge their risk exposure and entering into back-to-back derivatives to hedge Shinhan Bank’s risk exposure that results from such client contracts.
Shinhan Bank also enters into derivative contracts to hedge the interest rate and foreign currency risk exposures that arise from its own assets and liabilities. In addition, to a limited extent, Shinhan Bank engages in the proprietary trading of derivatives within its regulated open position limits. See “— Description of Assets and Liabilities — Derivatives.”
Trust Account Management Services
Shinhan Bank’s trust account management services involve management of trust accounts, primarily in the form of money trusts. Trust account customers are typically individuals seeking higher rates of return than those offered by bank account deposits. Because deposit reserve requirements do not apply to deposits held in trust accounts as opposed to deposits held in bank accounts, and regulations governing trust accounts tend to be less strict, Shinhan Bank is generally able to offer higher rates of return on trust account products than on bank deposit products.
Trust account products generally require higher minimum deposit amounts than those required by comparable bank account deposit products. Unlike bank deposit products, deposits in trust accounts are invested primarily in securities (consisting principally of debt securities and beneficiary certificate for real estate financing) and, to a lesser extent, in loans, as the relative shortage of funding sources requires that trust accounts be invested in a higher percentage of liquid assets.
Under the Banking Act, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the Trust Act, assets in trust accounts are required to be segregated from other assets of the trustee bank and are unavailable to satisfy the claims of the depositors or other creditors of such bank. Accordingly, trust accounts that are not guaranteed as to principal (or as to both principal and interest) are accounted for and reported separately from the bank accounts. See “— Supervision and Regulation.” Trust accounts are regulated by the Trust Act and the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, and most national commercial banks offer similar trust account products. Shinhan Bank earns income from trust account management services, which is recorded as net trust management fees.
As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, Shinhan Bank had total trust assets of W125,906 billion, W123,704 billion and W121,361 billion, respectively, comprised principally of securities investments of W21,913 billion, W20,521 billion and W26,631 billion, respectively; real property investments of W9,022 billion, W8,327 billion and W7,871 billion, respectively; and loans with an aggregate principal amount of W409 billion, W355 billion and W307 billion, respectively. Securities investments consisted of corporate bonds, government-related bonds and other securities, primarily commercial paper. As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, debt securities accounted for 17.0%, 16.3% and 21.7%, respectively, and equity securities constituted 0.4%, 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively, of Shinhan Bank’s total trust assets. Loans made by trust accounts are similar in type to those made by bank accounts, except that they are made only in Korean Won. As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, 83.6%, 83.2% and 82.5%, respectively, of the amount of loans from the trust accounts were collateralized or guaranteed. In making investment from funds received for each trust account, each trust product maintains investment guidelines applicable to each such product which set forth, among other things, company-, industry- and security-specific limitations.
Trust Products
In Korea, trust products typically take the form of money trusts, which are discretionary trusts over which (except in the case of a specified money trust) the trustees have investment discretion subject to applicable law
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and is commingled and managed jointly for each type of trust account. The specified money trusts are established on behalf of customers who give specific directions as to how their trust assets should be invested.
Money trusts managed by Shinhan Bank’s trust account business amounted to W69,292 billion, W72,181 billion and W81,131 billion as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Shinhan Bank offers variable rate trust products through its retail branch network. As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, Shinhan Bank’s non-principal guaranteed variable rate trust accounts amounted to W66,083 billion, W69,242 billion and W78,516 billion, respectively, and principal guaranteed variable rate trust accounts amounted to W3,208 billion, W2,938 billion and W2,615 billion, respectively. Variable rate trust accounts offer their holders variable rates of return on the principal amount of the deposits in the trust accounts and do not offer a guaranteed return on the principal of deposits, except in the limited cases of principal guaranteed variable rate trust accounts, for which payment of the principal amount is guaranteed. Shinhan Bank charges a lump sum or a fixed percentage of the assets held in such trusts as a management fee, and, depending on the trust products, is also entitled to additional fees in the event of early termination of the trusts by the customer. Korean banks, including Shinhan Bank, are currently allowed to guarantee the principal of the following types of variable rate trust account products: (i) existing individual pension trusts, (ii) new individual pension trusts, (iii) existing retirement pension trusts, (iv) new retirement pension trusts, (v) pension trusts and (vi) employee retirement benefit trusts.
Credit Card Services
Core Products and Services
We currently provide our credit card services principally through our credit card subsidiary, Shinhan Card, and to a limited extent, Jeju Bank.
Shinhan Card’s credit card and related services principally consist of the following:
credit card services, which involve providing cardholders with credit up to a preset limit to purchase products and services. Repayment for credit card purchases may be made either (i) on a lump-sum basis, namely, in full at the end of a monthly billing cycle or (ii) on a revolving basis subject to a minimum monthly payment. Currently, the outstanding credit card balance subject to the revolving basis payments generally accrues interest at the effective annual rates of approximately 5.4% to 19.9%.
cash advances, which enable the cardholders to withdraw cash subject to a preset limit from an ATM or a bank branch. Repayments for cash advances may be made either on a lump-sum basis or, in the case of credit cards issued before December 30, 2014, on a revolving basis. Currently, the lump-sum cash advances generally accrue interest at the effective annual rates of approximately 6.4% to 19.9% and the revolving cash advances generally accrue interest at a minimum rate of 6.4% to 19.9% of the outstanding balance (depending on the cardholder’s credit).
installment purchases, which provide customers with an option to purchase products and services from select merchants on an installment basis for which repayments must be made in equal amounts over a fixed term generally ranging from two to 36 months, and for certain limited types of cards, up to 30 months. Currently, the outstanding installment purchase balances generally accrue interest at the effective annual rates of approximately 9.5% to 19.9%.
card loans, which enable cardholders to receive, up to a preset limit, a loan which is generally unsecured. Repayment of card loans is made generally by (i) repaying principal and interest in equal amounts on an installment basis over a fixed term of two to 60 months, (ii) repaying the principal and interest amounts in full at maturity, or (iii) making interest-only payments during the initial grace period of six months and repaying the principal and interest amounts on a monthly installment basis over the remaining period of typically two to 30 months. Currently, the outstanding card loan balances
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generally accrue interest at the effective annual rates of approximately 5.2% to 19.9%. Delinquent credit card receivables can also be restructured into loans, which we classify as card loans, and these loans generally accrue interest at the effective annual rates of approximately 11.9% to 19.5% over a fixed term whose maximum is 72 months.
Shinhan Card offers a wide range of credit card products that are tailored to credit cardholders’ lifestyles and responsive to their preferences and needs. Credit card products offered by Shinhan Card include:
cards that provide additional benefits such as frequent flyer miles and reward program points that can be redeemed by the customer for complementary services, prices or cash;
platinum cards and other preferred membership cards, which have higher credit limits and provide additional services in return for higher annual membership fees;
cards with additional features for preferred customers, such as revolving credit cards, travel services and insurance;
cards with fraud detection and security systems to prevent the misuse of credit cards and to encourage the use of credit cards over the Internet;
corporate and “affinity” cards that are issued to employees or members of particular companies or organizations; and
mobile phone cards allowing customers to conduct wireless credit card transactions through their mobile phones.
Shinhan Card derives revenues from annual membership fees paid by credit cardholders, interest charged on credit card balances, fees and interest charged on cash advances and card loans, interest charged on late and deferred payments and merchant fees paid by retail and service establishments. Merchant fees and interest on cash advances constitute the largest source of our revenues.
The annual membership fees for credit cards vary depending on the type of credit card and the benefits offered thereunder. For standard credit cards and most of its affinity and co-branded cards, Shinhan Card charges an annual membership fee ranging from W1,000 to W2,000,000 per credit card, depending on the type of the card and the cardholder profile. Certain government affinity cards have no annual membership fee. If Shinhan Card’s customers make cash advances using ATMs of a financial institution other than Shinhan Card, Shinhan Card also charges a usage fee for such cash advances in an amount equivalent to the fees charged by such financial institution for the use of its ATM plus costs to cover Shinhan Card’s related administration expenses.
Any accounts that are unpaid when due are deemed to be delinquent accounts. Shinhan Card currently imposes a late charge equal to 3% per annum added to the delinquent accountholder’s interest rate that applied prior to the default.
Merchant discount fees, which are processing fees Shinhan Card charges to merchants, can be up to the regulatory limit of 2.3% of the purchased amount depending on the merchant used, with the average charge for credit cards being 1.38% in 2025. For small- and medium-sized merchants, the applicable regulations impose reduced fee rates of 0.4% (in the case of merchants with annual sales of W300 million or less) and 1.0% (in the case of merchants with annual sales of more than W300 million and up to W500 million) of the purchased amount. Such fee rates became effective in February 2025 and reflect the periodic recalculation of eligible costs in accordance with applicable regulations, resulting in reduced fee rates for certain small- and medium-sized preferential merchants, while remaining unchanged for most general merchants. Although the recalculation cycle for eligible costs has been extended from three years to six years, a separate committee comprised of representatives from relevant authorities and industry experts may review the need for recalculation every three years if deemed necessary. We intend to pursue strategic fee negotiations and management for general merchants, while also diversifying our revenue base by expanding installment payment, revolving credit and annual fee income in order to reduce our reliance on merchant fee revenue.
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Although making payments on a revolving basis is more common in many other countries, this payment method is still in its early stages of development in Korea. Cardholders in Korea are generally required to repay their purchases within approximately 14 to 44 days of the purchase depending on their payment cycle, except in the case of installment purchases where the repayment term is typically three to six months. Accounts that remain unpaid after this period are deemed to be delinquent, and Shinhan Card levies late charges on, and closely monitors, such accounts. For purchases made on an installment basis, Shinhan Card charges interest on unpaid amounts at rates that vary according to the terms of repayment.
Cardholders are required to settle their outstanding balances in accordance with the terms of the credit cards they hold. Cardholders are required to select the monthly settlement date when they open the credit card account and may subsequently change the settlement date but no more than once every 60 days. Settlement dates at or around the end of each month are the most popular since salaries are typically paid at the end of the month.
In addition to credit card services, Shinhan Card also offers check cards, which are similar to debit cards in the United States and many other countries, to retail and corporate customers. A check card can be used at any of the merchants that accept credit cards issued by Shinhan Card and the amount charged to a check card is directly debited from the cardholder’s designated bank account. Check cards have a low risk of default and involve minimal funding costs. Although Shinhan Card does not charge annual membership fees on a majority of its check card products, merchants are charged fees on the amount purchased using check cards at a rate between 0.15% and 2.50%, depending on the type of business, which is lower than the corresponding fee charged for credit card use.
Recently, the Financial Services Commission has permitted certain financial institutions, including Shinhan Card, to test innovative financial services. Shinhan Card obtained approval from the Financial Services Commission to conduct pilot programs for a number of such services, including, among others, the issuance of family cards for underage children. Following the completion of these pilot programs, Shinhan Card has transitioned successful programs into official services, including its rental brokerage platform and credit card-based rent payment system.
The payments market in Korea has experienced intensified competition as Internet-only banks and non-financial companies, including retail and technology companies, have steadily expanded their presence and influence in the market. In addition, regulatory developments relating to data utilization and financial platform services, including open banking and MyData, have accelerated competition beyond payment services across the broader financial services sector. As customers are increasingly able to access and use integrated financial services through a single platform, financial institutions and technology companies are focusing on digital platforms as core distribution channels to expand their customer bases. Accordingly, Shinhan Card is continuing to expand the user base of its payment platform “Shinhan SOL Pay” by leveraging “Shinhan Super SOL,” the group-wide integrated financial platform, while continuing to improve customer convenience by enhancing the quality of its services.
Other Products and Services
Shinhan Card seeks to diversify its revenue base and strengthen its long-term growth by expanding its data business and commission-based business, leveraging its big data capabilities and digital platforms.
Shinhan Card’s data business is built on its long-standing investment in big data capabilities. In 2019, Shinhan Card launched a “Super Personalization Service” utilizing a platform based on big data analysis to provide tailored services to individual customers. After obtaining a license from the Financial Services Commission as a MyData service provider, Shinhan Card has been able to utilize additional external data to further refine and enhance its personalized services. Shinhan Card has since leveraged its big data capabilities to expand its revenue-generating businesses, including MyData-based loan brokerage, big data sales, credit bureau services for small businesses and commercial real estate analysis. Shinhan Card also provides data products and
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solutions tailored to the needs of corporate and individual customers through platforms such as “GranData,” an open data collaboration platform, and “DataBada,” a data marketplace that offers data products including market trend and consumer analytics. Shinhan Card seeks to enhance the profitability and competitiveness of its data business by integrating diverse data sources, expanding data sales through affiliations with third parties and identifying new business opportunities, developing alternative credit bureau services, introducing advertising technology–related services and incorporating AI-driven technologies, as well as expanding MyData-based solutions to support its core operations, including loan brokerage. In addition, Shinhan Card promotes internal and external data exchange and integration through initiatives such as Shinhan One Data and GranData, with the goal of strengthening the group-wide digital ecosystem and enhancing its data capabilities.
Shinhan Card has also expanded its commission-based business by brokering and selling fee-based products and insurance products through internal and external distribution channels, contributing to the diversification of its revenue sources.
Customers and Merchants
The following table sets forth the number of customers of Shinhan Card and the number of merchants where Shinhan Card can be used for payment as of the dates indicated.
Shinhan Card:
Number of credit card holders(1)
Personal accounts
Corporate accounts
Active ratio(2)
Number of merchants
Represents the number of cardholders whose card use is not subject to suspension or termination as of the relevant date.
Represents the ratio of the number of accounts used at least once during the last six months to the number of total accounts as of year-end.
Installment Finance
Shinhan Card provides installment finance services to customers to facilitate purchases of durable consumer goods such as new and used cars, appliances, computers and other home electronics products. Revenues from installment finance operations accounted for 4.68% of Shinhan Card’s total operating revenue in 2025. Shinhan Card pays the merchants when Shinhan Card’s customers purchase such goods, and the customers remit monthly installment payments to Shinhan Card over a number of months, generally up to 36 months (and, in the case of installment financings for automobile purchases, up to 72 months), as agreed with the customers. Shinhan Card has installment financing arrangements with over 13,000 merchants in Korea, including major car dealers, manufacturers and large retailers with nationwide networks, such as electronics goods stores.
Shinhan Card promptly processes installment financing applications and, based on the extensive credit information it possesses or can access, it is able to offer flexible installment payment terms tailored to individual needs of the customers. Shinhan Card also devotes significant efforts to developing and maintaining its relationships with merchants, which are the most important source of referrals for installment finance customers. Shinhan Card makes prompt payments to merchants for goods purchased by the installment finance customers.
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Auto Lease
Shinhan Card provides auto leasing financing to retail customers and corporations. Revenues from auto lease operations accounted for 12.77%, 12.06% and 12.78% of Shinhan Card’s total operating revenue in 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Securities Services
Through Shinhan Securities, we provide a wide range of financial investment services to our diversified customer base, including corporations, institutional investors, governments and individuals. Financial investment services offered by Shinhan Securities range from securities services, investment advice and financial planning services, and investment banking services, such as underwriting and mergers and acquisitions advisory services. Subject to market conditions, Shinhan Securities also engages in equity- and stock index-linked derivatives sales and brokerage, proprietary trading and brokerage services for futures involving interest rates, currency and commodities as well as foreign exchange margin trading.
As of December 31, 2025, according to internal data, Shinhan Securities’ annual market share of Korean equity brokerage market was 8.44% (consisting of 2.52% in the retail segment, 0.22% in the institutional segment and 5.69% in the international segment) in terms of total brokerage volume. As of the same date, according to internal data, Shinhan Securities’ annual market shares of Korean options and futures brokerage market were 13.30% and 19.65%, respectively, in terms of total brokerage volume with respect to these products.
Products and Services
Shinhan Securities provides principally the following services:
retail client services. These services include equity and bond brokerage, investment advisory and financial planning services to retail customers, with a focus on high net-worth individuals. The fees generated include brokerage commissions for the purchase and sale of securities, asset management fees, interest income from credit extensions (including in the form of stock subscription loans), margin transaction loans and loans secured by deposited securities.
institutional client services:
brokerage services. These services include brokerage of stocks, corporate bonds, futures and options provided to Shinhan Securities’ institutional and international customers and sale of institutional financial products. These services are currently supported by a team of approximately 52 research analysts that specialize in equity, bonds and derivatives research.
investment banking services. These services include a wide array of investment banking services to Shinhan Securities’ corporate customers, such as domestic and international initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions advisory services, bond issuances, underwriting, capital increase, asset-backed securitizations, issuance of convertible bonds and bonds with warrants, structured financing, issuance of asset-backed commercial papers and project financings involving infrastructure, real estate and shipbuilding.
Shinhan Securities also engages, to a limited extent, in proprietary trading in equity and debt securities, derivative products and over-the-counter market products.
With respect to brokerage services, in light of intense competition in the domestic brokerage industry, Shinhan Securities primarily focuses on strengthening profitability through service differentiation and efficient management of its distribution network rather than enlarging its market share indiscriminately through lowering fees and commissions. Shinhan Securities’ efforts to differentiate its services include offering its customers
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opportunities to purchase stocks in a wide range of countries (currently more than 26 countries), leveraging synergy opportunities afforded by affiliation with other Shinhan entities, such as offering brokerage accounts maintained at Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Capital.
With respect to investment banking services, Shinhan Securities concentrates on equity capital markets, debt capital markets, project finance and mergers and acquisitions. To a limited extent, Shinhan Securities also engages in private equity investments through formation of private equity funds by soliciting investors on a private placement basis.
To better serve its international customers, Shinhan Securities operates four overseas service centers in Hong Kong, New York, Vietnam and Indonesia. Over the past decade, Shinhan Securities has made concerted efforts to increase the scale of its presence in these regions, including through acquisitions of local securities companies and additional injection of capital into our local subsidiaries. In July 2015, we acquired a 100% stake in Nam An Securities (subsequently launched as Shinhan Securities Vietnam Co., Ltd.), a Vietnamese securities services firm that provides investment banking and asset management services. In addition, in order to capitalize on the rapid growth opportunity and as part of its expansion efforts in Indonesia, Shinhan Securities acquired a 99% stake in PT Makinta Securities, an Indonesian investment banking firm, in July 2016 and subsequently launched it as an overseas subsidiary offering investment banking and brokerage services under the name PT Shinhan Sekuritas Indonesia in December 2016. To further expand and stabilize our global businesses, we made further capital investments totaling US$62 million in December 2017 in our subsidiaries located in Hong Kong, New York, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Life Insurance Services
We provide life insurance products and services primarily through Shinhan Life Insurance. Shinhan Life Insurance provides services through its diversified distribution channels, including financial planners, telemarketers, agency marketers and bancassurance specialists. Shinhan Life Insurance had total assets of W58,641 billion, W59,843 billion and W59,662 billion as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively, and net profit of W472 billion, W528 billion and W508 billion for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Since the merger with Orange Life Insurance in July 2021, Shinhan Life Insurance has strived to establish itself as a top-tier life insurance company, focusing on its core life insurance business, sustainable growth drivers, and excellent financial soundness, based on the vision of “NewLife, adding new values to life.”
Shinhan Life Insurance provides principally the following services:
Life insurance. Shinhan Life Insurance develops products that are marketed to customers in various age groups through tailored marketing strategies and in-depth analysis of customer databases. For example, Shinhan Life Insurance provides optimized products to meet the diverse needs of customers, including whole life and term insurance, health insurance, pension insurance, and variable life insurance.
Sales channels. Shinhan Life Insurance has a variety of online and offline sales channels, including industry-leading financial consultants, telemarketers, general agents, bancassurance and digital insurance.
As part of its efforts to expand its presence in Asia, Shinhan Life Insurance established Shinhan Life Insurance Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Vietnam, which began its business operations in January 2021 and also launched a financial consultant sales channel in Vietnam in February 2024.
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In response to the implementation of IFRS 17 in 2023, Shinhan Life Insurance has updated its management strategies, financial closing and reporting processes and internal control systems. In addition, Shinhan Life Insurance has upgraded its insurance risk measurement system in anticipation of the K-ICS, a new regulatory solvency regime for insurance companies, which also became effective in 2023. See “Item 3.D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Other Businesses — Prolonged periods of declining or low interest rates or changes in related accounting standards may reduce or turn negative our investment margin on savings insurance products and result in an increase in the valuation of our liabilities associated with these products.”
Non-Life Insurance Services
In June 2022, we acquired BNP Paribas Cardif General Insurance and changed its name to Shinhan EZ General Insurance. See “Item 4.A. History and Development of the Company — Our History and Development.” General, or non-life, insurance products offered by Shinhan EZ General Insurance include collateral protection insurance, motor insurance, SMART repair and extend warranty. Shinhan EZ General Insurance, which has been seeking to transition its business model to become a digital insurance company with limited offline operations, also offers innovative insurance products suitable for collaboration with third party businesses with advanced digital channels, such as health, injury, travel and leisure insurance products.
Credit Services
We provide leasing and equipment financing services to our corporate customers mainly through Shinhan Capital. Shinhan Capital provides customers with leasing, installment financing, new technology financing, equipment leasing, and corporate credit financing services. Shinhan Capital’s strength has traditionally been in leasing of ships, automobiles and other specialty items, but it also offers other leasing and financing services, such as corporate restructuring services for financially troubled companies, project financing for real estate and infrastructure development, corporate leasing and equipment financing.
Other Services
Through our other subsidiaries, we also provide asset management, savings banking, loan collection and credit reporting, collective investment administration and financial system development services, among others. Through Shinhan Asset Management (in addition to Shinhan Securities), which merged with Shinhan Alternative Investment Management in January 2022, we also engage in alternative investments through formation of private equity funds by soliciting investors on a private placement basis.
Asset Management Services
In addition to personalized wealth management services provided as part of our private banking and securities services, we also provide asset management services through Shinhan Asset Management, our wholly owned subsidiary. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Asset Management had assets under management amounting to W133,643 billion, which was the fourth largest among all asset managers in Korea as of such date. Shinhan Asset Management provides a wide range of investment products, including traditional equity and fixed income funds as well as alternative investment products, to retail and institutional clients. To a limited extent, Shinhan Securities also provides asset management services for discretionary accounts. See “— Securities Services.”
Savings Banking
Through Shinhan Savings Bank, we provide savings banking services in accordance with the Mutual Savings Bank Act to customers that generally would not, due to their credit profile, qualify for our commercial banking services, or who seek higher returns on their deposits than those offered by our commercial banking subsidiaries. Established in December 2011, Shinhan Savings Bank offers savings and other deposit products
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with relatively higher interest rates and loans (usually in relatively small amounts and on customer-tailored terms and including loans for which we receive credit support from the Government) primarily to small- to medium-sized enterprises and low income households who would not generally qualify for our commercial banking services. We closely monitor the business activities and product offerings of Shinhan Savings Bank to ensure its financial soundness.
Loan Collection and Credit Reporting
We centralize credit collection and credit reporting operations for our subsidiaries through Shinhan Credit Information Co., Ltd. (“Shinhan Credit Information”), which also provides similar services to third party customers. Shinhan Credit Information’s services include debt collection, credit inquiries, credit reporting, civil application and petition services and process agent services, among others. Shinhan Credit Information also manages participants in credit recovery programs and provides support to the Kookmin Happy Fund, which is a Government-established fund that supports retail borrowers with low credit scores by purchasing defaulted loans from creditors or providing credit guarantees to enable such borrowers to refinance their loans at lower rates.
Collective Investment Administration Services
We provide integrated collective investment administration services through Shinhan Fund Partners Co., Ltd. (“Shinhan Fund Partners”), which provides general management service, asset management systems, accounting systems and trading systems to asset management companies and institutional investors. The target customers for these collective investment administration services are asset managers, investment advisors and institutional investors, and Shinhan Fund Partners seeks to provide a comprehensive service package including the computation of the reference value for funds, evaluation of fund performance, provision of trading systems and fund-related legal administrative services.
Alternative Investments
To a limited extent, through Shinhan Asset Management, which merged with Shinhan Alternative Investment Management in January 2022, we also engage in private equity investments through formation of private equity funds. The private equity funds receive funding from investors on a private placement basis, which funds are then invested in alternative assets and equity securities in companies for a variety of reasons, including management control, business turnaround or corporate governance improvements.
Financial System Development Services
We provide financial system development services through Shinhan DS, which offers system integration, system management, IT outsourcing, business process outsourcing and IT consulting services.
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Asset Management
Through our wholly owned subsidiary, Shinhan REITs Management Co., Ltd., we provide real estate investment and management services to real estate investment trusts.
Real Estate Trust Services
Shinhan Asset Trust Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive real estate trust service provider, providing land development trust, management trust, proxy and agency businesses and consulting services, among others.
Venture Capital Investment
Shinhan Venture Investment Co., Ltd. is an alternative investment management firm specializing in identifying and investing in start-up companies as well as small- to medium-sized companies and also promoting the formation and operation of early stage investment funds and private equity investment funds.
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Our Distribution Network
We offer a wide range of financial services to retail and corporate customers through a variety of distribution networks and channels established by our subsidiaries. The following table presents the geographical distribution of our distribution network based on the branch offices and other distribution channels of our principal subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2025.
Distribution Channels in Korea(1)
Seoul Metropolitan Area
Gyeonggi Province
Other Major Cities:
Incheon
Busan
Gwangju
Daegu
Ulsan
Daejeon
Sub-total
Others
Total
Includes our main office and those of our subsidiaries.
Banking Service Channels
Our banking services are primarily provided through an extensive branch network, specializing in retail and corporate banking services, as complemented by self-service terminals and electronic banking, as well as an overseas services network.
As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank’s branch network in Korea comprised 650 service centers, consisting of 453 retail banking service centers (including 25 private wealth management centers and 113 retail offices), 13 large corporate banking service centers, 7 corporate banking services centers and 177 hybrid banking branches. In 2025, Shinhan Bank consolidated the majority of its corporate banking service centers with retail banking service centers as part of its strategic consolidation efforts to increase efficiency and enhance synergy between its corporate and retail services. Shinhan Bank’s banking branches are designed to provide one-stop banking services tailored to their respective target customers. In recent years, Shinhan Bank has been actively adopting digital technology to improve the operational efficiency of its banking service channels. For example, Shinhan Bank introduced digital kiosks to banking branches, established “Paperless Banking” by replacing paper applications with electronic documents, implemented a “robotic process automation system” for the automation of certain tasks and processes and increased the volume of client communications through non-face-to-face platforms.
Retail Banking Channels
In Korea, retail transactions are generally conducted with credit cards and “check cards,” which are similar to debit cards except that “check cards” are accepted by all merchants that accept credit cards and charge merchants commissions. The use of cash has declined significantly in recent years, and conventional checking accounts are generally not offered or used as widely as in other countries such as the United States. An extensive retail branch network has traditionally played an important role as the main platform for a wide range of banking
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transactions. However, a growing number of customers now predominantly use other service channels to meet their banking needs, such as Internet banking, mobile banking and other forms of non-face-to-face platforms. In response to such changes, Shinhan Bank has been focusing on reorganizing its retail branch network, including through the relocation, consolidation or closure of branches that are considered to be redundant.
In recent years, Shinhan Bank has increased its focus on targeting high net-worth individuals through private banking. Our private banking services are provided principally through private banking relationship managers who assist their clients with developing individual investment strategies. We believe that such relationship managers help us foster enduring relationships with our high-net worth clients. Private banking customers also have access to Shinhan Bank’s retail branch network and other general banking products Shinhan Bank offers through its retail banking operations.
Corporate Banking Channels
Shinhan Bank mainly provides its corporate banking services through corporate banking service centers primarily designed to serve large corporate customers and hybrid banking branches designed to serve retail as well as small-business corporate customers. Small- and medium-sized enterprises have traditionally been Shinhan Bank’s core corporate customer segment and we plan to continue to strengthen Shinhan Bank’s position vis-à-vis these customers.
Self-Service Terminals
In order to complement its banking branch network, Shinhan Bank maintains an extensive network of automated banking machines, which are located in branches and in unmanned outlets. These automated banking machines consist of ATMs, cash dispensers and passbook printers. In late 2020 and early 2021, Shinhan Bank introduced digital kiosks, including smart kiosks, digital desks and card kiosks, which together represent a new generation of automated self-service machines featuring biometric authentication technology and the ability to perform a wide range of services that were not available through traditional ATMs, such as opening new accounts, issuance of debit and check cards, foreign currency exchange and overseas remittance of foreign currency. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank had 3,919 ATMs, 237 digital desks, 307 smart kiosks, and 23 card kiosks. Shinhan Bank has actively promoted the use of these distribution outlets in order to provide convenient service to customers, as well as to maximize the marketing and sales functions at the branch level, reduce employee costs and improve profitability. In 2025, automated self-service machine transactions accounted for a substantial portion of total deposit and withdrawal transactions of Shinhan Bank in terms of the number of transactions and fee revenue generated, respectively.
Digital Banking
Shinhan Bank provides comprehensive digital banking services for both retail and corporate customers through fully integrated online and mobile platforms. Its digital channels, which were initially introduced to improve cost efficiency, have since evolved into core platform channels that drive revenue generation and enhance customer value and Shinhan Bank continues to enhance these digital channel capabilities as part of its broader strategy to strengthen its long-term competitiveness. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank had 27,907,109 subscribers to its Internet banking services and 24,656,695 users of its smart banking applications, representing an increase of 5.2% and 13.6%, respectively, compared to December 31, 2024. Shinhan Bank continues to experience a rise in the number of online and mobile banking users, as its digital channels provide customers with more convenient and straightforward access to banking services without time or location constraints, while also delivering tailored, customized services for each customer.
Through its flagship mobile application, “Shinhan SOL Bank,” Shinhan Bank offers a broad range of retail banking services that extend beyond traditional branch capabilities, including 24-hour account balance updates, real-time fund transfers, overseas remittances, and digital loan applications. The platform is integrated into our
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group-wide mobile application “Shinhan Super SOL,” which consolidates the core financial services of our subsidiaries into a single unified digital interface. Shinhan SOL Bank incorporates open banking functionality, enabling customers to view and manage assets held across multiple financial institutions within a single interface, including securities, insurance, pension, real estate and automobile assets. The application also features AI-based product recommendation tools that deliver personalized financial solutions tailored to individual customer lifestyles and investment preferences through automated analysis of digital customer data.
Shinhan Bank has also advanced digital innovation at select offline branches to create a seamless integration between its physical and digital channels. These digitally enhanced branches feature AI concierges and smart kiosks that enable customers to independently conduct a wide range of transactions, supported by digital customer support tools including live video consultations with service representatives. As an extension of these digital enhancements, Shinhan Bank opened several “AI Branches” at select locations in 2024, integrating AI technologies, including chatbots, voice recognition and automated decision-making services, into its digital finance services. The AI Branch features digital desks and kiosks designed to support non-face-to-face services, offering 24/7 financial consultations and facilitating core banking transactions. Through an AI clerk, customers can open deposit accounts, subscribe to savings and installment deposit products, issue check cards, exchange foreign currencies, and request official documents. Additionally, in 2024, Shinhan Bank enhanced its Shinhan SOL Bank platform by integrating AI-based product recommendation features, which deliver personalized financial solutions tailored to individual customer lifestyles and investment preferences through automated analysis of digital customer data. Shinhan Bank launched an AI-based virtual assistant and “R-Secretary,” an AI-driven robotic process automation assistant that Shinhan Bank’s employees can utilize to streamline internal processes and enhance internal controls and risk management.
For corporate customers, Shinhan Bank provides an integrated digital banking ecosystem centered on its web-based cash management platform, “Shinhan Bizbank,” and its mobile and online platform, “Shinhan SOL Biz.” These platforms support a comprehensive range of enterprise banking services, including transaction history inquiries, fund transfers, letters of credit and other trade finance services, payment and collection management, sales and acquisition settlement services, business-to-business settlement services, sweeping and pooling arrangements, enterprise resource planning interface services, host-to-host banking solutions, SWIFT SCORE services and global cash and liquidity management.
Furthermore, through its “Inside Bank” program, Shinhan Bank integrates Internet banking, capital management services and enterprise resource planning systems to deliver customized financial solutions tailored to the comprehensive needs of corporate customers ranging from large conglomerates to small enterprises in various industries, with the goal of enhancing convenience to our corporate customers in accessing our financial services as well as helping them strategically manage their funds. Shinhan Bank continues to enhance non-face-to-face service capabilities by offering virtual corporate fund management tools, digital funds transfer services and mobile payment solutions. In addition, expanded open banking functionality enables corporate clients to access and manage multiple corporate bank accounts held across financial institutions through a single online platform, supporting more efficient liquidity oversight and strategic fund management.
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Overseas Distribution Network
The table below sets forth Shinhan Bank’s overseas banking subsidiaries and branches as of December 31, 2025.
Business Unit
Location
Subsidiaries
Shinhan Bank Europe GmbH(1)
Shinhan Bank America
Shinhan Bank (China) Limited
Shinhan Bank (Cambodia) PLC
Shinhan Bank Kazakhstan Limited
Shinhan Bank Canada
Shinhan Bank Japan(2)
Shinhan Bank Vietnam Ltd.(3)
Banco Shinhan de Mexico(4)
PT Bank Shinhan Indonesia(5)
Branches
New York
Singapore
London
Mumbai
Hong Kong
New Delhi
Poonamallee
Pune
Manila
Dubai
Sydney
Yangon
Ahmedabad
Ranga Reddy
Representative Offices(6)
Uzbekistan
Poland(1)
Hungary(7)
Georgia(8)
Shinhan Bank Europe GmbH established a representative office in Poland in 2014.
Prior to the establishment of the subsidiary in Japan in 2009, Shinhan Bank provided banking services in Japan through a branch since 1986.
Prior to the establishment of the subsidiary in Vietnam in 2011, Shinhan Bank provided banking services in Vietnam through a branch since 1995.
Banco Shinhan de Mexico commenced operations in March 2018.
Shinhan Bank acquired a 98.01% stake in Bank Metro Express and a 100% stake in Centratama Nasional Bank, two banks in Indonesia, in November 2015 and December 2016, respectively. On March 3, 2016, Bank Metro Express obtained a license to conduct business activities in the name of PT Bank Shinhan Indonesia. Centratama Nasional Bank was merged with PT Bank Shinhan Indonesia on December 6, 2016.
Shinhan Bank’s representative office in Mexico City was closed as of July 8, 2024.
Shinhan Bank’s representative office in Hungary commenced operations on October 19, 2021.
Shinhan Bank’s representative office in Georgia, USA commenced operations on November 1, 2024.
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Our overseas banking subsidiaries and branches primarily engage in trade financing and local currency funding for Korean companies and Korean nationals in the overseas markets, as well as providing foreign exchange services in conjunction with Shinhan Bank’s headquarters. These overseas subsidiaries and branches also engage in investment and trading of securities of foreign issuers. As part of our globalization efforts, we are expanding our coverage of local customers in the overseas markets by providing a wider range of services in retail and corporate banking, and to that end, we have increasingly established subsidiaries in lieu of branches in select markets and in 2011 merged two of our banking subsidiaries in Vietnam in order to enhance our presence in the region and enable greater flexibility in our service offerings in these markets. We plan to continue to focus on organic growth, although we may selectively pursue acquisitions in markets where it is difficult to obtain local banking licenses through greenfield entry. In furtherance of this objective, Shinhan Bank acquired a 98.01% stake in Bank Metro Express and a 100% stake in Centratama Nasional Bank, two banks in Indonesia, in November 2015 and December 2016, respectively. Shinhan Bank completed the merger of the two banks in December 2016. Shinhan Bank also opened additional branches in Australia, Myanmar and India in the second half of 2016. In April 2017, Shinhan Bank Vietnam Co., Ltd. acquired ANZ Bank (Vietnam) Limited’s retail division. In 2017, Shinhan Bank became the first Korean Bank to obtain a license to set up a local subsidiary in Mexico and started local business in Mexico in March 2018. In October 2021, Shinhan Bank opened an office in Hungary, expanding Shinhan Bank’s operations in Eastern Europe. In November 2024, Shinhan Bank opened an office in Georgia, USA, further expanding Shinhan Bank’s operations in the United States. We plan to continue our efforts to expand our overseas banking service network and global operations.
Credit Card Distribution Channels
Shinhan Card primarily uses three distribution channels to attract new credit card customers: (i) its branch network and our other subsidiaries’ branch networks, (ii) sales agents and (iii) business partnerships and affiliations with vendors. In addition, Shinhan Card offers various services through its “Shinhan SOL Pay” platform, including an AI chatbot, open banking, recurring payment services and dedicated services for teenagers, and continues to strengthen the competitiveness of this platform as a customer acquisition and distribution channel.
As of December 31, 2025, the branch network for our credit card operations consisted of 650 branches of Shinhan Bank and 41 card sales branches of Shinhan Card. The use of the established distribution network of Shinhan Bank is part of the group-wide cross-selling efforts of selling credit card products to existing banking customers. In 2025, the number of new cardholders acquired through our banking distribution network accounted for approximately 23.6% of the total number of new cardholders. We believe that the banking distribution network will continue to provide a stable and low-cost venue for acquiring high-quality credit cardholders.
Sales agents represented the most significant source of Shinhan Card’s new cardholders in 2025, and the number of new cardholders acquired through sales agents accounted for approximately 17.6% of the total number of Shinhan Card’s new cardholders in 2025. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Card had 775 sales agents, who were independent contractors. These sales agents assist prospective customers with the application process and customer service. Compensation of these sales agents is generally tied to their performance results, which is measured by the number of customers introduced by them as well as the transaction volume of such customers, and we believe this system helps to enhance profitability.
As a way of acquiring new cardholders, Shinhan Card also has business partnership and affiliation arrangements with a number of vendors, including gas stations, major retailers, airlines and telecommunication and Internet service providers. Shinhan Card plans to continue to leverage its alliances with such vendors to attract new cardholders.
As part of a group-wide initiative to streamline our operations and create a digital-friendly business platform, Shinhan Card has strategically expanded its digital platforms. In October 2021, Shinhan Card launched “Shinhan SOL Pay”, a mobile platform providing consolidated financial and non-financial services. In addition
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to providing traditional financial services such as payment, open banking and asset management as well as services provided through traditional customer service means such as call centers and website applications, Shinhan SOL Pay also offers a variety of non-financial content including entertainment, shopping, personal certificates and memberships in order to better provide customized financial services aimed at meeting the comprehensive needs of customers. In addition to providing traditional payment services, Shinhan SOL Pay utilizes digital technology such as AI and big data to provide personalized services tailored to individual users and integrated access across services provided by various merchants and affiliates.
Since establishing its first overseas subsidiary in Kazakhstan in November 2014, Shinhan Card has further expanded its presence in the overseas credit financing market through acquisitions of financing companies in Indonesia in 2015 and Vietnam in 2018, as well as the establishment of a local subsidiary in Myanmar in 2016. Such local subsidiaries have grown significantly since their inception or acquisition by us, and Shinhan Card intends to continue to pursue their stable growth and improvements in financial performance through the introduction of new financing products as well as partnerships with local businesses and our other subsidiaries, including Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities.
Securities Brokerage Distribution Channels
Our securities services are conducted principally through Shinhan Securities. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Securities had 60 service centers nationwide, and four overseas subsidiaries based in Hong Kong, New York, Vietnam and Indonesia to service our corporate customers.
Approximately 71% of our brokerage branches are located in the Seoul metropolitan area with a focus on attracting high net-worth individual customers as well as enhancing synergy with our retail and corporate banking branch network. We plan to continue to explore new business opportunities, particularly in the corporate customer segment, through further cooperation between Shinhan Securities and Shinhan Bank.
Insurance Sales and Distribution Channels
We sell and provide our insurance services primarily through Shinhan Life Insurance. In addition to distributing bancassurance products through our bank branches, Shinhan Life Insurance also distributes a wide range of life insurance products through its own branch network, agency network of financial planners and telemarketers, as well as through the Internet and mobile channels. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Life Insurance operated 237 branches and one customer support center. These branches are staffed by financial planners, telemarketers, agent marketers and bancassurance agents to meet the various needs of our insurance and lending customers. Our group-wide customer support centers arrange for policy loans (namely loans secured by the cash surrender value of the underlying insurance policy) for our insurance customers and, to a limited extent, other loans to other customers, and also handle insurance payments.
Information Technology
We dedicate substantial resources to maintaining a sophisticated information technology system to support our operations management and provide high quality customer service. Our information and technology system is operated at a group-wide level based on comprehensive group-wide information collection and processing. We also operate a single group-wide enterprise information technology system known as “enterprise data warehouse” for customer relations management capabilities, risk management systems and data processing. We continually upgrade our group-wide information technology system in order to apply the best-in-class technology to our risk management systems to reflect the changes in our business environment as well as enhance differentiation from our competitors.
We operate two data centers that are responsible for the comprehensive management of information technology systems for our subsidiaries on a group-wide basis. The information technology systems and data of
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the subsidiaries are backed up on a real-time basis in both data centers, reducing the probability of losing data or experiencing material disruption of our financial services even if an issue were to occur in one of these locations. Since 2023, Shinhan Data Center has implemented an AI-based cyber threat detection system that utilizes big data to identify abnormities and help us promptly respond to cyber attacks.
In order to enhance the security and reliability of our financial services, we have continually strengthened our information security systems to better protect our customers’ financial assets. We believe that such improvements have enabled our fraud detection systems to prevent a substantial volume of voice phishing and other fraudulent activities. In addition, we respond to cyber intrusions on a real-time basis through our group-wide security monitoring operations. See “Item 16K. Cybersecurity.”
At the subsidiary level, we continue to increase investment in information and communication technologies (“ICT”) to improve the quality of customer service in line with evolving market trends. Accordingly, we have expanded the services offered on our digital platforms to better meet customer needs. For example, in October 2022, Shinhan Bank revamped its “Shinhan SOL Bank” mobile application to enhance overall usability, significantly improving processing speed and introducing features such as a customizable home screen and user-editable transaction records. Shinhan Card’s “Shinhan SOL Pay” improved its in-app customer support and increased the range of payment options available to its users by launching the open pay service, which enables users to register and make payments with credit cards issued by other credit card companies, and Shinhan Securities’ “Shinhan SOL Securities” also implemented a more customer-friendly user experience. Shinhan Life also launched “Shinhan SOL Life,” an all-in-one insurance service platform.
In December 2023, in order to further improve customer experience and convenience, we launched Super SOL, an integrated Group-wide mobile application that provides a wide range of integrated services currently offered by members of Shinhan Financial Group. Additionally, as part of our ICT modernization strategy, we plan on continuing to strengthen our ICT capabilities based on utilization of public cloud and AI technology.
Competition
In the small- and medium-sized enterprise and retail banking segments, which have been Shinhan Bank’s traditional core businesses, competition is expected to increase further. In recent years, Korean banks, including Shinhan Bank, have increasingly focused on stable asset growth based on quality credit, such as corporate borrowers with high credit ratings, loans to SOHOs with high levels of collateralization, and mortgage and home equity loans within the limits of the prescribed loan-to-value ratios and debt-to-income ratios. This common shift in focus toward stable growth based on lower-risk assets has intensified competition as banks compete for the same limited pool of quality credit by engaging in price competition or by other means. In addition, such competition may result in lower net interest margin and reduced overall profitability. Even if interest rates were
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to increase, the effect on Shinhan Bank’s results of operations may not be as beneficial as expected, or at all, due to factors such as increased volatility of market interest rates and tighter regulations regarding SOHO loans. For additional details on the impact changes in interest rates have on our business, see “— Changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, bond and equity prices, and other market factors have affected and will continue to affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.” Furthermore, if competing financial institutions seek to expand market share by lowering their lending rates, Shinhan Bank may suffer customer loss, especially among customers who select their lenders principally on the basis of lending rates. In response thereto or for other strategic reasons, Shinhan Bank may lower its lending rates to stay competitive, which could lead to a further decrease in its net interest margins and outweigh any potential positive impact on the net interest margin from a general rise in market interest rates. Any future decline in Shinhan Bank’s customer base or its net interest margins could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Consolidation among our competitors and the Government’s privatization efforts may also add competition in the markets in which we and our subsidiaries conduct business. In January 2019, Woori Financial Group was established pursuant to a comprehensive stock transfer under the Korean Commercial Code whereby holders of the common stock of Woori Bank and certain of its subsidiaries transferred all of their shares to Woori Financial Group (the new financial holding company) and in return received shares of Woori Financial Group. As a result, Woori Bank and certain of its former wholly-owned subsidiaries became direct and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Woori Financial Group. The Korea Deposit Insurance Corp., which in 2021 owned 17.25% of the outstanding common stock of Woori Financial Group, has since sold all of its remaining shares and, as of the date of this annual report, holds no ownership interest in Woori Financial Group. In the asset management business sector, Woori Financial Group acquired two asset management companies, Tongyang Asset Management and ABL Global Asset Management (former Allianz Global Investors) in 2019. In the life insurance sector, KB Financial Group completed the acquisition of Prudential Life Insurance, the former Korean unit of Prudential Financial Inc., in August 2021, and Woori Financial Group acquired 75.3% of the shares of TONGYANG Life Insurance Co., Ltd. and 100.0% of the shares of ABL Life Insurance Co., Ltd. in July 2025. Any of these developments may place us at a competitive disadvantage and outweigh any potential benefit to us in the form of opportunities to attract new customers dissatisfied with the level of services at the newly reorganized entities or to provide
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credit facilities to corporate customers who wish to maintain relationships with a wide range of banks in order to diversify their sources of funding. We expect consolidation and other structural changes in the financial industry to continue, which may intensify competition as larger and more diversified institutions exert increased pricing pressure, potentially reducing margins and adversely affecting our future profitability.
Regulatory reforms and the general modernization of business practices in Korea have also led to increased competition among financial institutions in Korea. Since 2019, commercial banks, including Shinhan Bank, as well as fintech companies, have offered open banking services that allow customers to access, and transact through, accounts held at multiple financial institutions, reducing customer reliance on any single bank. In addition, the MyData service, which was launched in 2020, allows financial institutions that have been approved by the Financial Service Commission as MyData service providers to collect, aggregate and manage (upon the customers’ request and subject to compliance requirements) customers’ personal, credit and transaction data so that customers can easily access such data in one place. Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Card have each obtained a license from the Financial Services Commission to operate as a MyData service provider. Shinhan Bank launched its MyData business in January 2021, followed by Shinhan Card in December 2021. As of December 31, 2025, the Financial Services Commission has granted licenses to 60 companies to operate as MyData service providers, 19 of which are fintech or IT firms. In May 2023, the Government launched a platform where consumers can compare loan products from various financial institutions and apply for debt consolidation on a single platform, which was expanded in January 2024 to include mortgage and long-term deposit-based rental loans. Further expansion to additional loan products may further intensify competition among commercial banks in Korea. In recent years, the Financial Services Commission announced various measures designed to encourage competition within the banking industry, including its intention to issue more banking licenses (including those for Internet-only banks) and actively permitting the conversion of existing regional or savings banks into nationwide commercial banks. For example, in May 2024, the Financial Services Commission approved DGB Daegu Bank’s application to convert from a regional bank into a nationwide commercial bank. DGB Daegu Bank subsequently became Korea’s seventh commercial bank and rebranded itself as iM Bank in June 2024.
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Description of Assets and Liabilities
Loans
As of December 31, 2025, our total gross loan portfolio was W469,768 billion, which represented an increase of 3.2% from W455,125 billion as of December 31, 2024. The increase in our portfolio primarily reflected a 2.9% increase in corporate loans and a 4.5% increase in retail loans, which increases were offset in part by a 0.8% decrease in credit card loans.
Asset Quality Ratios
Total gross loans
Total allowance for credit losses on loans
Allowance for credit losses on loans as a percentage of total loans
Impaired loans(1)
Impaired loans as a percentage of total loans
Allowance as a percentage of impaired loans
Total non-performing loans(2)
Non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans
Allowance as a percentage of total assets
Impaired loans include (i) loans for which the borrower has defaulted under Basel standards applicable during the relevant period and (ii) loans that have been subject to debt restructuring due to the borrower’s financial difficulties during the relevant period.
Non-performing loans are defined as loans, whether corporate or retail, that are past due by more than 90 days.
Loan Types
The following table presents our loans by type as of the dates indicated. Except where specified otherwise, all loan amounts stated below are before deduction of allowance for credit losses on loans and deferred loan origination costs and fees. Total loans reflect our loan portfolio, including past due amounts.
Domestic:
Corporate
Corporate loans(2)
Public and other(3)
Loans to banks(4)
Lease financing
Total — Corporate
Retail
Mortgages and home equity
Other retail(5)
Total — Retail
Credit cards
Total domestic
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Foreign:
Total foreign
Total loans(6)
Loan amounts include loans at amortized cost and loans at fair value classified in accordance with IFRS 9. Corporate loans include loans at fair value in the amount of W1,759 billion, W1,880 billion and W1,415 billion as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Consists primarily of working capital loans, general purpose loans, bills purchased and trade-related notes and excludes loans to public institutions and commercial banks.
Consists of working capital loans and loan facilities to public institutions and non-profit organizations.
Consists of interbank loans and call loans.
Consists of general unsecured loans and loans secured by collateral other than housing to retail customers.
As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, 87.2%, 86.5% and 86.2% of our total gross loans, respectively, were Won-denominated.
Loan Portfolio
The total exposure of us or our banking subsidiaries to any single borrower and exposure to any single group of companies belonging to the same conglomerate is limited by law to 25% of the Net Total Equity Capital (as defined in “— Supervision and Regulation”).
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Loan Concentration by Industry
The following table shows the aggregate balance of our corporate loans by industry as of December 31, 2025.
Industry
Manufacturing
Real estate, leasing and service
Retail and wholesale
Finance and insurance
Hotel and leisure
Transportation, storage and communication
Construction
Other service(1)
Other(2)
Includes other service industries such as publication, media and education.
Includes other industries such as agriculture, forestry, mining, electricity and gas.
Maturity Analysis
The following table sets out the scheduled maturities (presented in terms of time remaining until maturity) of our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2025. The amounts below are before allowance for credit losses on loans and deferred loan origination costs and fees. In the case of installment payment loans, maturities have been adjusted to take into account the timing of installment payments.
Corporate:
Corporate loans
Public and other
Loans to banks
Total corporate
Retail:
Mortgage and home equity
Other retail
Total retail
Total loans
Includes overdue loans.
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We may roll over our corporate loans (primarily consisting of working capital loans and facilities loans) and retail loans (to the extent not payable in installments) after conducting our standard loan reviews in accordance with our loan review procedures. Working capital loans may generally be extended on an annual basis for an aggregate term of up to five years. Facilities loans, which are generally secured, may generally be extended on an annual basis for a maximum of 15 years from the initial loan date. Retail loans may be extended for additional terms of up to 12 months for an aggregate term of 10 years from the initial loan date for both unsecured loans and secured loans, except that mortgage and home equity loans can be extended for up to 30 years in the aggregate.
Interest Rate Sensitivity
The following table presents a breakdown of our loans in terms of interest rate sensitivity as of December 31, 2025.
Fixed rate loans(2)
Total fixed rate loans
Variable rate loans(3)
Total variable rate loans
Fixed rate loans are loans for which the interest rate is fixed for the entire term of the loan.
Variable or adjustable rate loans are for which the interest rate is not fixed for the entire term of the loan.
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For additional information regarding our management of interest rate risk, see “Risk Management.”
Credit Exposures to Companies in Workout and Recovery Proceedings
Our credit exposures to restructuring are monitored and managed by our Corporate Credit Support Department. As of December 31, 2025, 0.02% of our total loans, or W116 billion (of which W106 billion was classified as nonaccrual and W10 billion was classified as accruing), was under restructuring. As of such date, the total amount under restructuring consisted of W19 billion related to workouts, W87 billion related to recovery proceedings, and W10 billion related to others, principally consisting of credit rehabilitation programs subject to corporate turnaround or reorganization, which is based on voluntary agreements between the relevant parties (excluding workout and recovery proceedings).
Loans in the process of workout, recovery proceedings or the like are reported as nonaccrual loans on Shinhan Bank’s statements of financial position since generally, they are past due by more than 90 days and interest does not accrue on such loans. Restructured loans are reported as either loans or securities on Shinhan Bank’s statements of financial position depending on the type of instrument it receives as a result of the restructuring.
Workout
The Corporate Restructuring Promotion Act (the “CRPA”), which was most recently implemented on December 26, 2023 (scheduled to expire on December 25, 2026), governs creditor-led corporate restructuring procedures. If the “main Creditor Financial Institution,” which is defined under the CRPA as the principal creditor bank (or if there is no principal creditor bank, the bank that has provided the largest amount of credit), of a Failing Company (as defined below) provides notice convening a meeting of the Creditor Committee (as defined below) on or before December 25, 2026, any proceedings commenced by such committee would remain subject to the CRPA after December 25, 2026 until such proceedings are completed or discontinued.
The CRPA applies to financial creditors (each, a “Financial Creditor”) that have financial claims against a debtor company arising from the provision of credit, either directly or indirectly, which includes any transaction designated by the Financial Services Commission as falling within certain specified categories. A “Failing Company” under the CRPA means a debtor company deemed by its main Creditor Financial Institution to have difficulty repaying its financial obligations without external financial support or additional loans (excluding loans obtained in the ordinary course of business).
Once a debtor company is notified by its main Creditor Financial Institution that it has been classified as a Failing Company, it may submit a business restructuring plan and a list of Financial Creditors and apply for the commencement of a management procedure to be conducted by either a committee of Financial Creditors (the “Creditor Committee”) or the main Creditor Financial Institution.
If the main Creditor Financial Institution of a Failing Company determines that the Failing Company may be rehabilitated, it must either convene the first meeting of the Creditor Committee to determine whether the committee will manage the company or assume management of the company directly. If the first meeting of the Creditor Committee is convened, Financial Creditors may be required to grant a moratorium on the enforcement of claims until the end of the meeting and may approve an additional moratorium for a limited period following commencement of the management procedure. Upon commencement of the management procedure, the main Creditor Financial Institution must prepare a corporate restructuring plan based on an investigation of the Failing Company’s financial condition and submit such plan to the Creditor Committee for approval. If the plan is not approved before the moratorium expires, the Creditor Committee’s management of the Failing Company is deemed to have terminated.
Resolutions of the Creditor Committee are generally adopted by an approval of the Financial Creditors representing at least 75% of the outstanding credit of the Financial Creditors who constitute the Creditor
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Committee; provided that if a single Financial Creditor holds at least 75% of the outstanding credit, the resolution shall be passed by an approval of not less than 40% of the total number of the Financial Creditors who constitute the Creditor Committee, including such single Financial Creditor. An additional approval of the Financial Creditors holding interests in 75% or more of the total amount of the secured claims owned by the Financial Creditors constituting the Creditor Committee against the Failing Company is required with respect to the debt rescheduling of the Failing Company. A Financial Creditor that opposes certain resolutions may require the approving Financial Creditors to purchase its outstanding claims, with the purchase price and terms determined by agreement or, if no agreement is reached, through a coordination committee established under the CRPA.
Recovery Proceedings
Under the Debtor Rehabilitation and Bankruptcy Act, which took effect in April 2006, court receiverships have been replaced with recovery proceedings. In a recovery proceeding, unlike court receivership proceedings where the management of the debtor company was vested in a court-appointed receiver, the existing chief executive officer of the debtor company may continue to manage the debtor company, provided that (i) there was no fraudulent conveyance or concealment of assets, (ii) the financial failure of the debtor company was not due to gross negligence of such chief executive officer, and (iii) no creditors’ meeting was convened to request, based on reasonable cause, a court-appointed receiver to replace such chief executive officer. A recovery proceeding may be commenced by any insolvent debtor. Furthermore, in an effort to meet global standards, international bankruptcy procedures have been introduced in Korea, where a receiver of a foreign bankruptcy proceeding may, upon receiving Korean court approval of the ongoing foreign bankruptcy proceeding, apply for or participate in a Korean bankruptcy proceeding. Similarly, a receiver in a domestic recovery proceeding or a bankruptcy trustee is allowed to perform its duties in a foreign jurisdiction where the debtor’s assets are located, subject to applicable foreign law.
Credit Rehabilitation Programs for Delinquent Consumer and Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise Borrowers
In light of the gradual increase in delinquencies in credit card and other consumer credit, the Government has implemented a number of measures intended to support the rehabilitation of delinquent borrowers. These measures may affect the amount and timing of our collections and recoveries on our delinquent consumer credits.
The Credit Counseling and Recovery Service offers two programs for individual debtors: the pre-workout program and the individual workout program, both of which are available to individuals with total debt amounts of W1.5 billion or less (secured debt amount of W1 billion or less and unsecured debt amount of W500 million or less). The pre-workout program is offered to individuals whose delinquency period is between 31 days and 89 days, and the individual workout program is offered to individuals whose delinquency period is 90 days or more. In addition, in April 2023, a temporary special debt adjustment scheme was implemented for individuals with an annual income not exceeding W45 million and total debt not exceeding W1.5 billion. This scheme applies to individual debtors who submitted applications by December 31, 2025, and specifically targets individuals at risk of default or those who have been delinquent for 30 days or less. Furthermore, the scope of the liquidation-type debt adjustment program was expanded in January 2026 to provide additional relief to financially vulnerable debtors. Under this program, the remaining debt of certain vulnerable individuals, including basic livelihood security recipients, persons with severe disabilities and senior citizens aged 70 or older, may be discharged if the debtor has (i) diligently made repayments for at least three years following the finalization of the Credit Recovery Committee’s debt adjustment and (ii) repaid at least 50% of the adjusted debt amount. The maximum eligible debt amount under this program also increased from W15 million to W50 million. When an individual debtor applies for the temporary special debt adjustment scheme, the pre-workout or individual workout program, the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service reviews and resolves on a debt restructuring plan. Once the creditor financial institutions that are parties to a credit recovery support agreement with the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service and that hold a majority of the unsecured and secured claims against the relevant individual debtor agree to the plan, such plan becomes effective, and debt
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restructuring measures, such as extension of maturities, adjustments of interest rates or reductions of the debt amount, are implemented in accordance with the applicable program.
Under the Debtor Rehabilitation and Bankruptcy Act, a qualified individual debtor with outstanding debts in an aggregate amount not exceeding threshold amounts of W1 billion of unsecured debt and/or W1.5 billion of secured debt may restructure his or her debts through a court-supervised debt restructuring that is binding on creditors.
Once a borrower is deemed to be eligible to participate in the pre-workout program, we promptly sell the collateral underlying such borrower’s secured loans to mitigate our losses, and we may restructure such borrower’s unsecured loans (regardless of their type) as follows:
Extension of maturity: Based on considerations of the type of loan, the total loan amount, the repayment amount and the probability of repayment, the maturity of unsecured loans may be extended by up to 10 years and the maturity of secured loans may be extended by up to 20 years with a grace period not exceeding three years.
Interest rate adjustment: The interest rate of unsecured loans may be adjusted to 30% to 70% of the original interest rate within the range of the highest interest rate of 8% per annum and the lowest interest rate of 3.25% per annum; provided that if the original interest rate is less than 3.25% per annum, no adjustment would apply. The adjusted interest rate applies to the principal amount following any adjustment thereto as part of the pre-workout program, and no interest would accrue on the interest already accrued or fees payable.
Debt forgiveness: Debt forgiveness under the pre-workout program is limited to the default interest.
Deferral: If the foregoing three measures are deemed to be insufficient in terms of providing meaningful assistance to a qualifying borrower due to layoff, unemployment, business closure, disaster or loss of earnings, loan repayment may be deferred for a maximum of three years, provided that the pre-workout committee may extend such deferral period every six months, for a period not exceeding six months, upon the borrower’s application. The deferral period is not counted toward the repayment period, and interest accrues at 2% per annum during the deferral period.
In 2025, the aggregate amount of our retail credit (including credit card receivables) which became subject to the pre-workout program was W473 billion. We believe that our participation in such pre-workout program has not had a material impact on the overall asset quality of our retail loans and credit card portfolio or on our results of operations and financial condition to date.
Provisioning Policy
We conduct periodic, systematic and detailed reviews of our loan portfolios to identify credit risks and to establish the overall allowance for credit losses on loans. Our management believes that the allowance for credit losses on loans provides an accurate estimate of the expected credit losses (“ECL”) as of the date of each statement of financial position.
On each reporting date, we assess whether the credit risk of a financial instrument has increased significantly since the initial recognition. When making such assessment, we use the change in the risk of a default occurring over the expected lifetime of the financial instrument instead of the change in the amount of
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ECL. Upon assessment, each asset is classified as being in one of the following three stages, which is used as the basis of calculating the loss allowances at the 12-month ECL or the lifetime ECL, depending on the stage.
Category
Provision for credit loss allowance
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
To make that assessment, we compare the risk of default of the financial instrument as at the reporting date with such risk of default as at the date of initial recognition, taking into account reasonable supporting information that is available without undue cost or effort and is indicative of significant increases in credit risk since the initial recognition. Supporting information also includes historical default data held by us and analysis conducted by internal credit risk rating specialists.
We assign an internal credit risk rating to each individual exposure based on observable data and historical experiences that have been found to have a reasonable correlation with the risk of default. The internal credit risk rating is determined by considering both qualitative and quantitative factors that indicate the risk of default, which may vary depending on the nature of the exposure and the type of borrower.
We accumulate information after analyzing the information regarding exposure to credit risk and default information by the type of product and borrower as well as results of internal credit risk assessment. For some portfolios, we use information obtained from external credit rating agencies when performing these analyses.
We apply statistical techniques to estimate (i) the probability of default for the remaining lifetime of the exposure from the accumulated data and (ii) changes in the estimated probability of default over time.
We determine whether a significant increase in credit risk has occurred by applying portfolio-specific indicators, which generally include changes in the estimated risk of default based on movements in internal credit ratings, qualitative factors and days past due, among other factors.
We consider a financial asset to be in default if it meets one or more of the following conditions:
if a borrower is overdue 90 days or more from the contractual payment date; or
if we determine that it is not possible to recover the principal and interest amounts without enforcing the collateral on a financial asset.
We use the following indicators when determining whether a borrower is in default:
qualitative factors, such as breaches of contractual terms;
quantitative factors, including a borrower’s failure to perform one or more payment obligations, the number of days past due for each obligation, and, for certain portfolios, the number of days past due for each financial instrument; and
internal and external data.
The definition of default applied by us generally conforms to the definition of default defined for regulatory capital management purposes. However, depending on the situation, the information used to determine whether default has occurred and the extent thereof may vary.
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We measure ECL on a forward-looking basis, and ECL reflects information presented by internal experts based on a variety of sources. For purposes of estimating such forward-looking information, we utilize economic outlook and projections published by domestic and overseas research institutes or government and public agencies.
In measuring ECLs, we incorporate forward-looking macroeconomic conditions based on unbiased and neutral assumptions. Our ECL estimates reflect the most likely economic scenarios and are based on the same assumptions used in our business plan and management strategy. Key variables used in measuring ECLs are as follows:
Probability of default (“PD”);
Loss given default (“LGD”); and
Exposure at default (“EAD”)
These variables are estimated using historical data and internally developed statistical techniques, and are adjusted to incorporate forward-looking information. In measuring ECLs on financial assets, Shinhan Bank applies an ECL measurement period based on the contractual maturity of the relevant instruments, taking into account any extension rights held by the borrower when determining such contractual maturity.
Risk factors such as PD, LGD and EAD are collectively estimated according to the following criteria:
Type of products;
Internal credit risk rating;
Type of collateral;
Loan-to-value ratio;
Industry of the borrower;
Location of the borrower or collateral; and
Days of delinquency.
The criteria for grouping are periodically reviewed to ensure group homogeneity and are adjusted as necessary. Where internal historical data for a particular portfolio are insufficient, we supplement such information with relevant external benchmark data.
Credit Cards
Prior to 2017, we established an allowance for our credit card portfolio using a roll-rate model. In December 2016, the Financial Supervisory Service granted Shinhan Card final approval to use the internal model approach. In 2017, Shinhan Card completed the establishment of the IFRS loan loss calculation system, and transitioned from a roll-rate model to the internal model approach to calculate its loan losses.
The internal model approach calculates default rates and LGD separately for different customers segements, based on both customer characteristics and product features. The internal model approach disaggregates customers into more than twice as many segments as does the roll-rate model. Whereas the roll-rate model does not differentiate between customers with higher and lower risks of default when calculating roll rates, the internal model approach allows for a more sophisticated calculation of loan loss that reflects the customers’ credit ratings.
Our general policy is to be proactive in our collection procedures by emphasizing collections at early stages of delinquency, while progressively intensifying collection efforts as the delinquency period increases. Efforts to collect from cardholders whose account balances are up to 30 days past due are generally made by our credit support centers at Shinhan Card.
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For credit card accounts that are more than 30 days past due, we generally assign collection to collection companies such as Shinhan Credit Information, a subsidiary of ours, and Mirae Credit Information. For credit card accounts that are charged off, we outsource collection to collection companies such as Shinhan Credit Information, Mirae Credit Information Services Corp. and Koryo Credit Information. These collection companies contact cardholders for payment via email, phone and in-person visits, and if necessary, offer payment support programs, including refinancing and loan reduction. They may also conduct legal procedures to locate the accountholder’s sources of income and real estate assets in preparation for compulsory execution proceedings.
Loan Aging Schedule
The following table shows our loan aging schedule (excluding accrued interest) for all of our loans as of the dates indicated.
As of December 31,
2023
2024
2025
Non-Performing Loans
Non-performing loans are defined as loans past due by more than 90 days. The following table shows, as of the dates indicated, the amount of our total non-performing loans and the percentage of such loans to our total loans.
Total non-performing loans
As a percentage of total loans
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Analysis of Non-Performing Loans
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the total non-performing loans by borrower type.
Includes loans past due by more than 90 days.
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Non-Performing Loans by Industry
The following table sets forth a breakdown of our non-performing corporate loans by industry as of December 31, 2025.
Top 20 Non-Performing Loans
As of December 31, 2025, our 20 largest non-performing loans accounted for 21.7% of our total non-performing loan portfolio. The following table shows, at the date indicated, certain information regarding our 20 largest non-performing loans.
As of December 31, 2025
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Non-Performing Loan Strategy
One of our primary objectives is to prevent our loans from becoming non-performing. Through our corporate credit rating system, which is designed to prevent our loan officers from extending new loans to borrowers with high credit risks based on the borrower’s credit rating, we seek to reduce credit risk related to future non-performing loans. Our early warning system is designed to bring any sudden increase in a borrower’s credit risk to the attention of our loan officers, who then closely monitor such loans.
If a loan becomes non-performing notwithstanding such preventive mechanism, an officer at the branch level responsible for monitoring non-performing loans will commence due diligence on the borrower’s assets, send a notice demanding payment or a notice that we would take or prepare for legal action.
Simultaneously, we also initiate our non-performing loan management process, which consists of the following:
identifying loans subject to a proposed sale by assessing the estimated losses from such sale based on the estimated recovery value of collateral, if any, for such non-performing loans;
identifying loans subject to charge-off based on the estimated recovery value of collateral, if any, for such non-performing loans and the estimated rate of recovery of unsecured loans; and
to a limited extent, identifying commercial loans subject to normalization efforts based on the cash-flows of the borrower.
Once the details of a non-performing loan are identified, we take early action for recovery. Actual recovery efforts for non-performing loans are handled by the relevant department, depending on the nature of such loans and the borrower, among others. The officers or agents of the responsible departments and units use a variety of methods to collect non-performing loans, including:
making phone calls and paying visits to the borrower to request payment;
continuing to assess and evaluate assets of our borrowers; and
if necessary, initiating legal action, including foreclosures, attachment and litigation.
In order to promote speedy recovery of loans subject to foreclosures and litigation, the branch responsible for handling these loans may transfer them to the relevant unit at our headquarters.
Our policy is to commence legal action within one month after default on promissory notes and four months after delinquency of payment on our other types of loans. For loans to insolvent or bankrupt borrowers or when we conclude that it is not possible to recover through normal procedures, we take prompt legal action regardless of the grace period.
In addition to making efforts to collect on our non-performing loans, we take other measures to reduce the level of our non-performing loans, including:
selling non-performing loans to third parties, including the Korea Asset Management Corporation;
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entering into asset-backed securitization transactions with respect to our non-performing loans;
managing retail loans that are past due by three months or more through Shinhan Credit Information under an agency agreement; and
using third-party collection agencies such as credit information companies to collect on our non-performing loans.
In 2025, we sold non-performing loans in the amount of W255 billion to third parties, including W85 billion transferred to UAMCO, Ltd., an investment management company. Loans transferred to third parties meet the criteria of true sale and are derecognized accordingly.
The following table presents a roll-forward of our non-performing loans in 2025.
Non-performing loans as of December 31, 2024
Additional non-performing loans due to delinquency
Loans sold
Loans charged off
Other adjustments(1)
Non-performing loans as of December 31, 2025
Represents loans paid down or paid off and loans returned to performing. We do not separately collect or analyze data relating to non-performing loans other than those that were sold or charged off.
Loan Charge-offs
Our gross charge-offs, including amortization of discount and disposal, increased by 31.1% from W1,996 billion in 2024 to W2,616 billion in 2025, primarily due to an increase in the amount of charge-offs for corporate loans and credit card loans in 2025 compared to 2024. The increase in the amount of charge-offs for corporate loans in 2025 was primarily attributable to write-offs related to credit exposures, including real estate project financing exposures, as part of Shinhan Investment & Securities’ efforts to proactively manage its asset quality, while the increase in the amount of charge-offs for credit card loans in 2025 was mainly driven by Shinhan Card’s continued adherence to a policy of proactively writing off non-performing loans. Our gross charge-offs, including amortization of discount and disposal, increased by 12.3% from W1,777 billion in 2023 to W1,996 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in the amount of charge-offs for corporate loans and credit card loans in 2024 compared to 2023. The increase in the amount of charge-offs for corporate loans in 2024 was primarily due to write-offs for real estate-related corporate loans resulting from the deterioration of project financing loans as a measure taken by Shinhan Capital to manage financial soundness, while the increase in the amount of charge-offs for credit card loans in 2024 was mainly driven by Shinhan Card’s continued adherence to a policy of proactively writing off non-performing loans.
In 2025, the charge-off on restructured loans amounted to W36 billion. With respect to a loan that we consider to be uncollectible regardless of any modification of terms, we convert a portion of such loan into equity securities following negotiation with the borrower and charge off the remainder of such loan. The equity securities so converted are recorded at fair value, based on the market value of such securities if available or the appraisal value of such securities by an outside appraiser if a market value is unavailable. In 2025, we did not restructure any loans into equity securities.
We strive to minimize loans to be charged off by practicing a robust credit approval process based on credit risk analysis prior to extending loans and a systematic management of outstanding loans.
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Loans to be Charged-off
Loans are charged off if they are deemed to be uncollectible by falling under any of the following categories:
loans for which collection is not foreseeable due to insolvency or bankruptcy, dissolution or the termination of the debtor’s business;
loans for which collection is not foreseeable due to the death or disappearance of the debtor;
loans for which collection expenses exceed the collectible amount;
loans for which collection is not possible through legal or any other means;
payments in arrears in respect of credit cards that are overdue for more than six months;
payments outstanding on unsecured retail loans that are overdue for more than 12 months;
payments in arrears in respect of leases that are overdue for more than 12 months;
the portion of loans classified as “estimated loss,” net of any recovery from collateral, which is deemed to be uncollectible; or
domestic loans that are required by the Financial Supervisory Service to be charged off, or loans held by our foreign subsidiaries or branches for which a charge-off or special provisioning is required by the relevant regulatory authority.
Timeline for Charge-off
Shinhan Bank’s loans to be charged off must be charged off within one year of the month they are deemed to be uncollectible. If such loans are not charged off within one year, the reason for the delay must be reported to Shinhan Bank’s Audit Department.
Procedure for Charge-off Approval
An application for Shinhan Bank’s loans to be charged-off is submitted by the relevant branch or department to the Credit Collection Department. The Credit Collection Department refers the application to the Audit Department for its review to ensure compliance with Shinhan Bank’s internal procedures for charge-offs. The Credit Collection Department, after reviewing the application to confirm that it meets relevant requirements, seeks approval from the Financial Supervisory Service for the charge-offs, which is typically granted. Once the Financial Supervisory Service provides its approval (except for household loans with estimated losses of W10 million or less, whose charge-off is considered automatically approved by the Financial Supervisory Service), loans are charged off upon approval by the President of Shinhan Bank. As for Shinhan Card, it generally charges off receivables that are 180 days past due following an internal review.
Treatment of Loans Charged-off
Once loans are charged off, they are derecognized from our statements of financial position and are classified as charged-off loans. We continue collection efforts in respect of these loans through third-party collection agencies, including the Korea Asset Management Corporation, and Shinhan Credit Information, one of our subsidiaries. The General Manager of the Credit Collection Department must report to the Financial Supervisory Service the amounts of loans permanently written off or recovered during each reporting period.
Treatment of Collateral
When we determine that a loan collateralized by real estate cannot be recovered through normal collection channels, we generally petition a court to foreclose and sell the collateral through a court-supervised auction
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within one month after default and insolvency and within four months after delinquency. However, this procedure does not apply to companies undergoing restructuring, recovery proceedings, workout or other court proceedings where there are restrictions on such auction procedures. Filing of such petition with the court generally encourages the debtor to repay the overdue loan. If a debtor ultimately fails to repay and the court grants its approval for foreclosure, we sell the collateral and recover the principal amount and interest accrued up to the sales price, net of expenses incurred from the auction. Foreclosure proceedings under Korean laws and regulations typically take seven months to one year from initiation to collection depending on the nature of the collateral.
Financial Statement Presentation
Our financial statements generally report as charge-offs all unsecured retail loans that are overdue for more than 12 months. Leases are charged off when past due for more than 12 months. For collateral-dependent loans, we charge off the excess of the book value of the subject loan over the amount received or to be received from the sale of the underlying collateral when the collateral is sold as part of a foreclosure proceeding and its sale price becomes known through court publication as part of such proceeding.
Net Charge-offs
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our net charge-offs.
Average loan balances, which relate to loans measured at amortized cost, are based on (a) monthly balances for Shinhan Bank and (b) quarterly balances for other subsidiaries.
N/M = not meaningful
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Investment Portfolio
Investment Policy
We invest in and trade Won-denominated and, to a lesser extent, foreign currency-denominated securities for our own account in order to:
maintain the stability and diversification of our assets;
maintain adequate sources of back-up liquidity to meet our funding requirements; and
supplement income from our core lending activities.
When making an investment decision with respect to particular securities, we consider macroeconomic trends, industry analysis and credit evaluation, among others.
Our securities investment activities are subject to a number of regulatory guidelines, including limitations prescribed under the Financial Holding Companies Act and the Banking Act. Generally, a financial holding company is prohibited from acquiring more than 5% of the total issued and outstanding shares of another finance-related company (other than its direct and indirect subsidiaries). Furthermore, under these regulations, Shinhan Bank must limit its investments in shares and securities with a maturity in excess of three years (other than monetary stabilization bonds issued by the Bank of Korea and national government bonds) to 100.0% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any deductions) of Shinhan Bank. Generally, Shinhan Bank is also prohibited from acquiring more than 15.0% of the shares with voting rights issued by any other corporation (other than for the purpose of establishing or acquiring a subsidiary). Further information on the regulatory environment governing our investment activities is set forth in “— Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks — Restrictions on Investments in Property,” “— Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks — Restrictions on Shareholdings in Other Companies,” “— Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies — Liquidity” and “— Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies — Restrictions on Shareholdings in Other Companies.”
The following table categorizes our securities at amortized cost by maturity and weighted average yield as of December 31, 2025.
Korean treasury and governmental agencies
Debt securities issued by financial institutions
Corporate debt securities
Debt securities issued by foreign governments
Mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities
The weighted average yield for the portfolio represents the yield to maturity for each individual security, weighted using its amortized cost.
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Credit-Related Commitments and Guarantees
In the normal course of our operations, we make various commitments and guarantees to meet the financing and other business needs of our customers. Commitments and guarantees are usually in the form of, among others, commitments to extend credit, commercial letters of credit, standby letters of credit and performance guarantees. The contractual amount of these financial instruments represents the maximum possible loss amount if the counterparty draws down the commitment or we should fulfill our obligation under the guarantee and the counterparty fails to perform under the contract.
The following table sets forth our credit-related commitments and guarantees as of the dates indicated.
Commitments to extend credit
Commercial letters of credit
Others(1)
Consists of financial guarantees, performance guarantees, liquidity facilities to special purpose entities, acceptances, endorsed bills and unused credit limits on credit cards, among others.
We have credit-related commitments that are not reflected in our statements of financial position, which primarily consist of commitments to extend credit and commercial letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit, including credit lines, represent unfunded portions of authorizations to extend credit in the form of loans. These commitments expire on fixed dates and a customer is required to comply with predetermined conditions to draw funds under the commitments. Commercial letters of credit are undertakings on behalf of customers authorizing third parties to make drawdowns up to a stipulated amount under specific terms and conditions. They are generally short-term and collateralized by the underlying shipments of goods to which they relate.
We also have guarantees that are recorded on our statements of financial position at their fair value at inception which are amortized over the life of the guarantees. Such guarantees generally include standby letters of credit, other financial and performance guarantees and liquidity facilities to special purpose entities. Standby letters of credit are irrevocable obligations to pay third-party beneficiaries when our customers fail to repay loans or debt instruments, which are generally in foreign currencies. A substantial portion of these standby letters of credit is secured by collateral, including trade-related documents. Other financial and performance guarantees are irrevocable assurances that we will pay beneficiaries if our customers fail to perform their obligations under certain contracts. Liquidity facilities to special purpose entities are irrevocable commitments to provide contingent liquidity credit lines to special purpose entities established by our customers in the event that a triggering event such as a shortage of cash occurs.
These commitments and guarantees do not necessarily represent our exposure since they often expire unused.
Derivatives
As discussed under “— Our Principal Activities — Other Banking Services — Derivatives Trading” above, we engage in derivatives trading activities primarily on behalf of our customers so that they may hedge their risks and also enter into back-to-back derivatives transactions with other financial institutions to cover exposures arising from such transactions. In addition, we enter into derivatives transactions to hedge against risk exposures arising from our own assets and liabilities, some of which are non-trading derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.
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The following table shows, as of December 31, 2025, the gross notional or contractual amounts of derivatives held or issued for (i) trading and (ii) non-trading that qualify for hedge accounting.
Trading:
Foreign exchange derivatives:
Future and forward contracts
Swaps
Options
Interest rate derivatives:
Future contracts
Swaps and forward contracts
Credit derivatives:
Equity derivatives:
Commodity derivatives:
Non-trading (Hedge accounting):
Forward contracts
Notional amounts in foreign currencies were converted into Won at prevailing exchange rates as announced by the Seoul Money Brokerage Services, Ltd. on December 31, 2025.
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Funding
We obtain funding from a variety of sources, both domestic and foreign. Our principal source of funding is customer deposits obtained from our banking operations, and we from time to time issue equity and debt securities, including preferred shares. In addition, our subsidiaries acquire funding through call money, borrowings from the Bank of Korea, other short-term borrowings, corporate debentures and other long-term debt, including debt and equity securities issuances, asset-backed securitizations and repurchase transactions, to complement, or if necessary, replace funding through customer deposits. For further details relating to funding by us and our subsidiaries, see “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Deposits
Although the majority of our bank deposits are short-term, the majority of our depositors have historically rolled over their deposits at maturity, providing us with a stable source of funding.
The following table shows the average balances of our deposits and the average rates paid on our deposits for the periods indicated, and the outstanding balances of uninsured deposits as of the ends of the periods indicated.
Non-interest-bearing deposits:
Interest-bearing deposits:
Domestic
Demand deposits
Savings deposits
Time deposits
Other deposits
Foreign
Total interest-bearing deposits
Uninsured deposits
Average balances are based on (a) monthly balances for Shinhan Bank and (b) quarterly balances for other subsidiaries.
For a breakdown of our deposit products, see “— Our Principal Activities — Deposit-taking Activities,” except that cover bills sold are recorded as short-term borrowings and securities sold under repurchase agreements are recorded as secured borrowings.
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Uninsured Time Deposits
The following table shows the amount of time deposits that exceed the insurance limit as of December 31, 2025, and the amount of time deposits that are otherwise uninsured, divided by remaining maturity as of December 31, 2025.
Portion of time deposits in excess of insurance limit:
Time deposits otherwise uninsured with a maturity of:
Maturing within three months
After three but within six months
After six but within 12 months
After 12 months
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Risk Management
As a financial services provider, we are exposed to various risks relating to our lending, credit card, insurance, securities investment, trading and leasing businesses, our deposit-taking and borrowing activities and our operating environment. The principal risks to which we are exposed include credit risk, market risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and operational risk. These risks are recognized, measured and reported in accordance with risk management guidelines established at our holding company level and implemented at the subsidiary level through a structured checks-and-balances system.
We believe that our risk management system has contributed to our ability to manage risks effectively and respond to adverse external conditions. For example, during the global financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, our risk management processes provided early warning indicators that enabled us to adjust our asset portfolio and reduce exposure to certain higher-risk assets, which we believe helped mitigate potential credit losses during that period, and we continue to review, upgrade and refine our risk management system in response to current and potential economic difficulties at global, regional and domestic levels.
Our group-wide risk management philosophy is to foster a culture of effective risk management and awareness at all levels of our organization and seek an appropriate balance between risk and return in our business activities in order to achieve sustainable growth. In particular, our group-wide risk management is guided by the following core principles:
carrying out all business activities within prescribed risk tolerance levels and prudently balancing profitability and risk management;
standardizing the risk management process and monitoring compliance at a group-wide level;
operating a prudent risk management decision-making system through active participation by the management;
creating and operating a risk management organization independent of business activities;
operating a performance management system that enhances timely identification of risks when making business decisions;
pursuing preemptive and practical risk management strategies; and
prudent preparation for known and unknown contingencies.
We take the following steps to implement the foregoing risk management principles:
risk capital management — Risk capital refers to capital necessary to compensate for losses in case of a potential risk being realized, and risk capital management refers to the process of asset management based on considerations of risk exposure and risk appetite for our total assets so that we can maintain an appropriate level of risk capital. As part of our risk capital management, we and our subsidiaries maintain various risk planning processes and reflect such risk planning in our business and financial planning. We also maintain a risk limit management system to ensure that risks in our business do not exceed prescribed limits.
risk monitoring — We regularly review risks that may impact our overall operations, including through a multidimensional risk monitoring system. Each of our subsidiaries is required to report to the holding company any factors that could have a material impact on group-wide risk management, and the holding company reports to our chief risk officer and other members of our senior management the results of risk monitoring weekly, monthly and on an ad hoc basis as needed. In addition, we perform preemptive risk management through a “risk dashboard system” under which we closely monitor any increase in asset size, risk levels and sensitivity to external factors with respect to the major asset
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portfolios of each of our subsidiaries, and to the extent such monitoring yields any warning signals, we promptly analyze the causes and, if necessary, formulate and implement actions in response thereto.
risk review — Prior to entering into any new business, offering any new products or changing any major policies, we review any relevant risk factors based on a prescribed risk management checklist and, in the case of changes for which assessment of risk factors is difficult, perform reasonable decision-making in order to avoid taking any actions that exceed our risk tolerance levels. The risk management departments of all our subsidiaries are required to review all new businesses, products and services prior to their launch and closely monitor the development of any related risks following their launch, and in the case of any action that involves more than one subsidiary, the relevant risk management departments are required to consult with the risk management team at the holding company level prior to making any independent risk reviews.
crisis management — We maintain a group-wide risk management system to detect the early warning signals of any crisis and, in the event of a crisis actually happening, to respond on a timely, efficient and flexible basis so as to ensure our survival as a going concern. Each of our subsidiaries maintains crisis planning for four levels of contingencies, namely, “warning,” “alert,” “imminent crisis” and “crisis,” determination of which is made based on quantitative and qualitative monitoring and consequence analysis, and upon the occurrence of any such contingency, is required to respond according to a prescribed contingency plan. At the holding company level, we maintain and install a crisis detection and response system which is applied consistently group-wide, and in the event of two or more subsidiaries experiencing contingencies, we directly take charge of the situation at the holding company level so that we can respond effectively on a concerted group-wide basis.
Organization
Our risk management system is organized along the following hierarchy (from top to bottom): at the holding company level, the Group Risk Management Committee, the Group Risk Management Council, the Group Chief Risk Officer and the Group Risk Management Team, and at the subsidiary level, the Risk Management Committee, the Chief Risk Officer and the Risk Management Team of the relevant subsidiary. The Group Risk Management Committee, which operates under the supervision of our holding company’s board of directors, establishes the basic group-wide risk management policies and strategies. Our Group Chief Risk Officer reports to the Group Risk Management Committee, and the Group Risk Management Council coordinates the risk management policies and strategies at the group level as well as at the subsidiary level. Each of our subsidiaries also has a separate Risk Management Committee, Risk Management Working Committee and Risk Management Team, whose tasks are to implement the group-wide risk management policies and strategies at the subsidiary level as well as to establish risk management policies and strategies specific to such subsidiary in line with the group-wide guidelines. We also have the Group Risk Management Team, which supports our Chief Risk Officer in his or her risk management and supervisory role.
In order to maintain the group-wide risk at an appropriate level, we use a hierarchical risk limit system under which the Group Risk Management Committee assigns reasonable risk limits for the entire group and each of our subsidiaries, and the Risk Management Committee and the Risk Management Working Committee of each of our subsidiaries manage the subsidiary-specific risks by establishing and managing risk limits in more detail by type of risk and type of product for each department and division within such subsidiary. More specifically:
At the holding company level:
Group Risk Management Committee — The Group Risk Management Committee consists of three outside directors of our holding company. The Group Risk Management Committee convenes at least quarterly and on an ad hoc basis as needed. Specifically, the Group Risk Management Committee is responsible for: (i) establishing overall risk management policies consistent with management strategies, (ii) setting reasonable risk limits for the entire group and each of our subsidiaries, (iii) approving appropriate investment limits or permissible loss limits, (iv) enacting and amending the
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Group Risk Management Regulations and the Group Risk Council Regulations, and (v) deciding other risk management-related issues the board of directors or the Group Risk Management Committee deems appropriate. The results of the Group Risk Management Committee meetings are reported to the board of directors of our holding company. The Group Risk Management Committee makes decisions through affirmative votes by a majority of the committee members.
Group Risk Management Council — The Group Risk Management Council consists of the Group Chief Risk Officer and Chief Risk Officers of our major subsidiaries. The Group Risk Management Council provides a forum for risk management executives from each subsidiary to discuss group-wide risk management guidelines and strategies in order to maintain consistency across group-wide risk policies and strategies.
Group Chief Risk Officer — The Group Chief Risk Officer supports the Group Risk Management Committee by implementing risk policies and strategies as well as ensuring consistency in the risk management systems of our subsidiaries. The Group Chief Risk Officer also evaluates the Chief Risk Officers of our subsidiaries and monitors the risk management practices of each subsidiary.
Group Risk Management Team — The Group Risk Management Team provides support and assistance to the Group Chief Risk Officer in carrying out his/her responsibilities.
At the subsidiary level:
Risk Management Committee — Each subsidiary’s Risk Management Committee establishes its own risk management policies and strategies in more detail, in accordance with the group risk management policies and strategies. The relevant risk management department is responsible for implementing these policies and strategies.
Risk Management Team — The Risk Management Team of each subsidiary, operating independently from its business units, monitors, assesses, manages and controls the overall risk of the subsidiary’s operations and reports material risk-related issues to the Group Risk Management Team at the holding company level, which in turn reports to the Group Chief Risk Officer.
The following is a flowchart of our risk management system at the holding company level and the subsidiary level.
Credit Risk Management
Credit risk, which is the risk of loss from default by borrowers, other obligors or other counterparties to the transactions that we have entered into, represents a critical component of our overall risk profile. Our credit risk
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management encompasses all areas of credit that may result in potential economic loss, including both transactions that are recorded on our balance sheets and off-balance sheet transactions such as guarantees, loan commitments and derivatives transactions. A substantial majority of our credit risk relates to the operations of Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Card.
Credit Risk Management of Shinhan Bank
Shinhan Bank’s credit risk management is guided by the following principles:
achieve a profit level corresponding to the level of risks involved;
improve asset quality and achieve an optimal mix of asset portfolios;
avoid excessive loan concentration in a particular borrower or sector; and
closely monitor the borrower’s ability to repay its debt.
Major policies for Shinhan Bank’s credit risk management, including Shinhan Bank’s overall credit risk management plan and credit policy guidelines, are determined by the Risk Policy Committee of Shinhan Bank, the executive decision-making body for managing credit risk. The Risk Policy Committee is headed by the Chief Risk Officer, and includes the Chief Credit Officer and the heads of each business unit. In order to separate the loan approval functions from credit policy decision-making, Shinhan Bank maintains a Credit Review Committee that performs credit review evaluations with a focus on improving its asset quality and loan profitability and operates separately from the Risk Policy Committee. Both the Risk Policy Committee and the Credit Review Committee make decisions by a vote of two-thirds or more of the attending members of the respective committees, which must constitute at least two-thirds of the respective committee members to satisfy the respective quorum.
Shinhan Bank complies with credit risk management procedures pursuant to internal guidelines and regulations and periodically monitors and improves these guidelines and regulations. Its credit risk management procedures include:
credit evaluation and approval;
credit review and monitoring; and
credit risk assessment and control.
Credit Evaluation and Approval
All loan applicants and guarantors are subject to credit evaluation before the approval of any loans. Credit evaluation of loan applicants is carried out by senior officers of Shinhan Bank specifically charged with granting loan approvals. Loan evaluation is carried out by a group rather than by an individual reviewer through an objective and deliberative process. Credit ratings of loan applicants and guarantors influence loan interest rates, the level of internal approval required, credit exposure limits, calculation of potential losses and estimated cost of capital, and therefore are determined objectively and independently by the relevant business unit. Shinhan Bank uses a credit scoring system for retail loans and a credit-risk rating system for corporate loans.
Each of Shinhan Bank’s borrowers is assigned a credit rating, which is based on a comprehensive internal credit evaluation system that considers a variety of criteria. For retail borrowers, the credit rating takes into account the borrower’s biographic details, past dealings with Shinhan Bank and external credit rating information, among others. For corporate borrowers, the credit rating takes into account financial indicators as well as non-financial indicators such as industry risk, operational risk and management risk, among others. The credit rating, once assigned, serves as the primary instrument for Shinhan Bank’s credit risk management, and is applied to a wide range of credit risk management processes, including credit approval, credit limit management, loan pricing and computation of allowance for credit losses on loans. Shinhan Bank has separate credit evaluation
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systems for retail customers, SOHO customers and corporate customers, which are further segmented and refined to meet Basel II requirements, which requirements have not changed under Basel III.
Retail Loans
Loan applications for retail loans are reviewed in accordance with Shinhan Bank’s credit scoring system and the objective statistical models for secured and unsecured loans maintained and operated by Shinhan Bank’s Retail Banking Division. Shinhan Bank’s credit scoring system is an automated credit approval system used to evaluate loan applications and determine the appropriate pricing for the loan, and takes into account factors such as a borrower’s personal information, transaction history with Shinhan Bank and other financial institutions and other relevant credit information. The applicant is assigned a score, which is used to determine (i) whether to approve the applicant’s loan, (ii) the amount of loan to be granted, and (iii) the interest rates thereon. The applicant’s score also determines whether the applicant is “approved for credit,” “conditionally approved,” “subject to further assessment,” or “denied.” If the applicant becomes “subject to further assessment,” the appropriate discretionary body, either at the branch level or at the headquarters level, conducts a reassessment based on qualitative as well as quantitative factors, such as credit history, occupation and past relationship with Shinhan Bank.
For mortgage and home equity loans and loans secured by real estate, Shinhan Bank evaluates the value of the real estate offered as collateral using a proprietary database, which contains information about real estate values throughout Korea. In addition, Shinhan Bank uses up-to-date information provided by third parties regarding the real estate market and property values in Korea. While Shinhan Bank uses internal staff from the processing centers to appraise the value of the real estate collateral, Shinhan Bank also hires certified appraisers to review and co-sign the appraisal value of real estate collateral that has an appraisal value exceeding W3 billion, as initially determined by the processing centers. Shinhan Bank also reevaluates internally, on a summary basis, the appraisal value of collateral at least annually.
For loans secured by securities, deposits or assets other than real estate, Shinhan Bank requires borrowers to satisfy specified collateral ratios in respect of secured obligations.
Corporate Loans
Shinhan Bank rates all of its corporate borrowers using internally developed credit evaluation systems, which consider a variety of criteria, including quantitative, qualitative, financial and non-financial factors. Quantitative considerations include the borrower’s financial and other data, while qualitative considerations are based on the judgment of Shinhan Bank’s credit officers as to the borrower’s ability to repay its loans. Financial considerations include financial variables and ratios based on the borrower’s financial statements, such as return on assets and cash flow to total debt ratios, and non-financial considerations include, among other things, the industry to which the borrower’s businesses belong, the borrower’s competitive position in the industry, its operating and funding capabilities, the quality of its management and controlling stockholders (based in part on interviews with its officers and employees), technological capabilities and labor relations.
In addition, in order to enhance the accuracy of its internal credit reviews, Shinhan Bank also considers reports prepared by external credit rating services, such as Nice Information Service and Korea Rating & Data (KoDATA), and monitors and improves the effectiveness of the credit risk-rating systems using a database that it updates continually with actual default records.
Based on the scores calculated under the credit rating system, which takes into account the evaluation criteria described above and the probability of default, Shinhan Bank assigns the borrower one of 23 grades (from the highest of AAA to the lowest of D3). Grades AA through B are further broken down into “+”, “0” or “-.” Grades AAA through B- are classified as “normal,” grade CCC is classified as “precautionary,” and grades CC through D3 are classified as “non-performing.” The credit risk-rating model also takes into account the size of the corporate borrower and the type of credit facilities.
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Loan Approval Process
Loans are generally approved after evaluations and approvals by the relationship manager at the branch level as well as the committee of the applicable business unit at Shinhan Bank. The approval limit for retail loans is determined based on Shinhan Bank’s automated credit scoring system. In the case of large corporate loans, approval limits are also reviewed and approved by a Credit Officer at the headquarters level. Depending on the size and importance of the loan, the approval process is further reviewed by the Credit Officer Committee, the Master Credit Officer Committee, or the Loan Management Committee. If the loan is considered significant or the amount exceeds the discretion limit of the Master Credit Officer Committee and the Loan Management Committee, further evaluation is made by the Credit Review Committee, which is Shinhan Bank’s highest decision-making body in relation to credit approval. The Credit Review Committee’s evaluation and approval of loan limits vary depending on the borrower’s credit ratings as determined by Shinhan Bank’s internal credit rating system and the borrower’s size of business. The Credit Review Committee holds at least two meetings a week to approve applications for large-sized loans whose principal amounts exceed certain prescribed levels.
The diagram below summarizes credit approval process as part of our banking operations. The Master Credit Officer and the Head of Business Division do not make individual decisions on loan approval, but are part of the decision-making process at the group level.
The reviewer at each level of the review process may in its discretion approve loans up to a maximum amount per loan assigned to such level. The discretionary loan approval limit for each level of the loan approval process takes into account the total amount of loans to be extended to the borrower, the credit level of the borrower based on credit review, the existence and value of collateral, the size of the borrower’s business and the level of credit risk established by the credit rating system.
The discretionary loan amount approval limit ranges from W50 million for secured retail loans with a credit rating of B-, which are subject to approvals by the retail branch manager, to W120 billion for secured loans with a credit rating of AAA, which are subject to approvals by the Master Credit Officer Committee. Any loans exceeding the maximum discretionary loan amount approval limit must be approved by the Credit Review Committee or the Loan Management Committee.
For example, loans that exceed the maximum discretionary approval limit set by the Master Credit Officer Committee are evaluated and approved by the Loan Management Committee, which is composed of department heads specializing in loans at Shinhan Bank and has the authority to approve loans of up to W50 billion for large corporations and up to W30 billion for other enterprises. Any loans exceeding this approval limit must be approved by the Credit Review Committee. For SOHO borrowers with a credit rating of B-, the Credit Review Committee evaluates and approves unsecured loans in excess of W40 billion and secured loans in excess of W45 billion, whereas for large corporate borrowers with a credit rating of AAA, the Credit Review Committee evaluates and approves unsecured loans in excess of W110 billion and secured loans in excess of W170 billion.
Credit Review and Monitoring
Shinhan Bank periodically reviews and monitors credit risks primarily with respect to borrowers. In particular, Shinhan Bank’s automated early warning system conducts daily examinations of borrowers using
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financial and non-financial factors, and the branch manager and the credit officer must conduct periodic loan monitoring and report to an independent Credit Review Department which analyzes the results in detail and adjusts monitoring grades and credit ratings accordingly. Based on these reviews, Shinhan Bank adjusts a borrower’s credit rating, credit limit and credit policies. In addition, the group credit ratings of the main debtor groups, if applicable, may be adjusted following a periodic review of the main debtor groups, as identified by the Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service based on their outstanding credit exposures. Shinhan Bank also periodically reviews other factors, such as industry-specific conditions for the borrower’s business and its domestic and overseas asset base and operations, in order to ensure that the assigned ratings are appropriate. The Credit Review Department provides credit review reports, independent of underwriting, to the Chief Risk Officer on a monthly basis.
The early warning system performs automatic daily checks for borrowers to whom Shinhan Bank has credit exposure (which represents the total outstanding amount due from a borrower, net of collateral for deposit, installment savings, guarantees and import guarantee money). When the early warning systems detect warning signals, such signals and other findings from the loan monitoring are reviewed by the Credit Review Department. In addition, Shinhan Bank carries out credit review in a timely manner on each borrower in accordance with changes in credit risk factors based on changes in the economic environment. The results of such credit review are periodically reported to the Chief Risk Officer of Shinhan Bank.
Depending on the nature of the signals detected by the early warning system, a borrower may be classified as “worsening credit” and become subject to evaluation for a possible downgrade in credit rating, or may be initially classified as “showing early warning signs” or become reinstated to the “normal borrower” status. For borrowers classified as “showing early warning signs,” the relevant branch manager gathers information and conducts a review of the borrower to determine whether the borrower should be classified as “worsening credit” or whether to impose management improvement warnings or implement joint creditors’ management. If the borrower becomes non-performing, Shinhan Bank’s collection department manages such borrower’s account in order to maximize recovery rate, and conducts auctions, court proceedings, sale of assets or corporate restructuring as deemed appropriate.
Pursuant to the foregoing credit review and monitoring procedures and in order to promptly prevent deterioration of loan quality, Shinhan Bank classifies potentially problematic borrowers into (i) borrowers that show early warning signals, (ii) borrowers that require precaution, (iii) borrowers that require observation and (iv) normal borrowers, and treats them accordingly.
In order to minimize the likelihood of delinquency among its corporate customers, Shinhan Bank primarily takes the following measures: (i) systematic monitoring of borrowers with outstanding loans and (ii) heightened monitoring of borrowers with bad credit history and/or borrowers that belong to troubled industries, as further described below.
Systematic monitoring of borrowers with outstanding loans. Shinhan Bank currently applies a heightened monitoring system to corporate borrowers with outstanding loans (other than guaranteed loans and loans secured by specified types of collateral such as deposits with us or letters of credit). Under this monitoring system, each borrower is assigned to one of the following ratings:
“Normal Company” — a borrower who is determined to have a low probability of insolvency with a credit rating above CCC;
“Observation Company” — a borrower that carries some risk of affecting the corporate insolvency in the future and is subject to constant observation to detect any change in such risk, with a credit rating above CCC;
“Precaution Company” — a borrower with a possibility of insolvency due to an increased risk of default, thus requiring a close inspection of the credit quality of such borrower and precaution in extending any further loans;
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“Early Warning Company” — a borrower with a high possibility of insolvency; or
“Problematic Reorganized Company” — a borrower currently undergoing rehabilitation procedures, such as management improvement plans, workout or corporate recovery, or that shows no signs of recovery.
Shinhan Bank conducts systematic monitoring of the foregoing borrowers at intervals depending on the borrower’s monitoring grade determined by the early warning system (for example, every three or six months for an “Observation Company”, every three months for borrowers with a monitoring grade below “Precaution Company” or borrowers with a credit rating below CCC, and no regular monitoring for a “Normal Company”). In addition, the Credit Review Officer may request more frequent monitoring if the borrower is showing signs of deteriorating credit quality. For borrowers with outstanding loan amounts of W2 billion or more, Shinhan Bank also monitors the revenues and earnings of such borrower on a quarterly basis within five to seven weeks following the end of each quarter depending on the borrower’s credit profile.
Heightened monitoring of borrowers with bad credit history and/or borrowers that belong to troubled industries. In addition to the systematic monitoring discussed above, Shinhan Bank also carries out additional monitoring for borrowers that, among others, (i) are rated as “requiring observation,” “requiring precaution” or “with early warning signs” as noted above, (ii) have a history of delinquency or restructuring or (iii) have borrowings that are classified as substandard or below. Based on the heightened monitoring of these borrowers, Shinhan Bank adjusts contingency planning as to how the overall asset quality of a specific industry should be managed for each phase of the business cycle, how Shinhan Bank should limit or reduce its credit exposure to such borrowers, and how our group-wide delinquency and non-performing ratios may be affected, among other things.
Credit Risk Assessment and Control
In order to assess credit risk in a systematic manner, Shinhan Bank has developed and upgraded systems designed to quantify credit risk based on selection and monitoring of various statistics, including delinquency rates, non-performing loan ratios, expected loan losses and weighted average risk rating.
Shinhan Bank controls loan concentration by monitoring and managing loans at two levels: portfolio level and individual loan account level. In order to maintain portfolio-level credit risk at an appropriate level, Shinhan Bank manages its loans using value-at-risk (“VaR”) limits for the entire bank as well as for each of its business units. In order to prevent concentration of risk in a particular borrower or borrower class, Shinhan Bank also manages credit risk by borrower, industry, country and other detailed categories.
Shinhan Bank measures credit risk using internally accumulated data. Shinhan Bank measures expected and unexpected losses with respect to total assets monthly, which Shinhan Bank refers to when setting risk limits for, and allocating capital to, its business groups. Expected loss is calculated based on PD, LGD and EAD, and the past bankruptcy rate and recovery rate, and Shinhan Bank provides allowance for credit losses accordingly. Shinhan Bank makes provisioning at a level which is the higher of the Financial Supervisory Service requirement or Shinhan Bank’s internal calculation. Unexpected loss is predicted based on VaR, which is used to determine compliance with the aggregate credit risk limit for Shinhan Bank as well as the credit risk limit for the relevant department within Shinhan Bank. Shinhan Bank uses the Advanced Internal Ratings-Based (“AIRB”) method as proposed by the Basel Committee to compute VaR at the account-specific level as well as to measure risk adjusted performance.
Credit Risk Management of Shinhan Card
Major policies for Shinhan Card’s credit risk management are determined by Shinhan Card’s Risk Management Council, and Shinhan Card’s Risk Management Committee is responsible for approving them. Shinhan Card’s Risk Management Council is headed by the Chief Risk Officer, and also comprises the heads of
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each business unit, supporting unit and relevant department at Shinhan Card. Shinhan Card’s Risk Management Council convenes at least once every month and may also convene on an ad hoc basis as needed. Shinhan Card’s Risk Management Committee consists of at least two directors, with the majority of the committee members being outside directors. Shinhan Card’s Risk Management Committee convenes at least once every quarter and may also convene on an ad hoc basis as needed.
The risk of loss from default by the cardholders or credit card loan borrowers is Shinhan Card’s most significant credit risk. Shinhan Card manages its credit risk based on the following principles:
profit at a level corresponding to the level of risks involved;
improve asset quality and achieve an optimal mix of asset portfolios; and
closely monitor borrower’s ability to repay the debt.
Credit Card Approval Process
Shinhan Card uses an automated credit scoring system to approve credit card applications or credit card authorizations. The credit scoring system is divided into two sub-systems: the behavior scoring system and the application scoring system. The behavior scoring system is based largely on the credit history of the cardholder or borrower, while the application scoring system is based largely on the personal credit information of the applicant. For credit card applicants with whom we have an existing relationship, Shinhan Card’s credit scoring system considers internally gathered information such as the ability to repay, total assets, the length of the existing relationship and the applicant’s contribution to Shinhan Card’s profitability. The credit scoring system also automatically conducts credit checks on all credit card applicants. Shinhan Card gathers information about the applicant’s transaction history with financial institutions, including banks and credit card companies, from a number of third party credit reporting agencies including, among others, National Information & Credit Evaluation Inc. and Korea Credit Bureau. These credit checks reveal a list of delinquent customers across all credit card issuers in Korea.
If a credit score assigned to an applicant is above the minimum threshold, the application is approved unless overridden based on other considerations such as delinquencies at other credit card companies. For a credit card application by a long-standing customer with a good credit history, Shinhan Card may, on a discretionary basis, approve the application notwithstanding the assigned credit score unless overridden by other considerations. All of these factors also serve as the basis for setting a credit limit for approved applications.
The following describes the process by which Shinhan Card sets credit limits for credit cards, cash advances and card loans:
Credit purchase and cash advance limits — These limits are set based on the applicant’s request and Shinhan Card’s credit screening criteria. Unless a cardholder requests a reduction in the credit purchase and/or cash advance limit, Shinhan Card is required to provide prior notice to the cardholder of any reduction in such cardholder’s limit. However, if the account holder defaults or the cardholder’s credit limit is reduced pursuant to the terms of the credit card agreement, Shinhan Card may lower the credit limit before notifying the account holder.
Card loan limit — This limit is set on a monthly basis by Shinhan Card based on the cardholder’s credit rating and transaction history. The card loan limit can be adjusted monthly based on the cardholder’s credit standing without prior notification to the cardholder.
Monitoring
Shinhan Card continually monitors all cardholders and their accounts using a behavior scoring system. The behavior scoring system predicts a cardholder’s payment pattern by evaluating the cardholder’s credit history, card usage and amounts, payment status and other relevant data. The behavior score is recalculated each month
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and is used to manage the accounts and approval of additional loans and other products for the cardholder. Shinhan Card also uses the scoring system to monitor its overall risk exposure and to modify its credit risk management strategy.
Loan Application Review and Ongoing Credit Review
When reviewing new applications and conducting an ongoing credit review for retail loans, installment purchase loans and personal leases, Shinhan Card uses criteria substantially similar to those used in the credit underwriting system and the credit review system for cardholders. For retail loans, installment purchase loans and personal leases extended to existing cardholders, Shinhan Card reviews their card usage history in addition to other factors such as their income, occupation and assets.
Fraud Loss Prevention
Shinhan Card seeks to minimize losses from the fraudulent use of credit cards issued by it. Shinhan Card focuses on preventing fraudulent uses and, following the occurrence of a fraudulent use, makes investigations in order to make the responsible party bear the losses. Misuses of lost credit cards account for a substantial majority of Shinhan Card’s fraud-related losses. Through its fraud loss prevention system, Shinhan Card seeks to detect, on a real-time basis, transactions that are unusual or inconsistent with prior usage history and contacts are initiated with the relevant cardholders to confirm their purchases. A team at Shinhan Card dedicated to investigating fraud losses also examines whether the cardholder was at fault by, for example, not reporting a lost card or failing to endorse the card, or whether the relevant merchant was negligent in checking the identity of the user. Fault may also lie with delivery companies that fail to deliver credit cards to the relevant applicant. In such instances, Shinhan Card attempts to recover fraud losses from the responsible party. To prevent the misuse of a card as well as to manage credit risk, Shinhan Card’s information technology system automatically suspends the use of a card (i) when, as a result of ongoing monitoring, fraudulent use or loss of the card is suspected based on the cardholder’s credit score, or (ii) at the request of the cardholder.
Approximately 94% of Shinhan Card’s cardholders consent to Shinhan Card’s access to their travel records to detect any misuse of credit cards while traveling abroad. Shinhan Card also offers cardholders additional fraud protection through a fee-based texting service, which allows customers to quickly and easily identify any fraudulent use of their credit cards.
Credit Risk Management of Shinhan Securities
In accordance with the guidelines of the Financial Supervisory Service, Shinhan Securities assesses its credit risks (including through VaR analyses) and allocates the maximum limit for the credit amount at risk by department. Shinhan Securities also assesses counterparty risks in all credit-related transactions, such as loans, acquisition financings and derivative transactions, and takes corresponding risk management measures in response. In assessing the credit risk of a corporate counterparty, Shinhan Securities considers such counterparty’s corporate credit rating obtained from the Shinhan Group Corporate Credit Rating System. Through its risk management system, Shinhan Securities also closely monitors credit risk exposures by counterparty, industry, conglomerates, credit ratings and country. Shinhan Securities conducts credit risk stress tests on a daily basis based on probability of default and also conducts more advanced stress tests from time to time, the results of which are then reported to its management as well as the Group Chief Risk Officer to support group-wide credit risk management.
Credit Risk Management of Shinhan Life Insurance
Shinhan Life Insurance also assesses credit risks for all of its credit-related transactions, including the provision of loans and acquisitions of financial instruments. Shinhan Life Insurance conducts additional risk reviews for new types of investments and financial instruments, such as those denominated in currencies in which it has not previously transacted. In assessing the credit risk of corporate customers, Shinhan Life Insurance
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considers factors such as the corporation’s credit rating obtained from the Shinhan Group Corporate Credit Rating System. Through its risk management system, Shinhan Life Insurance conducts credit risk monitoring based on the credit history of debtors. To closely monitor its credit risk, Shinhan Life Insurance’s loan review department performs periodic reviews of its loan assets and conducts on-site inspections where deemed necessary. Furthermore, in the retail business, Shinhan Life Insurance operates its own credit-scoring system to assess credit risk and update customers’ behavior scores.
Market Risk Management
Market risk is the risk of loss generated by fluctuations in market prices such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates and equity prices. The principal market risks to which we are exposed are interest rate risk and, to a lesser extent, foreign exchange and equity price risk. These risks stem from our trading and non-trading activities relating to financial instruments such as loans, deposits, securities and financial derivatives. We divide market risk into risks arising from trading activities and risks arising from non-trading activities.
Our market risks arise primarily from Shinhan Bank, and to a lesser extent, Shinhan Securities, our securities trading and brokerage subsidiary, which faces market risk relating to its trading activities.
Shinhan Bank’s Risk Management Committee establishes overall market risk management principles for both the trading and non-trading activities of Shinhan Bank. Based on these principles, the Risk Policy Committee acts as the executive decision-making body in relation to Shinhan Bank’s market risks in terms of setting its risk management policies and risk limits in relation to market risks and assets and controlling market risks arising from trading and non-trading activities of Shinhan Bank. The Risk Policy Committee consists of deputy presidents in charge of Shinhan Bank’s seven business groups, including Shinhan Bank’s Chief Risk Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. At least on a monthly basis, the Risk Policy Committee reviews and approves reports relating to, among others, the position and market risk capital requirement with respect to Shinhan Bank’s trading activities and the position and market value analysis and net interest income simulation with respect to its non-trading activities. In addition, Shinhan Bank’s Risk Engineering Department comprehensively manages market risks on an independent basis from Shinhan Bank’s operating departments, and functions as the middle office of Shinhan Bank. Shinhan Bank measures market risk with respect to all assets and liabilities in its bank accounts and trust accounts in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Financial Services Commission.
Shinhan Securities manages its market risk based on its overall risk limit established by its risk management committee as well as the risk limits and detailed risk management guidelines for each product and department established by its Risk Management Working Committee, which is the executive decision-making body for managing market risks related to Shinhan Securities that determines, among others, Shinhan Securities’ overall market risk management policies and strategies, and assesses and approves its trading activities and limits. In addition, Shinhan Securities’ Risk Management Department manages various market risk limits and monitors operating conditions on an independent basis from Shinhan Securities’ operating departments. Shinhan Securities assesses the adequacy of these limits at least annually. In addition, Shinhan Securities assesses the market risks of its trading assets. The assessment procedure is based on the standard procedures set by the Financial Supervisory Service as well as an internally developed model. Shinhan Securities assesses the risk amount and VaR, and manages the risk by setting a risk limit per sector as well as a VaR limit.
Shinhan Life Insurance manages its market risk based on its overall risk limit established by its risk management committee. Shinhan Life Insurance manages market risk with regard to assets that are subject to trading activities and foreign exchange positions. Shinhan Life Insurance assesses the market risk amount and the 10-day VaR, a procedure based on the delta-normal method, and manages market risk by setting a 10-day VaR limit. Shinhan Life Insurance assesses the adequacy of these limits at least annually.
Shinhan Card does not have any assets with significant exposure to market risks and, therefore, does not maintain a risk management policy regarding market risks. Shinhan Card manages its market risk based on its internal risk management regulations.
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We use financial information prepared on a separate basis according to IFRS for the market risk management of our subsidiaries and, unless otherwise specified herein, financial information in this annual report presented for quantitative market risk disclosure relating to our subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with IFRS on a separate basis.
Market Risk Exposure from Trading Activities
Shinhan Bank’s trading activities principally consist of:
trading activities to realize short-term profits from trading in the equity and debt securities markets and the foreign currency exchange markets based on Shinhan Bank’s short-term forecast of changes in market situation and customer demand, for its own account as well as for the trust accounts of Shinhan Bank’s customers; and
trading activities to realize profits from arbitrage transactions involving derivatives such as swaps, forwards, futures and options, and, to a lesser extent, to sell derivative products to Shinhan Bank’s customers and to cover market risk associated with those trading activities.
Shinhan Securities’ trading activities principally consist of trading for customers and for proprietary accounts in equity and debt securities and derivatives based on stock prices, stock indexes, interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices.
As a result of these trading activities, Shinhan Bank is exposed principally to interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk and equity risk, and Shinhan Securities is exposed principally to equity risk and interest rate risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Shinhan Bank’s exposure to interest rate risk arises primarily from Won-denominated debt securities, directly held or indirectly held through beneficiary certificates, and, to a lesser extent, interest rate derivatives. Shinhan Bank’s exposure to interest rate risk arising from foreign currency-denominated trading debt securities is minimal since its net position in those securities is not significant. As Shinhan Bank’s trading accounts are marked-to-market daily, it manages the interest rate risk related to its trading accounts using the standardised approach capital requirement.
Shinhan Securities’ interest rate risk arises primarily from management of its interest rate-sensitive asset portfolio, which mainly consists of debt securities, interest rate swaps and government bond futures, and the level of such risk exposure depends largely on the variance between the interest rate movement assumptions built into the asset portfolio and the actual interest rate movements and the spread between a derivative product and its underlying assets. Shinhan Securities quantifies and manages the interest rate-related exposure by conducting VaR and stress tests on a marked-to-market basis every day.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Shinhan Bank’s exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk mainly relates to its assets and liabilities, including derivatives such as foreign currency forwards and futures and currency swaps, which are denominated in currencies other than the Won. Shinhan Bank manages foreign currency exchange rate risk, including the corresponding risks faced by its overseas branches, on a consolidated basis by covering all of its foreign exchange spot and forward positions in both trading and non-trading accounts.
Shinhan Bank’s net foreign currency open position represents the difference between its foreign currency assets and liabilities as offset against forward foreign currency positions, and is Shinhan Bank’s principal exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk. The Risk Policy Committee oversees Shinhan Bank’s foreign currency exposure for both trading and non-trading activities by establishing limits for the net foreign currency
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open position, loss limits and market risk limits. Shinhan Bank centrally monitors and manages its foreign exchange positions through its Sales & Trading Center (“S&T Center”). Dealers in the S&T Center manage Shinhan Bank’s consolidated position within preset limits through spot trading, forward contracts, currency options, futures and swaps and foreign currency swaps.
Shinhan Securities faces foreign currency exchange rate risk in relation to the following product offerings: currency forwards, currency swaps and currency futures. Shinhan Securities centrally monitors and manages transactions involving such products through its Fixed Income, Currency & Commodities Departments. Shinhan Securities’ Risk Management Working Committee, which is delegated with the authority to approve foreign currency-related transactions and limits on the related open positions, manages the related foreign exchange risk by setting nominal limits on the amounts of foreign exchange-related products and monitoring compliance with such limits on a daily basis. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Securities’ net open position related to foreign currency-related products was US$533 million, and its open positions related to the sale of Won-U.S. Dollar forwards and Won-U.S. Dollar futures were US$723 million and US$187 million, respectively.
Shinhan Capital manages its foreign exchange risk resulting from the difference in its foreign currency assets and liabilities through derivative transactions such as forwards or swaps and maintains its net exposure at US$6.1 million as of December 31, 2025.
The net open foreign currency positions held by our other subsidiaries are insignificant.
The following table shows Shinhan Bank’s net foreign currency open positions as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Positive amounts represent long exposures and negative amounts represent short exposures.
Currency
U.S. Dollars
Japanese Yen
Euro
Equity Risk
Shinhan Bank’s equity risk related to trading activities mainly involves trading equity portfolios of Korean companies and Korea Stock Price Index futures and options. The trading equity portfolio consists of stocks listed on the KRX KOSPI Market or the KRX KOSDAQ Market of the Korea Exchange and nearest-month or second nearest-month futures contracts under strict limits on diversification as well as limits on positions. Shinhan Bank strictly scrutinizes these activities in light of the volatility in the Korean stock market and closely monitors the loss limits and the observance thereof. As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, Shinhan Bank held W109.1 billion, W105.5 billion and W114.5 billion, respectively, of equity securities in its trading accounts (including trust accounts).
Shinhan Securities’ equity risk related to trading activities also mainly involves the trading of equity portfolio of Korean companies and Korea Stock Price Index futures and options. As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, the total amount of equity securities at risk held by Shinhan Securities was W33.9 billion, W28.4 billion and W28.9 billion, respectively.
Equity positions held by our other subsidiaries are insignificant.
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Management of Market Risk from Trading Activities
The following tables present an overview of market risk for Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025. Market risk from trading activities of Shinhan Bank is measured by the standardized approach capital requirement, while market risk for Shinhan Securities is measured using the risk valuation criteria (VaR). For market risk management purposes, Shinhan Bank includes in the computation of total regulatory capital requirement its trading portfolio in bank accounts and assets in trust accounts, in each case, for which it guarantees principal or fixed return in accordance with regulations of the Financial Services Commission.
Shinhan Bank:
Sensitivities-based method risk
General interest rate risk
Credit spread risk: non-securitisations
Credit spread risk: securitisations (non-correlation trading portfolio)
Credit spread risk: securitisations (correlation trading portfolio)
Equity
Foreign exchange
Commodity
Default risk
Non-securitisation
Securitisation (non-correlation trading portfolio)
Securitisation (correlation trading portfolio)
The residual risk
Total(1)
Includes trading portfolios in Shinhan Bank’s bank accounts and assets in trust accounts, in each case, for which it guarantees principal or fixed return.
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Shinhan Securities:(1)
Interest rate
Foreign exchange(2)
Option volatility(3)
Less: portfolio diversification(4)
Total VaR
Shinhan Securities’ 10-day VaR is based on a 99.9% confidence level.
Includes both trading and non-trading accounts as Shinhan Securities manages foreign exchange risk on a total position basis.
Volatility implied from the option price using the Black-Scholes or a similar model.
Calculation of portfolio diversification effects is conducted on different days’ scenarios for different risk components. Total VaRs are less than the simple sum of the risk component VaRs due to offsets resulting from portfolio diversification.
Shinhan Bank generally manages its market risk from the trading activities of its portfolios on an aggregated basis. To control its trading portfolio market risk, Shinhan Bank uses position limits, market risk capital requirement limits, stop loss limits, Greek limits and stressed loss limits. In addition, it establishes separate limits for investment securities. Shinhan Bank maintains risk control and management guidelines for derivative trading based on the regulations and guidelines promulgated by the Financial Services Commission, and measures market risk from trading activities to monitor and control the risk of its operating divisions and teams that perform trading activities. Shinhan Bank manages capital requirement measurements and limits on a daily basis based on automatic interfacing of its trading positions into its market risk measurement system. In addition, Shinhan Bank presets limits on loss, sensitivity, investment and stress for its trading departments and desks, and monitors such limits and observance thereof on a daily basis.
The Basel III Standardised Approach Capital Requirement. Since 2023, Shinhan Bank replaced the use of VaR with the standardised approach for calculating market risk pursuant to the Basel III capital requirements. The standardised approach capital requirement is the simple sum of three components: the capital requirement under the sensitivities-based method, the default risk capital (“DRC”) requirement and the residual risk add-on (“RRAO”). The capital requirement under the sensitivities-based method must be calculated by aggregating three risk measures – delta, vega and curvature. Delta is a risk measure based on sensitivities of an instrument to regulatory delta risk factors. Vega is a risk measure based on sensitivities to regulatory vega risk factors. Curvature is a risk measure which captures the incremental risk not captured by the delta risk measure for price changes in an option. Curvature risk is based on two stress scenarios involving an upward shock and a downward shock for each regulatory risk factor. The DRC requirement captures the jump-to-default risk for instruments subject to credit risk. However, since not all market risks can be captured in the standardised approach, an RRAO, the sum of gross notional amounts of the instruments bearing residual risks, multiplied by a risk weight, is calculated in addition to other capital requirements within the standardised approach to ensure sufficient coverage of market risks.
VaR Analysis. Shinhan Securities currently uses a 10-day 99.9% confidence level-based historical VaR for purposes of calculating its “economic” capital used for internal management purposes, although such model is not subject to regulatory review or reporting requirements. A 10-day VaR is the statistically estimated maximum amount of loss that is not expected to be exceeded over a 10-day period under normal market conditions. If VaR
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is measured using a 99.9% confidence level, actual losses are expected to exceed the VaR estimate, on average, once out of every 1,000 business days. Shinhan Securities applies this VaR as a risk limit for the entire company as well as individual departments and products, and the adequacy of such VaR is reviewed by way of daily back-testing. When computing VaR, Shinhan Securities does not assume any particular probability distribution and calculates it through a simulation of the “full valuation” method based on changes of market variables such as stock prices, interest rates and foreign exchange rates in the past one year. For Shinhan Securities, the number of times its losses (either actual or virtual) exceeded the one-day 99.9% confidence level-based VaR amount was zero in each of 2023, 2024 and 2025.
VaR is a commonly used market risk management technique. However, VaR models have the following shortcomings:
VaR estimates possible losses over a certain period at a particular confidence level using past market movement data. Past market movement, however, is not necessarily a reliable indicator of future events, particularly those that are extreme in nature;
VaR may underestimate the probability of extreme market movements;
The 99.9% confidence level does not take into account or provide indication of any losses that might occur beyond this confidence level; and
VaR does not capture all complex effects of various risk factors on the value of positions and portfolios and could underestimate potential losses.
Currently, Shinhan Securities conducts back-testing of VaR results against actual outcomes on a daily basis. Shinhan Life Insurance also measures market risks based on a VaR analysis.
Stress test. In addition to the Basel III standardised approach, Shinhan Bank also performs stress tests to measure market risk. As the standardised approach assumes normal market situations, Shinhan Bank assesses its market risk exposure to unlikely abnormal market fluctuations through the stress test. Stress tests are valuable supplements to the standardised approach since capital requirements do not cover potential loss if the market moves in a manner outside of normal expectations. Stress tests project the anticipated change in value of holding positions under certain scenarios assuming that no action is taken during a stress event to change the risk profile of a portfolio.
Shinhan Bank applies 16 scenarios for stress testing that take into account four key market risk components: foreign currency exchange rates, stock prices, Won-denominated and U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate curves and the volatility of each component. For the worst case scenario, Shinhan Bank assumes instantaneous and simultaneous movements in four market risk components, including a 20% appreciation of the Won, a 30% decline in the KRX KOSPI, a 75-basis-point increase or decrease in Won-denominated and U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate and a 35% volatility shock for each component. Under this worst-case scenario, the market value of Shinhan Bank’s trading portfolio would have declined by W1,165 billion as of December 31, 2025. Shinhan Bank performs stress tests on a daily basis and reports the results to its Risk Policy Committee on a monthly basis and its Risk Management Committee on a quarterly basis.
Shinhan Securities applies nine scenarios for stress testing that take into account four key market risk components: stock prices (both in terms of stock market indices and ß-based individual stock prices), interest rates for Won-denominated loans, foreign currency exchange rates and historical volatility. As of December 31, 2025, under the worst case scenario assuming a 1% point increase in interest rates applied to the interest rate-sensitive (non-equity) portion of the trading portfolio, the market value of Shinhan Securities’ trading portfolio would have fluctuated by W79 billion over a one-day period.
Shinhan Bank sets limits on stress testing for its overall operations. Shinhan Securities sets limits on stress testing for its overall operations as well as at its department level. In the case of Shinhan Bank and Shinhan
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Securities, if the potential impact is significant, their respective head of Risk Management would report such impact and may request a portfolio restructuring or other appropriate action.
Hedging and Derivative Market Risk
The principal objective of our group-wide hedging strategy is to manage market risk within established limits. We use derivative instruments to hedge our market risk as well as to make profits by trading derivative products within preset risk limits. Our derivative trading includes interest rate and cross-currency swaps, foreign currency forwards and futures, stock index and interest rate futures, and stock index and currency options.
While we use derivatives for hedging purposes, derivative transactions by nature involve market risk since we take trading positions for the purpose of making profits. These activities consist primarily of the following:
arbitrage transactions to profit from short-term discrepancies between the spot and derivative markets or within the derivative markets;
sales of tailor-made derivative products that meet various needs of our corporate customers, principally of Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities, and related transactions to reduce their exposure resulting from those sales;
taking positions in limited cases when we expect short-swing profits based on our market forecasts; and
trading to hedge our interest rate and foreign currency risk exposure as described above.
In accordance with accounting requirements under IFRS 9, “Financial Instruments,” which has replaced IAS 39, “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” since January 1, 2018, we have implemented internal processes which include a number of key controls designed to ensure that fair value is measured appropriately, particularly where a fair value model is internally developed and used to price a significant product.
Shinhan Bank assesses the adequacy of the fair market value of a new product derived from its internal model prior to the launch of such product. The assessment involves the following processes:
computation of an internal dealing system market value (based on assessment by the quantitative analysis team of the adequacy of the formula and the model used to compute the market value as derived from the dealing system);
computation of the market value as obtained from an outside credit evaluation company; and
following comparison of the market value derived from an internal dealing system to that obtained from outside credit evaluation companies, determination as to whether to use the internally developed market value based on inter-departmental consensus.
The dealing system market value, which is used officially by Shinhan Bank after conducting the assessment above, does not undergo a sampling process that confirms the value based on review of individual transactions, but is subject to an additional assessment procedure of comparing such value against the profits derived from the dealing systems based on the deal portfolio sensitivity.
Shinhan Securities follows an internal policy as set by its Fair Value Evaluation Committee for computing and assessing the adequacy of fair value of all of its over-the-counter derivative products. Shinhan Securities computes the fair value based on an internal model and internal risk management systems and assesses the adequacy of the fair value through cross-departmental checks as well as comparison against fair values obtained from outside credit evaluation companies.
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Market risk from derivatives is not significant since derivative trading activities of Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities are primarily driven by arbitrage and customer deals with highly limited open trading positions. Market risk from derivatives is also not significant for Shinhan Life Insurance as its derivative trading activities are limited to those within preset risk limits and are subject to heavy regulations imposed on the insurance industry. Market risk from derivatives is not significant for our other subsidiaries since the amount of such positions by our other subsidiaries is insignificant.
Market Risk Management for Non-trading Activities
Interest rate risk represents Shinhan Bank’s principal market risk from non-trading activities. Interest rate risk is the risk of loss resulting from interest rate fluctuations that adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of Shinhan Bank. Shinhan Bank’s interest rate risk primarily relates to the differences between the timing of rate changes for interest-earning assets and that for interest-bearing liabilities.
Interest rate risk affects Shinhan Bank’s earnings and the economic value of Shinhan Bank’s net assets as follows:
Earnings: interest rate fluctuations have an effect on Shinhan Bank’s net interest income by affecting its interest-sensitive operating income and expenses.
Economic value of net assets: interest rate fluctuations influence Shinhan Bank’s net worth by affecting the present value of cash flows from the assets, liabilities and other transactions of Shinhan Bank.
Accordingly, Shinhan Bank measures and manages interest rate risk for non-trading activities by taking into account the effects of interest rate changes on both its income and net asset value. Shinhan Bank measures and manages interest rate risk on a daily and monthly basis with respect to all interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities in Shinhan Bank’s bank accounts (including derivatives denominated in Won which are principally interest rate swaps entered into for the purpose of hedging) and trust accounts, except that Shinhan Bank measures VaRs on a monthly basis. Most of Shinhan Bank’s interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities are denominated in Won.
Interest Rate Risk Management
The principal objectives of Shinhan Bank’s interest rate risk management are to generate stable net interest income and to protect Shinhan Bank’s net asset value against interest rate fluctuations. Through its asset and liability management system, Shinhan Bank monitors and manages its interest rate risk based on various analytical measures such as interest rate gap, duration gap and net present value and net interest income simulations, and monitors on a monthly basis its interest rate VaR limits, interest rate earnings at risk (“EaR”) limits and interest rate gap ratio limits. Shinhan Bank measures its interest rate VaR and interest rate EaR based on interest rate risk in the banking book standardized approach presented by the Bank for International Settlements (the “IRRBB standardized approach”). IRRBB, which is part of the Basel capital framework’s Pillar 2 and subject to the Committee’s guidance set out in the 2004 revised principles for the management and supervision of interest rate risk, refers to current or prospective risk to a bank’s capital and earnings arising from adverse movements in interest rates that affect the bank’s banking book position. Interest rate risk is managed by reflecting possible future interest rate environments and customer behavior based on the IRRBB standardized approach. Interest rate VaR is measured by the change in economic value of equity under six types of scenarios (parallel up, parallel down, stiffener, flattener, short-term interest rate-up and short-term interest rate-down). Interest rate EaR is measured by the largest loss amount based on two types of scenarios (parallel up and parallel down). The Risk Policy Committee sets the interest rate risk limits for Shinhan Bank’s Won-denominated and foreign currency-denominated non-trading accounts and trust accounts, and the Risk Management Committee sets Shinhan Bank’s overall interest rate risk limit, in both cases, at least annually. The Risk Management Department monitors Shinhan Bank’s compliance with these limits and reports the monitoring results to the Risk Policy Committee on a monthly basis and the Risk Management Committee on a quarterly basis. Shinhan Bank uses interest rate swaps to control its interest rate exposure limits.
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Interest rate VaR represents the maximum anticipated loss in a net present value calculation (computed as the present value of interest-earning assets minus the present value of interest-bearing liabilities), whereas interest rate EaR represents the maximum anticipated loss in a net earnings calculation (computed as interest income minus interest expenses) for the immediately following one-year period, in each case, as a result of negative movements in interest rates. Therefore, interest rate VaR is a more expansive concept than interest rate EaR in that the former covers all interest-earning assets and all interest-bearing liabilities, whereas the latter covers only those interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities that are exposed to interest rate volatility for a one-year period.
Therefore, for interest rate VaRs, the duration gap (namely, the weighted average duration of all interest-earning assets minus the weighted average duration of all interest-bearing liabilities) can be a more critical factor than the relative sizes of the relevant assets and liabilities in influencing interest rate VaRs. In comparison, for interest rate EaRs, the relative sizes of the relevant assets and liabilities in the form of the “one year or less interest rate” gap (namely, the volume of interest-earning assets with maturities of less than one year minus the volume of interest-bearing liabilities with maturities of less than one year) are the most critical factor in influencing the interest rate EaRs.
On a monthly basis, we monitor whether the non-trading positions for interest rate VaR and EaR exceed their respective limits as described above.
Interest rate VaR cannot be meaningfully compared to the 10-day 99% confidence level based VaR (“market risk VaR”) for managing trading risk principally because (i) the underlying assets are different (namely, non-trading interest-bearing assets as well as liabilities in the case of the interest rate VaR, compared to trading assets only in the case of the market risk VaR), and (ii) interest rate VaR is sensitive to interest rate movements only while the market risk VaR is sensitive to interest rate movements as well as other factors such as foreign currency exchange rates, stock market prices and option volatility.
Even if comparison were to be made between the interest rate VaR and the interest rate portion only of the market risk VaR, we do not believe such comparison would be meaningful since the interest rate VaR examines the impact of interest rate movements on both assets and liabilities (which will likely have offsetting effects), whereas the interest rate portion of the market VaR examines the impact of interest rate movements on assets only.
Shinhan Bank uses various analytical methodologies to measure and manage its interest rate risk for non-trading activities on a daily and monthly basis, including the following analyses:
Interest rate gap analysis;
Duration gap analysis;
Market value analysis; and
Net interest income simulation analysis.
Interest Rate Gap Analysis
Shinhan Bank performs interest gap analyses to measure the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets and that of interest-bearing liabilities at each maturity and re-pricing date for specific time intervals by preparing interest rate gap tables in which Shinhan Bank’s interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities are allocated to the applicable time intervals based on the expected cash flows and re-pricing dates.
On a daily basis, Shinhan Bank performs interest rate gap analysis for Won- and foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities in its bank and trust accounts. Shinhan Bank’s gap analysis includes
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Won-denominated derivatives (which are interest rate swaps for purposes of hedging) and foreign currency-denominated derivatives (which are currency swaps for purposes of hedging), which are managed centrally at the S&T Center. Through the interest rate gap analysis that measures interest rate sensitivity gaps, cumulative gaps and gap ratios, Shinhan Bank assesses its exposure to future interest risk fluctuations. For interest rate gap analysis, Shinhan Bank assumes and uses the following maturities for different types of assets and liabilities:
With respect to the maturities and re-pricing dates of Shinhan Bank’s assets, Shinhan Bank assumes that the maturity of Shinhan Bank’s prime rate-linked loans is the same as that of its fixed-rate loans. Shinhan Bank excludes equity securities from interest-earning assets.
With respect to the maturities and re-pricing of Shinhan Bank’s liabilities, Shinhan Bank assumes that money market deposit accounts and “non-core” demand deposits under the Financial Services Commission guidelines have a maturity of one month or less for both Won-denominated accounts and foreign currency-denominated accounts.
With respect to “core” demand deposits under the Financial Services Commission guidelines, Shinhan Bank assumes that they have maturities of eight different intervals ranging from one month to five years.
The following tables show Shinhan Bank’s interest rate gaps as of December 31, 2025 for (i) Won-denominated non-trading bank accounts, including derivatives entered into for purposes of hedging and (ii) foreign currency-denominated non-trading bank accounts, including derivatives entered into for purposes of hedging.
Won-denominated non-trading bank accounts(1)
Interest-earning assets
Fixed rate
Floating rate
Interest rate swaps
Interest-bearing liabilities
Sensitivity gap
Cumulative gap
% of total assets
Foreign currency-denominated non-trading bank accounts(1)
Includes merchant banking accounts.
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Duration Gap Analysis
Shinhan Bank performs duration gap analyses to measure the differential effects of interest rate risk on the market value of its assets and liabilities by examining the difference between the durations of Shinhan Bank’s interest-earning assets and those of its interest-bearing liabilities, which durations represent their respective weighted average maturities calculated based on their respective discounted cash flows using applicable yield curves. These measurements are performed on a daily basis and, for each operating department, account, product and currency, calculate the respective durations of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.
The following tables show duration gaps and market values of Shinhan Bank’s Won-denominated interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities in its non-trading accounts as of December 31, 2025 and changes in these market values when interest rate increases by one percentage point.
Duration as of December 31, 2025 (for non-trading Won-denominated bank accounts(1))
Gap
Includes merchant banking accounts and derivatives for purposes of hedging.
Market Value Analysis
Shinhan Bank performs market value analyses to measure changes in the market value of Shinhan Bank’s interest-earning assets compared to that of its interest-bearing liabilities based on the assumption of parallel shifts in interest rates. These measurements are performed on a monthly basis.
Market Value as of December 31, 2025 (for non-trading Won-denominated bank accounts(1))
Net Interest Income Simulation
Shinhan Bank performs net interest income simulations to measure the effects of changes in interest rates on its results of operations. Such simulations use the deterministic analysis methodology to measure the estimated changes in Shinhan Bank’s annual net interest income (interest income less interest expenses) under the current maturity structure, using different scenarios for interest rates (assuming parallel shifts) and funding requirements. For simulations involving interest rate changes, based on the assumption that there is no change in funding requirements, Shinhan Bank applies three scenarios of parallel shifts in interest rates: (1) no change, (2) a 1% point increase in interest rates and (3) a 1% point decrease in interest rates.
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The following table illustrates the simulated changes in Shinhan Bank’s annual net interest income for 2025 with respect to Won-denominated interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, using Shinhan Bank’s net interest income simulation model, assuming (a) the maturity structure and funding requirement of Shinhan Bank as of December 31, 2025 and (b) the same interest rates as of December 31, 2025 and a 1% point increase or decrease in interest rates.
Simulated interest income
Simulated interest expense
Net interest income
Includes merchant banking accounts and derivatives entered into for purposes of hedging.
Shinhan Bank’s Won-denominated interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities in non-trading accounts have a maturity structure that benefits from an increase in interest rates, because the re-pricing periods for interest-earning assets in Shinhan Bank’s non-trading accounts are, on average, shorter than those of interest-bearing liabilities in these accounts. Shinhan Bank’s net interest income tends to decrease during times of a decrease in market interest rates while the opposite is generally true during times of an increase in market interest rates.
Interest Rate VaRs for Non-trading Assets and Liabilities
Shinhan Bank measures VaRs for interest rate risk from non-trading activities on a monthly basis. The following table shows, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025, the VaRs of interest rate mismatch risk for other assets and liabilities, which arises from mismatches between the re-pricing dates for Shinhan Bank’s non-trading interest-earning assets (including available-for-sale investment securities) and those for its interest-bearing liabilities. Under the regulations of the Financial Services Commission, Shinhan Bank includes in the calculation of these VaRs interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities in its bank accounts and its merchant banking accounts.
Interest rate mismatch — non-trading assets and liabilities
One-year VaR results computed based on the interest rate risk in the banking book standardized approach presented by the Bank for International Settlements. See “— Interest Rate Risk Management.”
Interest Rate Risk for Other Subsidiaries
Shinhan Card monitors and manages its interest rate risk for all of its interest-bearing assets and liabilities (including off-balance sheet items) in terms of the impact on its earnings and net asset value from changes in interest rates. Shinhan Card primarily uses interest rate VaR and EaR analyses to measure its interest rate risk.
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The interest rate VaR analysis used by Shinhan Card principally focuses on the maximum impact on its net asset value from adverse movements in interest rates and consists of (i) historical interest rate VaR analysis and (ii) interest rate gap analysis. The historical interest rate VaR analysis is made through simulation of net asset value based on the interest rate volatility over a fixed past period to produce expected future interest rate scenarios and computes the maximum VaR at a 99.9% confidence level by analyzing the net present value distribution under each such scenario. As for interest rate gap analysis, Shinhan Card computes the VaR based on the duration proxies and interest rate shocks for each time interval as recommended under the Basel Accord.
The interest rate EaR analysis used by Shinhan Card computes the maximum loss in net interest income for a one-year period following adverse movements in interest rates, based on an interest rate gap analysis using the time intervals and the “middle of time band” as recommended under the Basel Accord.
Shinhan Securities measures its interest rate VaR and interest rate EaR based on the IRRBB standardized approach. Interest rate risk is managed by reflecting possible future interest rate environments and customer behavior based on the IRRBB standardized approach. Interest rate VaR is measured by the change in economic value of equity in six types of scenarios – parallel up, parallel down, stiffener, flattener, short-term interest rate-up and short-term interest rate-down. Interest rate EaR is measured by the largest loss amount in two types of scenarios – parallel up and parallel down.
Shinhan Life Insurance monitors and manages its interest rate risk for its interest-bearing assets and liabilities based on simulations of its asset-liability management system. At the 99.5% confidence level, interest rate-setting liabilities and assets are evaluated under the deterministic interest rate scenario, and interest rate-linked liabilities are evaluated under 1,000 stochastic interest rate scenarios.
Interest rate risk for our other subsidiaries is insignificant.
Substantially all of Shinhan Bank’s equity risk relates to its portfolio of investments in common stock of Korean companies. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank held an aggregate amount of W656.8 billion of equity interest in unlisted foreign companies.
The equity securities in Won held in Shinhan Bank’s investment portfolio consist of stocks listed on the KRX KOSPI Market or the KRX KOSDAQ Market of the Korea Exchange and certain non-listed stocks. Shinhan Bank sets exposure limits for most of these equity securities to manage their related risk. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank held equity securities in an aggregate amount of W1,894.4 billion in its non-trading accounts, including equity securities in the amount of W373.9 billion that it held, among other reasons, for management control purposes and as a result of debt-to-equity conversion as a part of reorganization proceedings of the companies to which it had extended loans.
As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank did not hold any Won-denominated convertible bonds, Won-denominated exchangeable bonds or Won-denominated bonds with warrants in its non-trading accounts. Shinhan Bank does not measure equity risk with respect to convertible bonds, exchangeable bonds or bonds with warrants, and the interest rate risk of these equity-linked securities are measured together with the other debt securities. As such, Shinhan Bank measures interest rate risk VaRs but not equity risk VaRs for these equity-linked securities.
Liquidity Risk Management
Liquidity risk is the risk of insolvency, default or loss due to disparity between inflow and outflow of funds, including the risk of having to obtain funds at a high price or to dispose of securities at an unfavorable price due to a lack of available funds. Each of our subsidiaries seeks to minimize liquidity risk through early detection of risks related to the sourcing and managing of funds that may cause volatility in liquidity and by ensuring that it maintains an appropriate level of liquidity through systematic management. At the group-wide level, we manage
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our liquidity risk by conducting monthly stress tests that compare liquidity requirements under normal situations against those under three types of stress situations, namely, our group-specific internal crisis, crisis in the external market and a combination of internal and external crisis. In addition, in order to preemptively and comprehensively manage liquidity risk, we measure and monitor liquidity risk using various indices, including the “limit management index,” “early warning index” and “monitoring index.”
Shinhan Bank applies the following basic principles for liquidity risk management:
raise funds in sufficient amounts, at the optimal time at reasonable costs;
maintain liquidity risk at appropriate levels and preemptively manage such risk through a prescribed risk limit system and an early warning signal detection system;
secure stable sources of funding and minimize actual losses by implementing an effective asset-liability management system based on diversified sources of funding with varying maturities;
monitor and manage daily and intra-daily liquidity positions and risk exposures for timely payment and settlement of financial obligations due under both normal and crisis situations;
conduct periodic liquidity stress tests in anticipation of any potential liquidity crisis and establish and implement contingency funding plans in case of an actual crisis; and
consider liquidity-related costs, benefits of and risks in determining the pricing of our products and services, performance evaluations and approval of launches of new products and services.
Each of our subsidiaries manages its liquidity risk in accordance with the risk limits and guidelines established internally and by the relevant regulatory authorities. Pursuant to principal regulations applicable to financial holding companies and banks as promulgated by the Financial Services Commission, we, at the holding company level, are required to maintain a liquidity coverage ratio and a foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio. These ratios require us to maintain the relevant ratios above certain minimum levels.
Shinhan Bank manages its liquidity risk within the limits set on Won and foreign currency accounts in accordance with the regulations of the Financial Services Commission. The Financial Services Commission requires a minimum liquidity coverage ratio of 100.0% for Korean banks, including Shinhan Bank. The Financial Services Commission defines liquidity coverage ratio as the ratio of HQLA that can be immediately converted into cash with little or no loss in value to the net amount of cash outflows for the next 30-day period, under the stress level established according to the liquidity coverage ratio, in accordance with the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business.
In addition to the liquidity coverage ratio, the Financial Services Commission also requires Korean banks, including Shinhan Bank, to maintain a net stable funding ratio of at least 100%, which measures liquidity over the next one-year period and is calculated as the ratio of available stable funding to required stable funding. A bank’s available stable funding is the portion of its capital and liabilities that are expected to remain with the bank for more than one year, while a bank’s required stable funding is the amount of stable funding that it is required to hold given the liquidity characteristics and residual maturities of its assets and the contingent liquidity risk arising from its off-balance sheet exposures.
With respect to foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio, the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business requires that financial institutions dealing with foreign exchange affairs (i.e., banks) whose foreign-currency denominated liabilities are equal to or greater than US$500 million or 5% of their total liabilities, as of the end of the immediately preceding half-year period, maintain a foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio of 80% or higher. The term “foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio” means the ratio of HQLA to the net cash outflows in respect of foreign-currency denominated assets and liabilities for the next 30 days.
Shinhan Bank’s Treasury Department is in charge of liquidity risk management with respect to Shinhan Bank’s Won and foreign currency funds. The Treasury Department submits Shinhan Bank’s monthly funding and
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asset management plans to Shinhan Bank’s Asset and Liability Committee for approval, based on the analysis of various factors, including macroeconomic indices, interest rate and foreign exchange movements and maturity structures of Shinhan Bank’s assets and liabilities. Shinhan Bank’s Risk Engineering Department measures Shinhan Bank’s liquidity coverage ratio on a daily basis and net stable funding ratio on a monthly basis and reports on whether they are in compliance with the respective limits to Shinhan Bank’s Risk Policy Committee, which sets and monitors Shinhan Bank’s liquidity coverage ratio and net stable funding ratio on a monthly basis.
The following tables show Shinhan Bank’s (i) average liquidity coverage ratio, (ii) average foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio, and (iii) net stable funding ratio, each for the month of December 2025 in accordance with the regulations of the Financial Services Commission.
Shinhan Bank’s Average Liquidity Coverage Ratio for the Month of December 2025
HQLA (A)
Net cash outflows over the next 30 days (B)
Cash outflow
Cash inflow
Liquidity coverage ratio (A/B)
Shinhan Bank’s Average Foreign Currency Liquidity Coverage Ratio for the Month of December 2025
Shinhan Bank’s Net Stable Funding Ratio for the Month of December 2025
Available stable funding (A)
Required stable funding (B)
Net stable funding ratio (A/B)
Shinhan Bank maintains diverse sources of liquidity to remain flexible in meeting its funding requirements. Shinhan Bank funds its operations principally by accepting deposits from retail and corporate depositors, accessing the call loan market (a short-term market for loans with maturities of 90 days or less), issuing debentures and borrowing from the Bank of Korea. Shinhan Bank uses the funds primarily to extend loans or purchase securities. Generally, deposits are of shorter average maturity than loans or investments.
Shinhan Card manages its liquidity risk according to the following principles: (i) provide a sufficient volume of necessary funding in a timely manner at a reasonable cost, (ii) establish an overall liquidity risk management strategy, including in respect of liquidity management targets, policies and internal control systems, and (iii) manage its liquidity risk in conjunction with other risks based on a comprehensive understanding of the interaction among various risks. As for any potential liquidity shortage at or near the end of each month, Shinhan Card maintains liquidity at a level sufficient to withstand credit shortage for three months.
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In addition, Shinhan Card manages liquidity risk by setting and complying with specific guidelines for various measures of liquidity, including the breakdown of contractual payment obligations by maturity, overseas funding, the ratio of asset-backed securitized borrowings to total borrowings, the ratio of requisite liquidity to reserve liquidity, and the ratio of fixed interest rate borrowings to floating interest rate borrowings. Furthermore, Shinhan Card closely monitors various indicators of a potential liquidity crisis, such as the actual liquidity gap ratio (in relation to the different maturities for assets as compared to liabilities) and liquidity buffer ratio. Shinhan Card also has contingency plans in place in case of any emergency or crisis. In managing its liquidity risk, Shinhan Card focuses on a prompt response system based on periodic monitoring of the relevant early signals, stress testing and establishment of contingency plans. Shinhan Card identifies its funding needs on a daily, monthly, quarterly and annual basis based on the maturity schedule of its liabilities as well as short-term liquidity needs, based on which it formulates its funding plans using diverse sources such as corporate debentures, commercial papers, asset-backed securitizations and credit line facilities. When entering into asset-backed securitizations, Shinhan Card provides sufficient credit enhancements to avoid triggering early amortization events. In addition, prior to entering into any funding transaction and related derivative transaction, Shinhan Card conducts pre-transaction risk analyses, including in respect of counterparty credit risk and its total exposure limit by country and by financial institution.
Shinhan Card also manages its liquidity risk within the limits set on Won accounts in accordance with the regulations of the Financial Services Commission. Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and the regulations thereunder, credit card companies in Korea are required to maintain a Won liquidity ratio of at least 100.0%.
The following tables show Shinhan Card’s liquidity status and limits for Won-denominated accounts as of December 31, 2025 in accordance with the regulations of the Financial Services Commission.
Shinhan Card’s Won-denominated accounts
Won-DenominatedAccounts
Assets
Liabilities
Liquidity ratio
Shinhan Securities manages its liquidity risk for the sum of its Won-denominated and foreign currency-denominated accounts by setting a limit of W300 billion on each of its seven-day, one-month and three-month liquidity gap, a limit of 119% on its one-month and three-months liquidity ratios and a limit of W30 billion on its liquidity VaR. As for its foreign currency-denominated accounts, Shinhan Securities manages its liquidity risk on a monthly basis in compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Supervisory Service, which requires the seven-day and one-month maturity mismatch ratios to be 0% and -10% or higher, respectively, and the three-months liquidity ratio to be 80% or higher.
Our other subsidiaries fund their operations primarily through call money, bank loans, commercial paper, corporate debentures and asset-backed securities. Our holding company acts as a funding vehicle for long-term financing of our subsidiaries whose credit ratings are lower than the holding company, including Shinhan Card and Shinhan Capital, to lower the overall funding costs within regulatory limitations. Under the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, however, a financial holding company is prohibited from borrowing funds in excess of 200% of its total stockholders’ equity.
In addition to liquidity risk management under normal market situations, we have contingency plans to effectively cope with possible liquidity crises. Liquidity crisis arises when we would not be able to effectively
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manage the situations with our normal liquidity management measures due to, among other reasons, inability to access our normal sources of funds or epidemic withdrawals of deposits as a result of various external or internal factors, including a collapse in the financial markets or abrupt deterioration of our credit. We have contingency plans in place corresponding to different stages of a liquidity crisis: namely, “alert stage,” “imminent-crisis stage” and “crisis stage,” based on the following liquidity indices:
indices that reflect market movements such as interest rates and stock prices;
indices that reflect financial market sentiments, such as the size of money market funds; and
indices that reflect our internal liquidity condition.
Operational Risk Management
The Basel Committee defines operational risk as the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems or from other external events. These include risks arising from system failure, human error, non-adherence to policy and procedures, fraud, inadequate internal controls and procedures or environmental changes that result in financial and non-financial losses. We monitor and assess operational risks related to our business operations, including administrative risk, information technology risk (including cybersecurity risk), managerial risk and legal risk, with a view to minimizing such losses.
To effectively manage our operational risk, we have established group-wide operational risk management policies and standardized management criteria. Each of our subsidiaries develops and maintains an operational risk management system, taking into account the size and complexity of each subsidiary. To ensure an appropriate level of operational risk management, we set operational risk limits for each subsidiary and regularly report the status of limit utilization to our Risk Management Committee.
Additionally, we have established and are currently implementing the following procedures for identifying and reporting operational risks:
(a) Recognition and Measurement: We proactively identify and manage the operational risks inherent in our business, taking into account factors such as scale and complexity.
(b) Monitoring and Control: To effectively manage operational risks within appropriate levels, we conduct regular monitoring. Our management identifies, monitors and controls the operational risks associated with individual business units through risk management meetings led by our holding company.
(c) Reporting: In accordance with regulations and guidelines pertaining to operational risks, we report our operational risk management activities periodically, as well as when any significant operational risk management activities arise, to the Group Risk Management Committee.
We have established a three-tier control system which we refer to as the three lines of defense:
(a) Business Units: Responsibilities are assigned to identify, evaluate and manage the operational risks inherent in products, sales activities, operations and systems to ensure effective overall operational risk management.
(b) Operational Risk Management Division: This division is responsible for developing strategies to identify, assess, control and mitigate operational risks.
(c) Internal Audit: An independent review is conducted to ensure that the operational risk management activities of the business units and the operational risk management division are carried out effectively.
In accordance with our operational risk management policy, our subsidiaries periodically report to our management and board of directors the status of operational risk management, including self-assessments of risk controls, key risk indicators, operational risk loss events, ICT risks and third-party outsourcing risks, reflecting the unique characteristics and risk levels of each subsidiary. Additionally, we have calculated operational risk-
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weighted assets using the Basel III standardized method, based on operational risk loss data for incidents with net losses exceeding W25 million that have occurred during the past ten years. An independent verification department conducts an annual review of the appropriateness of such loss data.
Every six months, based on our assessment of the risk profile considering the scale and complexity of our subsidiaries, we designate significant operational risks identified as “Top Operational Risks.” In order to improve our risk management capabilities and mitigate these operational risks, we develop and implement various measures aimed at effectively assessing key risk indicators and risk control measures.
Additionally, we have implemented strategies to mitigate certain operational risks by subscribing to various insurance policies, such as comprehensive financial institution insurance and electronic financial transaction liability insurance. We monitor the effectiveness of our operational risk mitigation efforts through regular reports to our management and board of directors. Furthermore, in the event of significant operational risk loss incidents, we identify improvement measures through Top Operational Risk assessments to enhance and strengthen our operational risk management system.
We set internal capital limits for operational risks taking into account our risk appetite to ensure that internal capital is being managed within appropriate limits. We also conduct periodic stress tests to ensure that we maintain sufficient capital to withstand potential volatility in, and changes to, economic forecasts.
Upgrades to Risk Management Systems
Our recent material upgrades in relation to risk management systems are as follows:
Shinhan Financial Group
In May 2015, we developed and implemented a credit review system to unify our corporate credit review and risk measurements, allowing us and our subsidiaries to utilize a uniform and consistent credit review system with respect to each borrower. In addition, to comply with the Basel III requirements relating to liquidity coverage ratios for bank holding companies and to enhance our liquidity risk management capabilities, we have implemented a Basel III liquidity coverage ratio risk management system by which we calculate our liquidity coverage ratio each month.
Shinhan Bank
To strengthen the risk management of its overseas subsidiaries and comply with local and domestic regulations, Shinhan Bank has been developing a global risk management system network to aggregate risk data from its overseas subsidiaries. The system has been implemented for several subsidiaries, including those in Japan, China and Vietnam, and Shinhan Bank plans to continue expanding the system to additional overseas subsidiaries. Shinhan Bank also seeks to leverage this system to support overseas expansion and the stable growth of its existing overseas operations.
Shinhan Bank has developed a system to calculate Basel III market risk capital requirements, which was approved by the Financial Supervisory Service and implemented in 2023. In addition, Shinhan Bank has also continually upgraded its credit risk management systems, including enhancements to LGD data processing, credit evaluation models for small- and medium-sized enterprises, SOHOs and retail exposures, and internal evaluation models approved by the Financial Supervisory Service under the Basel II and AIRB frameworks, most recently in 2023.
Moreover, Shinhan Bank upgraded its asset and liability management system to comply with Basel III and IFRS requirements and enhanced its liquidity risk management systems to support daily calculation of the liquidity coverage ratio and net stable funding ratio. Following the adoption of Basel III operational risk standards and the Principles for the Sound Management of Operational Risk, Shinhan Bank has also
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re-established its operational risk management system to further strengthen its operational risk management capabilities.
Shinhan Card
In 2012, Shinhan Card upgraded its credit risk measurement system in satisfaction of Basel II standards, as well as other regulatory requirements and internal needs in order to address the ongoing volatility in the economic and regulatory environment. In December 2016, Shinhan Card obtained approval from the Financial Supervisory Service to use a new internal evaluation model with respect to Basel III credit risks related to its retail and SOHO exposures. In 2022, Shinhan Card implemented an operational risk management system in accordance with Basel III standards, incorporating loss data collection, Key Risk Indicator management, and Risk and Control Self-Assessment processes. To comply with heightened regulatory requirements for operational risk management, the Shinhan Card established a Business Continuity Planning management framework in 2024. Furthermore, in 2025, Shinhan Card enhanced its operational risk management capabilities through the implementation of a third-party risk assessment system.
Shinhan Securities
In 2016, Shinhan Securities established a Risk Engineering Team and updated its market risk management system to increase its value assessment capabilities for over-the-counter derivatives, strengthen its VaR analysis capabilities and improve various simulation functions. Beginning in 2017, the Risk Engineering Team has conducted value assessments and reviews of over-the-counter derivatives directly using various enhanced simulation functions such as updated stress tests in order to stabilize financial accounting prices and enhance the risk management of over-the-counter derivatives. In January 2019, the Risk Engineering Team was elevated to a department and became the Risk Engineering Department, further expanding the scope of products reviewed by the department and strengthening its simulation analysis capabilities. In 2024, Shinhan Securities upgraded its Basel III market risk and net capital ratio measurement systems to strengthen its market risk management framework and enhance the overall accuracy and performance of such systems.
Shinhan Life Insurance
In 2017, Shinhan Life Insurance updated its interest rate risk measurement system, called the ALM system, in anticipation of IFRS 17 and the K-ICS. In 2018, the new asset liability management system implemented an interest rate risk management system based on the Europe Solvency II standard. The asset liability management system can measure both asset and liability based on mark-to-market valuation. Shinhan Life Insurance also updated its interest rate risk management system to control net income margin volatility resulting from market interest rate changes and has tailored its business scheme to this system in order to better manage risk and profits and match the duration of its assets and liabilities. In 2019, Shinhan Life Insurance further upgraded its insurance risk measurement system in anticipation of K-ICS, which allowed for a more elaborate measurement of insurance risk associated with mortality, longevity, morbidity, disability, lapse and expenses. In addition, in 2023, Shinhan Life Insurance implemented a project to enhance the existing system in order to improve the speed, accuracy and efficiency of K-ICS calculations following the system upgrade.
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Supervision and Regulation
Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies
General
The Korean financial holding companies and their subsidiaries are regulated by the Financial Holding Companies Act. In addition, Korean financial holding companies and their subsidiaries are subject to the regulations and supervision of the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service.
Pursuant to the Financial Holding Companies Act, the Financial Services Commission regulates various activities of financial holding companies. For instance, it approves the application for setting up a new financial holding company and promulgates regulations on the capital adequacy of financial holding companies and their subsidiaries and other regulations relating to the supervision of financial holding companies.
The Financial Supervisory Service is subject to the instructions and directives of the Financial Services Commission and carries out supervision and examination of financial holding companies and their subsidiaries. In particular, the Financial Supervisory Service sets forth liquidity and capital adequacy requirements for financial holding companies and reporting requirements pursuant to the authority delegated to the Financial Supervisory Service under the Financial Services Commission regulations, pursuant to which financial holding companies are required to submit quarterly reports on business performance, financial status and other matters prescribed in the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act.
Under the Financial Holding Companies Act, the establishment of a financial holding company must be approved by the Financial Services Commission. A financial holding company is required to be mainly engaged in controlling its subsidiaries by holding the shares or equities of the subsidiaries in the amount of not less than 50% of aggregate amount of such financial holding company’s assets based on the latest balance sheet. A financial holding company is prohibited from engaging in any profit-making businesses other than controlling the management of its subsidiaries and certain ancillary businesses as prescribed in the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act which includes the following businesses:
financially supporting its subsidiaries and the subsidiaries of its subsidiaries (the “direct and indirect subsidiaries”), including lending properties with economic values such as monies and securities, guaranteeing obligation performance and other direct or indirect transactions involving transactional credit risk;
raising capital necessary for the investment in subsidiaries or providing financial support to its direct and indirect subsidiaries;
supporting the business of its direct and indirect subsidiaries for the joint development and marketing of new products;
supporting the operations of its direct and indirect subsidiaries by providing access to data processing, legal and accounting resources; and
pursuing any other activities exempted from authorization, permission or approval under the applicable laws and regulations.
The Financial Holding Companies Act requires every financial holding company (other than any financial holding company that is controlled by any other financial holding company) or its subsidiaries to obtain the prior approval from the Financial Services Commission before acquiring control of another company or to file with the Financial Services Commission a report within thirty days after acquiring such control. Permission to liquidate or to merge with any other company must be obtained in advance from the Financial Services Commission. A financial holding company must report to the Financial Services Commission regarding certain events including:
when there is a change of its largest shareholder;
when there is a change of principal shareholders of a bank holding company;
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when the shareholding of the largest shareholder or a principal shareholder as prescribed under the Financial Holding Companies Act or a person who is in a special relationship with such largest or principal shareholder (as defined under the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act) changes by 1% or more of the total issued and outstanding voting shares of the financial holding company;
when there is a change of its name;
when there is a cause for dissolution; and
when it or its subsidiary ceases to control any of its respective direct and indirect subsidiaries by disposing of the shares of such direct and indirect subsidiaries.
Capital Adequacy
The Financial Holding Companies Act does not provide for a minimum paid-in capital of financial holding companies. All financial holding companies, however, are required to maintain a specified level of solvency. In addition, in its allocation of the net profit earned in a fiscal term, a financial holding company is required to set aside in its legal reserve an amount equal to at least 10% of the net income after tax each time it pays dividends on its net profits earned until its legal reserve reaches at least the aggregate amount of its paid-in capital.
A financial holding company controlling banks or other financial institutions conducting banking business as prescribed in the Financial Holding Company Act (hereinafter, the “bank holding company”) is required to maintain a minimum consolidated equity capital ratio of 12.5%. “Consolidated equity capital ratio” is defined as the ratio of equity capital as a percentage of risk-weighted assets on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with the Financial Services Commission requirements that have been formulated based on the Bank of International Settlements standards. “Equity capital,” as applicable to bank holding companies, is defined as the sum of Tier I capital and Tier II capital less any deductible items, each as defined under the Regulation on the Supervision of Financial Holding Companies. “Risk-weighted assets” is defined as the sum of credit risk-weighted assets and market risk-weighted assets.
For regulatory reporting purposes, we maintain allowances for credit losses on the following loan classifications that classify corporate and retail loans as required by the Financial Services Commission. In making these classifications, we take into account a number of factors, including the financial position, profitability and transaction history of the borrower, the value of any collateral or guarantee taken as security for the extension of credit, probability of default and loss amount in the event of default. This classification method, and our related provisioning policy, is intended to reflect the borrower’s capacity to repay. To the extent there is any conflict between the Financial Services Commission guidelines and our internal analysis in such classifications, we adopt whichever is more conservative.
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The following table sets forth loan classifications according to the guidelines of the Financial Services Commission.
Loan Classification
Loan Characteristics
(i) Loans extended to customers that, based on our consideration of their business, financial position and future cash flows, are judged to have incurred considerable default risks as their ability to repay has deteriorated; or
(ii) the portion that we expect to collect of total loans (a) extended to customers that have been in arrears for three months or more, (b) extended to customers that have incurred serious default risks due to the occurrence of, among other things, final refusal to pay their debt instruments, entry into liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings or closure of their businesses, or (c) extended to customers who have outstanding loans that are classified as “doubtful” or “estimated loss.”
The portion of total loans to customers that exceeds the amount we expect to collect and that:
(i) based on our consideration of their business, financial position and future cash flows, have incurred serious default risks due to noticeable deterioration in their ability to repay; or
(ii) have been in arrears for three months or more but less than 12 months.
(i) based on our consideration of their business, financial position and future cash flows, are judged to be accounted as a loss because the inability to repay became certain due to serious deterioration in their ability to repay;
(ii) have been in arrears for 12 months or more; or
(iii) have incurred serious risks of default in repayment due to the occurrence of, among other things, final refusal to pay their debt instruments, liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings or closure of their business.
In accordance with the Regulations for the Supervision of Financial Institutions, we establish regulatory reserve for loan loss in the amount of the difference between allowance for credit losses as calculated pursuant to our provisioning policy in accordance with IFRS and allowance for credit losses based on the loan classifications set forth above as required by the Financial Services Commission. In determining consolidated equity capital ratio, we deduct regulatory reserve for loan loss from equity capital.
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Liquidity
All financial holding companies are required to match the maturities of their assets to those of liabilities in accordance with the Financial Holding Companies Act in order to ensure liquidity. Financial holding companies are required to submit quarterly reports regarding their liquidity to the Financial Supervisory Service and must:
maintain a Won liquidity ratio (defined as Won assets due within one month, including marketable securities, divided by Won liabilities due within one month) of not less than 100%;
maintain a foreign currency liquidity ratio (defined as foreign currency liquid assets due within three months divided by foreign currency liabilities due within three months) of not less than 80% except for financial holding companies with a foreign currency liability to total assets ratio of less than 1%;
maintain a ratio of foreign currency liquid assets due within seven days less foreign currency liabilities due within seven days divided by total foreign currency assets of not less than 0%, except for financial holding companies with a foreign currency liability to total assets ratio of less than 1%; and
maintain a ratio of foreign currency liquid assets due within a month less foreign currency liabilities due within a month divided by total foreign currency assets of not less than negative 10% except for financial holding companies with a foreign currency liability to total assets ratio of less than 1%.
Financial Exposure to Any Single Customer and Major Shareholders
Subject to certain exceptions, the total sum of credit (as defined in the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act, the Bank Act, the Presidential Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the Insurance Act, the Mutual Savings Bank Act and the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, respectively) of a financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries which are banks, merchant banks or securities companies (“Financial Holding Company Total Credit”) extended to a single group of companies that belong to the same conglomerate as defined in the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act will not be permitted to exceed 25% of the Net Total Equity Capital.
“Net Total Equity Capital” for the purpose of the calculation of financial exposure to any single customer and Major Shareholder (as defined below) as applicable to us and our subsidiaries is defined under the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act as
the sum of:
in the case of a financial holding company, the shareholders’ equity as defined under Article 24-3, Section 7(2) of the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act, which represents the difference between the total assets less total liabilities on the balance sheet as of the end of the most recent quarter;
in the case of a bank, the shareholders’ equity as defined under Article 2, Section 1(5) of the Bank Act, which represents the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital amounts determined according to the standards set by the BIS;
in the case of a merchant bank, the capital amount as defined in Article 342, Section (1) of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act;
in the case of a financial investment company, the shareholders’ equity as defined under Article 37, Section 3 of the Presidential Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, which represents the total shareholders’ equity as adjusted as determined by the Financial Services Commission, such as the amount of increase or decrease in paid-in capital after the end of the most recent fiscal year;
in the case of an insurance company, the shareholders’ equity as defined under Article 2, Section 15 of the Insurance Act, which represents the sum of items designated by the Presidential Decree, such as paid-in-capital, capital surplus, earned surplus and any equivalent items, less the value of good will and other equivalent items;
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in the case of a mutual savings bank, the shareholders’ equity as defined under Article 2, Section 4 of the Mutual Savings Bank Act, which represents the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital amounts determined in accordance with the standards set by the Bank for International Settlements; and
in the case of a credit card company or a specialty credit provider, the shareholders’ equity as defined under Article 2, Section 19 of the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, which represents the sum of the items designated by the Presidential Decree, such as paid-in-capital, capital surplus, earned surplus and any equivalent items;
less the sum of:
the amount of shares in direct and indirect subsidiaries held by the financial holding company;
the amount of shares in the direct and indirect subsidiaries that are cross-held by such subsidiaries; and
the amount of shares in the financial holding company held by its direct and indirect subsidiaries.
The Financial Holding Company Total Credit to a single individual or legal entity may not exceed 20% of the Net Total Equity Capital.
Furthermore, the total sum of credits (as defined under the Financial Holding Companies Act, the Banking Act and the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, respectively) of a bank holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (“Bank Holding Company Total Credit”) extended to a “Major Shareholder” (together with the persons who have special relationship with such Major Shareholder) (as defined below) generally may not exceed the smaller of (x) 25% of the Net Total Equity Capital and (y) the amount of the equity capital of the financial holding company multiplied by the shareholding ratio of such Major Shareholder, subject to certain exceptions.
“Major Shareholder” is defined under the Financial Holding Companies Act as follows:
(a) a shareholder holding (together with persons who have a special relationship with such shareholder as defined in the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act) in excess of 10% (or in the case of a financial holding company controlling regional banks only, 15%) in the aggregate of the financial holding company’s total issued and outstanding voting shares; or
(b) a shareholder holding (together with persons who have a special relationship with such shareholder as defined in the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act) more than 4% in the aggregate of the total issued and outstanding voting shares of the financial holding company controlling national banks (other than a financial holding company controlling regional banks only), excluding shares related to the shareholding restrictions on non-financial business group companies as described below, where such shareholder is the largest shareholder or has actual control over the major business affairs of the financial holding company through, for example, appointment and dismissal of the officers pursuant to the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act.
In addition, the total sum of the Bank Holding Company Total Credit extended to all of a bank holding company’s Major Shareholder may not exceed 25% of the Net Total Equity Capital. Furthermore, the bank holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries that intend to extend the Bank Holding Company Total Credit to the bank holding company’s Major Shareholder not less than the lesser of (i) the amount equivalent to 0.1% of the Net Total Equity Capital or (ii) W5 billion, with respect to a single transaction, must obtain prior unanimous board resolutions and then, immediately after the completion of the transaction, must file a report with the Financial Services Commission and publicly disclose the filing of such report (for example, through a website).
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Restrictions on Transactions among Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries and Financial Holding Company
Generally, a direct or indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company may not extend credit to the financial holding company which directly or indirectly controls such subsidiary. In addition, a direct or indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company may not extend credit to any other single direct or indirect subsidiary of the financial holding company in excess of 10% of its stockholders’ equity and to any other direct and indirect subsidiaries of the financial holding company in excess of 20% of its stockholders’ equity in the aggregate. The direct or indirect subsidiaries of a financial holding company must obtain an appropriate level of collateral for the credits extended to the other direct and indirect subsidiaries unless otherwise approved by the Financial Services Commission. The appropriate level of collateral for each type of such collateral is as follows:
For deposits and installment savings, obligations of the Government or the Bank of Korea, obligations guaranteed by the Government or the Bank of Korea, obligations secured by securities issued or guaranteed by the Government or the Bank of Korea: 100% of the amount of the credit extended;
(a) For obligations of local governments under the Local Autonomy Act, local public enterprises under the Local Public Enterprises Act, and investment institutions and other quasi-investment institutions under the Basic Act on the Management of Government-Invested Institution (hereinafter, the “public institutions and others”); (b) obligations guaranteed by the public institutions and others; and (c) obligations secured by the securities issued or guaranteed by public institutions and others: 110% of the amount of the credit extended; and
For any property other than those set forth in the above (i) and (ii): 130% of the amount of the credit extended.
Subject to certain exceptions, a direct or indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company is prohibited from owning the shares of any other direct or indirect subsidiaries (other than those directly controlled by the direct and indirect subsidiaries in question) in common control by the financial holding company. However, a direct or indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company may invest as a limited partner in a private equity fund that is a direct or indirect subsidiary of the same financial holding company. The transfer of certain assets subject to or below the precautionary criteria between the financial holding company and its direct or indirect subsidiary or between the direct and indirect subsidiaries of a financial holding company is prohibited except for (i) the transfer to an asset-backed securitization company, typically a special purpose entity, or the entrustment with a trust company, under the Asset-Backed Securitization Act, (ii) the transfer to a mortgage-backed securitization company under the Mortgage-Backed Securitization Company Act, (iii) the transfer or in-kind contribution to a corporate restructuring vehicle under the Corporate Restructuring Investment Company Act or (iv) the acquisition by a corporate restructuring company under the Industrial Development Act.
Disclosure of Management Performance
For the purpose of protecting the depositors and investors in the direct or indirect subsidiaries of the financial holding companies, the Financial Services Commission requires financial holding companies to disclose certain material matters including (i) financial condition and profit and loss of the financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, (ii) how capital was raised by the financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and how such capital was used, (iii) any sanctions levied on the financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries under the Financial Holding Companies Act or any corrective measures or sanctions under the Law on Improvement of Structure of Financial Industry or (iv) occurrence of any non-performing assets or financial incident which may have a material adverse effect.
Restrictions on Shareholdings in Other Companies
Subject to certain exceptions, a bank holding company may not own more than 5% of the total issued and outstanding shares of another company (other than its direct and indirect subsidiaries). If the financial holding company owns shares of another company (other than its direct and indirect subsidiaries) which is not a finance-
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related company, the financial holding company is required to exercise its voting rights in the same manner and same proportion as the other shareholders of the company exercise their voting rights in favor of or against any resolutions under consideration at the shareholders’ meeting of the company.
Restrictions on Shareholdings by Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries
Generally, a direct subsidiary of a financial holding company is prohibited from controlling any other company; provided that a direct subsidiary of a financial holding company may control (as an indirect subsidiary of the financial holding company): (i) subsidiaries in foreign jurisdictions related to the business of the subsidiary that are engaged in a financial business, (ii) certain financial institutions related to the business of the subsidiary which are engaged in the business that the direct subsidiary may conduct without any licenses or permits, (iii) certain financial institutions whose business is related to the business of the direct subsidiary as prescribed under the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act (for example, the companies which a bank subsidiary may control are limited to credit information companies, credit card companies, trust business companies, securities investment management companies, investment advisory companies, futures business companies, and asset management companies), (iv) certain financial institutions whose business is related to financial business as prescribed by the Ordinance of the Prime Minister, and (v) certain companies which are not financial institutions but whose business is related to the financial business of the financial holding company as prescribed by the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies Act (e.g. finance-related research company, finance-related information technology company, etc.). Acquisition by the direct subsidiaries of such indirect subsidiaries requires a prior permission from the Financial Services Commission or a report to be submitted to the Financial Services Commission, depending on the types of the indirect subsidiaries and the amount of total assets of the indirect subsidiaries.
An indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company is prohibited from controlling any other company, provided, however, that in the case where a company held control over another company at the time such company initially became an indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company, such indirect subsidiary shall be required to dispose of its interest in such other company within two years after becoming an indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company.
A subsidiary of a financial holding company may invest in a special purpose company as its largest shareholder for purposes of making investments under the Act on Private Investment in Social Infrastructure without being deemed as controlling such special purpose company.
In addition, a private equity fund established in accordance with the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act is not considered to be a subsidiary of a financial holding company even if the financial holding company is the largest investor in the private equity fund unless the financial holding company is the asset management company for the private equity fund.
Restrictions on Transactions Between a Financial Holding Company and its Major Shareholder
A bank holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are prohibited from acquiring (including acquisition by a trust account of its subsidiary bank) shares issued by such bank holding company’s Major Shareholder in excess of 1% of the Net Total Equity Capital. In addition, the financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries which intend to acquire shares issued by such Major Shareholder not less than the lesser of (i) the amount equivalent to 0.1% of the Net Total Equity Capital or (ii) W5 billion, with respect to a single transaction, must obtain prior unanimous board resolutions and then, immediately after the acquisition, must file a report with the Financial Services Commission and publicly disclose the filing of such report (for example, through a website).
Restrictions on Financial Holding Company Ownership
Under the Financial Holding Companies Act, foreign financial institutions are permitted to establish financial holding companies in Korea. Pursuant to the Presidential Decree of the Financial Holding Companies
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Act, a foreign financial institution can control a financial holding company if, subject to satisfying certain other conditions, it, together with its specially-related persons, holds 100% of the total shares in the financial holding company.
In addition, any single shareholder and persons who stand in a special relationship with such shareholder (as defined under the Presidential Decree to the Financial Holding Companies Act) may acquire beneficial ownership of up to 10% of the total issued and outstanding shares with voting rights of a financial holding company controlling national banks (or 15% in the case of a financial holding company controlling regional banks only). The Government and the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation are not subject to such a ceiling.
However, “non-financial business group companies” (as defined below) may not acquire beneficial ownership of shares of a bank holding company in excess of 4% of such financial holding company’s outstanding voting shares, provided that such non-financial business group companies may acquire beneficial ownership of up to 10% of such financial holding company’s outstanding voting shares with the approval of the Financial Services Commission under the condition that such non-financial business group companies will not exercise voting rights in respect of such shares in excess of the 4% limit. In addition, any person (whether a Korean national or a foreigner), other than the non-financial business group companies described above, may also acquire more than 10% of the total voting shares issued and outstanding of a financial holding company that controls a national bank, provided that approval from the Financial Services Commission is obtained each time such person’s ownership reaches or exceeds 10% (or 15% in the case of a financial holding company controlling regional banks only), 25% or 33% of the total issued and outstanding voting shares of such bank holding company.
“Non-financial business group companies” are defined under the Financial Holding Companies Act as companies, which include:
any same shareholder group with aggregate net assets of all non-financial business companies belonging to such group of not less than 25% of the aggregate net assets of all members of such group;
any same shareholder group with aggregate assets of all non-financial business companies belonging to such group of not less than W2 trillion;
any mutual fund in which the same shareholder group identified in item (i) or (ii) above holds more than 4% of the total shares issued and outstanding of such mutual fund;
any private equity fund (x) which has a partner with limited liability that falls under item (i), (ii) or (iii) above and holds equity equivalent to 10% or greater of the total amount invested by the private equity fund, (y) which has a partner with unlimited liability that falls under item (i), (ii) or (iii) above or (z) whose affiliates belonging to an enterprise group subject to limitation on mutual investment hold in aggregate equity equivalent to 30% or greater of the total amount invested by such private equity fund; or
any investment purpose company in which a private equity fund that falls under item (iv) above acquires and holds no less than 4% of such company’s shares or equity or exercises de-facto influence on such company’s significant managerial matters.
Sharing of Customer Information among Financial Holding Companies and their Subsidiaries
Under the Act on Use and Protection of Credit Information, any individual customer’s credit information may only be disclosed or otherwise used by financial institutions to determine, establish or maintain existing commercial transactions with them and only after obtaining written consent to use information. In addition, under the Act on Real Name Financial Transactions and Confidentiality, an individual working at a financial institution may not provide or reveal information or data concerning the contents of financial transactions to other persons unless such individual receives a request or consent in writing from the holder of a title deed, except under
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certain exceptions stipulated in the Act. Under the Financial Holding Company Act, a financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, however, may share certain credit information of individual customers among themselves for internal management purposes outlined in the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act (such as credit risk management, internal control and customer analysis) without the customers’ written consent, provided they adhere to the methods and procedures for provision of such information set forth therein. A financial investment company subsidiary of a financial holding company with a dealing and/or brokerage license may provide the financial holding company and its other direct and indirect subsidiaries information relating to the aggregate amount of cash or securities that a customer of the financial investment company has deposited for internal management purposes outlined in the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act, provided they adhere to the methods and procedures for provision of such information set forth therein. The Financial Holding Company Act limits the scope of credit information that may be shared without the customers’ prior consent and require certain procedures for provision of customer information as prescribed by the Financial Services Commission. Notice must be given to customers at least once a year regarding (i) the provider of customer information, (ii) the recipient of customer information, (iii) the purpose of providing the information and (iv) the categories of the information provided.
The Act on Corporate Governance of Financial Companies
The Act on Corporate Governance of Financial Companies was enacted to address calls for strengthened regulations on corporate governance of financial companies and to serve as a uniform regulation on corporate governance matters applicable to all financial companies in place of the separate regulations for each sector that existed. The Act contains several key measures, including, but not limited, to (i) condition of eligibility of officers of financial companies and standards for determining whether financial companies’ officers may hold concurrent positions in other companies, (ii) standards for composition and operation of board of directors, (iii) standards for establishment, composition and operation of committees of the board of directors, (iv) internal control, risk management and responsibilities map (v) requirements and procedures for the approval of a change of major shareholders and (vi) special regulations for rights of minority shareholders of financial companies.
Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act
The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act categorizes capital markets-related business into six different functions, as follows:
dealing (trading and underwriting of “financial investment products” (as defined below));
brokerage (brokerage of financial investment products);
collective investment (establishment of collective investment schemes and the management thereof);
investment advice;
discretionary investment management; and
trusts (together with the five businesses set forth above, the “Financial Investment Businesses”).
Accordingly, all financial businesses relating to financial investment products are reclassified as one or more of the Financial Investment Businesses described above, and financial institutions are subject to the regulations applicable to their relevant Financial Investment Businesses, irrespective of the type of the financial institution it is. For example, under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, derivative businesses conducted by securities companies and future companies will be subject to the same regulations under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, at least in principle.
The banking business and insurance business are not subject to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and will continue to be regulated under separate laws; provided, however, that they may
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become subject to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act if their activities involve any financial investment businesses requiring a license based on the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act.
Comprehensive Definition of Financial Investment Products
In an effort to encompass the various types of securities and derivative products available in the capital markets, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act sets forth a comprehensive term “financial investment products,” defined to mean all financial products with a risk of loss in the invested amount (in contrast to “deposits,” which are not financial investment products for which the invested amount is protected or preserved). Financial investment products are classified into two major categories: (i) “securities” (relating to financial investment products where the risk of loss is limited to the invested amount) and (ii) “derivatives” (relating to financial investment products where the risk of loss may exceed the invested amount). As a result of the general and open-ended manner in which financial investment products are defined, any future financial product could potentially fall under the definition of financial investment products, which would enable Financial Investment Companies (as defined below) to handle a broader range of financial products. Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, securities companies, asset management companies, futures companies and other entities engaging in any Financial Investment Business are classified as “Financial Investment Companies.”
License System
Financial Investment Companies are able to choose what Financial Investment Business to engage in (through the “check the box” method set forth in the relevant license application), by specifying the desired (i) Financial Investment Business, (ii) financial investment product and (iii) target customers to which financial investment products may be sold (namely, general investors or professional investors). Licenses will be issued under the specific business sub-categories described above. For example, it would be possible for a Financial Investment Company to obtain a license to engage in the Financial Investment Business of (i) dealing (ii) over-the-counter derivatives products (iii) only with professional investors.
Expanded Business Scope of Financial Investment Companies
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, a licensed Financial Investment Company is permitted to engage in all types of Financial Investment Businesses, subject to compliance with the relevant regulations, for example, maintaining an adequate “Ethical Screens,” to the extent required. As to incidental businesses (i.e., a financial related business which is not a Financial Investment Business), the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act generally allows a Financial Investment Company to freely engage in such incidental businesses by shifting away from the previous system of permitting only the listed activities towards a more comprehensive system. In addition, a Financial Investment Company is permitted (i) to outsource marketing activities by contracting with “introducing brokers” that are individuals but not employees of the Financial Investment Company, (ii) to engage in foreign exchange business related to their Financial Investment Business and (iii) to participate in the settlement network, pursuant to an agreement among the settlement network participants.
Improvement in Investor Protection Mechanism
While the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act broadens the scope of financial businesses in which financial institutions are permitted to engage, a more rigorous investor-protection mechanism is imposed upon Financial Investment Companies dealing in financial investment products. The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act makes a distinction between general investors and sophisticated investors and provides new or enhanced protections to general investors. For instance, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act expressly provides for strict know-your-customer rules for general investors
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and imposes an obligation on Financial Investment Companies that they should market financial investment products suitable to each general investor considering his or her personal attributes, including investment objective, net worth, and investment experience. Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, a Financial Investment Company can be held liable if a general investor proves (i) damages or losses relating to such general investor’s investment in financial investment products solicited by such Financial Investment Company and (ii) absence of explanation, false explanation, or omission of material fact (without having to prove fault or causation). In case there are any conflicts of interest between the Financial Investment Companies and investors, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act expressly requires (i) disclosure of any conflict of interest to investors and (ii) mitigation of conflicts of interest to a comfortable level or abstention from the relevant transaction.
Other Regulatory Changes Related to Securities and Investments
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, investors are subject to enhanced reporting obligations with respect to significant shareholdings. With respect to the 5% reporting obligation, an investor must update its report not only upon a change in shareholding of 1% or more or a change in the purpose of shareholding (such as an intention to influence management), but also upon the occurrence of other prescribed events, including changes in the type of holding or any material term of a relevant contract. With respect to the 10% reporting obligation, an initial report must be filed within five business days of the triggering event, and any subsequent changes must likewise be reported within five business days of such changes. With respect to collective investment schemes, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act provides a flexible legal framework under which various forms of legal entities, including trusts, corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships, may be used as vehicles for collective investments. The formation of fund complexes is permitted, and investment funds may invest in a broad range of assets and investment instruments.
Amendments to the Korean Commercial Code
In 2025 and 2026, the National Assembly of Korea enacted a series of amendments to the Korean Commercial Code to strengthen shareholder protection and enhance corporate governance standards for listed companies.
In July 2025, the first round of amendments expanded the scope of a director’s fiduciary duty to include “the total body of shareholders,” renamed the term “Outside Directors” to “Independent Directors,” and extended the 3% cap on voting rights for major shareholders and their related parties to the election of all audit committee members, regardless of their status as an independent director. For large-scale listed companies like us, the amendments also mandated electronic shareholder meetings to strengthen minority shareholder protection. In September 2025, a second round of amendments further mandated the use of cumulative voting for large-scale listed companies and increased the minimum number of audit committee members elected separately from one to two. In March 2026, a third round of amendments mandated the cancellation of treasury shares within one year of acquisition. As an exception, a company may continue holding or disposing of its treasury shares if its board of directors formulates a holding or disposal plan and obtains approval from the general meeting of shareholders, which approval must be re-obtained for each fiscal year.
Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks
The banking system in Korea is governed by the Banking Act and the Bank of Korea Act of 1950, as amended (the “Bank of Korea Act”). In addition, Korean banks are subject to the regulations and supervision of the Bank of Korea, the Bank of Korea’s Monetary Policy Committee, the Financial Services Commission and its executive body, the Financial Supervisory Service.
The Bank of Korea, established in June 1950 under the Bank of Korea Act, performs the customary functions of a central bank. It seeks to contribute to the sound development of the national economy by price
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stabilization through establishing and implementing efficient monetary and credit policies. The Bank of Korea acts under instructions of the Monetary Policy Committee, the supreme policy-making body of the Bank of Korea.
Under the Bank of Korea Act, the Monetary Policy Committee’s primary responsibilities are to formulate monetary and credit policies and to determine the operations, management and administration of the Bank of Korea. The Financial Services Commission regulates commercial banks pursuant to the Banking Act, including establishing guidelines on capital adequacy of commercial banks, and promulgates regulations relating to supervision of banks.
The Financial Supervisory Service is subject to the instructions and directives of the Financial Services Commission and carries out supervision and examination of commercial banks. In particular, the Financial Supervisory Service sets requirements both for the prudent control of liquidity and for capital adequacy and establishes reporting requirements pursuant to the authority delegated to it under the Financial Services Commission regulations, pursuant to which banks are required to submit annual reports on financial performance and shareholdings, regular reports on management strategy and non-performing loans, including write-offs, and management of problem companies and plans for the settlement of bad loans.
Under the Banking Act, approval to commence a commercial banking business or a long-term financing business must be obtained from the Financial Services Commission. Commercial banking business is defined as the lending of funds acquired predominantly from the acceptance of deposits for a period not exceeding one year or, subject to the limitation established by the Financial Services Commission, for a period between one year and three years. Long-term financing business is defined as the lending, for periods in excess of one year, of funds acquired predominantly from paid-in capital, reserves or other retained earnings, the acceptance of deposits with maturities of at least one year, or the issuance of bonds or other securities. A bank wishing to enter any business other than commercial banking and long-term financing businesses, such as the trust business, must also obtain approval from the Financial Services Commission. In addition, approval to merge with any other banking institution, to liquidate, to close a banking business or to transfer all or a part of a business must also be obtained from the Financial Services Commission.
If the Financial Services Commission deems a bank’s financial condition to be unsound or if a bank fails to meet the applicable capital adequacy ratio set forth under Korean law, the Financial Services Commission may order, among others:
capital increases or reductions;
suspension of officers’ performance of their duties and appointment of custodians;
stock cancellations or consolidations;
transfers of a part or all of business;
sale of assets and bar on acquisition of high-risk assets;
closures or downsizing of branch offices or workforce;
mergers or becoming a subsidiary under the Financial Holding Companies Act of a financial holding company;
acquisition of a bank by a third party;
suspensions of a part or all of business operation (not more than six months in the case of suspension of all business operations); or
assignments of contractual rights and obligations relating to financial transactions.
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The Banking Act requires nationwide banks to maintain a minimum paid-in capital of W100 billion and regional banks to maintain a minimum paid-in capital of W25 billion.
In addition to minimum capital requirements, all banks including foreign bank branches in Korea are required to maintain a prescribed solvency position. A bank must also set aside as its legal reserve an amount equal to at least 10% of its net profits after tax each time it pays dividends on net profits earned until such time when the reserve equals the amount of its total paid-in capital.
Under the Banking Act, the capital of a bank is divided into two categories: Tier I and Tier II capital. Tier I capital (typically referred to as “Core Capital”) consists of (i) the capital that can absorb losses incurred by a bank such as capital, capital surplus and earned surplus generated from the issuance of common shares (collectively, “Common Stock Capital”), and (ii) the capital that can absorb the losses of a bank after depletion of the Common Stock Capital such as capital and capital surplus generated from the issuance of Tier I capital instruments satisfying the requirements designated by the Financial Supervisory Service (collectively, “Other Core Capital”). Tier II capital (typically referred to as “Supplementary Capital”) represents the capital which is equivalent to, but not included in, the Core Capital and can absorb losses incurred upon the liquidation of a bank such as capital and capital surplus generated from the issuance of Tier II capital instruments satisfying the requirements designated by the Financial Supervisory Service and allowance for bad debts set aside for loans classified as “normal” or “precautionary.”
Under the Detailed Regulations on the Supervision of the Banking Business, Tier I capital instruments must satisfy, among others, the following requirements in order to be recognized as Other Core Capital:
the price for such instruments shall have been fully paid through the procedure for issuance, and the instruments shall be in a perpetual form with no cause triggering a step-up or redemption;
such instruments shall be bound by a special agreement on being subordinate to depositors, general creditors and subordinated debt of the bank (referring to a special agreement under which subordinated creditors’ right to claim payment shall take effect only after unsubordinated creditors’ claims are fully paid, when bankruptcy or any similar incident occurs; hereinafter the same shall apply) but shall not fall within liabilities exceeding assets at the time when bankruptcy is declared under the Debtor Rehabilitation and Bankruptcy Act;
the payment of dividends or interests shall be suspended from the date when the bank is designated as a “insolvent financial institution” under the Act on Structural Improvement of the Financial Industry of Korea or under the Depositor Protection act of Korea as applicable, or the Financial Supervisory Service takes measures under the Regulations on the Supervision of the Banking Business such as the managerial improvement recommendation, the managerial improvement request, the managerial improvement order and the emergency measures against the bank to the date when the above-mentioned event is removed;
the payment of dividends or interests shall not be determined in connection with the credit rating of the bank;
the dividends may only be paid out of distributable income;
the bank shall be able to revoke in its sole discretion the payment of dividends or interests at any time;
the revocation of the payment of dividends must not impose restrictions on the bank except in relation to dividends to common stockholders;
the revocation of the payment of dividends or interests shall not be deemed as an event of default, and the bank shall be able to use in its sole discretion the amount which was revoked to pay as dividends or interests to redeem any other debts of the bank then due and payable;
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such instruments shall not be redeemed within five years from the issuance date and the bank shall be able to determine in its sole discretion whether it redeems such instruments even after five years from the issuance date, and the instruments shall not be subject to any condition that arouses an investor’s expectation to have the instruments redeemed or any condition that imposes a burden of redemption upon the issuing bank in fact;
the requirements prescribed in Appendix 3-5 (Trigger Events for Contingent Capital Securities) of the Detailed Enforcement Rules of Regulation on Supervision of Banking Business shall be satisfied;
the bank or the person who has de facto control over the bank shall not purchase capital instruments or provide a purchaser of such securities with funds for the purchase by providing any collateral or guarantee for payment or by providing a loan, shall not raise the priority of its claims, legally or economically, for the price paid for the securities, and shall not provide any collateral or guarantee to the purchasers of the securities directly or via a related company; and
such capital instruments shall have no condition that hinders the issuing bank’s procurement or expansion of capital in the future.
Under the Detailed Regulations on the Supervision of the Banking Business, Tier II capital instruments must satisfy, among others, the following requirements in order to be recognized as Supplementary Capital:
the procedure for issuance shall have been completed, the price for such capital instruments shall have been fully paid, and the capital instruments shall be bound by a special agreement of subordination to deposits and ordinary debts;
the maturity shall not be less than five years from the issuance date, and Tier II capital instruments shall not be redeemed within five years from the issuance date;
there is no condition to promote the bank to redeem such capital instruments such as a step-up provision, and the bank shall be able to determine in its sole discretion whether to redeem such instruments prior to the maturity date, and the instruments shall not be subject to any condition that arouses an investor’s expectation to have the instruments redeemed or any condition that imposes a burden of redemption upon the issuing bank in fact;
other than the case where the bank is subject to the bankruptcy or liquidation, the holder of Tier II capital instruments shall not have the right to require bank to pay the principal or interests of such instruments earlier than the original due date thereof;
the bank or any person or entity over which the bank exercises substantial control shall not purchase the capital instruments issued by such bank nor provide, directly or indirectly, the funds to acquire the capital instruments by providing any collateral or guarantee or loan in favor of the person or entity which tries to acquire such instruments; and
the bank shall not enhance, legally or economically, the payment priority of the capital instruments, nor provide, directly or indirectly through its affiliated company, any collateral or guarantee in favor of the person or entity which acquires such instruments.
All banks must meet standards regarding minimum ratios of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to risk-weighted assets, determined in accordance with the Financial Services Commission requirements that have been formulated based on the BIS Standards which were adopted and became effective in 1996. Under these regulations, all domestic banks and foreign bank branches are required to meet the minimum ratio of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to risk-weighted assets of 8%.
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Furthermore, as Basel III was adopted and is being implemented in stages in Korea since December 1, 2013, all banks in Korea are required to meet minimum ratios of common stock capital (less any capital deductions) and core capital (less any capital deductions) to risk-weighted assets as set out in the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business. The required minimum ratio of common stock capital (less any capital deductions) to risk-weighted assets is 4.5%, and the required minimum ratio of core capital (less any capital deductions) to risk-weighted assets is 6.0%. Capital conservation buffer requirements have also been phased in from January 1, 2016, and accordingly, since January 1, 2019, commercial banks in Korea have been required to maintain a capital conservation buffer of 2.5%.
Under the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business and the Detailed Regulations promulgated thereunder, Korean banks apply the following risk-weight ratios in respect of their home mortgage loans:
for those banks adopting a standardized approach for calculating credit risk-weighted assets, the risk-weight ratio of between 20% and 150% for home equity loans, depending on the loan-to-value ratio and risk profile of the loan; and
for those banks adopting an internal ratings-based approach for calculating credit risk-weighted assets, a risk-weight ratio calculated with reference to the PD, LGD and EAD, each as defined in the Detailed Regulations on the Supervision of the Banking Business.
In Korea, Basel II, a convention entered into by the Basel Committee in June 2004 for the purpose of improving risk management and increasing capital adequacy of banks, was implemented in January 2008. Pursuant to Basel II, operational risk, such as inadequate procedure, loss risk by employees, internal system, occurrence of unexpected event, as well as credit risk and market risk, is taken into account in calculating the risk-weighted assets, in addition to maintaining the capital adequacy ratio of 8% for banks. Under Basel II, the capital requirements for credit risk can be calculated by the internal rating based (IRB) approach or the standardized approach.
Under the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business, banks shall set aside allowances for bad debts for each class of soundness in accordance with IFRS as adopted by Korea. If the amount for each class of soundness calculated in accordance with the following criteria exceeds the allowances for bad debts set aside, the excess amount shall, at the time of each settlement of accounts, be set aside as regulatory reserve for credit losses.
0.85% of normal credits (or 0.9% in the case of normal credits comprising loans to certain industries including construction, retail and wholesale sales, accommodations, restaurant, real estate and lease, 1.0% in the case of normal credits comprising loans to individuals and households, 2.5% in the case of normal credits comprising credit card loans and 1.1% in the case of normal credits comprising other credit card receivables);
7% of precautionary credits (or 10% in the case of precautionary credits comprising loans to individuals and households, 50% in the case of precautionary credits comprising credit card loans and 40% in the case of precautionary credits comprising other credit card receivables);
20% of substandard credits (or 10% in the case of substandard credits comprising assets for which the bank has the right to receive payment in priority pursuant to the Corporate Restructuring Promotion Act of Korea or Paragraph 180, Subparagraph 2 of the Debtor Rehabilitation and Bankruptcy Act of Korea (the “Priority Assets”), 20% in the case of normal credits comprising loans to individuals and households, 65% in the case of substandard credits comprising credit card loans and 60% in the case of substandard credits comprising other credit card receivables);
50% of doubtful credits (or 25% in the case of doubtful credits comprising Priority Assets, 55% in the case of doubtful credits comprising loans to individuals and households and 75% in the case of doubtful credits comprising credit card loans and other credit card receivables); and
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100% of estimated loss credits (or 50% in the case of estimated loss credits comprising of Priority Assets).
Furthermore, under the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business, banks must maintain allowances for bad debts and regulatory reserve for credit losses in respect of their confirmed guarantees (including confirmed acceptances) and outstanding non-used credit lines in an aggregate amount calculated at the same rates applicable to normal, precautionary, substandard, doubtful and estimated loss credits comprising their outstanding loans and other credits as set forth above.
Pursuant to the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business and the Detailed Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business, the Financial Services Commission may designate banks with significant influence (based on size and connectivity with other financial institutions) on the domestic financial system as a domestic systemically important bank and require the accumulation of additional capital in accordance with the highest of: (i) ratio of common equity capital to risk-weighted assets, ranging from 0.0% to 2.0%, depending on the systematic importance evaluation score, (ii) if the bank’s holding company is a domestic systemically important bank holding company, the capital ratio corresponding to the additional capital required for the bank holding company under the Financial Holding Company Supervision Regulations, or (iii) if the bank is also a global systemically important bank, as defined by the Basel Committee, the capital ratio as required by the Basel Committee. Since January 1, 2019, the Financial Services Commission has required domestic systemically important banks to maintain an additional capital buffer of 1.00%, and we and Shinhan Bank have each been designated by the Financial Services Commission since July 2021 as a domestic systemically important bank holding company and domestic systemically important bank, respectively. Accordingly, we and Shinhan Bank are subject to this additional capital buffer of 1.00%. The Financial Services Commission may also, upon quarterly review, determine and require banks to accumulate a level of counter-cyclical capital buffer within the range of 0% to 2.5% of risk-weighted assets, taking into account factors such as the degree of increase in credit relative to the gross domestic product. As announced by the Financial Services Commission in May 2023, banks and their holding companies, including us and Shinhan Bank, have been required to accumulate a counter-cyclical capital buffer of 1.00% since May 1, 2024. The Financial Services Commission also announced in September 2024 the introduction of a stress buffer capital regulation, which may require banks and their holding companies to accumulate up to 2.5% of additional capital (in addition to, and separate from, the aforementioned minimum capital ratios) depending on the results of stress testing and evaluation of risk management status by the Financial Supervisory Service. In December 2024, the Financial Services Commission initially announced that the introduction of the stress buffer capital regulation would be delayed until at least the second half of 2025, with the timing and other details to be determined in 2025. In December 2025, the Financial Services Commission announced further delays, stating that the stress buffer capital regulation would be implemented in June 2026 or later, with the specific timing and other implementation details to be determined in 2026.
All banks are required to match the maturities of their assets and liabilities in accordance with the Banking Act in order to ensure adequate liquidity. Banks may not invest in excess of an amount exceeding 100% of their Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) in stocks and other securities with a period remaining to maturity of over three years. However, this restriction does not apply to government bonds or to Monetary Stabilization Bonds issued by the Bank of Korea.
The Financial Services Commission requires Korean banks to maintain a liquidity coverage ratio of at least 100.0% as of January 1, 2019. The Financial Services Commission defines liquidity coverage ratio as HQLA that can be immediately converted into cash with little or no loss in value, as divided by the net amount of cash outflow for the next 30 day period, under the stress level established according to the liquidity coverage ratio, pursuant to the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business, which was amended in June 2016 to implement the liquidity coverage ratio requirements under Basel III.
With respect to foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio, the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business requires that financial institutions dealing with foreign exchange affairs (i.e., banks) whose foreign-
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currency denominated liabilities are equal to or greater than US$500 million or 5% of its total liabilities, as of the end of the immediately preceding half-year period, maintain a foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio of 80% or higher beginning January 1, 2019. The term “foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio” means the ratio of high-liquidity assets to the net cash outflow in respect of foreign-currency denominated assets and liabilities for the next 30 days.
Although the liquidity coverage ratio requirement was temporarily lowered during the COVID-19 pandemic, the liquidity coverage ratio requirement has been restored to 100% since January 1, 2025.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Korea is authorized to fix and alter minimum reserve requirements that banks must maintain against their deposit liabilities. The current minimum reserve ratio is 7.0% of average balances for Won-denominated demand deposits outstanding, 0.0% of average balances for Won-denominated long-term housing savings deposits and employee asset establishment savings deposits outstanding and 2.0% of average balances for Won-denominated time and savings deposits, mutual installments, housing installments and certificates of deposit outstanding. For foreign currency deposit liabilities, a 2.0% minimum reserve ratio is applied to time deposits with a maturity of one month or longer, certificates of deposit with a maturity of 30 days or longer, and savings deposits with a maturity of six months or longer and a 7.0% minimum reserve ratio is applied to other deposits, while a 1.0% minimum reserve ratio is applied for offshore accounts, immigrant accounts and resident accounts opened by financial institutions (excluding bank holding companies) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea as well as foreign currency certificates of deposit held by account holders of such offshore accounts, immigrant accounts and resident accounts opened by financial institutions (excluding bank holding companies) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea.
Loan-to-Deposit Ratio
In December 2009, the Financial Supervisory Service announced that it would introduce a new set of regulations on the loan-to-deposit ratio by amending the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business upon its determination that the overall liquidity of banks in Korea had become unstable due to the ongoing increase in the loan-to-deposit ratio resulting from banks expanding their asset size too competitively by granting mortgages on houses and loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises over the last couple of years. The Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business requires banks with Won-denominated loans of not less than W4 trillion in value as of the last month of the immediately preceding quarter to maintain a ratio of Won-denominated loans (excluding certain types of loans using funds borrowed from Korea Development Bank or the Government or loans made under certain operational rules of Korea Federation of Banks) to Won-denominated deposits (excluding certificates of deposit) and the balance of the covered bonds under the Act on Issuance of Covered Bonds, the maturity of which is not less than five years (only in case when such financing from the issuance of covered bonds is used in Won currency and up to 1% of Won-denominated deposits) of no more than 100%. Since January 1, 2020, in calculating such loan to deposit ratio, retail loans and corporate loans have been subject to differential weighting, with retail loans weighted at 115% and corporate loans (excluding loans to SOHOs) weighted at 85%, thereby increasing the impact of retail loans and reducing the impact of corporate loans in calculating such ratio. In addition, effective April 1, 2026, the Financial Services Commission further lowered the risk weight applied to corporate loans to enterprises located in non-metropolitan areas (i.e., areas other than Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province), from 85% to 80%, while maintaining the risk weight for retail loans at 115%. Shinhan Bank’s loan-to-deposit ratio as of December 31, 2025 was 96.0%, based on monthly average balances.
Under the Banking Act, the sum of material credit exposures by a bank, namely, the total sum of its credits to single individuals, legal entities or persons sharing credit risk with such individuals or legal entities such as companies belonging to the same enterprise groups as defined under the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act that exceed 10% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions), must not exceed five times the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions), subject to certain exceptions. Subject to certain exceptions, no bank is permitted to extend credit (including loans, guarantees, purchases of securities
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(only in the nature of a credit) and such other transactions which directly or indirectly create credit risk) in excess of 20% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to an individual or a legal entity, and no bank may grant credit in excess of 25% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to individuals, legal entities and companies that belong to the same enterprise group as defined in the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act.
Under the Banking Act, certain restrictions apply to extending credits to a major shareholder. The definition of a “major shareholder” is as follows:
a shareholder holding (together with persons who have a special relationship with such shareholder as defined in the Presidential Decree of the Banking Act) in excess of 10% (or in the case of regional banks, 15%) in the aggregate of the bank’s total issued and outstanding voting shares; or
a shareholder holding (together with persons who have a special relationship with such shareholder as defined in the Presidential Decree of the Banking Act) more than 4% in the aggregate of the total issued and outstanding voting shares of a bank (other than a regional bank), where such shareholder is the largest shareholder or is able to actually control the major business affairs of the bank, for example, through appointment and dismissal of the chief executive officer or of the majority of the executives.
Under the Banking Act, banks are prohibited from extending credits in the amount greater than the lesser of (1) 25% of the sum of such bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) and (2) the relevant major shareholder’s shareholding ratio multiplied by the sum of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to a major shareholder (together with persons who have special relationship with such major shareholder as defined in the Presidential Decree of the Banking Act). Also, no bank is allowed to grant credit to its major shareholders in the aggregate in excess of 25% of its Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions).
When managing the credit risk of banks, among the methods for providing credit support by banks, a loan agreement, a purchase agreement for asset-backed commercial papers, purchase of subordinate beneficiary certificates, and assumption of liability by providing warranty against default under asset-backed securitization are examples of creating financial exposure to banks.
Interest Rates
Korean banks remain dependent on the acceptance of deposits as their primary source of funds. Currently, there are no legal controls on interest rates on bank loans in Korea, except for the cap of 20.0% per annum on interest rates on loans to individuals or small corporations, as defined under the SME Framework Act under the Act on Registration of Credit Business, Etc. and Protection of Finance Users.
Lending to Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises
When commercial banks (including Shinhan Bank) make Won-denominated loans to certain startup, venture, innovative and other strategic small- and medium-sized enterprises specially designated by the Bank of Korea as “priority borrowers,” the Bank of Korea generally provides the underlying funding to these banks at concessionary rates for up to 50% of all such loans made to the priority borrowers subject to a monthly-adjusted limit prescribed by the Bank of Korea provided that if such loans to priority borrowers made by all commercial banks exceed the prescribed limit for a given month, the concessionary funding for the following month will be allocated to each commercial bank in proportion to such bank’s lending to priority borrowers two months prior to the time of such allocation, which has the effect that, if a particular bank lags other banks in making loans to priority borrowers, the amount of funding such bank can receive from the Bank of Korea at concessionary rates will be proportionately reduced.
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For the purpose of enforcing mandatory disclosure of management performance so that the general public, especially depositors and stockholders, will be in a better position to monitor banks, the Financial Services Commission requires commercial banks to disclose certain matters as follows:
loans bearing no profit made to a single business group in an amount exceeding 10% of the sum of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) as of the end of the previous month (where the loan exposure to such borrower is calculated pursuant to the criteria under the Detailed Regulations promulgated under the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business), except where the loan exposure to a single business group is not more than W4 billion; and
any loss due to court judgments or similar decisions in civil proceedings in an amount exceeding 1% of the sum of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) as of the end of the previous month, except where the loss is not more than W1 billion.
Restrictions on Lending
According to the Banking Act, commercial banks are prohibited from making any of the following categories of loans:
loans made directly or indirectly on the pledge of a bank’s own shares;
loans made directly or indirectly to enable a natural or a legal person to buy the bank’s own shares;
loans made to any of the bank’s officers or employees other than de minimis loans of up to (1) W20 million in the case of a general loan, (2) W50 million in the case of a general loan plus a housing loan, or (3) W60 million in the aggregate for general loans, housing loans and loans to pay damages arising from wrongful acts of employees in financial transactions;
credit (including loans) secured by a pledge of shares of a subsidiary corporation of the bank or to enable a natural or juridical person to buy shares of a subsidiary corporation of the bank; and
loans to any officers or employees of a subsidiary corporation of the bank, other than general loans of up to W20 million or general and housing loans of up to W50 million in the aggregate.
Recent Regulations Relating to Retail Household Loans
The Financial Services Commission has implemented a number of changes in recent years, most recently in October 2025, to the regulations relating to retail household lending by banks. Under the currently applicable regulations:
as to any new loans secured by houses (including apartments) located nationwide, the loan-to-value ratio (the aggregate principal amount of loans secured by such collateral over the appraised value of the collateral) shall not exceed 70%;
as to any new loans secured by houses (including apartments) located in “speculative areas”, “overheated speculative areas” or “adjustment targeted areas”, in each case, as designated by the Government (collectively, “Regulated Areas”), the loan-to-value ratio should not exceed 40%, except that such maximum loan-to-value ratio is 70% for (x) low-income households that (i) have a combined (in case of married couples) annual income of no more than W90 million, (ii) do not currently own any housing and (iii) are using the loan to purchase low-price housing valued at W900 million or less (W800 million or less in the case of houses located in “adjustment targeted areas”) and (y) first-time homebuyers with a maximum residential mortgage loan amount of W600 million or less; provided that, regardless of the loan-to-value ratio, the maximum loan amount for housing in Regulated Areas shall be: (i) W600 million for housing valued at W1.5 billion or less, (ii) W400 million for housing valued between W1.5 billion and W2.5 billion and (iii) W200 million for housing valued above W2.5 billion;
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as to any new loans secured by houses (including apartments) located nationwide to be extended to a household that already owns one or more houses, the maximum loan-to-value ratio must be adjusted to 10% lower than the applicable loan-to-value ratio described above;
no new loans secured by housing (including apartments) located in Regulated Areas may be extended to households that already own one or more houses (except for households that own one house but intend to sell such house within six months);
as to any new loans secured by houses (including apartments) located in Regulated Areas, the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio (calculated as (1) the aggregate annual total payment amount of (x) the principal of and interest on loans secured by such housing and existing mortgage and home equity loans and (y) the interest on other debts of the borrower over (2) the borrower’s annual income) should not exceed 40% (50% for those that are located in “adjustment targeted areas”), except that such maximum debt-to-income ratio is 60% for (a) low-income households that (i) have a combined (in case of married couple) annual income of less than W90 million, (ii) do not currently own any housing and (iii) are using the loan to purchase low-price housing valued at W900 million or less (W800 million or less in case of houses located in “adjustment targeted areas”) and (b) first-time homebuyers; and
as to any new loans extended to a household that already has an aggregate loan amount exceeding W100 million (including the loan application amount and the revolving amount in case of a revolving loan), such household’s debt-service-ratio (calculated as (1) the aggregate annual total payment amount of the principal of and interest on financial liabilities, including the loans secured by such high-priced housing and any interest on jeonse loans, subject to certain adjustments relating to stress buffers, divided by (2) the household’s annual income) should not exceed 40% unless otherwise specified by the applicable regulations.
In December 2023, as a measure to help prevent excessive household debt, the Financial Services Commission introduced the “stress debt service ratio” system for floating rate loans, mixed rate loans (loans where a fixed interest rate shifts to a floating interest rate after a certain period of time), and periodic loans (loans where a fixed interest rate is adjusted periodically). The “stress debt service ratio” system imposes a certain level of interest rate spread (a stress rate) when calculating the debt service ratio, taking into consideration the possibility that a borrower of a floating rate loan may be subject to an increased burden when repaying principal and interest if the interest rate were to increase during the loan period. The “stress debt service ratio” system was initially implemented in February 2024 and applied to mortgage loans in the banking sector. In September 2024, the scope of such system was expanded to apply to mortgage loans across all financial institutions as well as credit facilities in the banking sector, and in July 2025, it was further expanded to apply to mortgage loans, credit facilities with outstanding balances exceeding W100 million and other household loans across all financial institutions.
Restrictions on Investments in Property
A bank may possess real estate property only to the extent necessary for conducting its business; provided that the aggregate value of such real estate property must not exceed 60% of the sum of its Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions). Any property acquired by a bank (1) through the exercise of its rights as a secured party or (2) the acquisition of which is prohibited by the Banking Act must be disposed of within three years, unless otherwise provided by the regulations thereunder.
Under the Banking Act, a bank may not own more than 15% of shares outstanding with voting rights of another company, except where, among other reasons:
the company issuing such shares is engaged in a business that falls under the category of financial businesses set forth by the Financial Services Commission (including companies which business purpose is to own equity interests in private equity funds); or
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the acquisition of shares by the bank is necessary for corporate restructuring of such company and is approved by the Financial Services Commission.
In the above cases, a bank must satisfy either of the following requirements:
the total investment in companies in which the bank owns more than 15% of the outstanding shares with voting rights does not exceed 20% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions); or
the total investment in companies in which the bank owns more than 15% of the outstanding shares with voting rights does not exceed 30% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) where the acquisition satisfies the requirements determined by the Financial Services Commission.
The Banking Act provides that a bank using its bank accounts and its trust accounts is not permitted to acquire the shares issued by the Major Shareholder of such bank in excess of an amount equal to 1% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions).
Restrictions on Bank Ownership
Under the Banking Act, subject to certain exceptions, a single shareholder and persons who stand in a special relationship with such shareholder (as described in the Presidential Decree to the Banking Act) may acquire beneficial ownership of up to 10% of a national bank’s total issued and outstanding shares with voting rights and up to 15% of a regional bank’s total issued and outstanding shares with voting rights. The Government, the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation and financial holding companies qualifying under the Financial Holding Companies Act are not subject to such ceilings. However, non-financial business group companies — namely, (1) any same shareholder group with an aggregate net assets of all non-financial companies belonging to such group of not less than 25% of the aggregate net assets of all corporations that are members of such group; (2) any group with aggregate assets of all non-financial companies belonging to such group of not less than W2 trillion; (3) any mutual fund in which the same shareholder group, as described in items (1) and (2) above, owns more than 4% of the total shares issued and outstanding; (4) a private equity fund (under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act) where (i) the general partner of such private equity fund, (ii) the limited partner whose equity holding ratio in such private equity fund is 10% or more, or (iii) the limited partners, being member companies of a single group of companies that belong to the same conglomerate as defined in the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, whose aggregate equity holding ratio in such private equity fund is 30% or more falls under either of item (1) to (3) above; or (5) a special purpose company of a private equity fund where a private equity fund, as described in item (4) above, owns 4% or more of the special purpose company’s issued and outstanding shares or has actual control over the major business affairs of the special purpose company through, for example, appointment and dismissal of the officers – may not acquire beneficial ownership of shares of a national bank in excess of 4% of such bank’s outstanding voting shares, provided that such non-financial business group companies may acquire beneficial ownership of:
up to 10% of a national bank’s outstanding voting shares with the approval of the Financial Services Commission under the condition that such non-financial group companies will not exercise voting rights in respect of such shares in excess of the 4% limit; and
in the event that a foreigner, as defined in the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, owns not less than 10% of a national bank’s outstanding voting shares, up to 10% of such bank’s outstanding voting shares without the approval of the Financial Services Commission, and in excess of 10%, 25% or 33% of such bank’s outstanding voting shares, with the approval of the Financial Services Commission, up to the number of shares owned by such foreigner.
In addition, any person (whether a Korean national or a foreigner), with the exception of non-financial business group companies described above, may also acquire in excess of 10% of a national bank’s total voting
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shares issued and outstanding, provided that an approval from the Financial Services Commission is obtained in instances where the total holding exceeds 10% (or 15% in the case of regional banks), 25% or 33% of the bank’s total voting shares issued and outstanding.
Deposit Insurance System
The Depositor Protection Act provides, through a deposit insurance system, insurance for certain deposits of banks in Korea. Under the Depositor Protection Act, all banks governed by the Banking Act, including Shinhan Bank and Jeju Bank, are required to pay to the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation an insurance premium on a quarterly basis at such rate as determined by the Presidential Decree to the Depositor Protection Act, which shall not exceed 0.5% of the bank’s insurable deposits in any given year. The current insurance premium is 0.02% of insurable deposits for each quarter. If the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation pays the insured amount, it will acquire the claims of the depositors within the payment amount. The Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation insures up to a total of W100 million per depositor per bank, which limit increased from W50 million through an amendment to the Presidential Decree to the Depositor Protection Act of Korea that became effective in September 2025.
The Financial Consumer Protection Act
The FCP Act, which became effective in March 2021, unifies the systems for the protection of consumers of financial products, which had been dispersed across various laws, while tightening the existing consumer protection systems to strengthen the rights afforded to consumers of financial products. Banks under the Banking Act are financial instrument distributors subject to the FCP Act, and deposit and loan products under the Banking Act are financial instruments subject to the FCP Act.
Under the FCP Act, a financial instrument distributor who intends to sell financial instruments shall comply with the following requirements: (i) confirmation of suitability and adequacy of financial instruments, (ii) compliance with the duty to explain, (iii) prohibition of unfair sales activities, (iv) prohibition of undue solicitation, and (v) prohibition of false or exaggerated advertising, etc. (collectively, the “Sales Principles”). If a financial instrument distributor breaches any of the Sales Principles, consumers may request the termination of such financial instrument within a period to be prescribed by a Presidential Decree and are entitled to unilaterally terminate the contract if the financial instrument distributor fails to present a justifiable reason for not accepting the consumer’s request. Consumers who purchased a loan product, in particular, shall be entitled to withdraw from the contract within 14 days from the later of (i) the date of receipt of the proceeds pursuant to the contract and (ii) the execution date of the contract (or the date of receipt of the documents necessary for execution of the contract (if required under the FCP Act), regardless of whether the financial instrument distributor breached any of the Sales Principles. When a consumer files a lawsuit for damages against a financial instrument distributor for breach of the duty to explain, the financial instrument distributor (and not the consumer) shall bear the burden of proof to prove that no willful conduct or negligence was involved in the breach of such duty to explain. In the event of a dispute with a financial instrument distributor, consumers may apply for mediation to the Dispute Mediation Committee of the Financial Services Commission. If a financial instrument distributor files a lawsuit with a court while such mediation is in progress, the court may suspend the litigation proceedings. For certain small-sum cases, a financial instrument distributor may not file a lawsuit with a court until the completion of such mediation. Financial instrument distributors must accept requests from its consumers to access information for purposes of litigation or mediation. In the event the Financial Services Commission determines that there is a clear risk that a financial product may cause significant damage to the properties of customers, the Financial Services Commission may prohibit or restrict the solicitation of, and execution of a contract for, such financial product.
Trust Business
A bank that intends to enter into the trust business must obtain the approval of the Financial Services Commission. Trust activities of banks are governed by the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets
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Act. Banks engaged in the banking business and trust business are subject to certain legal and accounting procedures requirements, including the following:
under the Banking Act, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the Trust Act, assets accepted in trust by a bank in Korea must be segregated from its other assets in the accounts of such bank; accordingly, banks engaged in the banking and trust businesses must maintain two separate accounts, the “banking accounts” and the “trust accounts,” and two separate sets of records which provide details of their banking and trust businesses, respectively; and
assets comprising the trust accounts are not available to depositors or other general creditors of such bank in the event the trustee is liquidated or is wound up.
In the event that a bank qualifies and operates as a collective investment business entity, a trustee, a custodian or a general office administrator under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, it is required to establish relevant operation and management systems to prevent potential conflicts of interest among the banking business, the collective investment business, the trustee or custodian business and general office administration. These measures include:
prohibitions against officers, directors and employees of one particular business operation from serving as an officer, director and employee in another business operation, except where an officer or a director (1) serving in two or more business operations with no significant conflict of interest in accordance with the Presidential Decree on the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act or (2) serving in a trustee business or a custodian business and simultaneously serving in a general office administrator business in accordance with the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act;
prohibitions against the joint use or sharing of computer equipment or office equipment; and
prohibitions against the sharing of information by and among officers, directors and employees engaged in the different business operations.
A bank which qualifies and operates as a collective investment business entity may engage in the sale of beneficiary certificates of investment trusts which are managed by such bank. However, such bank is prohibited from engaging in the following activities:
acting as trustee of an investment trust managed by such bank;
purchasing with such bank’s own funds beneficiary certificates of an investment trust managed by such bank;
using in its sales activities of other collective investment securities information relating to the trust property of an investment trust managed by such bank;
selling through other banks established under the Banking Act beneficiary certificates of an investment trust managed by such bank;
establishing a short-term financial collective investment vehicle; and
establishing a mutual fund.
Laws and Regulations Governing Other Business Activities
To enter the foreign exchange business, a bank must register with the Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The foreign exchange business is governed by the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law. To enter the securities business, a bank must obtain the approval of the Financial Services Commission. The securities business is governed by regulations under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. Pursuant to the above-mentioned laws, banks are permitted to engage in the foreign exchange business and the underwriting business for government and other public bonds.
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Principal Regulations Applicable to Credit Card Companies
Any person, including a bank, wishing to engage in the credit card business must obtain a license from the Financial Services Commission. In addition, in order to enter the credit card business, a bank must obtain a license from the Financial Services Commission (hereinafter, a bank which obtains such license is defined as “licensed bank engaged in the credit card business”). The credit card business is regulated and governed by the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act. Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and regulations thereunder, a company in the same conglomerate group (as defined in the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act) may engage in the credit card business even though another company in the same conglomerate group is already engaged in such business, which was previously not permitted.
The Specialized Credit Financial Business Act establishes guidelines on capital adequacy and provides for other regulations relating to the supervision of credit card companies. The Specialized Credit Financial Business Act delegates regulatory authority over credit card companies to the Financial Services Commission and its executive body, the Financial Supervisory Service.
A licensed bank engaging in the credit card business is regulated by the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service.
The Financial Services Commission regulates credit card companies and licensed banks engaged in the credit card business by establishing guidelines or regulations on management of such companies. Moreover if the Financial Services Commission deems the financial condition of a credit card company or a licensed bank engaged in the credit card business to be unsound or such companies fail to satisfy the guidelines or regulations, the Financial Services Commission may take certain measures to improve the financial condition of such companies.
Restrictions on Scope of Business
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, a credit card company may conduct only the following types of business: (i) credit card business as licensed or other specialized credit finance businesses as registered pursuant to the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act; (ii) the businesses ancillary to the credit card business, (for example, providing cash advance loans to existing credit card holders, issuing and settling of debit cards and issuing, selling and settling of pre-paid cards); (iii) provision of unsecured or secured loans; (iv) provision of discount on notes; (v) purchase, management and collection of account receivables originated by companies in the course of providing goods and services; (vi) provision of payment guarantee; (vii) asset management business under the Asset Backed Securitization Act; (viii) credit investigation; and (ix) other incidental businesses related to the foregoing. Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, a credit card company’s scope of business includes “businesses that utilize existing manpower, assets or facilities in a credit card company, as designated by the Financial Services Commission.” Under the current regulation established by the Financial Services Commission, a credit card company may engage in various types of business including, but not limited to, e-commerce, operation of insurance agency, delegation of card issuance, supply of payment settlement system, loan brokerage and brokerage of collective investment securities.
A credit card company’s average balance of claim amounts arising from the advance of loans to credit card holders (excluding such claims arising from the re-advance of loans to credit card holders following a change in the maturity or interest rate of such loans as part of a debt restructuring) as of the end of each quarter may not exceed the sum of the following amounts:
Average balance of claims during a quarter arising from the purchase of goods or services by credit card holders with credit cards; and
Amount of debit card usage during a quarter by debit card members.
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The Specialized Credit Financial Business Act provides for a minimum paid-in capital amount of: (i) W20 billion in the case of a specialized credit financial business company which wishes to engage in no more than two kinds of core businesses (i.e., credit card, installment finance, leasing and new technology business) and (ii) W40 billion in the case of an specialized credit financial business company, which wishes to engage in three or more kinds of core businesses.
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and regulations thereof, a credit card company must maintain a “capital adequacy ratio,” defined as the ratio of adjusted equity capital to adjusted total asset, of 8% or more and a “delinquent claim ratio,” defined as the ratio of delinquent claims to total claims as set forth under the regulations relating to the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, of less than 10%.
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and regulations thereof, the minimum ratio of allowances for losses on loans, leased assets (except assets subject to an operating lease) and suspense receivables as of the date of accounting settlement (including semiannual preliminary accounts settlement) would be 0.5% of normal assets, 1% of precautionary assets and 20% of substandard assets, 75% of doubtful assets and 100% of estimated loss assets, and the minimum ratio of allowances for losses on card assets would be 1.1% (or 2.5%, in the case of card loan assets and revolving assets) of normal assets, 40% (or 50%, in the case of card loan assets and revolving assets) of precautionary assets, 60% (or 65%, in the case of card loan assets and revolving assets) of substandard assets, 75% of doubtful assets and 100% of estimated loss assets. In addition, a credit card company has to reserve a certain amount calculated according to relevant regulations as loss allowances for unused credit limits.
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and regulations thereunder, a credit card company must maintain a Won liquidity ratio (Won-denominated current assets/Won-denominated current liabilities) of 100% or more. In addition, once a credit card company is registered as a foreign exchange business institution with the Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, such credit card company is required to (1) maintain a foreign-currency liquidity ratio within three months (defined as foreign-currency liquid assets due within three months divided by foreign-currency liabilities due within three months) of not less than 80%, (2) maintain a ratio of foreign-currency liquid assets due within seven days (defined as foreign-currency liquid assets due within seven days less foreign-currency liabilities due within seven days, divided by total foreign-currency assets) of not less than 0% and (3) maintain a ratio of foreign-currency liquid assets due within a month (defined as foreign-currency liquid assets due within a month less foreign-currency liabilities due within a month, divided by total foreign-currency assets) of not less than negative 10%. The Financial Services Commission requires a credit card company to submit quarterly reports with respect to the maintenance of these ratios.
Restrictions on Funding
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, a credit card company may raise funds using only the following methods: (i) borrowing from financial institutions, (ii) issuing corporate debentures or notes, (iii) selling securities held by the credit card company, (iv) transferring claims held by the credit card company, (v) borrowing and issuing foreign currency securities after registering itself as a foreign exchange business institutions under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Law, (vi) transferring claims held by the credit card company in connection with its businesses, (vii) issuing securities backed by the claims held by the credit card company relating to its businesses, or (viii) issuing securities backed by the claims held by the credit card company relating to its ancillary businesses determined by the Financial Services Commission.
Furthermore, a credit card company may borrow funds from offshore or issue foreign currency denominated securities once it is registered as a foreign exchange business institution with the Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
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A credit card company must ensure that its total assets do not exceed eight times the amount of its equity capital. However, if the credit card company cannot comply with such limit due to the occurrence of unavoidable events such as drastic changes in the domestic and global financial markets, such limit of its total assets compared to the equity capital may be adjusted by a resolution of the Financial Services Commission. A non-credit card company must ensure that its total asset does not exceed eight times the amount of its equity capital.
Restrictions on Loans to Affiliate Companies
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and regulations thereof, a credit card company may not provide loans exceeding 50% of its equity capital, in the aggregate, to its specially related persons (as defined under the relevant laws) including, but not limited to, its affiliates.
Restrictions on Assistance to Other Companies
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, a credit card company may not engage in any of the following acts in conjunction with other financial institutions or companies: (i) holding voting shares under cross shareholding or providing credit for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions on loans to affiliate companies; (ii) acquiring shares under cross shareholding for the purpose of avoiding the limitation on purchase of its treasury shares under the Korean Commercial Code or the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act; or (iii) other acts which are likely to have a material adverse effect on the interests of transaction parties as stipulated by the Presidential Decree to the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, which are not yet provided.
A credit card company also may not extend credit for enabling another person to purchase the shares of such credit card company or to arrange financing for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions on loans to affiliate companies.
Restrictions on Investment in Real Estate
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and the regulations thereof, a credit card company may possess real estate only to the extent that such business conduct is designated by such laws and regulations, with certain exceptions such as for the purposes of factoring or leasing or as a result of enforcing its security rights, provided that the Financial Services Commission may limit the maximum amount a credit card company may invest in real estate investments for business purposes up to a percentage equal to or in excess of 100% of its equity capital.
Restrictions on Shareholding in Other Companies
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and the Act on the Structural Improvement of the Financial Industry, a credit card company and its affiliate financial institutions (together a “group”) are required to obtain prior approval of the Financial Services Commission if such credit card company, together with its affiliate financial institutions, (i) owns 20% or more of outstanding voting shares of a target company or (ii) owns 5% or more of outstanding voting shares of a target company, and shall be deemed to have control of the target company, including being the largest shareholder of such target company or otherwise.
Disclosure and Reports
Pursuant to the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and the regulations thereof, a credit card company must disclose any material matters relating to management performance, profits and losses, corporate governance, competence of the employees or risk management within three months from the end of each fiscal year and within two months from the end of the first half of the fiscal year. In addition, a credit card company is
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required to disclose on an ongoing basis certain matters such as the occurrence of non-performing loans, a financial incident or losses exceeding certain amounts. In addition, under the regulations issued by the Financial Services Commission, a credit card company or a licensed bank engaging in the credit card business must submit such report as required by the Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, with certain important matters being reported as frequently as each month. In addition, all companies engaged in the specialized credit financial business under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, including, without limitation, credit card companies, must file a report to the Financial Supervisory Service regarding the result of settlement of accounts within one month after the end of its fiscal year. Also, these companies are required to conduct a provisional settlement of accounts for each quarter and file a report to the Financial Supervisory Service within one month after the end of such quarter.
Risk of Loss Due to Lost, Stolen, Forged or Altered Credit Cards
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, upon notice from the holder of a credit card or a debit card of its loss or theft, a credit card company or a licensed bank engaged in the credit card business, as the case may be, is liable for any loss arising from the unauthorized use of credit cards or debit cards thereafter as well as any loss from unauthorized transactions made within 60 days prior to such notice. However, a credit card company or a licensed bank engaged in the credit card business, as the case may be, may transfer to the cardholder all or part of the risks of loss associated with unauthorized transactions made within 60 days prior to such notice, in accordance with the standard terms and conditions agreed between the credit card company or the licensed bank engaged in the credit card business, as the case may be, and the cardholder, provided that the loss or theft must be due to the cardholder’s willful misconduct or negligence. Disclosure of a cardholder’s password under duress or threat to the cardholder’s or his/her family’s life or health will not be deemed as the cardholder’s willful misconduct or negligence.
Moreover, a credit card company or a licensed bank engaged in the credit card business, as the case may be, is also responsible for any losses resulting from the use of forged or altered credit cards, debit cards and pre-paid cards. However, a credit card company or a licensed bank engaged in the credit card business, as the case may be, may transfer all or part of this risk of loss to holders of credit cards in the event of willful misconduct or gross negligence by holders of such cards if the terms and conditions of the written agreement entered between the credit card company or a licensed bank engaged in the credit card business, as the case may be, and holders of such cards specifically provide for such transfer. For these purposes, disclosure of a customer’s password that is made intentionally or through gross negligence, or the transfer of or giving as collateral of the credit card or debit card, is considered willful misconduct or gross negligence.
In addition, the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act prohibits a credit card company from transferring to merchants the risk of loss arising from lost, stolen, forged or altered credit cards, debit cards or pre-paid cards; provided, however, that a credit card company may enter into an agreement with a merchant under which the merchant agrees to be responsible for such loss if caused by the merchant’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Each credit card company or a licensed bank engaged in the credit card business must institute appropriate measures such as establishing reserves, purchasing insurance or joining a cooperative association in order to fulfill its obligations related to the risk of loss arising from unauthorized use due to lost, stolen, forged or altered credit cards, debit cards or pre-paid cards.
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, the Financial Services Commission may take necessary measures to maintain credit order and protect consumers by establishing standards to be complied with by credit card companies relating to:
maximum limits for cash advances on credit cards;
restrictions on debit cards with respect to per day or per transaction usage;
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aggregate issuance limits and maximum limits on the amount per card on pre-paid cards;
calculation and determination of credit limits;
determination of the amount limit of credit cards;
provisions included in credit card agreements;
management of credit card merchants;
collection on claims; or
classification of credit card holders for purposes of determining the fees applicable to such holders.
Lending Ratio in Ancillary Business
Pursuant to the Presidential Decree of the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, as amended in January 2020, a credit card company must maintain a quarterly average balance of receivables arising from cash advances to credit card holders (excluding cash advances incurred by re-lending to a credit card holder after modifying the terms and conditions, such as maturity or interest rate, of the original cash advance for debt rescheduling purposes) no greater than its aggregate quarterly average balance of receivables arising from credit card holders’ purchase of goods and services (excluding the amount of receivables arising from the purchase of goods and services using an exclusive use card for business purposes) plus its aggregate quarterly amount of payments made by members using their debit cards.
Issuance of New Cards and Solicitation of New Card Holders
The Presidential Decree of the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act establishes the conditions under which a credit card company or a licensed bank engaged in the credit card business may issue new cards and solicit new members. Specifically, new credit cards may be issued only to the following persons that meet all of the following criteria: (i) age of 19 years or more as defined in the Korean Civil Code, or age of 18 years or more with evidence of employment as of the date of the credit card application; (ii) satisfaction of a minimum credit score as publicly announced by the Financial Services Commission, provided that the minimum personal credit score requirement will not apply in the case where (a) the credit card company can confirm through objective evidence that an applicant is sufficiently capable of paying for his or her credit card use or such applicant can provide objective evidence therefor, or (b) a credit card function is added to an existing debit card for added convenience to the card holder and the credit card function is subject to limits determined by the Financial Services Commission; (iii) satisfaction of the application scoring system for the relevant credit; and (iv) verification of personal identity.
Credit card companies and licensed banks engaged in the credit card business are subject to restrictions on credit card solicitation methods under the Specialized Credit Finance Business Act and its subordinate regulations, including restrictions on providing excessive economic benefits in connection with card issuance, as well as street solicitation, unsolicited visits, pyramid sales and certain forms of solicitation via the Internet.
In addition, a credit card company or a licensed bank engaged in the credit card business is required to check whether the credit card applicant has any delinquent debt owed to any other credit card company or other financial institutions which the applicant is unable to repay, and also require, in principle, with respect to solicitations made through the Internet, the certified electronic signature of the applicant. Moreover, persons who intend to engage in solicitation of credit card applicants must register with the Financial Services Commission, unless the solicitation is made by officers or employees of a credit card company or a company in business alliance with such credit card company.
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Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Investment Companies
The securities business is regulated and governed by the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. Financial investment companies are under the regulation and supervision of the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service and the Securities and Futures Commission.
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, a financial investment company may engage in dealing, brokerage, collective investment, investment advice, discretionary investment management or trust businesses if it has obtained relevant licenses from the Financial Services Commission.
A financial investment company may also engage in certain businesses ancillary to the primary business or certain other additional businesses by submitting a report to the Financial Services Commission within two weeks from the commencement of the business without obtaining any separate license. Approval to merge with any other entity or to transfer all or substantially all of a business must also be obtained from the Financial Services Commission.
Under the Act on the Structural Improvement of the Financial Industry, if the Government deems a financial investment company’s financial condition to be unsound or if a financial investment company fails to meet the applicable Net Operating Equity Ratio (as defined below), the Government may order certain sanctions, including among others, sanctions against a financial investment company or its officers or employees, capital increase or reduction and a suspension or assignment of a part or all of business operation.
Regulations on Financial Soundness — Capital Adequacy
The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act sets forth various types of brokerage and/or dealing business licenses based on (i) the scope of products and services that may be provided by each type of the brokerage and/or dealing licensee and (ii) the type of customers to which such products and services may be provided. For example, a financial investment company engaged in the brokerage, dealing and underwriting businesses with retail investors as well as professional investors in connection with all types of securities is required to have a minimum paid-in capital of W53 billion in order to obtain a license for such brokerage, dealing and underwriting businesses.
Under the Financial Investment Service Regulations, as amended and effective as of January 31, 2019, the soundness requirement of financial investment companies changed from the previous net operating equity ratio requirement to a net equity ratio requirement. The net equity ratio is calculated according to the following formula:
Net Equity Ratio = (Net Operating Equity – Total Risk) / Equity Capital Maintenance Requirement for Each Service Unit
The terms “Net Operating Equity” and “Total Risk” for the purpose of the above-stated formula are defined and elaborated in the regulations of the Financial Services Commission. Generally, the Net Operating Equity, the Total Risk and the Equity Capital Maintenance Requirement for Each Service Unit are to be calculated according to the following formula:
Net Operating Equity = Net assets (total assets - total liabilities) - the total of items that may be deducted + the total of items that may be added;
Total Risk = market risk + counterparty risk + management risk; and
Equity Capital Maintenance Requirement for Each Service Unit = Mandatory Equity Capital to be Required for Each Licensed Service Unit × 70%
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The regulations of the Financial Services Commission require, among other things, financial investment companies to maintain the net equity ratio at a level equal to or higher than 100% at the end of each quarter of the fiscal year.
In addition, all Korean companies, including financial investment companies, are required to set aside, as a legal reserve, 10% of the cash portion of the annual dividend or interim dividend in each fiscal year until the reserve reaches 50% of the stated capital.
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and regulations thereunder, the minimum ratio of allowances for losses on loans and suspense receivables specified under such regulations is 0.5% of normal assets, 2% of precautionary assets, 20% of substandard assets, 75% of doubtful assets and 100% of estimated loss assets.
Other Provisions on Financial Soundness
The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the Presidential Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the regulations of the Financial Services Commission also include certain provisions which are designed to regulate certain types of activities relating to the management of the assets of a securities company, subject to certain exceptions. Such provisions include:
restrictions on the holdings by a securities company of securities issued by another company which is the largest shareholder or the major shareholder (each as defined under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act) of such securities company; and
restrictions on providing money or credit to the largest shareholder (including specially-related persons of such shareholder), major shareholders, officers and specially-related persons of the securities company.
Principal Regulations Applicable to Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are regulated and governed by the Insurance Business Act (the “Insurance Business Act”). In addition, insurance companies in Korea are under the regulation and supervision of the Financial Services Commission and its governing entity, the Financial Supervisory Service.
Under the Insurance Business Act, approval to commence an insurance business must be obtained from the Financial Services Commission based on the type of insurance businesses, which are classified as life insurance business, non-life insurance business and third type insurance business. Life insurance business means an insurance business which deals with life insurance policies or pension insurance policies (including retirement insurance policies). Non-life insurance business means an insurance business which deals with fire insurance policies, marine insurance policies, car insurance policies, guaranty insurance policies, reinsurance policies, liability insurance policies or other insurance policies prescribed under the Presidential Decree of the Insurance Business Act. Third type insurance business means an insurance business which deals with injury insurance policies, health insurance policies or nursing care insurance policies. Under the Insurance Business Act, insurance companies are not allowed to engage in both a life insurance business and a non-life insurance business, subject to certain exceptions.
If the Government deems an insurance company’s financial condition to be unsound or if an insurance company fails to properly manage the business as set forth under relevant Korean law, the Government may order certain sanctions including, among others, sanctions against an insurance company or its officers or employees, capital increase or reduction and a suspension or assignment of a part or all of business operation.
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The Insurance Business Act requires a minimum paid-in capital of W30 billion for an insurance company; provided, that, an insurance company which intends to engage in only certain types of insurance policies may have a lower paid-in capital pursuant to the Presidential Decree of the Insurance Business Act.
In addition to the minimum capital requirement, an insurance company is required to maintain a Solvency Margin Ratio of 100% or more. “Solvency Margin Ratio” is the ratio of the Solvency Margin to the Standard Amount of the Solvency Margin. Solvency Margin is the aggregate amount of net assets and amounts that are liabilities in the balance sheet but are usable to cover loss risk (e.g., the amount of subordinated liabilities), less the amount that the Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service deems unusable to compensate for losses incurred by unexpected risks of an insurance company, among assets or capital in the balance sheet, such as stock discounts and treasury stocks. The Standard Amount of Solvency Margin for life insurance companies is defined under the regulation of the Financial Services Commission.
On January 1, 2023, the Financial Supervisory Service introduced the K-ICS, a new regulatory solvency regime for insurance companies, based on the International Capital Standard developed by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, which is similar in substance to the Solvency II Directive of the European Union. Under the K-ICS, at the time of computation of the Solvency Margin, insurance contract liabilities are expected to be measured based on market value, rather than book value, and at the time of computation of the Standard Amount of the Solvency Margin, risks associated with termination, business expenses, longevity, catastrophes and asset concentration risks are added, which would require a number of insurance companies in Korea with a large portfolio of high guaranteed rate of return products to obtain additional capital to meet their capital adequacy requirements. However, the Financial Supervisory Service has allowed for deduction from available capital on a gradual basis and for gradual recognition of risks in relation to required capital for up to 10 years. Even if the Solvency Margin Ratio under the K-ICS is less than 100%, corrective measures will be withheld in case the Solvency Margin Ratio under the prior risk-based capital regime exceeds 100% for up to five years, to ease the burden on insurance companies.
Under the Insurance Business Act, the Presidential Decree and other regulations thereunder, for each accounting period, insurance companies are required to appropriate policy reserve that is earmarked for future payments of insurance money, refund and dividends to policyholders (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Insurance Money”) for each insurance contract. However, if an insurance company has reinsured a portion of its insurance contracts with a creditworthy reinsurance company in order to lower its overall risk, in principle, the insurance company is not required to appropriate policy reserve for the reinsured contracts. Instead, the reinsurance company is required to appropriate such policy reserve for the reinsured contracts. The Insurance Business Act was amended on January 24, 2011 to classify the insurance products into two categories: (i) reportable insurance products and (ii) voluntary insurance products. Under this amendment, only the changes to the terms and conditions of the reportable insurance products require a prior report and approval from the Financial Supervisory Service and the voluntary insurance products can be sold without prior approval from the Financial Supervisory Service. The policy reserve needs to be appropriated in accordance with the policy reserve calculation method for each insurance product as stipulated in amended Insurance Business Act.
The policy reserve amount consists of the following: (i) insurance contract liabilities (the sum of (a) the amount reserved by applying current estimates of future cash flow in order to pay the insurance proceeds, etc. for which an event of payment under the insurance policy has occurred as of the end of each fiscal year and (b) the amount reserved by applying current estimates of future cash flow in order to pay the insurance proceeds, etc. in the future although an event of payment under the insurance policy has not occurred as of the end of each fiscal year), (ii) investment contract liabilities (amounts reserved by insurance companies for the payment of insurance proceeds, etc. in the future for insurance contracts classified as investment contracts among insurance contracts) and (iii) amounts reserved by applying current estimates on future cash flows in the manner prescribed by the Financial Services Commission.
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Pursuant to the regulations established by the Financial Services Commission, insurance companies are required to maintain allowances for outstanding loans, accounts receivables and other credits (including accrued income, payment on account, and bills receivables or dishonored) in an aggregate amount covering not less than 0.5% of normal credits, 2% of precautionary credits, 20% of substandard credits, 50% of doubtful credits and 100% of estimated loss credits, provided that the minimum ratio of allowances for certain type of outstanding loans by insurance companies to individuals and households (including, retail loans, housing loans, and other forms of retail loans extended to individuals not registered for business), is increased to 1% of normal credits, 10% of precautionary credits and 55% of doubtful credits. Furthermore, the regulations on insurance companies became more stringent in September 2010 by adding a requirement that insurance companies maintain allowance for bad debts in connection with real estate project financing loans in excess of 0.9% of normal credits and 7% of precautionary credits.
Variable Insurance and Bancassurance Agents
Variable insurance is regulated pursuant to the Insurance Business Act and the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. In order for an insurance company to sell variable insurance to a policyholder and operate such variable insurance, the insurance company must obtain a license with respect to collective investment business from the Financial Services Commission and register as a selling company with the Financial Services Commission. In this case, according to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, an insurance company will be regulated as an investment trust and assets acquired in connection with variable insurance must be held by a trust company that is registered with the Financial Services Commission pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act.
According to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, insurance companies may operate variable insurance through (i) mandating all of the management and the management instruction business to another asset management company, (ii) operating by way of discretionary investment all of the assets constituting the investment advisory assets out of the investment trust assets, or (iii) operating all of the investment trust assets into other collective investment securities, thereby allowing all of the particular variable insurance assets to be outsourced.
The Insurance Business Act permits banks, securities companies, credit card companies and other financial institutions to register as insurance agents or insurance brokers and engage in the insurance business (the “Bancassurance Agents”), who are currently permitted to sell all types of life and non-life insurance products, except for protection type insurance products, such as whole life insurance, critical illness insurance and automobile insurance.
Restrictions on Investment of Assets
According to the Insurance Business Act, insurance companies are prohibited from making any of the following investment of assets:
owning any real estate (excluding any real estate owned as a result of enforcing their own security interest) other than real estate for conducting its business as designated by the Presidential Decree. In any case, the total amount of real estate owned by an insurance company must not exceed 25% of its Total Assets, provided that investment in real estate for a separate account is limited to 15% of the assets of such separate account;
loans made for the purpose of speculation in commodities or securities;
loans made directly or indirectly to enable a natural or legal person to buy their own shares;
loans made directly or indirectly to finance political campaigns and other similar activities; and
loans made to any of the insurance company’s officers or employees other than loans based on insurance policy or de minimis loans of up to (1) W20 million in the case of a general loan,
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(2) W50 million in the case of a general loan plus a housing loan, or (3) W60 million in the aggregate for general loans and housing loans.
In addition, insurance companies are not allowed to exceed 50% of its Total Assets with respect to holding foreign currency under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Act or owning offshore real estate.
Regulations on Class Actions Regarding Securities
The Law on Class Actions Regarding Securities was enacted as of January 20, 2004 and last amended on May 28, 2013. The Law on Class Actions Regarding Securities governs class actions suits instituted by one or more representative plaintiff(s) on behalf of 50 or more persons who claim to have been damaged in a capital markets transaction involving securities issued by a listed company in Korea.
Applicable causes of action with respect to such suits include:
claims for damages caused by misleading information contained in a securities statement;
claims for damages caused by the filing of a misleading business report, semi-annual report, or quarterly report;
claims for damages caused by insider trading or market manipulation; and
claims instituted against auditors for damages caused by accounting irregularities.
Any such class action may be instituted upon approval from the presiding court and the outcome of such class action will have a binding effect on all potential plaintiffs who have not joined the action, with the exception of those who have filed an opt out notice with such court.
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Organizational Structure
We currently have 15 direct and 34 indirect significant subsidiaries. The following diagram provides an overview of our organizational structure, including our significant subsidiaries and our ownership of such subsidiaries as of the date of this annual report:
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All of our subsidiaries are incorporated in Korea, except for the following:
Shinhan Bank America (incorporated in the United States);
Shinhan Bank Canada (incorporated in Canada);
Shinhan Bank (China) Limited (incorporated in the People’s Republic of China);
Shinhan Bank Europe GmbH (incorporated in Germany);
Shinhan Bank Kazakhstan Limited (incorporated in Kazakhstan);
Shinhan Bank Japan (incorporated in Japan);
Shinhan Bank (Cambodia) PLC (incorporated in Cambodia);
Shinhan Bank Vietnam Ltd. (incorporated in Vietnam);
PT Bank Shinhan Indonesia (incorporated in Indonesia);
Banco Shinhan de Mexico (incorporated in Mexico);
LLP MFO Shinhan Finance (incorporated in Kazakhstan);
PT Shinhan Indo Finance (incorporated in Indonesia);
Shinhan Microfinance Co., Ltd. (incorporated in Myanmar);
Shinhan Vietnam Finance Company Ltd. (incorporated in Vietnam);
Shinhan Securities America Inc. (incorporated in the United States);
Shinhan Securities Asia Limited (incorporated in Hong Kong);
Shinhan Securities Vietnam Co., Ltd. (incorporated in Vietnam);
PT Shinhan Sekuritas Indonesia (incorporated in Indonesia);
Shinhan Life Insurance Vietnam LLC (incorporated in Vietnam);
Shinhan DS Vietnam Co. Limited (incorporated in Vietnam); and
SBJ DNX Co., Ltd. (incorporated in Japan).
Properties
The following table provides information regarding certain of our properties in Korea.
Type of Facility
Registered office and corporate headquarters
Shinhan Card headquarters
Shinhan Centennial Building
Shinhan Bank Gwanggyo Branch
Shinhan Myongdong Branch
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Shinhan Youngdungpo Branch
Shinhan Back Office Support Center
Shinhan Bank Back Office and Call Center
Shinhan Bank Back Office and Storage Center
Shinhan Card Yoksam-Dong Building
Shinhan Data Center
Our subsidiaries own or lease various land and buildings for their branches and sales offices.
As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank had a countrywide network of 650 branches. Approximately 20% of these facilities were housed in buildings owned by us, while the remaining branches were leased properties. Lease terms are generally between two to three years and generally do not exceed five years. As of December 31, 2025, Jeju Bank had 29 branches of which we own 12 of the buildings in which the facilities are located, representing 41.4% of its total branches. Lease terms are generally between one to two years and seldom exceed five years.
As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Card had 42 branches, including its headquarters, all but three of which were leased. Lease terms are generally between one to two years. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Securities had a nationwide network of 60 branches of which we own one of the buildings. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Life Insurance had 238 branches, which we lease for a term of generally one to two years.
The net book value of all the properties owned by us on December 31, 2025 was W2,865 billion. We do not own any material properties outside of Korea.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
We do not have any unresolved comments from the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding our periodic reports under the Exchange Act.
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this annual report. The following discussion is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Operating Results
We are one of the leading financial institutions in Korea in terms of total assets, revenues, profitability and capital adequacy, among others. Incorporated on September 1, 2001, we are the first privately-held financial
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holding company to be established in Korea. Since inception, we have developed and introduced a wide range of financial products and services in Korea. We seek to deliver comprehensive financial solutions to our customers through a convenient one-portal online network and mobile application.
Most of our assets are located in, and we generate most of our income from, Korea. Accordingly, our business and profitability are largely dependent on the general economic and social conditions in Korea, including interest rates, inflation, exports, personal expenditures and consumption, unemployment, demand for business products and services, debt service burden of households and businesses, the general availability of credit, the asset value of real estate and securities and other factors affecting the financial well-being of our corporate and retail customers. The Korean economy is closely integrated with, and is significantly affected by, developments in the global economy and financial markets. In recent years, the global economy and financial markets experienced adverse conditions and volatility, which also had an adverse impact on the Korean economy and in turn on our business and profitability. See “Item 3.D. Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Overall Business — Difficult conditions and turbulence in the Korean and global economy and financial markets may adversely affect our business, asset quality, capital adequacy and earnings.”
The following provides a discussion of the major trends surrounding the general economy and the financial services sector in Korea in 2025 and our current outlook for 2026 as they relate to our core businesses. The following discussion represents the subjective view of our management and may significantly differ from the actual results for 2026.
Trends in the Korean Economy
The Korean economy is closely tied to, and is affected by developments in, the global economy. The overall prospects for the Korean and global economy in 2026 and beyond remain uncertain. In recent years, the global financial markets have experienced significant volatility as a result of, among other things:
a deterioration in economic and trade relations between the United States and its trading partners, including as a result of the imposition of significant tariffs by the United States on its trading partners, which has been followed by retaliatory tariffs in some cases;
escalations in trade protectionism globally and geopolitical tensions in East Asia and the Middle East (including those resulting from the military conflicts between Iran and other countries, including the United States and Israel);
interest rate fluctuations as well as perceived or actual changes in policy rates, or other monetary and fiscal policies set forth, by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks;
increased uncertainties in the global financial markets and industry;
a rise in inflation rates and volatility in stock markets and exchange rates worldwide;
the slowdown of economic growth in China and other major emerging market economies;
the occurrence of severe health epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and
financial and social difficulties affecting many countries worldwide, in particular in Latin America and Europe.
In light of the high level of interdependence of the global economy, unfavorable changes in the global financial markets, including as a result of any of the foregoing developments, could have a material adverse
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effect on the Korean economy and financial markets, and in turn on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Future events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect the financial services industry generally or financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, may lead to market-wide liquidity problems or increase our risk in various dealings with our counterparties, among others. See “Item 3.D. Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Overall Business — Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, such as actual events or concerns involving liquidity, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.”
Based on preliminary data, Korea’s GDP growth in 2025 was 1.0% (at chained 2020 year prices) compared with 2.0% in 2024, primarily due to subdued domestic demand despite strong export performance. Private consumption improved gradually in the second half of 2025, supported by government stimulus measures and improved equity market conditions, although such improvement remained constrained by elevated household debt levels and structural demographic factors. Gross fixed capital formation declined during 2025, with construction investment contracting sharply amid a prolonged downturn in the real estate market and a buildup of unsold housing inventory outside the Seoul metropolitan area. Equipment investment and investment in intellectual property products increased modestly during the year. Exports remained the primary driver of economic growth, supported in part by strong demand for AI-related semiconductor products. Consumer price inflation remained stable at around 2% during 2025. The Bank of Korea maintained an accommodative monetary policy stance during the first half of 2025 but adopted a more cautious approach toward additional policy rate cuts in the second half amid concerns regarding household debt levels, housing market stability and exchange rate volatility. Government bond yields were relatively stable in the first half of 2025 before rising in the second half. The value of the Won relative to major foreign currencies in general and the U.S. dollar in particular has depreciated significantly in recent years and has been subject to significant volatility.
As a result of volatile conditions in the Korean and global economies and financial markets, as well as factors such as fluctuations in oil and commodity prices, high inflation rates, increased uncertainties resulting from geopolitical tensions, interest and exchange rate fluctuations, higher unemployment, lower consumer confidence, stock market volatility, changes in fiscal and monetary policies and continued tensions with North Korea, the economic outlook for the financial services sector in Korea in 2026 and for the foreseeable future remains highly uncertain.
Recent Developments and Outlook for the Korean Financial Sector
Commercial Banking
The year 2025 was characterized by heightened uncertainty in the global economy, driven primarily by increasing protectionist policies in the United States and ongoing geopolitical risks. Domestically, the financial environment also experienced significant volatility, particularly following the launch of a new administration, as shifts in policy direction and a sharp rise in equity markets accelerated the reallocation of financial assets toward capital markets.
We expect that global economic uncertainty and financial market volatility will persist in 2026, which may also place ongoing pressure on the commercial banking industry. In addition, rapid technological advancements, particularly those associated with AI, are reshaping the definition of financial services and are expected to further accelerate the pace of change in the financial industry.
In 2025, the operating environment for the credit card industry remained uncertain due to various domestic and global factors, including political developments in the United States and Korea, elevated exchange rate levels
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and a decline in households’ real purchasing power. In 2026, the Korean digital payment industry (including the credit card industry) is expected to remain challenging due to high levels of household debt, delayed improvements in funding costs and structural demographic trends, including declining birth rates and an aging population, which may contribute to weaker consumption growth and an uncertain operating environment for credit card companies in Korea.
Securities
In 2025, the Korean securities industry benefited from a favorable operating environment, resulting in improved earnings. Amid political shifts in the United States and Korea and rapid advances in AI technologies affecting financial markets broadly, the KOSPI index trended upward, leading to increased trading volumes in both domestic and global equity markets. In 2026, it is expected that structural constraints, including global geopolitical risks, elevated exchange rate levels, demographic changes and household debt burdens will persist, which may lead to significant volatility in the securities market, highlighting the importance of managing credit risk and capital burdens while capturing short-term earnings opportunities.
Life Insurance
In 2025, the Korean life insurance industry faced a challenging operating environment. Although the rate of inflation stabilized as interest rate cuts continued, the Korean real economy showed limited signs of recovery due to the accumulated levels of household debt and a delayed recovery in consumer spending, highlighting the importance of capital management strategies against interest rate and foreign exchange volatility. In 2026, structural demographic challenges and intensifying competition are expected to necessitate a strengthened capacity to provide differentiated products and services, while revised actuarial assumptions and the K-ICS ratio systems are expected to drive qualitative growth, customer satisfaction and internal control competencies.
Credit
In 2025, the Korean stock market recorded significant gains and the real economy showed signs of recovery, supported by Government-led efforts to revitalize the financial markets. However, the prolonged downturn in the real estate market continued to present unfavorable business conditions and heightened operating uncertainty. In 2026, the operating environment is expected to remain challenging due to political and geopolitical uncertainties, foreign exchange rate volatility, and inflationary pressures. Nevertheless, efforts by the Government to expand investment in advanced and venture companies and promote productive finance for sustainable growth are expected to support a more favorable investment environment for the credit finance industry.
Asset Management
In 2025, the Korean asset management industry exprienced an upward trend driven by improving market conditions domestically and overseas, which was partly attributable to government policy initiatives aimed at supporting the financial markets, although the downturn in the real estate market in Korea continued for a multi-year period, and overall market conditions remained subdued. The rise in the KOSPI index, however, led to increased equity fund inflows and a corresponding rise in fee income. In 2026, the asset management industry is expected to show stagnant growth as global regulatory shifts, including U.S. tariff policies, and geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, increase market uncertainty for the foreseeable future.
Interest rate movements, in terms of magnitude and timing as well as their relative impact on our assets and liabilities, have a significant impact on our net interest margins and profitability, particularly with respect to our financial products that are sensitive to such movements. See “Item 3.D. Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Overall Business — Changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, bond and equity prices, and other market factors have affected and will continue to affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.”
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The interest rate charged to customers by our banking subsidiaries is based, in part, on the “cost of funds index,” or COFIX, which is published by the Korean Federation of Banks. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Our Principal Activities — Retail Banking Services — Pricing.” The following table shows certain benchmark Won-denominated borrowing interest rates as of the dates indicated.
June 30, 2021
December 31, 2021
June 30, 2022
December 30, 2022
June 30, 2023
December 29, 2023
June 28, 2024
December 31, 2024
June 30, 2025
December 31, 2025
Source: Korea Financial Investment Association
Measured by the yield on three-year AA- rated corporate bonds.
Measured by the yield on three-year treasury bonds.
Measured by the yield on certificates of deposit (with maturity of 91 days).
Measured based on the weighted average of the borrowing rates for the monthly ending balances of the funding made by commercial banks that are subject to the COFIX reporting.
New COFIX on Outstanding Balance (the “New COFIX”) is a benchmark COFIX introduced in July 2019. The New COFIX also takes into account other deposits such as inter-bank time deposits and non-resident deposits and other funding sources, such as subordinated bonds and convertible bonds, in calculating the weighted average of the borrowing rates for the monthly ending balances of the funding made by commercial banks that are subject to the COFIX reporting.
Measured based on the weighted average of the borrowing rates for new funding for each month made by commercial banks that are subject to the COFIX reporting.
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Average Balance Sheet and Volume and Rate Analysis
Average Balances and Related Interest
The following table shows our average balances and interest rates, as well as the net interest spread, net interest margin and average asset liability ratio, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Assets:
Due from banks(2)
Loans(3)
Retail loans
Securities purchased with agreements to resell
Other corporate loans
Public and other loans
Credit card loans
Securities(4)
Reinsurance contract assets
Other interest-earning assets
Total interest-earning assets
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Non-interest-earning assets
Cash and due from banks
Derivative assets
Property and equipment and intangible assets
Other non-interest-earning assets
Total non-interest-earning assets
Total assets
Liabilities:
Financial liabilities designated at FVTPL
Borrowings
Securities sold with agreements to repurchases
Other borrowings
Total interest-bearing borrowings
Debt securities issued
Insurance contract liabilities
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Other interest-bearing liabilities
Total interest-bearing liabilities
Non-interest-bearing liabilities
Non-interest-bearing deposits
Derivatives liabilities
Other non-interest-bearing liabilities
Total non-interest-bearing liabilities
Total liabilities
Total equity attributable to equity holder of the Group
Non-controlling interests
Total liabilities and equity
Net interest spread(5)
Net interest margin(6)
Average asset liability ratio(7)
Due from banks as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025 consist of cash and due from banks at amortized cost and deposits at fair value through profit or loss.
Non-accruing loans are included in the respective average loan balances. Income on such non-accruing loans is no longer recognized from the date the loan is placed under nonaccrual status. We reclassify loans as accruing when interest (including default interest) and principal payments are current. Loans as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025 consist of loans at amortized cost and loans at fair value through profit or loss.
Average balance and yield on securities are based on book value. Securities as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025 consist of securities at fair value through profit or loss, securities at fair value through other comprehensive income, and securities at amortized cost.
Represents the difference between the average rate of interest earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate of interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
Represents the ratio of net interest income to average interest-earning assets.
Represents the ratio of average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities.
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Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income — Volume and Rate Analysis
The following table provides an analysis of changes in interest income, interest expense and net interest income between changes in volume and changes in rates for (i) 2025 compared to 2024 and (ii) 2024 compared to 2023. Volume and rate variances have been calculated on the movement in average balances and the change in the interest rates on average interest-earning assets and average interest-bearing liabilities in proportion to absolute volume and rate change. The variance caused by the change in both volume and rate has been allocated in proportion to the absolute volume and rate change.
Increase (decrease) in interest income
Due from banks
Loans:
Total interest income
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Increase (decrease) in interest expense
Deposits:
Total interest expense
Net increase (decrease) in net interest income
163
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Reinsurance contract liabilities
Profitability Ratios and Other Data
Profit attributable to the Group as a percentage of:
Average total assets(1)
Average total Group equity(1)
Dividend payout ratio(2)
Net interest spread(3)
Net interest margin(4)
Efficiency ratio(5)
Cost-to-income ratio(6)
Cost-to-average assets ratio(1)(7)
Equity to average asset ratio(1)(8)
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Average total assets (including average interest-earning assets), liabilities (including average interest-bearing liabilities) and equity are based on (a) monthly balances for Shinhan Bank and (b) quarterly balances for other subsidiaries.
Represents the ratio of total dividends declared on common and preferred stock and hybrid bonds as a percentage of profit attributable to the Group.
Represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
Represents the ratio of non-interest expense to the sum of net interest income and non-interest income. Efficiency ratio is used as a measure of efficiency for banks and financial institutions. Efficiency ratio may be reconciled to comparable line items in our income statements for the periods indicated below:
Non-interest expense (A)
Divided by:
The sum of net interest income and non-interest income (B)
Non-interest income
Efficiency ratio ((A) as a percentage of (B))
Represents the ratio of general and administrative expenses to operating income before general and administrative expenses and provision for credit loss allowance and other provisions.
Represents the ratio of non-interest expense to average total assets.
Represents the ratio of average equity to average total assets.
Results of Operations
2025 Compared to 2024
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the principal components of our operating income.
Net fees and commission income
Net other operating expense
Operating income
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Net Interest Income
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the principal components of our net interest income.
Interest income:
Cash and due from banks at amortized cost
Deposits at fair value through profit or loss
Securities at fair value through profit or loss
Securities at fair value through other comprehensive income
Securities at amortized cost
Loans at amortized cost
Loans at fair value through profit or loss
Insurance finance interest income
Interest expense:
Insurance finance interest expense
Net interest margin(1)
N/M = not meaningful.
Represents the ratio of net interest income to average interest-earning assets. See “— Average Balance Sheet and Volume and Rate Analysis — Average Balances and Related Interest.”
Interest income. Interest income decreased by 4.2% to W27,988 billion in 2025 from W29,209 billion in 2024, primarily due to a 4.9% decrease in interest income on loans to W21,401 billion in 2025 from W22,511 billion in 2024. Interest income on loans decreased primarily due to a 48 basis point decrease in the average yield on loans to 4.64% in 2025 from 5.12% in 2024, driven by the two base interest rate reductions by the Bank of Korea in 2025, which was partially offset by a 4.9% increase in the average balance of loans to W461,459 billion in 2025 from W439,728 billion in 2024.
More specifically, the change in interest income on loans was primarily due to the following:
a 12.3% decrease in interest income on corporate loans to W10,481 billion in 2025 from W11,948 billion in 2024, primarily due to an 81 basis point decrease in the average yield on corporate loans to 4.13% in 2025 from 4.94% in 2024, which was partially offset by a 5.0% increase in the average balance of corporate loans to W253,984 billion in 2025 from W241,911 billion in 2024. The average yield on corporate loans decreased primarily as a result of the general decrease in market interest rates in Korea, largely driven by the two base interest rate reductions by the Bank of Korea in 2025, as discussed above. The average balance of corporate loans increased principally due to expanded capital expenditures and increased working capital demand from corporate borrowers; and
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a 4.4% increase in interest income on retail loans to W8,124 billion in 2025 from W7,785 billion in 2024, primarily due to a 5.7% increase in the average balance of retail loans to W169,608 billion in 2025 from W160,529 billion in 2024, which was partially offset by a 6 basis point decrease in the average yield on retail loans to 4.79% in 2025 from 4.85% in 2024. The average balance of retail loans increased primarily as a result of growth in mortgage loans following a recovery in residential real estate transaction volumes in the first half of 2025. The average yield on retail loans decreased primarily as a result of the general decrease in market interest rates in Korea, largely driven by the two base interest rate reductions by the Bank of Korea in 2025, as discussed above. The base interest rate set by the Bank of Korea affects the market interest rate for certificates of deposit, which in turn largely determines our lending rates for a substantial majority of our retail loans.
Interest expense. Interest expense decreased by 8.5% to W16,294 billion in 2025 from W17,807 billion in 2024, due primarily to a 10.0% decrease in interest expense on deposits to W9,202 billion in 2025 from W10,221 billion in 2024 and, to a lesser extent, a 17.6% decrease in interest expense on borrowings to W1,535 billion in 2025 from W1,862 billion in 2024.
Interest expense on deposits decreased primarily due to a 39 basis point decrease in the average cost of deposits to 2.17% in 2025 from 2.56% in 2024, which was partially offset by a 6.1% increase in the average balance of deposits to W423,745 billion in 2025 from W399,260 billion in 2024. The decrease in the average cost of deposits resulted mainly from a 58 basis point decrease in the average cost of time deposits to 3.08% in 2025 from 3.66% in 2024, which was largely the result of lower average market interest rates for 2025 compared to 2024, as described above. The increase in the average balance of deposits was primarily due to a 6.6% increase in the average balance of time deposits to W240,563 billion in 2025 from W225,586 billion in 2024 and a 6.5% increase in the average balance of savings deposits to W105,039 billion in 2025 from W98,619 billion in 2024, which were both largely the result of a temporary increase in deposits from large corporate customers, reflecting higher deposit rates across the banking sector in the third quarter of 2025 in response to policy-driven funding demand.
Interest expense on borrowings decreased primarily as a result of a 46 basis point decrease in the average cost of borrowings to 2.89% in 2025 from 3.35% in 2024 and, to a lesser extent, a 4.4% decrease in the average balance of borrowings to W53,104 billion in 2025 from W55,574 billion in 2024. The decrease in the average cost of borrowings resulted mainly from lower interest rates applied to borrowings following the reductions in the base interest rate during 2025, as described above. The decrease in the average balance of borrowings was mainly driven by a decline in commercial paper issuances and reduced funding through repurchase agreements, as alternative funding sources, including corporate bond issuances, became more prevalent.
Net interest margin. Net interest margin represents the ratio of net interest income to the average balance of interest-earning assets. Net interest margin decreased by 3 basis points to 1.73% in 2025 from 1.76% in 2024, as a 4.7% increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets to W676,360 billion in 2025 from W646,144 billion in 2024, which was mainly driven by increases in the average balances of corporate and retail loans as discussed above, outpaced a 2.6% increase in net interest income to W11,694 billion in 2025 from W11,402 billion in 2024.
Net interest spread. Net interest spread, which represents the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities, decreased by 1 basis point to 1.55% in 2025 from 1.56% in 2024, as a 39 basis point decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets to 4.10% in 2025 from 4.49% in 2024 outpaced a 38 basis point decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 2.55% in 2025 from 2.93% in 2024. The average yield on interest-earning assets and the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities both decreased mainly as a result of the impact of the two base interest rate reductions by the Bank of Korea in 2025. However, such reductions in the base interest rate affected the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities in different ways due to differences in average repricing frequency and relative maturity profiles. The increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets
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discussed above was mostly matched by a 4.9% increase in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities to W629,543 billion in 2025 from W599,934 billion in 2024, which was largely due to an increase in the volume of deposits for the reasons discussed above.
Net Fees and Commission Income (Expense)
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the principal components of our net fees and commission income.
Fees and commission income:
Credit placement fees
Commission received as electronic charge receipt
Brokerage fees
Commission received as agency
Investment banking fees
Commission received in foreign exchange activities
Trust management fees
Credit card fees
Operating lease fees
Total fees and commission income
Fees and commission expense:
Credit-related fees
Total fees and commission expense
Net fees and commission income increased by 7.6% to W2,921 billion in 2025 from W2,715 billion in 2024, primarily due to increases in brokerage fees received, commission received in foreign exchange activities, other fees and commissions received and investment banking fees received, the effects of which were partially offset by a decrease in credit card fees received and an increase in credit card fees paid.
Brokerage fees received increased by 34.6% to W529 billion in 2025 from W393 billion in 2024, primarily as a result of higher securities custody fees received related to domestic equity transactions, reflecting increased trading volumes in the Korean stock markets during 2025.
Commission received in foreign exchange activities increased by 25.2% to W452 billion in 2025 from W361 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in foreign securities brokerage commissions received as overseas equity trading volumes increased.
Other fees and commissions received increased by 10.5% to W800 billion in 2025 from W724 billion in 2024, which was mainly due to increased securities lending fees, liquidity support commitment fees and underwriting commitment fees, driven by higher stock trading volumes and overall market activity.
Investment banking fees received increased by 28.8% to W295 billion in 2025 from W229 billion in 2024, which was mainly due to an increase in underwriting and advisory fees driven by an expansion of investment banking transactions, particularly in the IB segment.
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Credit card fees received decreased by 9.5% to W1,187 billion in 2025 from W1,311 billion in 2024 as a result of the absence of incentive payments received from overseas card networks in 2025 that had been recognized in 2024, as well as increases in certain contra-revenue items, including My Shinhan Point expenses and card promotion expenses recognized as deductions from fees income.
Credit card fees paid increased by 5.4% to W1,018 billion in 2025 from W966 billion in 2024, which was mainly due to higher fees paid relating to overseas credit card transactions as overseas card usage increased, as well as an increase in certain credit card-related charges paid as we allocated more resources toward our collection efforts.
Net Other Operating Income (Expense)
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the principal components of our net other operating expense.
Net insurance income
Net insurance finance expenses
Dividend income
Net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss
Net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss
Net foreign currency transaction gain
Net gain on disposal of securities at fair value through other comprehensive income
Net loss on disposal of securities at amortized cost
General and administrative expenses
Other operating expenses, net
Net other operating expenses
Net other operating expense decreased by 0.9% to W7,592 billion in 2025 from W7,658 billion in 2024, primarily as a result of increases in net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss and net foreign currency transaction gain, which were mostly offset by increases in net insurance finance expenses and general and administrative expenses. Net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss increased by 98.9% to W2,409 billion in 2025 from W1,211 billion in 2024, primarily due to changes in equity market conditions affecting equity-linked derivatives. Net foreign currency transaction gain increased by 71.4% to W876 billion in 2025 from W511 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in gains from customer dealing activities following heightened exchange rate volatility in 2025 compared to 2024. Net insurance finance expenses increased twelve-fold to W1,191 billion in 2025 from W99 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in interest expenses on variable insurance liabilities, which are positively correlated with investment returns on underlying assets and, as a result, increased significantly following the rise in the KOSPI index that led to the generation of higher levels of investment gains in 2025 compared to 2024. General and administrative expenses increased by 4.7% to W6,403 billion in 2025 from W6,116 billion in 2024, primarily due to (i) higher employee compensation expenses related to share-based compensation arrangements following an increase in our year-end share price, (ii) increased employee welfare expenses reflecting insurance contributions for voluntary retirees and an increase in the national pension contribution cap, and (iii) higher severance and voluntary retirement payments due to a larger number of voluntary retirees in 2025 compared to 2024.
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Provisions for (Reversals of) Credit Loss Allowance on Financial Assets
The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the provision for credit loss allowance by type of financial assets.
Credit card
Subtotal
Securities(1)
Total provision for credit loss allowance on financial assets
Consist of securities at amortized cost and securities at fair value through other comprehensive income.
Provisions for credit loss allowance on financial assets decreased by 0.5% to W2,003 billion in 2025 from W2,013 billion in 2024, primarily due to a shift to a reversal of provisions of W36 billion in 2025 from provisions of W156 billion in 2024 for credit loss allowances on other financial assets and a 43.1% decrease in provision for credit loss allowance on retail loans to W250 billion in 2025 from W439 billion in 2024. These changes were partially offset by a 35.9% increase in provisions for credit loss allowance on corporate loans to W898 billion in 2025 from W661 billion in 2024. Provisions for credit loss allowance on other financial assets turned into a reversal of credit loss allowance on other financial assets in 2025, primarily due to reduced risks in real estate development trust projects with completion obligations. The decrease in provisions for credit loss allowance on retail loans primarily reflected the impact of changes in the Korean domestic monetary policy environment, including benchmark interest rate cuts and the stabilization of macroeconomic variables, which were incorporated into the estimation of expected credit losses. The increase in provisions for credit loss allowance on corporate loans, however, was mainly due to higher LGD assumptions amid a weakening commercial real estate market in 2025 compared to 2024.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense increased by 25.4% to W1,844 billion in 2025 from W1,471 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in profit before income taxes to W6,929 billion in 2025 from W6,029 billion in 2024. Our effective rate of income tax increased to 26.6% in 2025 from 24.4% in 2024, primarily due to changes in non-deductible expenses, non-taxable income and other adjustments, including tax rate differentials, compared to the prior year.
Profit for the Year
As a result of the foregoing, our profit for the year increased by 11.6% to W5,085 billion in 2025 from W4,558 billion in 2024.
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2024 Compared to 2023
Cash and due from bank at amortized cost
Interest income. Interest income increased by 5.9% to W29,209 billion in 2024 from W27,579 billion in 2023, primarily due to a 3.3% increase in interest income on loans to W22,511 billion in 2024 from W21,798 billion in 2023, and, to a lesser extent, a 16.4% increase in interest income on securities at fair value
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through other comprehensive income to W2,744 billion in 2024 from W2,357 billion in 2023. Interest income on loans increased primarily due to an increase in average balance of loans by 6.1% to W439,728 billion in 2024 from W414,595 billion in 2023, which was partially offset by a decrease in the average lending rate of loans to 5.12% in 2024 from 5.26% in 2023, driven by the two base interest rate reductions by the Bank of Korea in 2024.
More specifically, the increase in interest income was primarily due to the following:
a 5.8% increase in interest on corporate loans to W11,948 billion in 2024 from W11,293 billion in 2023, primarily due to a 9.3% increase in the average balance of corporate loans to W241,911 billion in 2024 from W221,341 billion in 2023, which was partially offset by a decrease in the average lending rate for corporate loans to 4.94% in 2024 from 5.10% in 2023. The average balance of corporate loans increased principally due to an increase in demand for funds, including working capital. The average lending rate for corporate loans decreased primarily as a result of the general decrease in market interest rates largely driven by the two base interest rate reductions by the Bank of Korea in 2024 as discussed above.
a 0.5% increase in interest on retail loans to W7,785 billion in 2024 from W7,747 billion in 2023, primarily due to a 4.1% increase in the average balance of retail loans to W160,529 billion in 2024 from W154,139 billion in 2023, which was partially offset by a decrease in the average lending rate for retail loans to 4.85% in 2024 from 5.03% in 2023. The average balance of retail loans increased primarily as a result of a decline in market interest rates and an increase in real estate prices, particularly in the Seoul metropolitan area, which resulted in an increase in mortgage loans. The average lending rate for retail loans decreased primarily as a result of the general decrease in market interest rates, largely driven by decreases in the base interest rate set by the Bank of Korea in 2024, as discussed above. The base interest rate set by the Bank of Korea affects the market interest rate for certificates of deposit, which in turn largely determines our lending rates for a substantial majority of our retail loans
Interest income on securities at fair value through other comprehensive income increased primarily due to an increase in the average yield of securities at fair value through other comprehensive income by 34 basis points to 3.10% in 2024 from 2.76% in 2023, driven by purchases of securities at fair value through other comprehensive income made during the period of rising interest rates, prior to the decline in market interest rates and the two base interest rate cuts in the second half of 2024 (the 3-year government bond yield closed at 3.15% at the end of 2023, but surged to 3.55% during 2024).
Interest expense. Interest expense increased by 6.2% from W16,761 billion in 2023 to W17,807 billion in 2024, due primarily to a 24.6% increase in interest expense on debt securities issued to W3,409 billion in 2024 from W2,735 billion in 2023 and a 4.4% increase in interest expenses on deposits to W10,221 billion in 2024 from W9,791 billion in 2023.
Interest expense on debt securities issued increased primarily as a result of a 15.0% increase in the average balance of debt securities issued to W87,405 billion in 2024 from W75,999 billion in 2023, mainly driven by an increase in bond issuance to diversify our funding portfolio and to secure financing to meet the increase in long-term mortgage loans.
Interest expense on deposits increased primarily due to a 5.7% increase in the average balance of deposits to W399,260 billion in 2024 from W377,612 billion in 2023, which was partially offset by a decrease in the average interest rate payable on deposits to 2.56% in 2024 from 2.59% in 2023. The increase in the average balance of deposits was primarily due to a 10.2% increase in the average balance of time deposits to W225,586 billion in 2024 from W204,743 billion in 2023, which was largely a result of a significant amount of matured funds from the Government policy products, such as the Youth Hope Installment Savings, being partially converted into time deposits during 2024. The decrease in the average interest rate payable on deposits resulted mainly from a decrease in the average interest rate payable on time deposits by 17 basis points to 3.66%
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in 2024 from 3.83% in 2023, which was largely a result of lower average market interest rates for 2024 compared to 2023 as described above.
Net interest margin. Net interest margin represents the ratio of net interest income to the average balance of interest-earning assets. Net interest margin decreased by 2 basis points from 1.78% in 2023 and to 1.76% in 2024, largely due to an increase in the average volume of interest-earning assets mainly driven by the increase in the average balance of corporate loans as discussed above, outpacing the increase in net interest income.
Net interest spread. Net interest spread, which represents the difference between the average rate of interest earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate of interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities, increased by 1 basis point from 1.55% in 2023 to 1.56% in 2024, as the 1 basis point decrease in the average rate of interest receivable on interest-earning assets to 4.49% in 2024 from 4.50% in 2023 was outpaced by the 2 basis point decrease in the average rate of interest payable on interest-bearing liabilities to 2.93% in 2024 from 2.95% in 2023. Both the average rate of interest receivable on interest-earning assets and the average rate of interest payable on interest-bearing liabilities decreased resulting mainly from the impact of the two base interest rate reductions by the Bank of Korea in 2024. The average volume of interest-earning assets increased by 6.4% to W646,144 billion in 2024 from W607,322 billion in 2023 largely as a result of an increase in the volume of corporate loans and retail loans. The average volume of interest-bearing liabilities increased by 7.2% to W599,934 billion in 2024 from W559,484 billion in 2023 largely as a result of an increase in the volume of time deposits and debt securities issued for the reasons discussed above.
Net fees and commission income increased by 2.6% from W2,647 billion in 2023 to W2,715 billion in 2024, primarily due to increases in commission received in foreign exchange activities and investment banking fees, which were partially offset by a decrease in credit card fees income.
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Commission received in foreign exchange activities increased by 22.0% from W296 billion in 2023 to W361 billion in 2024, primarily as a result of an increase in custody fee income on foreign securities, which was driven by the expansion of overseas securities custody business and the resulting increase in service fees.
Investment banking fees increased by 38.8% from W165 billion in 2023 to W229 billion in 2024 as a result of growth in the Global & Group Investment Banking (GIB) group driven by banking deals.
Credit card fees income decreased by 4.9% from W1,378 billion in 2023 to W1,311 billion in 2024, primarily due to a decrease in demand for credit card usage related to shopping and mobile payment services.
Net gain (loss) on disposal of securities at fair value through other comprehensive income
Net other operating expense increased by 4.0% from W7,364 billion in 2023 to W7,658 billion in 2024, primarily as a result of a 51.4% decrease in net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss, which was partially offset by an 80.8% decrease in net insurance finance expenses, a 98.8% increase in net foreign currency transaction gain, and a 10.3% decrease in provision for credit loss allowance. Net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss decreased from W2,494 billion in 2023 to W1,211 billion in 2024 primarily due to a decrease in net valuation and transaction gains on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss, resulting from the decline in the stock market index compared to the prior year as well as the depreciation of the Korean Won against foreign currencies during 2024 compared to 2023, resulting in a decrease in gain or loss from valuation and transaction of derivatives. Net insurance finance expenses decreased from W516 billion in 2023 to W99 billion in 2024 primarily due to a decrease in interest expenses on variable insurance liabilities, resulting from investment losses driven by the decline in the KOSPI index. Net foreign currency transaction gain increased from W257 billion in 2023 to W511 billion in 2024 primarily due to the depreciation of the Korean Won against major foreign currencies during 2024 compared to 2023, leading to an increase in net transaction and valuation gains on foreign currency assets and liabilities. Provision for credit loss allowance decreased from W2,245 billion in 2023 to W2,013 billion in 2024 primarily due to the effect of additional provisions arising from changes in risk components and other non-recurring factors during 2023 such as COVID-19 financial support.
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Provision for Credit Loss Allowance on Financial Assets
Provision for credit loss allowance on financial assets decreased by 10.3% from W2,245 billion in 2023 to W2,013 billion in 2024 principally due to an 11.9% decrease in provision for credit loss allowance on loans from W2,114 billion in 2023 to W1,862 billion in 2024. The provision for credit loss allowance on loans decreased primarily due to a decrease in provision for credit loss allowance on corporate loans, which was partially offset by an increase in provision for credit loss allowance on credit card loans. Provision for credit loss allowance on corporate loans decreased in 2024 primarily due to the effect of additional provisions arising from changes in risk components and other non-recurring factors during 2023 as discussed above. Additional provision for credit loss allowance on corporate loans in 2023 was set aside in anticipation of the discontinuation of COVID-19 financial support programs and in light of real estate project financing risks. Provision for credit loss allowance for credit card loans increased in 2024 primarily due to an increase in delinquent credit card loans.
Income tax expense decreased by 1.1% from W1,487 billion in 2023 to W1,471 billion in 2024 primarily as a result of an increase in adjustments of non-taxable income by 328.7% to W44,370 billion in 2024 from W10,350 billion in 2023 while profit before income taxes increased by 1.1% to W6,029 billion in 2024 from W5,965 billion in 2023. Our effective rate of income tax decreased to 24.4% in 2024 from 24.9% in 2023.
As a result of the foregoing, our profit for the year increased by 1.8% from W4,478 billion in 2023 to W4,558 billion in 2024.
Results by Principal Business Segment
As of December 31, 2025, we were organized into the following six major business segments:
commercial banking services, which are principally provided by Shinhan Bank;
credit card services, which are principally provided by Shinhan Card;
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securities services, which are provided by Shinhan Securities;
insurance services, which are principally provided by Shinhan Life Insurance;
credit services, which are provided by Shinhan Capital; and
other services that do not belong to the above business segments.
We report our segment information in accordance with the provisions of IFRS 8 (Operating Segments). We categorize our operating segments according to a business-based approach. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements included in this annual report for further details on segment information, including the related components of income and expense.
Operating Income by Principal Business Segment
The table below provides the income statement data for our principal business segments for the periods indicated.
For the Years Ended December 31,
Banking
Insurance
Consolidation adjustment(1)
Total operating income
Consolidation adjustment consists of adjustments for inter-segment transactions.
Banking Services
The banking services segment provides commercial banking and related services through the following four sub-segments: (i) channel division, which includes banking and other services provided through the general branches and private wealth management (PWM) centers of Shinhan Bank and Jeju Bank to individuals, corporations (other than large corporations) and WM clients; (ii) capital market division, which includes corporate banking services offered through Shinhan Bank’s corporate banking branches to large corporations, securities investing and trading and derivatives trading; (iii) international group, which primarily consists of the operations of Shinhan Bank’s overseas subsidiaries and branches; and (iv) others, which primarily involves treasury operations related to our banking activities (such as internal asset and liability management and other non-deposit funding activities), as well as other back-office functions.
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The table below provides the income statement data for our banking services segment for the periods indicated.
Income statement data
Net other expense
Comparison of 2025 to 2024
Operating income for the banking services segment increased by 4.8% to W5,178 billion in 2025 from W4,940 billion in 2024.
Net interest income increased by 3.8% to W9,333 billion in 2025 from W8,989 billion in 2024, primarily due to increases in net interest income in the others, international group, and capital market division sub-segments, which were partially offset by a decrease in net interest income for the channel division sub-segment. More specifically:
Net interest income for the others sub-segment increased significantly to W1,197 billion in 2025 from W11 billion in 2024, primarily due to higher net interest income generated from treasury operations, including internal asset and liability management activities, which are reported within the others segment.
Net interest income for the international group sub-segment increased by 5.4% to W1,343 billion in 2025 from W1,274 billion in 2024, primarily due to expanded overseas operations driven by localized growth strategies implemented across Shinhan Bank’s international network.
Net interest income for the capital market division sub-segment increased by 24.7% to W227 billion in 2025 from W182 billion in 2024, primarily reflecting higher yields on the Government bonds held by Shinhan Bank, which constitutes a significant portion of its bond portfolio, as market interest rates began to normalize beginning in the second half of 2025 as expectations for further rate reductions subsided.
Net interest income for the channel division sub-segment decreased by 12.7% to W6,566 billion in 2025 from W7,522 billion in 2024, mainly due to the continued impact of margin support for loans originated in 2024, when the Bank pursued volume growth through aggressive pricing policies, which did not recur to the same extent in 2025. In addition, although retail loan balances increased in 2025, growth was concentrated in lower-yield policy loans, which led to a reduction in overall loan margins and contributed to the decrease in net interest income.
Net fees and commission income increased by 21.2% to W1,052 billion in 2025 from W868 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in net fees and commission income for the channel division and capital market division sub-segments. Net fees and commission income for the channel division sub-segment increased primarily due to an increase in fees received from retail products, including funds and bancassurance, driven by strengthened retail sales capabilities. The increase in fund and bancassurance fees was attributable to initiatives to revitalize participation in the domestic equity market and the diversification of the bancassurance product lineup. An increase in investment banking fees received also contributed to the increase in net fees and commission income, mainly resulting from a higher level of investment banking activities within Shinhan Bank’s investment banking division, a portion of which is allocated to and recognized by the channel division sub-
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segment. Net fees and commission income for the capital market division sub-segment increased, which was primarily attributable to an increase in fees generated by the Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) Group within the capital market division sub-segment, as investment banking fees continued to increase in 2025, supported by the expansion of large-scale investment banking transactions and infrastructure finance arrangements.
Net other expense increased by 5.9% to W5,207 billion in 2025 from W4,917 billion in 2024, primarily due to increases in net other expenses for the others and international group sub-segments, which were partially offset by an increase in net other income for the capital market division sub-segment. Net other expense for the others sub-segment increased primarily due to higher advertising expenses and development costs incurred at the company-wide level for Shinhan Bank. Net other expense for the international group sub-segment increased primarily as a result of non-recurring gains recognized on the disposal of loan receivables in 2024, which did not recur in 2025. Net other income for the capital market division sub-segment increased, primarily due to higher gains on investment securities and foreign exchange- and derivatives-related gains.
Comparison of 2024 to 2023
Operating income for the banking services segment increased by 23.2% from W4,010 billion in 2023 to W4,940 billion in 2024.
Net interest income increased by 5.2% from W8,548 billion in 2023 to W8,989 billion in 2024 primarily due to increases in net interest income for others and international group sub-segments, which were partially offset by a decrease in net interest income for channel division and capital market division sub-segments. More specifically:
Net interest income for others sub-segment increased to W11 billion in 2024 shifting from net interest loss of W494 billion in 2023 primarily due to an increase in interest income received from the channel division, capital market division and international group sub-segments which Shinhan Bank recognizes through its others sub-segment.
Net interest income for international group sub-segment increased by 7.7% from W1,183 billion in 2023 to W1,274 billion in 2024 primarily due to an increase in interest income resulting from growth across Shinhan Bank’s international markets, particularly Vietnam and Japan, amid the Vietnamese government’s policies to promote loans and the increase in interest rates in Japan, respectively.
Net interest income for capital market division sub-segment decreased by 21.6% from W232 billion in 2023 to W182 billion in 2024 primarily due to the continued decline in government bond yields throughout 2024, which resulted from the two base interest rate reductions by the Bank of Korea during the year 2024 and expectations for further rate reductions.
Net interest income for channel division sub-segment decreased by 1.4% from W7,627 billion in 2023 to W7,522 billion in 2024 primarily due to aggressive pricing policies taken by Shinhan Bank, as well as the impact of the two base interest rate reductions by the Bank of Korea in 2024, which led to a decline in Shinhan Bank’s loan-to-deposit margin.
Net fees and commission income increased by 16.0% from W748 billion in 2023 to W868 billion in 2024 primarily due to an increase in net fees and commissions income for channel division and capital market division sub-segments. Net fees and commission income for channel division sub-segment increased primarily due to an increase in investment banking fees resulting from an increase in investment banking deals in collaboration with the IB division within the capital market division sub-segment, as well as an increase in fees earned on the sale of funds and bancassurance products. Net fees and commission income for capital market division sub-segment increased primarily due to the growth in the GIB group’s investment banking fee income driven by an increase in investment banking deals.
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Net other expense decreased by 7.0% from W5,286 billion in 2023 to W4,917 billion in 2024 primarily due to an increase in net other income for capital market division sub-segment, which was partially offset by an increase in net other expense for channel division sub-segment. Net other income for capital market division sub-segment increased primarily due to an overall increase in other income driven by increases in gains on securities, dividend income, foreign currencies transaction gains, and gains on derivatives. Net other expense for channel division sub-segment increased primarily due to an increase in other operating expense, particularly contributions to local governments and other similar institutions.
The credit card services segment consists of the credit card business of Shinhan Card, including its installment finance and automobile leasing businesses.
Operating income for the credit card services segment decreased by 15.5% to W742 billion in 2025 from W878 billion in 2024.
Net interest income increased by 0.8% to W1,947 billion in 2025 from W1,931 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in interest income on loans at amortized cost, including credit card loans and installment finance loans, which was partially offset by a decrease in interest income on Korean Won-denominated loans and an increase in interest expenses on debt securities. Interest income on loans at amortized cost increased primarily due to higher interest income on credit card loans and installment finance loans, mainly driven by an increase in the average balance of installment credit sales and general card loans within credit card receivables, as well as an increase in the average balance of foreign currency installment finance loans. Such increases were mainly attributable to portfolio improvements focused on higher-yield credit card products and pricing adjustments in the auto finance business. The increase in interest income on credit card loans and installment finance loans was partially offset by a decrease in interest income on Korean Won-denominated loans, primarily due to a decrease in interest income on certain facility loans and household group loans, as lending activities decreased amid a slowdown in the real estate market, resulting in lower average balances of such loans. Interest expenses on debt securities increased mainly due to higher interest expenses on Korean Won-denominated debt securities, reflecting increased issuance of such debt securities to fund operating activities, including cash advance services and settlement payments to merchants, as well as higher funding costs.
Net fees and commission income decreased by 18.3% to W764 billion in 2025 from W935 billion in 2024, primarily as a result of a decrease in fees income on credit cards and an increase in fee expenses on credit cards. Fees income on credit cards decreased primarily due to the absence of incentive payments received from overseas card networks in 2025 that had been recognized in 2024, as well as the impact of increases in certain contra-revenue items, including My Shinhan Point expenses and card promotion expenses recognized as deductions from fees income. Fee expenses on credit cards increased mainly due to higher fees paid relating to overseas credit card transactions in line with an increase in overseas card usage, as well as an increase in certain credit card-related charges paid as we allocated more resources toward our collection efforts.
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Net other expense decreased by 1.0% to W1,969 billion in 2025 from W1,988 billion in 2024, primarily due to a shift from net losses to net gains on foreign currency transactions and translation, which was partially offset by a shift from net other operating income to net other operating losses. Net gains on foreign currency transactions and translation were mainly attributable to a decrease in foreign currency translation losses and an increase in foreign currency translation gains. These changes mainly reflected the appreciation of the Korean Won against major foreign currencies in 2025 compared to the prior year, which reduced translation losses on foreign currency-denominated borrowings and asset-backed securities. Net other operating expense decreased mainly due to a decrease in valuation gains on currency swaps and an increase in valuation losses on such swaps, reflecting fluctuations in exchange rates during 2025.
Operating income for the credit card services segment decreased by 5.9% from W933 billion in 2023 to W878 billion in 2024.
Net interest income increased by 1.9% from W1,895 billion in 2023 to W1,931 billion in 2024 primarily due to an increase in interest income on loans at amortized cost, including credit card loans and installment finance loans, which was partially offset by an increase in interest expenses on debt securities. The increase in interest income on loans at amortized cost was primarily due to higher interest rates applied to installment credit sales compared to 2023, as well as efforts to expand the credit card business of Shinhan Card, which resulted in an increase in the average balance of loans at amortized cost and related interest income for credit card loans and foreign currency installment finance loans. Interest expenses on debt securities increased mainly due to issuance of debt securities.
Net fees and commission income decreased by 3.5% from W969 billion in 2023 to W935 billion in 2024 primarily as a result of a decrease in net fees income on credit cards, which was partially offset by an increase in fees and commission income from lease operations. Fees income on credit cards decreased primarily due to the effect of non-recurring fee income recognized during 2023 as a result of promotional agreements with MasterCard and Visa as well as a decrease in demand for credit card usage related to shopping and mobile payment services, while fee expenses on credit cards increased as a result of higher overseas credit card spending and the depreciation of the Korean Won against foreign currencies during 2024. Fees and commission income from lease operations increased primarily due to an increase in the average balance of operating lease assets denominated in Korean Won, resulting from the business expansion strategy for operating leases.
Net other expense increased by 3.0% from W1,931 billion in 2023 to W1,988 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in net losses on foreign currency translation and an increase in provision for credit loss allowance, which were partially offset by an increase in net gains from hedging activities. Net losses on foreign currency translation increased due to the depreciation of the Korean Won against foreign currencies during 2024, resulting in increased translation losses on liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. Provision for credit loss allowance increased as a result of the rise in delinquent credit card receivables. Net gains from hedging activities increased primarily due to the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar against Korean Won, along with a rise in the volume of derivative transactions.
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The securities services segment primarily includes securities brokerage and dealing services on behalf of customers, which is conducted by Shinhan Securities, our principal securities brokerage subsidiary.
Operating income for the securities services segment increased by 73.0% to W488 billion in 2025 from W282 billion in 2024.
Net interest income decreased by 0.2% to W572 billion in 2025 from W573 billion in 2024, primarily due to a decrease in interest income on securities at fair value through profit or loss and loans at amortized cost, which was partially offset by a decrease in interest expenses on borrowings. Interest income on securities at fair value through profit or loss decreased primarily due to lower interest income on government bonds, Korean Won-denominated financial institution bonds and commercial paper. Interest income on government bonds and Korean Won-denominated financial institution bonds decreased primarily due to a decrease in average balances, reflecting portfolio adjustments, and was further affected by lower nominal coupon rates on newly issued bonds. For commercial paper, the decrease was primarily driven by a decline in average balances, reflecting changes in market conditions. Interest income on loans at amortized cost decreased mainly due to a decline in interest income on certain corporate facility loans. Such decrease was primarily attributable to lower average balances resulting from repayments of existing loans, write-offs, and reduced new lending activities. In addition, interest income decreased due to delays in our collection of interest for certain real estate project financing investments. Interest expenses on borrowings decreased mainly due to lower interest expenses on other borrowings and Korean Won-denominated repurchase agreements. Such decreases primarily reflected a decline in the issuance of commercial paper and reduced funding through repurchase agreements, as alternative funding sources, including corporate bond issuances, became more prevalent. Interest expenses on repurchase agreements also decreased due to lower interest rates applied to such agreements following reductions in the base interest rate during 2025.
Net fees and commission income increased by 28.7% to W690 billion in 2025 from W536 billion in 2024, primarily due to increases in brokerage-related and other fee income and custody fees on foreign securities, which were partially offset by higher trading and brokerage-related expenses and securities borrowing fees. Brokerage-related fee income increased mainly as a result of higher securities custody fees related to domestic equity transactions, reflecting increased trading volumes in the Korean stock markets during 2025. Other fee income also increased mainly due to higher stock lending fees, as well as increases in liquidity support commitment fees and purchase commitment fees. Custody fees on foreign securities increased, reflecting increased overseas equity trading activities during 2025. Trading and brokerage-related expenses increased primarily as a result of higher exchange membership fees and settlement fees associated with increased domestic equity trading volumes. Securities borrowing fees also increased mainly due to higher stock lending transaction volumes.
Net other expense decreased by 6.4% to W774 billion in 2025 from W827 billion in 2024, primarily due to a change from net losses to net gains on foreign currency transactions and translation, as well as a decrease in net other operating losses, which were partially offset by a decrease in gains on financial instruments at fair value
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through profit or loss and an increase in losses on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss. Net gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions and translations changed from net losses in 2024 to net gains in 2025, primarily due to higher valuation and transaction gains on foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities. These changes mainly reflected movements in the U.S. dollar exchange rate during 2025 compared to the prior year, which resulted in higher gains on foreign currency-denominated repurchase agreement positions, foreign currency borrowings and spot foreign exchange transactions, the effects of which were partially offset by losses on certain foreign currency-denominated asset positions. Net other operating losses decreased mainly due to a reduction in provisions for other liabilities, primarily reflecting a base effect from provisions recognized in 2024 related to claims associated with financial product compensation. Such changes were partially offset by decreases in gains on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss and increases in losses on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss. Gains on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss decreased mainly due to changes in equity market environment affecting equity-linked derivatives, while losses on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss increased primarily due to lower trading gains on equity-linked securities.
Operating income for the securities services segment increased by 11.5% from W253 billion in 2023 to W282 billion in 2024.
Net interest income increased by 29.1% from W444 billion in 2023 to W573 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in interest income on securities at fair value through profit or loss, partially offset by decreases in interest income on loans at amortized cost, loans at fair value through profit or loss and cash and due from banks at amortized cost. Interest income on securities at fair value through profit or loss increased primarily due to the strategic acquisition of additional bonds in response to the continued decline in interest rates, resulting in higher average balances and interest income. Interest income on loans at amortized cost and loans at fair value through profit or loss decreased mainly due to a decrease in new transactions and an increase in the number of sell-downs, driven by worsening conditions in the capital and real estate markets, along with lower interest rates. Interest income on cash and due from banks at amortized cost decreased mainly due to a decrease in interest income on time deposits denominated in Korean Won, resulting from the decline in market interest rates.
Net fees and commission income increased by 7.2% from W500 billion in 2023 to W536 billion in 2024 primarily due to an increase in custody fee income on foreign securities, driven by the expansion of overseas securities custody business and the increase in service fees, as well as higher brokerage fee income resulting from an increase in the number of securities transactions in 2024 compared to 2023. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in commission income from Korean Won transactions and investment banking fees, driven by a decline in the number of advisory services and financial services provided.
Net other expense increased by 19.7% from W691 billion in 2023 to W827 billion in 2024 primarily due to an increase in net loss on foreign currency transactions and translation, as well as an increase in provisions for other liabilities, which was partially offset by a decrease in net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss. Net loss on foreign currency transactions and translation increased primarily due to the depreciation of Korean Won against foreign currencies in 2024. Provisions for other liabilities increased primarily as we recognized additional provisions for legal claims resulting from lawsuits related to the alleged improper sales of Lime Asset products. Net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss decreased mainly due to a decrease in issuance and redemptions, driven by a relatively lower growth rate of the domestic stock market compared to the prior year, which resulted in a decrease in valuation and disposal losses.
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Insurance Services
The insurance services segment consists of life insurance services provided by Shinhan Life Insurance, and general insurance services provided by Shinhan EZ General Insurance.
Net interest expense
Net fees and commission expense
Net other income
Operating income for the insurance services segment increased by 7.2% to W759 billion in 2025 from W708 billion in 2024.
Net interest expense increased by 8.9% to W147 billion in 2025 from W135 billion in 2024, primarily due to a decrease in interest income on loans measured at amortized cost, which was partially offset by an increase in interest income on securities at fair value through other comprehensive income and a decrease in other interest expenses. Interest income on loans measured at amortized cost decreased primarily due to a decrease in interest income on Korean Won-denominated loans, mainly driven by a decrease in the average balance of corporate working capital loans resulting from a decline in new investments and an increase in loan maturities. Interest income on securities at fair value through other comprehensive income increased primarily due to an increase in interest income on Government bonds, which was driven by an increase in the average balances as government bond holdings increased while corporate bond holdings decreased for regulatory capital management purposes, including maintaining the K-ICS ratio, and asset duration management. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in interest income on corporate bonds, which resulted from a decrease in the average balance of corporate bonds as part of the same asset allocation strategy. Other interest expenses decreased primarily due to a decrease in interest on investment contract liabilities, which was mainly attributable to an increase in premium income from retirement pension products, which is recorded as a deduction from such interest expenses.
Net fees and commission expense increased by 125.0% to W9 billion in 2025 from W4 billion in 2024, primarily due to a decrease in investment banking fees income and a general increase in fees and commission expenses. Investment banking fees income decreased primarily due to the absence of financial advisory fees in connection with a project financing loan transaction that was recognized in 2024.
Net other income increased by 8.0% to W915 billion in 2025 from W847 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss and an increase in gains related to hedging activities, which were partially offset by an increase in net insurance finance expense and a decrease in net gain on foreign currency transactions and translation. The increase in net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss was driven by a decrease in valuation losses on beneficiary certificates following significant valuation losses recognized in the prior year amid a weakness in overseas real estate markets, as well as gains on disposals of equity index ETFs reflecting favorable conditions in the Korean domestic equity market in 2025. The increase in gains related to hedging activities was mainly attributable to increases in gains on currency forward transactions and valuation gains on currency swaps, as well as a decrease in valuation losses on currency forwards, primarily reflecting the appreciation of the Korean Won against major foreign currencies in 2025 compared to the depreciation recorded in 2024. Net insurance finance expense increased primarily due to higher insurance finance expenses related to insurance contract liabilities for variable contracts, which are inversely correlated with returns on the underlying investment assets. As returns on the underlying investment
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assets increased, reflecting the significant rise in the KOSPI index in 2025 compared to 2024, the corresponding increase in insurance contract liabilities led to higher insurance finance expenses. The decrease in net gain on foreign currency transactions and translation was mainly attributable to a decrease in net gains from the valuation and transactions of foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities, primarily reflecting the appreciation of the Korean Won against the U.S. dollar in 2025 compared to the depreciation recorded in 2024.
Operating income for the insurance services segment increased by 8.8% from W651 billion in 2023 to W708 billion in 2024.
Net interest expense decreased by 32.2% from W199 billion in 2023 to W135 billion in 2024 primarily due to a decrease in interest expenses on other liabilities and an increase in interest income on securities at fair value through other comprehensive income, which were partially offset by a decrease in interest income on securities at fair value through profit or loss. Interest expenses on other liabilities decreased primarily due to a decrease in interest expense on investment contract liabilities, which was driven by a decrease in the average balance of investment contract liabilities resulting from lower interest rates applied to retirement products. Interest income on securities at fair value through other comprehensive income increased due to an increase in interest income on government bonds, which was driven by an increase in the number of interest days (leap year) and an increase in the average balance of government bonds resulting from an increase in long-term government bond purchases to extend the average maturity profile of our government bond assets. Interest income on securities at fair value through profit or loss decreased primarily due to a decrease in interest income on government bonds, resulting from a decrease in the average balance of government bonds as underlying assets of variable insurance decreased following an increase in claims paid.
Net fees and commission expense increased by 33.3% from W3 billion in 2023 to W4 billion in 2024 primarily due to an increase in brokerage fees expense in Korean Won, which was mainly driven by an increase in management fees through an alternative investment consignment arrangement entered into with Shinhan Asset Management in April 2024.
Net other income decreased by 0.7% from W853 billion in 2023 to W847 billion in 2024 primarily due to a decrease in net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss and an increase in other operating expenses, which were partially offset by an increase in net gain on foreign currency transactions and translation as well as a decrease in net insurance finance expense. The decrease in net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss was driven by a decrease in net valuation and transaction gains resulting from the decline in the stock market index in 2024 compared to 2023, as well as an increase in net transaction losses on currency-related derivatives due to the depreciation of the Korean Won against foreign currencies during 2024. The increase in other operating expenses was mainly due to an increase in net valuation loss related to hedging activities, primarily driven by the depreciation of the Korean Won against foreign currencies during 2024. The increase in net gain on foreign currency transactions and translation was primarily due to the depreciation of the Korean Won against foreign currencies during 2024. The decrease in net insurance finance expense was primarily due to a decrease in interest expenses on variable insurance liabilities, which are linked to the performance of underlying investment assets that incurred losses as a result of the decline in the KOSPI index.
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The credit services segment consists of the specialized credit business of Shinhan Capital, including facilities leasing, installment finance, and new technology finance businesses.
Net other income (expense)
Operating income for the specialized credit business decreased by 66.4% to W41 billion in 2025 from W122 billion in 2024.
Net interest income decreased by 29.2% to W102 billion in 2025 from W144 billion in 2024, primarily due to a decrease in interest income on loans at amortized cost, which was partially offset by a decrease in interest expenses on borrowings. Interest income on loans at amortized cost decreased mainly due to lower interest income on Korean Won-denominated loans. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decline in the average balance of loans, as we shifted our focus toward managing the profitability and credit quality of existing loans rather than expanding new loan originations amid unfavorable conditions in the real estate and financial markets since 2024. Interest income was also affected by an increase in impaired loans resulting from heightened credit risk and a partial shift in the loan portfolio toward lower-yield but more stable assets. Interest expenses on borrowings decreased mainly due to a decline in the average balance of borrowings following repayments exceeding new borrowings during 2025. In addition, interest expenses decreased as funding costs declined compared to the prior year, reflecting changes in funding strategies, including efforts to diversify our funding sources.
Net fees and commission income increased by 35.3% to W23 billion in 2025 from W17 billion in 2024, primarily due to higher investment banking fees, particularly arranger and advisory fees. The increase in such fees reflected our efforts to increase our non-interest income by actively sourcing and arranging deals through partnerships with small- and mid-sized financial institutions amid unfavorable market conditions. Fee expenses did not change significantly compared to the prior year.
Net other expense increased by 115.4% to W84 billion in 2025 from W39 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in impairment losses on financial assets and a change from net other operating income in 2024 to net other operating expenses in 2025, which were partially offset by an increase in net gains on foreign currency transactions and translation and an increase in gains on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss. Impairment losses on financial assets increased mainly due to higher credit loss provisions as credit risks associated with loan receivables increased amid deteriorating conditions in the real estate market and the broader economic environment in 2025. This resulted in a rise in impaired loans and lower recoverable amounts of certain loan receivables. Net other operating results also deteriorated mainly due to valuation changes on currency swaps used to hedge foreign exchange exposure to foreign currency borrowings and debt securities. These changes primarily reflected the decline in the USD/KRW exchange rate compared to the end of 2024, which resulted in lower valuation gains and higher valuation losses on such currency swaps in 2025. Such increases in net other expenses were partially offset by net gains on foreign currency transactions and translation,
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reflecting the appreciation of the Korean Won against the U.S. dollar during 2025 compared to the prior year, which resulted in higher translation gains on foreign currency-denominated borrowings and debt securities. In addition, gains on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss increased mainly due to a decrease in valuation losses on beneficiary certificates and puttable equity instruments as the value of underlying assets, including venture investments, investments related to initial public offerings, and domestic and foreign alternative investments, increased, mainly reflecting higher equity prices in 2025.
Operating income for the specialized credit business decreased by 64.4 % from W343 billion in 2023 to W122 billion in 2024.
Net interest income decreased by 42.2 % from W249 billion in 2023 to W144 billion in 2024 primarily due to a decrease in interest income on loans at amortized cost, as well as increases in interest expenses on debt securities and borrowings. Interest income on loans at amortized cost decreased mainly due to a reduction in loan origination, along with an increase in repayments and disposals, and the impairment of certain loans in 2024. Interest expense on debt securities increased primarily due to the higher average interest rate resulting from the refinancing of corporate bonds that were issued prior to 2022 at lower interest rates with new corporate bonds issued at higher interest rates. Interest expense on borrowings increased as a result of an increase in the average balance of borrowings denominated in Korean Won as part of measures to diversify funding sources.
Net fees and commission income remained stable with no significant fluctuations in 2024 compared to 2023. Commission received as agency increased due to an increase in management fee income, which was mostly offset by a decrease in investment banking fees, resulting from a decrease in financial intermediary services, particularly in the corporate and investment banking sector.
Net other expense of W39 billion was recognized in 2024, compared to net other income of W77 billion in 2023, primarily due to a decrease in net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss, which was partially offset by an increase in other operating income. The decrease in net gain on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss was primarily due to net loss recognized in relation to the valuation and disposal of investments, including venture capital investments, domestic and foreign alternative investments, and initial public offerings. The increase in other operating income was mainly driven by the valuation gains on currency swaps to mitigate exchange rate risks associated with borrowings denominated in foreign currencies, resulting from the depreciation of the Korean Won against foreign currencies in 2024.
The others segment primarily consists of all other activities of Shinhan Financial Group, as the holding company, and our other subsidiaries, including Shinhan Asset Management, Shinhan Savings Bank, Shinhan Asset Trust, Shinhan REITs Management and back-office functions maintained at the holding company.
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Operating income for the others segment increased by 67.1% to W274 billion in 2025 from W164 billion in 2024.
Net interest income decreased by 17.2% to W77 billion in 2025 from W93 billion in 2024, primarily due to a decrease in net interest income of Shinhan Financial Group on a standalone basis, which in turn was mainly attributable to a decrease in interest income on loans at amortized cost and, to a lesser extent, an increase in interest expense on debt securities.
Net fees and commission income increased by 11.9% to W377 billion in 2025 from W337 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase in net fees and commission income of Shinhan Asset Management, which in turn was primarily due to higher trustee fee income, reflecting the rapid growth of the ETF market and the expansion of total assets under management.
Net other expense decreased by 32.3% to W180 billion in 2025 from W266 billion in 2024, primarily due to a decrease in impairment losses on financial instruments and a reversal of provisions for other liabilities at Shinhan Asset Trust. The decrease in impairment losses on financial instruments was mainly due to the significant losses on assets with a high likelihood of default that had been recognized in 2024 during the downturn in the real estate market, which resulted in a relatively smaller amount of additional impairments recognized in 2025. The reversal of provisions for other liabilities was primarily attributable to the mitigation of risks associated with real estate development trust projects with completion obligations.
Operating income for the others segment decreased by 51.9% from W341 billion in 2023 to W164 billion in 2024.
Net interest income decreased by 25.6% from W125 billion in 2023 to W93 billion in 2024 primarily due to a decrease in net interest income of Shinhan Financial Group on a standalone basis. The decrease in net interest income of Shinhan Financial Group on a standalone basis was mainly attributable to an increase in interest expenses on debt securities, which was partially offset by an increase in interest income on loans at amortized cost.
Net fees and commission income decreased by 13.8% from W391 billion in 2023 to W337 billion in 2024 primarily due to a decrease in net fees and commission income of Shinhan Asset Trust. Net fees and commission income of Shinhan Asset Trust decreased primarily due to a decrease in trust management fees and other fee income, resulting from ongoing difficulties in the project financing industry that have persisted since 2023.
Net other expense increased by 52.0% from W175 billion in 2023 to W266 billion in 2024 primarily due to an increase in net other expenses from Shinhan Asset Trust. The increase in net other expense of Shinhan Asset Trust was primarily attributable to an increase in the number of maturing project financing properties and an increase in provision for credit loss allowance and provisions for other liabilities recognized due to difficulties experienced by such project financing projects.
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Financial Condition
The following table sets forth, as of the dates indicated, the principal components of our assets.
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Property and equipment
Intangible assets
Investments in associates
Current tax assets
Deferred tax assets
Investment property
Net defined benefit assets
Insurance contract assets
Other assets
Assets held for sale
Our total assets increased by 6.3% to W786,013 billion as of December 31, 2025 from W739,764 billion as of December 31, 2024, principally due to increases in other assets, loans at amortized cost, and securities at fair value through other comprehensive income.
Other assets increased by 76.2% to W46,524 billion as of December 31, 2025 from W26,401 billion as of December 31, 2024, primarily due to increases in accounts receivable and domestic exchange settlement receivables.
Loans at amortized cost increased by 3.4% to W464,774 billion as of December 31, 2025 from W449,295 billion as of December 31, 2024, primarily due to increases in corpoarte loans and retail loans. Corporate loans increased mainly due to expanded capital expenditures and increased working capital demand from corporate borrowers, while retail loans increased primarily as a result of growth in mortgage loans following a recovery in real estate transaction volumes in the first half of 2025.
Securities at fair value through other comprehensive income increased by 10.0% to W103,217 billion as of December 31, 2025 from W93,805 billion as of December 31, 2024, primarily due to increases in financial institution bonds and, to a lesser extent, government bonds, the effects of which were offset in part by a decrease in corporate bonds and others.
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Our assets increased by 6.9% from W691,795 billion as of December 31, 2023 to W739,764 billion as of December 31, 2024, principally due to increases in loans at amortized cost, cash and due from banks at amortized cost, and derivative assets.
Loans at amortized cost increased by 9.1% to W449,295 billion as of December 31, 2024 from W411,740 billion as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase in corporate loans and, to a lesser extent, an increase in retail loans.
Cash and due from banks at amortized cost increased by 17.0% to W40,526 billion as of December 31, 2024 from W34,629 billion as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase in deposits denominated in foreign currency amid growth of our overseas businesses.
Derivative assets increased by 118.2% to W10,279 billion as of December 31, 2024 from W4,711 billion as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase in over-the-counter derivative assets related to foreign currency amid the depreciation of the Korean Won against foreign currencies in 2024.
Liabilities and Equity
The following table sets forth, as of the dates indicated, the principal components of our liabilities and equity.
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss
Derivative liabilities
Net defined benefit liabilities
Provisions
Current tax liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities
Insurance contracts liabilities
Investment contract liabilities
Other liabilities
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the Group
Total equity
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Our total liabilities increased by 6.6% to W725,641 billion as of December 31, 2025 from W680,943 billion as of December 31, 2024, primarily due to increases in deposits, other liabilties and, to a lesser extent, borrowings.
Deposits increased by 5.9% to W447,649 billion as of December 31, 2025 from W422,781 billion as of December 31, 2024, primarily due to increases in Korean Won-denominated deposits and certificates of deposit.
Other liabilities increased by 44.9% to W59,239 billion as of December 31, 2025 from W40,880 billion as of December 31, 2024, primarily due to increases in accounts payable, domestic exchange settlements pending and payables from trust accounts.
Borrowings increased by 11.0% to W55,395 billion as of December 31, 2025 from W49,920 billion as of December 31, 2024, primarily due to increases in foreign currency bank borrowings and repurchase agreement liabilities.
Total equity increased by 2.6% to W60,372 billion as of December 31, 2025 from W58,821 billion as of December 31, 2024, largely due to an increase in retained earnings, which was partially offset by an increase in valuation losses on securities at fair value through other comprehensive income.
Our total liabilities increased by 7.2% from W635,473 billion as of December 31, 2023 to W680,943 billion as of December 31, 2024, primarily due to increases in deposits and debt securities issued, which was partially offset by other liabilities.
Deposit increased by 10.8% to W422,781 billion as of December 31, 2024 from W381,513 billion as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to increases in time deposits in Korean Won and foreign currencies.
Debt securities issued increased by 15.0% to W93,766 billion as of December 31, 2024 from W81,562 billion as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase in debt securities issued in Korean Won and foreign currencies.
Other liabilities decreased by 16.1% to W40,880 billion as of December 31, 2024 from W48,722 billion as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to a decrease in domestic exchanges payable.
Total equity increased by 4.4% from W56,322 billion as of December 31, 2023 to W58,821 billion as of December 31, 2024, largely due to an increase in retained earnings from profit for the year and the issuance of additional hybrid bonds by the Group.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We are exposed to liquidity risk arising from the funding of our lending, trading and investment activities and in the management of trading positions. The goal of liquidity management is for us to be able, even under adverse conditions, to make all of our liability repayments on time and fund all investment opportunities. For an explanation of how we manage our liquidity risk, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Risk Management — Market Risk Management — Market Risk Management for Non-trading Activities — Liquidity Risk Management.” In our opinion, our working capital is sufficient for our present requirements.
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The following table sets forth our debt and capital resources as of December 31, 2025.
Long-term debt
Call money
Borrowings from the Bank of Korea
Other short-term borrowings
Asset securitizations
Stockholders’ equity(1)
Includes capital stock, share premium, and hybrid bonds issued.
We obtain funding from a variety of sources, both domestic and foreign. Our principal source of funding is customer deposits obtained from our banking operations, although we also issue equity and debt securities from time to time. In addition, our subsidiaries acquire funding through call moneys, borrowings from the Bank of Korea, other short-term borrowings, corporate debentures, other long-term debt and asset-backed securitizations.
Our primary funding strategy has been to achieve low-cost funding by increasing the average balances of low-cost retail customer deposits. Customer deposits accounted for 70.7% of our total funding as of December 31, 2023, 72.2% of our total funding as of December 31, 2024 and 72.7% of our total funding as of December 31, 2025. Historically, except in limited circumstances, a substantial portion of such customer deposits were rolled over upon maturity and accordingly provided a stable source of funding for our banking subsidiaries, largely due to the lack of alternative investment opportunities for individuals and households in Korea, especially in light of a low interest rate environment and volatile stock market conditions. However, in the face of attractive alternative investment opportunities such as during a bullish run of the stock market, customers may transfer a significant amount of bank deposits to alternative investment products in search of higher returns, which may result in temporary difficulties in finding sufficient funding on commercial terms favorable to us. In addition, in recent years, we have faced increasing pricing competition from our competitors with respect to our deposit products. If we do not continue to offer competitive interest rates to our deposit customers, we may lose their business, which has traditionally provided a stable and low-cost source of funding. Even if we are able to match our competitors’ pricing, doing so may result in an increase in our funding costs, which may have an adverse impact on our results of operations.
While our banking subsidiaries generally have not faced, and currently are not facing, liquidity difficulties in any material respect, if we or our banking subsidiaries are unable to obtain the funding we need on terms commercially acceptable to us for an extended period of time for reasons of Won devaluation or otherwise, we may not be able to ensure our financial viability, meet regulatory requirements, implement our strategies or compete effectively. See “Item 3.D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Overall Business — Changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, bond and equity prices, and other market factors have affected and will continue to affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.”
As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, deposits made by litigants in connection with legal proceedings in Korean courts amounted to W6,421 billion, W6,975 billion and W7,057 billion, respectively, or 1.7%, 1.7% and 1.6%, of Shinhan Bank’s total deposits, respectively. Court deposits carry interest rates which are generally lower than market rates.
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In addition, we obtain funding through borrowings and the issuances of debt and equity securities, primarily through Shinhan Bank. Our borrowings consist mainly of borrowings from financial institutions, the Government and Government-affiliated funds. Call money, which is available in both Won and foreign currencies, is obtained from the call loan market, a short-term loan market for loans with maturities of 90 days or less. As for our long-term debt, it is principally in the form of corporate debt securities issued by Shinhan Bank. Since 1999, Shinhan Bank has actively issued and continues to issue long-term debt securities with maturities of over one year in the Korean fixed-income market. Shinhan Bank and we have maintained one of the highest credit ratings in the domestic fixed-income market since our inceptions in 1999 and 2001, respectively. As Shinhan Bank maintains one of the highest debt ratings in the fixed-income market in Korea, we believe that Shinhan Bank will be able to obtain replacement funding through the issuance of long-term debt securities. Shinhan Bank’s interest rates on long-term debt securities are, in general, 20 to 30 basis points higher than the interest rates offered on their deposits. However, since long-term debt is not subject to premiums paid for deposit insurance and the Bank of Korea reserves, we estimate that our funding costs on long-term debt securities are generally on par with our funding costs on deposits. In addition, we and Shinhan Bank may also issue long-term debt securities denominated in foreign currencies in overseas markets. We and Shinhan Bank each have a global medium term notes program under which foreign currency-denominated notes may be issued with aggregate program limits of US$5 billion and US$8 billion, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, our long-term debt amounted to W78,624 billion, W94,839 billion and W96,720 billion, respectively.
We also have funding requirements for our credit card activities. We obtain funding for our credit card activities from a variety of sources, primarily in Korea. The principal sources of funding for Shinhan Card are debentures, commercial papers (including call money) and borrowings from us and third-parties, which amounted to W25,515 billion, W1,777 billion, W1,383 billion and W1,241 billion, respectively, or 85.3%, 5.9%, 4.6%, and 4.2% of the funding for our credit card activities, as of December 31, 2025. Unlike other credit card companies, Shinhan Card has the benefit of obtaining funding at favorable rates through loans from us, which currently maintains the highest credit rating assigned by local rating agencies. Shinhan Card aims to further diversify its funding sources and more actively tap the domestic and international capital markets to ensure access to liquidity as needed.
Credit ratings affect the cost and other terms upon which we and our subsidiaries are able to obtain funding. Domestic and international rating agencies regularly evaluate us and our subsidiaries, and their ratings of our and our subsidiaries’ long-term debt are based on a number of factors, including our financial strength as well as conditions affecting the financial services industry in general.
There can be no assurance that we or our subsidiaries will maintain our current credit ratings if, among other reasons, the global or Korean economy were to face another downturn, there are any changes in our corporate governance or our businesses significantly deteriorate. Our failure to maintain current credit ratings and outlooks could increase the cost of our funding, limit our access to capital markets and other borrowings, and require us to post additional collateral in financial transactions, any of which could adversely affect our liquidity, net interest margins and profitability.
Secondary funding sources also include call money, borrowings from the Bank of Korea and other short-term borrowings, which amounted to an aggregate of W43,976 billion, W37,663 billion and W52,456 billion, as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively, each representing 8.1%, 6.4% and 8.5% of our total funding as of such dates, respectively.
We may also from time to time obtain funding through the issuance of equity securities. For example, on September 29, 2020, partly in response to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and to increase our loss absorption capacity, we issued 39,130,000 common shares to two private equity funds, thereby increasing our paid-in capital by W195.7 billion. As a result of such offering, which was substantially fully subscribed and resulted in a capital increase of 7.5%, we raised W1,158 billion (before underwriting commissions and other offering expenses).
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In addition, we obtain funding through issuance of hybrid bonds. In 2025, additional hybrid bonds in the amount of W798 billion were newly issued to improve our capital adequacy ratio by expanding our capital. As of December 31, 2025, the total amount of our hybrid bonds issued was W4,750 billion.
In limited situations, we may also issue convertible and/or preferred shares. For example, in August 2003, in order to partly fund our acquisition of Chohung Bank, we raised a total of W2,552 billion through domestic private placements of redeemable preferred shares and redeemable convertible preferred shares to domestic financial institutions and governmental entities in Korea, all of which shares have since been redeemed or converted. In addition, in January 2007, partly to fund the acquisition of LG Card, we raised a total of W3,750 billion through domestic private placements of redeemable preferred shares and redeemable convertible preferred shares, all of which have been redeemed as of the date hereof. In April 2011, we issued redeemable preferred shares to fund redemption of such securities, and in April 2016, we redeemed the redeemable preferred shares issued in April 2011. In May 2019, we raised a total of W750 billion through domestic private placements of convertible preferred shares, all of which were fully converted into common shares in May 2023. For further details of our preferred shares, see “Item 10.B. Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation — Description of Preferred Stock.”
Pursuant to laws and regulations in Korea, we may redeem our preferred stock to the extent of our retained earnings of the previous fiscal year, net of certain reserves. At this time, we expect that cash from our future operations would be adequate to provide us with sufficient capital resources to enable us to redeem our preferred stock on or prior to their scheduled maturities. In the event there is a short-term shortage of liquidity to make the required cash payments for redemption as a result of, among other things, failure to receive dividend payments from our operating subsidiaries on time or as a result of significant expenditures resulting from future acquisitions, we plan to raise cash liquidity through the issuance of long-term debt in the Korean fixed-income market in advance of the scheduled maturity on our preferred stock. To the extent we need to obtain additional liquidity, we plan to do so through the issuance of long-term corporate debentures or further preferred stock and/or the use of our other secondary funding sources.
We generally may not acquire our own shares except in certain limited circumstances such as a capital reduction. However, pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and regulations under the Financial Holding Companies Act, we may purchase our own shares on the KRX KOSPI Market of the Korea Exchange or through a tender offer, or retrieve our own shares from a trust company upon termination of a trust agreement subject to the restrictions that (1) the aggregate purchase price of such shares may not exceed the total amount available for distribution of dividends at the end of the preceding fiscal year less the amounts of dividends and reserves for such fiscal year, subtracted by the sum of (a) the purchase price of treasury stock acquired if any treasury stock has been purchased after the end of the preceding fiscal year pursuant to the Commercial Act or the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, (b) the amount subject to a trust contract, and (c) the amount of dividends approved at the ordinary general shareholders’ meeting after the end of the preceding fiscal year and the amount of retained earnings reserve required under the Commercial Act; plus if any treasury stock has been disposed of after the end of the preceding fiscal year, the acquisition cost of such treasury stock, and (2) the purchase of such shares shall meet the requisite ratio under the Financial Holding Companies Act and regulations thereunder. In addition, pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, in certain limited circumstances, dissenting holders of shares have the right to require us to purchase their shares. In March 2026, the Korean Commercial Code was amended to, among others, mandate the cancellation of all treasury shares held by a company, including those held prior to the amendment, subject to certain limited exceptions.
Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Guarantees
In the ordinary course of our business, we have certain contractual cash obligations and commitments which extend for several years. As we are able to obtain liquidity and funding through various sources as described in “— Liquidity and Capital Resources” above, we do not believe that these contractual cash obligations and commitments will have a material effect on our liquidity or capital resources.
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Contractual Cash Obligations
The following table sets forth our contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2025.
Lease liability
Reflects all estimated contractual interest payments due on our interest-bearing deposits, borrowings, debt securities issued and lease liability, and the estimated contractual interest payments on borrowings and debt securities that are on a floating rate basis as of December 31, 2025 were computed as if the interest rate used on the last applicable date (for example, the interest payment date for such floating rate loans immediately preceding the determination date) were the interest rate applicable throughout the remainder of the term.
Commitments and Guarantees
In the normal course of our business, we and our subsidiaries make various commitments and guarantees to meet the financing and other business needs of our customers. Commitments and guarantees are usually in the form of, among others, commitments to extend credit, commercial letters of credit, standby letter of credit and performance guarantees. The contractual amount of these financial instruments represents the maximum possible loss amount if the counterparty draws down the commitment or we should fulfill our obligation under the guarantee and the counterparty fails to perform under the contract. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Description of Assets and Liabilities — Credit-Related Commitments and Guarantees.”
The following table sets forth our commitments and guarantees as of December 31, 2025. These commitments, apart from certain guarantees and acceptances, are not included within our consolidated statements of financial position.
Commitments to extend credit(1)
Commercial letters of credit(2)
Financial guarantees(3)
Performance guarantees(4)
Liquidity facilities to SPEs(5)
Acceptances(6)
Endorsed bills(7)
Unused credit limits on credit cards
Other
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Commitments to extend credit represent unfunded portions of authorizations to extend credit in the form of loans. The commitments expire on fixed dates and a customer is required to comply with predetermined conditions to draw funds under the commitments. Commitments to extend credit, including credit lines, are in general subject to provisions that allow us to withdraw such commitments in the event there are material adverse changes affecting an obligor.
Commercial letters of credit are undertakings on behalf of customers authorizing third parties to draw drafts on us up to a stipulated amount under specific terms and conditions. These are generally short-term and collateralized by the underlying shipments of goods to which they relate.
Financial guarantees are contracts that require us to make specified payments to reimburse the holder for a loss it incurs because a specified debtor fails to make payment when due in accordance with the terms of a debt instrument. Financial guarantee liabilities are recognized initially at their fair value, and the initial fair value is amortized over the life of the financial guarantee. The financial guarantee liability is subsequently carried at the higher of this amortized amount and the present value of any expected payment when a payment under the guarantee has become probable. Financial guarantees are included within other liabilities.
Performance guarantees are issued to guarantee customers’ tender bids on construction or similar projects or to guarantee completion of such projects in accordance with contractual terms. They are also issued to support a customer’s obligation to supply products, commodities, maintenance or other services to third parties.
Liquidity facilities to SPEs represent irrevocable commitments to provide contingent credit lines including commercial paper purchase agreements to special purpose entities for which we serve as the administrator.
Acceptances represent guarantees by us to pay a bill of exchange drawn on a customer. We expect most acceptances to be presented, but reimbursement by the customer is normally immediate.
Endorsed bills represent notes transferred to third parties by us. We are obligated to fulfill the duty of payment if the person primarily liable does not honor the bill on the due date.
See also Note 48 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
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The regulations of the Financial Services Commission require that capital ratios be computed based on our consolidated financial statements under IFRS and regulatory guidelines. The following table sets forth a summary of our capital and capital adequacy ratios as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025 based on Basel III.
Tier I Capital:
Tier I CE Capital
Paid-in capital
Capital reserve
Retained earnings
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries
Additional Tier I Capital
Total Tier I Capital
Tier II Capital:
Allowances for credit losses
Subordinated debt
Total Tier II capital
Total Capital
Risk-weighted assets
Credit risk
Market risk
Operational risk
Total risk-weighted assets
Capital adequacy ratio
Tier I capital adequacy ratio
Common equity capital adequacy ratio
Group BIS ratio(1)
Total capital adequacy ratio of Shinhan Bank
Adjusted equity capital ratio of Shinhan Card(2)
Solvency ratio for Shinhan Life Insurance(3)
Under the guidelines of the Financial Services Commission applicable to financial holding companies, the minimum requisite capital ratio applicable to us is 12.5% (Bank for International Settlement ratio of 8%). This computation is based on our consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies — Capital Adequacy.”
Represents the ratio of total adjusted shareholders’ equity to total adjusted assets and is computed in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Financial Services Commission for credit card companies.
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Solvency ratio is the ratio of the solvency margin to the standard amount of solvency margin as defined and computed in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Financial Services Commission for life insurance companies. Under these guidelines, Shinhan Life Insurance is required to maintain a minimum solvency ratio of 100%. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Insurance Companies — Capital Adequacy.”
Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.
Trend Information
These matters are discussed under Items 4.B., 5.A. and 5.B. above where relevant.
Critical Accounting Estimates
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
Directors and Senior Management
Executive Directors
Our executive director is as follows:
Name
Date of Birth
Position
Executive
Director Since
Jin Okdong
The date on which the term will end will be the date of the general shareholders’ meeting in the relevant year.
Jin Okdong is our Chief Executive Officer. Prior to his election, Mr. Jin served as the chief executive officer of Shinhan Bank from 2019 to 2023. Mr. Jin served as the deputy president of Shinhan Financial Group from 2017 to 2018, the deputy president of Shinhan Bank in 2017 and the chief executive officer of Shinhan Bank Japan from 2015 to 2016. Mr. Jin received a master’s degree in business administration from Chung Ang University.
Non-Executive and Outside Directors
Non-executive directors are directors who are not our employees and do not hold executive officer positions with us. Outside directors are non-executive directors who also satisfy the independence requirements set forth under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. Our non-executive directors and outside directors are selected based on the candidates’ expertise in diverse areas, such as law, finance, economics, management and accounting. Currently, one non-executive director and nine outside directors are in office, all of whom were nominated by our board of directors and approved at a general meeting of shareholders.
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Our non-executive and outside directors are as follows:
Jung Sang Hyuk
Kwak Su Keun
Bae Hoon
Kim Jo Seol
Song Seong Joo
Choi Young Gwon
Yang In Jip
Chun Myo Sang
Park Jong Bok
Lim Seung Yeon
The date on which each term will end will be the date of the general shareholders’ meeting in the relevant year.
Jung Sang Hyuk has been our non-executive director since March 23, 2023. Mr. Jung was the chief executive officer of Shinhan Bank and previously served as the deputy president of Shinhan Bank from 2020 to 2023. Mr. Jung received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Seoul National University.
Kwak Su Keun has been our outside director since March 25, 2021 and the chairman of our board of directors since March 26, 2026. Mr. Kwak currently serves as an honorary professor of accounting at Seoul National University, Business School and chair of Corporate Governance Advisory Board at Korea Listed Companies Association. Mr. Kwak received a doctoral degree in business administration from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Bae Hoon has been our outside director since March 25, 2021. Mr. Bae is a lawyer and Certified Public Accountant in Japan and currently serves as a representative attorney at Orbis Legal Profession Corporation. Mr. Bae received a master’s degree in business administration from Kobe University.
Kim Jo Seol has been our outside director since March 24, 2022. Ms. Kim is a professor who teaches economics at Osaka University of Commerce and an economist with a high awareness of Northeast Asian economics. Ms. Kim received a doctoral degree in economics from Osaka City University.
Song Seong Joo has been as our outside director since March 26, 2024. Ms. Song has served as a professor of statistics at Korea University since 2008 and is also the Director of the Korea Risk Management Society. Ms. Song was previously an advisory professor at the Economic Statistics Division of the Bank of Korea. Ms. Song received a doctoral degree in statistics from the University of Chicago.
Choi Young Gwon has been as our outside director since March 26, 2024. Mr. Choi currently serves as the Chairman of the Korea Society of Financial Analysts and previously served as the chief executive officer of Woori Asset Management from 2019 to 2023. Mr. Choi received a doctoral degree in business administration, specializing in financial management, from Soongsil University.
Yang In Jip has been our outside director since March 26, 2025. Mr. Yang is the founder and currently serves as the chief executive officer and chairman of Onycom, Inc. Mr. Yang received a master of business administration degree from the University of Southern California.
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Chun Myo Sang has been our outside director since March 26, 2025. Ms. Chun currently serves as the Head of Planning and Administration at SmartNews Inc. and is a Certified Public Accountant in Japan. Ms. Chun previously served as a manager at KPMG FAS and as a research and accounting advisor at the Development Bank of Japan. Ms. Chun received a master of business administration degree from the University of Southern California.
Park Jong Bok has been our outside director since March 26, 2026. Mr. Park previously served as the chief executive officer, the head of retail banking and the head of the retail channel business of SC Bank Korea. Mr. Park received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Kyung Hee University.
Lim Seung Yeon has been our outside director since March 26, 2026. Ms. Lim has served as a professor of business at Kookmin University since 2011, and previously served as an outside director and a member of the audit committee of Kakao Games Corp. Ms. Lim received a doctoral degree in business administration from Seoul National University.
Any director wishing to enter into a transaction with Shinhan Financial Group or any of its subsidiaries in his or her personal capacity is required to obtain the prior approval of our board of directors. The director having an interest in the transaction may not vote at the meeting of our board of directors at which the relevant transaction is subject to vote for approval.
Executive Officers
In addition to the executive directors who are also our executive officers, we currently have the following executive officers:
In Charge of
Koh Seogheon
Strategic Planning Team;
Brand Strategy Team;
PR Team; and
ICT Strategy & Planning Team.
Jang Jeong Hoon
Finance Management Team;
Accounting Part;
Investor Relations Part; and
Group Business Synergy Part.
Lee Een-kyoon
Shinhan Leadership Center;
Management Support Team;
SDGs Planning Team; and
Corporate Social Responsibility Team.
Park Hyun Ju
Choi Hyuck Jae
AI Transformation Center;
Digital Strategy Team;
Digital Market Sensing Part; and Information Security Team.
Ra Hoon
Risk Management Part;
Risk Model Validation Team; and Credit Review Team.
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Lee Youngho
Kim Jion
Kim Junhwan
None of the executive officers have any significant activities outside Shinhan Financial Group.
Koh Seogheon has been our deputy president and chief strategy officer since January 1, 2022. Mr. Koh previously served as the head of business management division and strategic planning team of Shinhan Financial Group. Mr. Koh received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Seoul National University.
Jang Jeong Hoon has been our deputy president and chief financial officer since January 1, 2026. Mr. Jang previously served as the deputy president of Shinhan Securities. Mr. Jang received an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis.
Lee Een-kyoon has been our deputy president and chief operation officer since January 1, 2019. Mr. Lee previously served as the head of the management support team and the head of the secretary’s office of Shinhan Bank. Mr. Lee received a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Hanyang University.
Park Hyun Ju has been our deputy president and chief consumer protection officer since July 1, 2023. Ms. Park previously served as the head of Consumer Protection Division of Shinhan Bank. Ms. Park graduated from Seoul Girl’s Commercial High School.
Choi Hyuck Jae has been our deputy president and chief AI officer and chief digital officer since October 1, 2025. Mr. Choi previously served as an executive director of Shinhan Bank. Mr. Choi received a master’s degree in human resource management from Korea University.
Ra Hoon has been our executive director and chief risk officer since January 1, 2026. Mr. Ra previously served as the head of the risk management group of Shinhan Bank. Mr. Ra received a bachelor’s degree in statistics from Korea University.
Lee Youngho has been our executive director and chief compliance officer since January 1, 2025. Mr. Lee previously served as a general manager of the compliance department and the chief compliance officer of Shinhan Bank. Mr. Lee received a bachelor’s degree in law from Sogang University.
Kim Jion has been our executive director and chief audit officer since January 1, 2024. Ms. Kim previously served as the head of the PRM marketing team of Shinhan Bank. Ms. Kim received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yonsei University.
Kim Junhwan has been our executive director and head of digital market sensing part since January 1, 2024. Mr. Kim previously served as the head of the digital innovation team of Shinhan Bank. Mr. Kim received a doctor’s degree in computer application design studies from Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology.
There are no family relationships among our directors and/or executive officers.
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Compensation
The aggregate remuneration and benefits-in-kind paid by us to our chairman, our executive directors, our non-executive directors and our executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2025 was W5.9 billion, consisting of W3.7 billion in salaries and wages and W2.2 billion in bonus payments.
We do not offer any service contracts to outside directors upon their retirement, but we may offer such service contracts to certain members of our senior management upon termination of their employment with us. We do not pay any severance payment to outside directors upon their retirement, but we pay fixed sums of severance payment to members of our senior management pursuant to our internal guidelines on severance payments. In 2025, we accrued W0.1 billion for retirement bonus.
Prior to April 1, 2010, we granted stock options to our chairman, our president and chief executive officer and other directors and executive officers. Effective April 1, 2010, we ceased granting stock options. We did not record any accrued expense for stock options in 2025.
Since April 1, 2010, we have granted performance shares (“PSs”) to certain high-ranking officers of select group companies. PSs represent a stock-based long-term compensation system, where virtual shares backed by the Group’s common stock are granted. The total number of PSs awarded is determined by assessing the performance of the affiliated company over a four-year operating period commencing from the date of the grant. Upon the conclusion of this operating period, cash payments are made to the holders based on the stock price of the Group at that time. No PSs have been granted to outside directors. In 2025, we recognized W22.5 billion as accrued expenses for PSs.
Under the Financial Supervisory Service’s standards for preparing corporate disclosure forms, which standards were amended in December 2016, we are required to disclose in our Korean annual report the individual annual compensation (including stock options) paid by us to our directors and statutory auditors if the individual annual compensation for such persons amounts to W500 million or more.
In 2025, Mr. Jin Okdong, our Chief Executive Officer, received W1,297 million, consisting of salaries and wages. In addition, in 2025, Mr. Jin was granted 17,841 of our PSs. The exercisability of these PSs will be determined based on a review of our business performance and share price movements during four years, beginning with the fiscal year in which such shares were granted.
The Group determines annual incentive compensation by conducting performance evaluations. Performance measures include quantitative measures, such as total shareholder return, profitability, risk-adjusted return, nonperforming loan ratios before sales and write-offs and efficiency ratios, as well as qualitative measures, such as the achievement of pre-established strategic initiatives. The Group determines long-term incentive compensation by conducting performance evaluations over a four-year period. Performance measures generally consist of quantitative metrics, such as relative stock price performance, adjusted ROE/ROTCE and non-performing loan ratios, although qualitative measures may also be used for certain officers whose performance is not readily quantifiable. The maximum number of PSs that may be granted to the directors of the Group in respect of fiscal year 2026 has been set at 30,000 shares in the aggregate.
Board Practices
Board of Directors
Our board of directors, which currently consists of one executive director, one non-executive director and nine outside directors, has the ultimate responsibility for the management of our affairs.
Our Articles of Incorporation provide for no fewer than three but no more than fifteen directors, the number of outside directors must be more than 50% of the total number of directors, and we must maintain at least three
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outside directors. All directors are elected for a term not exceeding three years as determined by the shareholders’ meeting, except that outside directors are elected for a term not exceeding two years, provided that the term of re-election shall not exceed one year and the term cannot be extended in excess of six years. The aggregate term served as an outside director of us or any of our subsidiaries shall not exceed nine years.
Terms are renewable and subject to the Korean Commercial Code, the Financial Holding Companies Act, the Act on Corporate Governance of Financial Companies and related regulations. See “Item 6.A. Directors and Senior Management” above for information concerning the terms of office of our directors and executive officers.
Our board of directors meets on a regular basis to discuss and resolve on material corporate matters. Additional extraordinary meetings may also be convened at the request of the chairman and chief executive officer or a director designated by the board.
Currently, there are no outstanding service contracts between any of our directors or executive officers and us or any of our subsidiaries providing for benefits upon termination of employment by such director or executive officer.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We currently have eight management committees that serve under the board:
the Committee for Recommending Candidates for CEO;
the Audit Committee;
the Committee for Recommending Candidates for Independent Directors and Members of Audit Committee;
the Risk Management Committee;
the Remuneration Committee;
the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy Committee;
the Subsidiary’s CEO Recommendation Committee; and
the Internal Control Committee.
Each committee member is appointed by the board of directors, except for members of the Audit Committee, who are elected at the general meeting of shareholders.
Committee for Recommending Candidates for CEO
The Committee for Recommending Candidates for CEO currently consists of five directors: Choi Young Gwon (Chairman), Kwak Su Keun, Kim Jo Seol, Park Jong Bok and Bae Hoon. However, for the meeting for the final selection of candidates for the CEO position, all outside directors are called to participate in the committee, and in this case, all outside directors are considered to be part of the committee. This committee is responsible for matters concerning the recommendation of candidates for the CEO position, including establishing and reviewing our management succession plan and its operation, setting and evaluating the qualifications and criteria for the CEO and CEO candidate pool and other matters necessary for improving our overall corporate governance structure. The chairman of the committee must be an outside director, and the incumbent CEO may be restricted from participating and voting on matters related to the CEO selection.
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Audit Committee
The Audit Committee currently consists of four outside directors: Lim Seung Yeon (Chairman), Kwak Su Keun, Bae Hoon and Choi Young Gwon. The committee oversees our financial reporting and approves the appointment of, and interaction with, our independent auditors and our internal audit-related officers. The committee also reviews our financial information, audit examinations, key financial statement issues and the administration of our financial affairs by the board of directors. The committee examines the agenda, and financial statements and other reports to be submitted by the board of directors, for each general meeting of shareholders. The committee holds regular meetings every quarter.
Committee for Recommending Candidates for Independent Directors and Members of Audit Committee
The Committee for Recommending Candidates for Independent Directors and Members of Audit Committee currently consists of four outside directors: Yang In Jip (Chairman), Kim Jo Seol, Lim Seung Yeon and Chun Myo Sang. Members of this committee will be appointed by our board of directors only to the extent necessary to recommend and nominate candidates for our outside director positions and audit committee members, and related matters. However, when the process for final recommendation of outside director and audit committee member candidates commences, all outside directors are called to participate in the committee, and in this case, all outside directors are considered to be part of the committee. The committee meetings are called by the committee’s chairman, who must be an outside director. This committee is responsible for matters relating to: (i) establishment, review and reinforcement of policies for outside director and audit committee member selection, (ii) recommendation of outside director and audit committee member candidates for approval at the general shareholders’ meeting and (iii) continual recruitment and screening of potential outside director candidates.
Risk Management Committee
The Risk Management Committee currently consists of three outside directors: Song Seong Joo (Chairman), Park Jong Bok and Yang In Jip. The committee oversees and makes determinations on all issues relating to our comprehensive risk management function. In order to ensure our stable financial condition and to maximize our profits, the committee monitors our overall risk exposure and reviews our compliance with risk policies and risk limits. In addition, the committee reviews risk and control strategies and policies, evaluates whether each risk is at an adequate level, establishes or abolishes risk management divisions, reviews risk-based capital allocations, and reviews the plans and evaluation relating to our internal controls. The committee holds regular meetings every quarter.
Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee currently consists of three outside directors: Park Jong Bok (Chairman), Lim Seung Yeon and Chun Myo Sang. This committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the management’s evaluation and compensation programs. At least one-half of the members of this committee must be outside directors, and currently all members of this committee are outside directors. The committee meetings are called by the committee’s chairman, who must be an outside director.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy Committee
The ESG Strategy Committee currently consists of five directors: Song Seong Joo (Chairman), Kim Jo Seol, Chun Myo Sang, Jung Sang Hyuk and Jin Okdong. This committee is responsible for setting the corporate policy for sustainable management, corporate disclosure of sustainability reports and discussing specific business agenda in relation to socially responsible management and other matters such as corporate strategy regarding climate change.
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Subsidiary’s CEO Recommendation Committee
The Subsidiary’s CEO Recommendation Committee currently consists of five directors: Jin Okdong (Chairman), Kwak Su Keun, Bae Hoon, Song Seong Joo and Yang In Jip. This committee is responsible for matters relating to the evaluation of subsidiary management leadership, establishment of subsidiary CEO qualifications, verification and recommendation of subsidiary CEO candidates and other matters deemed necessary by the committee.
Internal Control Committee
The Internal Control Committee currently consists of four directors: Choi Young Gwon (Chairman), Bae Hoon, Song Seong Joo and Yang In Jip. This committee is responsible for reviewing and approving matters concerning internal controls, including establishing our internal control policies and strategies. The committee also monitors and evaluates whether executive officers are appropriately performing their management and reporting duties regarding internal controls in accordance with the relevant regulations, and may demand necessary remedial actions in the event of any deficiencies.
Employees
At the holding company level, we had 172, 173 and 175 regular employees as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively, almost all of whom were employed in Korea. Our subsidiaries had 20,528, 20,025 and 19,384 regular employees as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively, almost all of whom were employed in Korea. In addition, we had seven non-regular employees at the holding company level as of each of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, and 2,006, 1,891 and 2,100 non-regular employees at the subsidiary level as of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. Of the total number of regular and non-regular employees at both the holding company and subsidiaries, approximately 1.26% were managerial or executive employees.
As of December 31, 2025, (i) 8,325 employees of Shinhan Bank and 354 employees of Jeju Bank were members of the Korean Financial Industry Union, (ii) 1,966 employees of Shinhan Card were members of the Korean Federation of Clerical and Financial Labor Union, and (iii) 1,683 employees of Shinhan Securities, 1,198 employees of Shinhan Life Insurance, 208 employees of Shinhan Fund Partners and 13 employees of Shinhan EZ General Insurance were members of the Korea Finance & Service Workers’ Union.
Under Korean law, we may not terminate full-time employees except under limited circumstances.
Since our acquisition of Chohung Bank in 2003, we have not experienced any general employee work stoppages and consider our employee relations to be good.
Under the Korean National Pension Law, we annually contribute an amount equal to 4.75% of employee wages, and each employee contributes 4.75% of his or her wages, to the National Pension Management Corporation, as of the date of this annual report. Such rates, however, are scheduled to gradually increase to 6.5% by 2033. In addition, pursuant to the Employee Retirement Security Act, we operate a retirement pension system under which we make annual contributions to pension funds managed by financial institutions (which replaced our former retirement pension system under which we managed the pension fund in-house) that provide employees either regular pension payments or a lump sum payment upon termination of employment, at the choice of the employee. We believe that our retirement pension system confers the following benefits: (1) insulation of employees from the risk of default on their pension payments as the pension funds are deposited with large financial institutions; (2) provision of varied forms of payment, such as regular pension payments and a lump sum payment, upon termination of employment; (3) provision to employees of the option to make investment decisions for their individual pension accounts; and (4) elimination of the ability of employees to cash in his or her retirement fund prematurely, thereby guaranteeing such employees a lump sum payment upon termination of employment. Under this retirement pension system, we and our subsidiaries can opt for either a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan, or a combination of both. Under the defined benefit plan, the
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amount of pension payable upon an employee’s retirement is fixed in advance, and the employer is responsible for making the requisite payments to the pension fund and making investment decisions in relation to the fund assets. Under the defined contribution plan, the employee sets aside a fixed percentage or amount of his/her salaries to the pension fund and exercises investment decisions for his or her individual pension account. As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, we recognized assets for defined benefit obligations of W(47) billion, W(117) billion and W(335) billion, respectively. See Note 27 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
Share Ownership
As of March 18, 2026, the persons who are currently our directors or executive officers, as a group, beneficially held an aggregate of 80,505 shares of our common stock, representing approximately 0.02% of our outstanding common stock as of such date. None of these persons individually held more than 1% of our outstanding common stock as of such date.
Members of the employee stock ownership association have certain preemptive rights in relation to our shares that are publicly offered under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. As of December 31, 2025, the employee stock ownership association owned 24,470,282 shares of our common stock.
Prior to April 1, 2010, we granted stock options to our chairman, our president and chief executive officer and other directors and executive officers. Effective April 1, 2010, we ceased granting stock options. As of December 31, 2025, there were no unexercisable stock options.
Disclosure of a Registrant’s Action to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation
Not Applicable.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Major Shareholders
The following table sets forth certain information relating to the beneficial ownership of our common shares as of December 31, 2025.
Name of Shareholder
National Pension Service(1)
BlackRock Fund Advisors(2)
Shinhan Financial Group Employee Stock Ownership Association
Others(3)
On March 12, 2026, we reported that the number of common shares owned by our largest shareholder, National Pension Service, decreased to 43,441,749 shares of common stock (representing 9.15% of our issued common shares as of February 20, 2026).
Number of shares based on Schedule 13G filed by BlackRock, Inc. on July 18, 2025.
Excludes our treasury shares.
As of December 31, 2025, the number of treasury shares held by us is 8,337,535 common shares, which do not have voting rights. Other than those listed above, no other person or entity known by us, jointly or severally, directly or indirectly owns more than 5% of our issued and outstanding voting securities or otherwise exercises control or could exercise control over us. None of our shareholders have different voting rights.
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As of the date hereof, our total authorized share capital is 1,000,000,000 shares, par value W5,000 per share.
As of December 31, 2025, the latest date on which we closed our shareholders’ registry, 874 shareholders of record were notated as U.S. persons, holding in the aggregate 26.9% of our then total outstanding shares (including Citibank, N.A., as the depositary for our ADSs, each representing one share of our common stock effective October 15, 2012, prior to which each ADS represented two common shares).
Related Party Transactions
Since the beginning of the preceding three financial years, none of our directors or officers has or had any transactions with us that are or were unusual in their nature or conditions or significant to our business, other than as set forth below and also described in Note 50 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, we had principal loans outstanding to our directors, executive officers and their affiliates in principal amounts of W5.0 billion, W3.4 billion and W4.6 billion, respectively, which were made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms, including interest rate and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons, and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.
Interests of Experts and Counsel
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
See “Item 18. Financial Statements” and our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
Legal Proceedings
We and our subsidiaries are involved in various legal actions and regulatory proceedings arising from our ordinary course of business. As of December 31, 2025, we and our subsidiaries were defendants in pending lawsuits (including regulatory proceedings) in the aggregate claim amount of W1,409 billion, for which we recorded a provision of W144 billion. We also recorded an additional W6 billion for insurance contract liabilities (liability for incurred claims) for litigations, among others.
In August 2019, the Financial Supervisory Service launched an investigation into Lime Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“Lime Asset”), one of Korea’s then-largest hedge funds, including with regards to allegations that Lime Asset had concealed the fact that it had changed the multi-manager trade finance fund’s investment method and concealed losses in their trade finance funds. Beginning in October 2019, Lime Asset suspended withdrawals from certain of its funds, freezing approximately W1.7 trillion in total as of the end of 2019, according to the Financial Supervisory Service. According to Financial Supervisory Service investigations, Lime Asset’s W229.6 billion trade finance fund was found to have been associated with a debacle involving the International Investment Group LLC (“IIG”), a New York-based investment adviser charged with securities fraud and running a Ponzi scheme. On November 26, 2019, the SEC revoked the registration of IIG for allegedly overvaluing defaulted loans in the fund’s portfolio to conceal losses in its flagship hedge fund and selling at least $60 million in fake loan assets to clients. According to the Financial Supervisory Service, Lime Asset signed a contract with a Singaporean commodity trader, which took over Lime Asset’s ownership stake in an IIG fund in June 2019, with the Singaporean entity issuing promissory notes to Lime Asset, and Lime Asset did not properly disclose to its investors such change in the fund’s investment target from the IIG fund to promissory notes.
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Certain investors in funds of Lime Asset have filed dispute mediation claims to the Financial Supervisory Service and criminal and civil claims against Lime Asset, as well as against financial institutions that have sold such products, claiming they learned of the change in the trade finance fund’s investment method and losses only in October 2019 and that they were also misguided and not fully informed of the risks associated with these funds when investing in such products. The Financial Supervisory Service conducted a comprehensive audit in November and December 2019. In February 2020, the Prosecutors’ Office of Korea announced that they had launched an investigation into Lime Asset as well as Shinhan Securities and also searched Shinhan Bank’s headquarters on July 1, 2020 in connection with this matter. On October 6, 2020, the Financial Supervisory Service imposed on Shinhan Securities a six-month partial suspension of business operations and an administrative fine of approximately W4 billion in connection with violations of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. In addition, one former CEO of Shinhan Securities was subject to an equivalent of a three-month suspension from duty, while another former CEO of Shinhan Securities received an equivalent of a cautionary warning. On November 12, 2021, an administrative fine of approximately W2.5 billion imposed on Shinhan Securities was confirmed. On April 22, 2021, the sanctions committee of the Financial Supervisory Service recommended a partial business suspension and fine of W8.7 billion on Shinhan Bank, a cautionary warning to the CEO of Shinhan Bank, an institutional caution and fine of W50 million on Shinhan Financial Group and a caution to the CEO of Shinhan Financial Group in connection with Shinhan Bank’s alleged improper solicitation of troubled Lime Asset funds and management’s oversight in risk management. On July 11, 2022, the partial business suspension and the fine of W5.7 billion on Shinhan Bank and a cautionary warning to the CEO of Shinhan Bank were confirmed. On November 30, 2023, a final resolution by the Financial Services Commission confirmed a fine of W50 million for Shinhan Financial Group, Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities for violating the obligation to establish internal control standards under the Corporate Governance Act, as well as an institutional caution and a caution to the CEO of Shinhan Financial Group.
In May 2020, Shinhan Securities announced that its board of directors has resolved to compensate certain investors for amounts ranging between 30% to 70% (in the case of retail investors) and 20% to 50% (in the case of institutional investors) of the amount of such investor’s investment in Lime Asset products. In June 2020, Shinhan Bank announced that its board of directors has resolved to make prepayments to investors in certain Lime Asset funds that have reached maturity in an amount equal to 50% of such investor’s investment in the relevant product. On June 30, 2020, the Financial Dispute Mediation Committee of the Financial Supervisory Service recommended through a non-binding ruling for brokerages, including Shinhan Securities, to return 100% of the amount of investors’ investment in certain of Lime Asset products sold after November 2018 in the aggregate of approximately W161 billion. In August 2020, the board of directors of Shinhan Securities resolved to accept the non-binding ruling for certain Lime Asset’s trade finance funds sold around November 2018. With these resolutions by the board of directors of Shinhan Securities, the total amount of compensation to investors of Lime Asset funds that Shinhan Securities has agreed to pay has reached W42.46 billion. On April 19, 2021, the Financial Dispute Mediation Committee of the Financial Supervisory Service recommended through a non-binding ruling that Shinhan Bank compensate investors in such Lime Asset funds in amounts ranging from 40% to 80% of the losses incurred by the investors by way of making prepayments, with adjustments to be made depending on particular facts, such as the nature of the investor (e.g., whether retail or institutional investor, the age and experience level of the investor, etc.) and adequacy of documentation. In 2022, in accordance with such compensation guideline recommended by the Financial Dispute Mediation Committee, Shinhan Bank completed its voluntary settlement process with substantially all of such investors in Lime Asset funds.
In June 2020, the Financial Supervisory Service launched an investigation into Discovery Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“Discovery Asset”), which operated funds that invested in certain funds in the United States managed by Direct Lending Investment, LLC (“DLI”). In April 2019, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission obtained a preliminary injunction and order appointing a receiver to freeze DLI’s funds based on the complaint that DLI fabricated values of its assets under management and reported returns. In response, Discovery Asset suspended withdrawals from funds under its management, thereby freezing approximately W256 billion in total of its investors’ funds as of April 2019. While neither Shinhan Bank nor Shinhan Securities was involved in the sale of such DLI-related funds structured by Discovery Asset, Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities did sell
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other Discovery Asset funds (affected by such suspension of withdrawal) to investors in Korea. Between 2017 and 2019, Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities sold W93.6 billion and W29.5 billion, respectively, of such Discovery Asset products (unrelated to DLI funds), of which Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities have recovered W45.1 billion and W22.7 billion, respectively, from Discovery Asset. In 2022, Shinhan Bank completed its voluntary settlement process with substantially all of such investors in Discovery Asset funds. In January 2025, the Financial Supervisory Service re-issued its report that Shinhan Bank had violated its obligations to establish adequate internal control standards, and Shinhan Bank submitted its response to such report in January 2026. In September 2025, the Financial Supervisory Service issued its report that Shinhan Securities had engaged in improper sales, but that it would not impose any penalties on Shinhan Securities. Shinhan Securities subsequently conducted an internal audit of its officers and employees between September and October 2025, and imposed disciplinary measures on the relevant officers and employees in November 2025.
The prepayments made or to be made by Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities to investors of Lime Asset funds and Discovery Asset funds, respectively, as explained above, have been or will be, as the case may be, settled at the time of recovery of the underlying funds. If the amount recovered from the underlying fund is less than the amount prepaid to investors, Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities may not be able to recover from investors the prepaid amount that is in excess of the recovered amount and accordingly suffer losses. Depending on the performance of such underlying funds, we may record provisions for credit loss allowance to account for expected future losses.
From May 2017 to December 2018, Shinhan Securities sold W390.7 billion of certain German Heritage derivative-linked securities (“German Heritage DLS Products”), which were derivative-linked trust products where performance was based on underlying Singaporean funds that invested in Germany’s monument status building development projects. Since July 2019, maturity payments have been delayed on the German Heritage DLS Products as recovery on the underlying funds had been delayed. In March 2020, the board of directors of Shinhan Securities resolved to advance 50% of the investment to investors of the German Heritage DLS Products whose maturity redemption was delayed. In November 2022, the Financial Dispute Mediation Committee of the Financial Supervisory Service issued a non-binding recommendation to return in full the investment to the investors of the German Heritage DLS Products. In December 2022, the board of directors of Shinhan Securities decided not to accept this non-binding recommendation and resolved to compensate investors at a rate of 100% for general investors and 80% to 95% for professional investors. As of the same date, Shinhan Securities had completed a voluntary settlement process totaling W365.7 billion with most investors of the German Heritage DLS Products.
In connection with the matters described above, Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities have recognized (i) credit loss allowances relating to amounts prepaid to customers, which are recorded as assets, and (ii) provisions based on estimated customer losses. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Bank had a credit loss allowance balance of W183.5 billion with respect to Lime Asset and none with respect to Discovery Asset. In addition, Shinhan Bank’s provision balances amounted to W3.3 billion and W7.5 billion for Lime Asset and Discovery Asset, respectively, as of December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Securities had no credit loss allowance balances with respect to Lime Asset, Discovery Asset or German Heritage DLS Products. In addition, as of December 31, 2025, Shinhan Securities’ provisions amounted to W58.7 billion for Lime Asset, and none for Discovery Asset and German Heritage DLS Products. Such credit loss allowances and provisions are based on currently available information, including the expected recovery of underlying assets and the progress of discussions with investors. However, due to various uncertainties, including factors beyond the control of Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Securities, Shinhan Bank or Shinhan Securities may recognize additional losses, allowances or provisions in future periods, and there can be no assurance that such amounts will not be material.
In January 2024, the Financial Supervisory Service commenced an investigation into an alleged violation of, among others, the FCP Act that occurred during past sales by Shinhan Bank and by other banks in Korea of Hong Kong H-Index-based equity linked trust products (“H-Index ELT”), which resulted in substantial losses to the
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customers who purchased such products upon maturity. On March 11, 2024, the Financial Supervisory Service announced dispute resolution criteria that may be voluntarily applied by each financial institution in determining compensation for investors who suffered losses due to such institution’s alleged incomplete sales of H-Index ELT. On March 29, 2024, Shinhan Bank announced that its board of directors has resolved to initiate voluntary settlement process with the investors based on the guideline announced by the Financial Supervisory Service and began discussions with the investors starting in April 2024. As of February 28, 2026, total compensation of approximately W170 billion has been made to such investors. In November 2025, the Financial Supervisory Service recommended to the Financial Services Commission that administrative fines and penalties be imposed on banks that had failed their recording obligations with regard to the sales of the H-Index ELT, including Shinhan Bank. In February 2026, the Financial Supervisory Service recommended further penalties for improper sales of the H-Index ELT. A final determination of any penalties remains subject to a decision by the Financial Services Commission.
In February 2023, the Korea Fair Trade Commission commenced investigations into banks in Korea with respect to whether they had engaged in any unfair practices in violation of competition laws. In January 2024, the Korea Fair Trade Commission issued a review report addressed to the four largest banks in Korea, including Shinhan Bank, which alleged that the banks had colluded among themselves to maintain similar terms and conditions for their secured loans. Specifically, the Korea Fair Trade Commission alleged that the banks had shared information about the maximum loan-to-value ratio each bank offered to its respective customers with the intent of maintaining similar levels among themselves. In February 2026, the Korea Fair Trade Commission imposed an aggregate fine of W272 billion on the four banks, including W63.8 billion on Shinhan Bank. In March 2026, the four banks, including Shinhan Bank, filed an administrative lawsuit with the Seoul High Court challenging the imposition of such fines.
On October 11, 2024, Shinhan Securities announced a financial incident involving significant losses due to off-scope trading of futures within its Exchange-Traded Fund Liquidity Provider department, as well as the discovery of false swap transactions being registered, amounting to approximately W130 billion. The Financial Supervisory Service conducted investigations into the incident in October and November 2025. In December 2025, the sanctions review committee of the Financial Supervisory Service recommended that Shinhan Securities be subject to an institutional warning and an administrative fine of W60 million, as well as a cautionary warning to its CEO, for volations relating to the designation of a person responsible for derivatives business operations and approval procedures for over-the-counter derivatives transactions, among others. A final determination of any penalties remains subject to a decision by the Financial Services Commission.
In 2023, the Financial Supervisory Service launched an investigation into whether Shinhan Life Insurance misused the personal credit information of its customers in violation of the Use and Protection of Credit Information Act of Korea, which the Financial Services Commission is currently deliberating. It is not possible to predict the final outcome of such deliberation as of the date of this annual report.
Although we intend to rigorously defend our positions in the lawsuits or other regulatory proceedings against us, it is difficult to predict the final outcome of these proceedings or the potential impact these proceedings and related events may have on our financial condition, equity or results of operations. The total amount in dispute or amounts subject to regulatory action may increase during the course of these legal claims and regulatory actions, and other lawsuits may be brought against us based on similar allegations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that these proceedings and related events will not have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For further details of these and other litigations, see Note 48 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
Dividend Policy
For a detailed description of our dividend policy, see “Item 10.B. Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation — Description of Share Capital — Dividends.”
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Significant Changes
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
THE OFFER AND LISTING
Offer and Listing Details
Market Prices of Common Stock and ADSs
The principal trading market for our common shares is the KRX KOSPI Market Division of the Korea Exchange, where our common shares were listed on September 10, 2001 under the identifying code 055550. Our ADSs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since September 16, 2003 and are identified by the symbol “SHG.”
Plan of Distribution
Markets
The Korea Exchange
Pursuant to the Korea Stock and Futures Exchange Act, as of January 27, 2005, the Korea Stock Exchange, which began its operations in 1956, the KRX KOSDAQ, which began its operation on July 1, 1996, and the Korea Futures Exchange (as an exchange operating futures market and options market), which began its operation on February 1, 1999, were unified to form the Korea Exchange.
The Korea Exchange was established as a limited liability stock company under the Korean Commercial Code, with a minimum paid-in capital of W100 billion, in accordance with the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. Historically, the Korea Exchange was the only exchange authorized under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. However, in May 2013, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act was amended to introduce a licensing system under which licenses may be granted to exchanges that satisfy certain requirements. In addition, the Financial Services Commission has authorized the establishment of alternative trading systems that engage in the trading of listed beneficial certificates, among other things, for a multiple number of parties through electronic means. Reflecting such regulatory developments, Korea’s first alternative trading system, Nextrade (NXT), launched on March 4, 2025, marking the transition of the Korean securities market to a multi-market structure. The Korea Exchange operates and supervises four market divisions, the KRX KOSPI Market Division, the KRX KOSDAQ Market Division, the KRX Futures Market Division and the KRX KONEX Market Division. It has its principal office in Busan.
As of December 30, 2025, the aggregate market value of equity securities listed on the KOSPI was approximately W3,478 trillion. The average daily trading volume of equity securities for 2025 was approximately 445 million shares with an average transaction value of W12,400 billion.
Even though the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act prescribed that the Korea Exchange be established in a form of a limited liability stock company, the Korea Exchange is expected to play a public role in the Korean capital market. In order to safeguard against a possible conflict, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act has placed restrictions on the ownership and operation of the Korea Exchange and any newly established exchanges approved by the Financial Services Commission as follows:
Any person’s ownership of shares in the Korea Exchange is limited to 5% or less except for an investment trust company or investment company established under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, or the Government. However, more than 5% ownership in Korea Exchange is permitted if necessary for forming a strategic alliance with a foreign stock or futures exchange and such amount of ownership is approved by the Financial Services Commission on grounds that such ownership may contribute to the efficiency and soundness of capital markets and the distribution of shares held by shareholders;
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The number of outside directors on the board of directors of the Korea Exchange shall be more than half of the total number of directors;
Any amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, transfer or consolidation of business, spin off, stock swap in its entirety or transfer of shares in its entirety of the Korea Exchange will receive prior approval from the Financial Services Commission; and
In the event the Financial Services Commission determines that the chief executive officer of the Korea Exchange is not appropriate for the position, the Financial Services Commission can request the Korea Exchange upon reasonable cause, within one month from the chief executive officer’s election, to dismiss the chief executive officer. Subsequently, the chief executive officer will be suspended from performing his duties and the Korea Exchange will elect a new chief executive officer within two months from the request.
The Korea Exchange has the power in some circumstances to suspend trading in the shares of a given company or to de-list a security. The Korea Exchange also restricts share price movements. All listed companies are required to file accounting reports annually, semiannually and quarterly and to release immediately all information that may affect trading in a security.
The Government has in the past exerted, and continues to exert, substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector of the Korean economy and its actions may depress or boost the stock market. In the past, the Government has informally both encouraged and restricted the declaration and payment of dividends, induced mergers to reduce what it considers excess capacity in a particular industry and induced private companies to offer publicly their securities.
The Korea Exchange publishes the KOSPI every ten seconds, which is an index of all equity securities listed on the Korea Exchange. Historical movements in KOSPI are set out in the following.
2021
2022
2026 (through April 21)
Source: Korea Exchange
The figures represent the daily closing price of the first trading day of the respective year.
Shares are quoted “ex-dividend” on the first trading day of the relevant company’s accounting period. “Ex-dividend” refers to a share no longer carrying the right to receive the following dividend payment because the settlement date occurs after the record date for determining which shareholders are entitled to receive dividends. “Ex-rights” refers to shares no longer carrying the right to participate in the following rights offering or bonus issuance because the settlement date occurs after the record date for determining which shareholders are entitled to new shares. The calendar year is the accounting period for the majority of listed companies, this may account for the drop in KOSPI between its closing level at the end of one calendar year and its opening level at the beginning of the following calendar year.
With certain exceptions, principally to take account of a share being quoted “ex-dividend” and “ex-rights,” permitted upward and downward movements in share prices of any category of shares on any day are limited
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under the rules of the Korea Exchange to 30% of the previous day’s closing price of the shares, rounded down as set out below:
Previous Day’s Closing Price
Less than 2,000
2,000 to less than 5,000
5,000 to less than 20,000
20,000 to less than 50,000
50,000 to less than 200,000
200,000 to less than 500,000
500,000 or more
As a consequence, if a particular closing price is the same as the price set by the fluctuation limit, the closing price may not reflect the price at which persons would have been prepared, or would be prepared to continue, if so permitted, to buy and sell shares. Orders are executed on an auction system with priority rules to deal with competing bids and offers.
Due to deregulation of restrictions on brokerage commission rates, the brokerage commission rate on equity securities transactions may be determined by the parties, subject to commission schedules being filed with the Korea Exchange by the financial investment companies with brokerage licenses.
The Korean securities markets are principally regulated by the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. The law imposes restrictions on insider trading and price manipulation, requires specified information to be made available by listed companies to investors and establishes rules regarding margin trading, proxy solicitation, takeover bids, acquisition of treasury shares and reporting requirements for shareholders holding substantial interests.
Protection of Customer’s Interest in Case of Insolvency of Financial Investment Companies
Under Korean law, the relationship between a customer and a financial investment company in connection with a securities sell or buy order is deemed to be consignment and the securities acquired by a consignment agent (i.e., the securities company) through such sell or buy order are regarded as belonging to the customer in so far as the customer and the consignment agent’s creditors are concerned. Therefore, in the event of a bankruptcy or reorganization procedure involving a financial investment company, the customer of the financial investment company is entitled to the proceeds of the securities sold by the financial investment company. In addition, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act recognizes the ownership of a customer in securities held by a financial investment company in such customer’s account.
When a customer places a sell order with a financial investment company which is not a member of the Korea Exchange and this financial investment company places a sell order with another financial investment company which is a member of the Korea Exchange, the customer is still entitled to the proceeds of the securities sold received by the non-member company from the member company regardless of the bankruptcy or reorganization of the non-member company. Likewise, when a customer places a buy order with a non-member company and the non-member company places a buy order with a member company, the customer has the legal right to the securities received by the non-member company from the member company because the purchased securities are regarded as belonging to the customer in so far as the customer and the non-member company’s creditors are concerned.
In addition, under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the Korea Exchange is obliged to indemnify any loss or damage incurred by a counterparty as a result of a breach by its members. If a financial investment company which is a member of the Korea Exchange breaches its obligation in connection with a buy order, the Korea Exchange is obliged to pay the purchase price on behalf of the breaching member.
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Therefore, the customer can acquire the securities that have been ordered to be purchased by the breaching member.
As the cash deposited with a financial investment company is regarded as belonging to the financial investment company, which is liable to return the same at the request of its customer, the customer cannot take back deposited cash from the financial investment company if a bankruptcy or reorganization procedure is instituted against the financial investment company and, therefore, can suffer from loss or damage as a result. However, the Depositor Protection Act provides that the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation will, upon the request of the investors, pay each investor up to W100 million per financial institution in case of the financial investment company’s bankruptcy, liquidation, cancellation of securities business license or other insolvency events. The premiums related to this insurance are paid by financial investment companies. Pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, a financial investment company with a dealing or brokerage license is required to deposit the cash received from its customers with the Korea Securities Finance Corporation, a special entity established pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. Set-off or attachment of cash deposits by securities companies with the Korea Securities Finance Corporation is prohibited. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy or dissolution of the financial investment company, the cash so deposited shall be withdrawn and paid to the customer prior to payment to other creditors of the financial investment company.
Restrictions Applicable to ADSs
No Korean governmental approval is necessary for the sale and purchase of our ADSs in the secondary market outside Korea or for the withdrawal of shares of our common stock underlying the ADSs and the delivery within Korea of shares in connection with the withdrawal, provided that a foreigner procures a Legal Entity Identifier (passport number for individual) as described below. The acquisition of the shares by a foreigner must be immediately reported to the governor of the Financial Services Commission, either by the foreigner or by his standing proxy in Korea.
Persons who have acquired shares of our common stock as a result of the withdrawal of shares underlying our ADSs may exercise their preemptive rights for new shares, participate in free distributions and receive dividends on shares without any further Korean governmental approval.
Under current Korean laws and regulations, the depositary is required to obtain our prior consent for the number of shares of our common stock to be deposited in any given proposed deposit that exceeds the difference between:
the aggregate number of shares of our common stock deposited by us for the issuance of our ADSs (including deposits in connection with the initial issuance and all subsequent offerings of our ADSs and stock dividends or other distributions related to these ADSs); and
the number of shares of our common stock on deposit with the depositary at the time of such proposed deposit. We have agreed to grant such consent to the extent that the total number of shares on deposit with the depositary would not exceed 40,432,628 at any time.
Reporting Requirements for Holders of Substantial Interests
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, any person whose direct or beneficial ownership of our common stock with voting rights, whether in the form of shares of common stock or ADSs, certificates representing the rights to subscribe for shares and equity-related debt securities including convertible bonds and bonds with warrants (which we refer to collectively as “Equity Securities”), together with the Equity Securities beneficially owned by certain related persons or by any person acting in concert with the person, accounts for 5% or more of the total outstanding shares (including Equity Securities of us held by such persons) is required to report the status of the holdings and the purpose of the holdings (for example, whether intending to
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seek management control) to the Financial Services Commission and the Korea Exchange within five business days after reaching the 5% ownership level. In addition, any change in the ownership interest subsequent to the report that equals or exceeds 1% of the total outstanding Equity Securities or change in the purpose of the holdings is required to be reported to the Financial Services Commission and the Korea Exchange within five business days from the date of the change, provided that (i) if the investment is for passive investment purposes the change must be reported by the 10th day of the month following an amendment event and (ii) if the investment is for general investment purposes (i.e., an investment that is not intended for active management participation, but with an intention to actively exercise its rights as a shareholder with respect to the matters such as a distribution policies of the issuer) the change must be reported within 10 business days following an amendment event. For institutional investors as prescribed by the Financial Services Commission, (i) if the investment is for portfolio investment purposes, the change must be reported by the 10th day of the following quarter in which the change occurred and (ii) if the investment is for general investment purposes, the change must be reported by the 10th day of the month following an amendment event).
Violation of these reporting requirements may subject a person to criminal sanctions such as administrative sanctions, fines, imprisonment and/or a loss of voting rights with respect to the portion of ownership of Equity Securities exceeding 5% of the total outstanding shares. In addition, the Financial Services Commission may order the disposal of the unreported Equity Securities. Any persons who reports management control as the purpose for its holdings is prohibited from acquiring additional shares or from exercising voting rights during the following five days following the reporting date.
In addition to the reporting requirements described above, any person whose direct or beneficial ownership of our stock accounts for 10% or more of the total issued and outstanding shares (which we refer to as a “major stockholder”) must report the status of his/her shareholding to the Korea Securities Futures Commission and the Korea Exchange within five days after he/she becomes a major stockholder. In addition, any change in the ownership interest subsequent to the report must be reported to the Korea Securities Futures Commission and the Korea Exchange within five days after the change occurred, provided that the obligation to report such change shall be exempt if the number shares that changed in ownership is less than 1,000 shares and the aggregate amount of such shares that changed in ownership is less than W10 million. Violation of these reporting requirements may subject a person to criminal sanctions such as fines or imprisonment. Any single stockholder or persons who have a special relationship with such stockholder that jointly acquire more than 10% (4% in case of non-financial business group companies) of the voting stock of a Korean financial holding company who controls national banks will be subject to reporting or approval requirements pursuant to the Financial Holding Company Act. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies — Restrictions on Financial Holding Company Ownership.”
Restrictions Applicable to Shares
Under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws and Financial Services Commission regulations, as amended (collectively, the “Investment Rules”), foreigners may invest, with limited exceptions and subject to procedural requirements, in all shares of Korean companies, whether listed on the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange or on the KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange, unless prohibited by specific laws. Foreign investors may trade shares listed on the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange or on the KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange only through public securities markets, except in limited circumstances, including:
odd-lot trading of shares;
acquisition of shares (which we refer to as “Converted Shares”) by exercise of warrants, conversion rights or exchange rights under bonds with warrants, convertible bonds or exchangeable bonds or withdrawal rights under depositary receipts issued outside of Korea by a Korean company;
acquisition of shares as a result of inheritance, donation, bequest or exercise of stockholders’ rights, including preemptive rights or rights to participate in free distributions and receive dividends;
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over-the-counter transactions between foreigners of a class of shares for which the ceiling on aggregate acquisition by foreigners, as explained below, has been reached or exceeded subject to certain exceptions; and
sale and purchase of shares at fair value between foreigners who are part of an investor group consisting of foreign companies investing under the control of a common investment manager pursuant to applicable laws or contract.
For over-the-counter transactions of shares between foreigners outside the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange or the KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange for shares with respect to which the limit on aggregate foreign ownership has been reached or exceeded, a securities company licensed in Korea must act as an intermediary. Odd-lot trading of shares outside the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange or the KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange must involve a licensed securities company in Korea as the other party. Foreign investors are prohibited from engaging in margin transactions with respect to shares that are subject to a foreign ownership limit.
The Investment Rules require a foreign investor who wishes to invest in shares on the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange or the KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange (including Converted Shares and shares being issued for initial listing on the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange or on KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange) to identify its identity with the Legal Entity Identifier (“LEI”) or provide a passport number prior to making any such investment.
Upon a foreign investor’s purchase of shares through the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange or the KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange, no separate report by the investor is required. However, a foreign investor’s acquisition or sale of shares outside the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange or the KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange (as discussed above) must be reported by the foreign investor or his standing proxy to the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service at the time of each such acquisition or sale. A foreign investor must ensure that any acquisition or sale by it of shares outside the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange or the KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange in the case of trades in connection with a tender offer, odd-lot trading of shares, trades of a class of shares for which the aggregate foreign ownership limit has been reached or exceeded, is reported to the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service by himself or his standing proxy, or, in the case of sale and purchase of shares at fair value between foreigners, who are part of an investor group consisting of foreign companies investing under the control of a common investment manager pursuant to applicable laws or contract. A foreign investor may appoint a standing proxy from among the Korea Securities Depository, foreign exchange banks (including domestic branches of foreign banks), securities companies (including domestic branches of foreign securities companies), asset management companies, futures trading companies and internationally recognized custodians which will act as a standing proxy to exercise stockholders’ rights or perform any matters related to the foregoing activities if the foreign investor does not perform these activities himself. Generally, a foreign investor may not permit any person, other than its standing proxy, to exercise rights relating to his shares or perform any tasks related thereto on his behalf. However, a foreign investor may be exempted from complying with these standing proxy rules with the approval of the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service in cases deemed inevitable by reason of conflict between laws of Korea and the home country of the foreign investor.
Certificates evidencing shares of Korean companies must be kept in custody with an eligible custodian in Korea. Only foreign exchange banks (including domestic branches of foreign banks), securities companies (including domestic branches of foreign securities companies), the Korea Securities Depository, asset management companies, futures trading companies and internationally recognized custodians are eligible to act as a custodian of shares for a non-resident or foreign investor. A foreign investor must ensure that his custodian deposits his shares with the Korea Securities Depository. However, a foreign investor may be exempted from complying with this deposit requirement with the approval of the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service in circumstances where compliance with that requirement is made impracticable, including cases where compliance would contravene the laws of the home country of such foreign investor.
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Under the Investment Rules, with certain exceptions, foreign investors may acquire shares of a Korean company without being subject to any foreign investment ceiling. As one such exception, designated public corporations are subject to a 40% ceiling on the acquisition of shares by foreigners in the aggregate. Designated public corporations may set a ceiling on the acquisition of shares by a single person in their articles of incorporation. Furthermore, an investment by a foreign investor in 10% or more of the issued and outstanding shares with voting rights of a Korean company is defined as a foreign direct investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act of Korea. Generally, a foreign direct investment must be reported to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy of Korea. The acquisition of shares of a Korean company by a foreign investor may also be subject to certain foreign or other shareholding restrictions in the event that the restrictions are prescribed in a specific law that regulates the business of the Korean company. For a description of such restrictions applicable to Korean banks, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks — Restrictions on Bank Ownership.”
Selling Shareholders
Dilution
Expenses of the Issue
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Share Capital
Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation
We are a financial holding company established under the Financial Holding Company Act. As set forth in our Articles of Incorporation, our objectives and purposes as a financial holding company are, among others, to operate and manage financial companies or companies engaged in similar lines of business, to provide financial support to, or investments in, our subsidiaries and to develop and jointly sell products with our subsidiaries. We are registered with the commercial registry office of the Seoul Central District Court.
Our Articles of Incorporation, which were last amended on March 26, 2026, are annexed to this annual report as Exhibit 1.1.
Description of Share Capital
This section provides information relating to our capital stock, including brief summaries of material provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, the Korean Commercial Code, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the Financial Holding Companies Act and certain related laws of Korea, all as currently in effect. The following summaries are intended to provide only summaries and are subject to the full text of our Articles of Incorporation and the applicable provisions of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the Korean Commercial Code, and certain other related laws of Korea.
As of the date of this annual report, our authorized share capital is 1,000,000,000 shares. Our Articles of Incorporation authorize us to issue shares of preferred stock up to one-half of the total number of our issued and outstanding shares. We are also authorized, under our Articles of Incorporation, to issue write-down contingent capital securities, in addition to our common shares and preferred shares. As of December 31, 2025, the number of our issued and outstanding common shares was 477,157,399.
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All of our issued and outstanding shares are fully paid and non-assessable and are in registered form. As of December 31, 2025, we had 514,505,066 authorized but unissued shares. We may issue these unissued shares without further shareholder approval, subject to a resolution of our board of directors as provided in our Articles of Incorporation. See “— Distribution of Free Shares.” The par value of our common shares is W5,000 per share.
Dividends
Dividends are distributed to our shareholders in proportion to the number of shares of the relevant class of capital stock held by each shareholder, following approval by the shareholders at an annual general meeting of shareholders. We pay full annual dividends on newly issued shares, including common shares represented by the ADSs, for the fiscal year in which such shares were issued. We declare our annual dividend at the annual general meeting of shareholders which is held within three months after the end of each fiscal year. The record date for such annual dividend is determined by the board of directors and must be announced at least two weeks in advance of such date. Annual dividends may be paid in either (i) cash or (ii) shares, provided that any shares distributed as dividends must be issued at par value. Under the Korean Commercial Code we are not obligated to pay any annual dividends that remain unclaimed for five years from its scheduled payment date.
In addition to such annual dividends, we may also distribute quarterly dividends in the form of cash payout to our shareholders within 45 days from the end of March, June and September, as applicable, pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors. The record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such quarterly dividends may be set by a resolution of our board of directors, and such date must be announced at least two weeks in advance of each such record date. Any such quarterly dividends are paid in cash. Our Articles of Incorporation provide that that the aggregate amount of any quarterly dividends shall not exceed our net assets as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year, after deducting (i) our paid-in capital as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year, (ii) the aggregate amount of our capital reserves and earned surplus reserves accumulated up to such date, (iii) our unrealized profits as prescribed under the Enforcement Decree of the Commercial Code, (iv) the amount resolved to be distributed as dividends at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders held in respect of the immediately preceding fiscal year, (v) voluntary reserves accumulated for specific purposes pursuant to our Articles of Incorporation or through a resolution of shareholders at the general meeting of shareholders, (vi) earned surplus reserves equal to at least 10% of net profits for the relevant fiscal year until such reserves equal the aggregate amount of our stated capital and (vii) the aggregate amount of quarterly dividends paid during the current fiscal year, if any.
The table below sets forth the cash dividend per share of our common stock and preferred stock declared by us in respect of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Cash dividends per share of common stock:
In Korean Won
In U.S. Dollars(4)
Cash dividends per share of preferred stock:
Total amount of cash dividends paid (in billions of Won)
Includes an interim dividend of W525 per share (or W274 billion) declared in April 2023 and paid in May 2023, an interim dividend of W525 per share (or W272 billion) declared in July 2023 and paid in August 2023, an interim dividend of W525 per share (or W271 billion) declared in October 2023 and paid in
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Includes an interim dividend of W540 per share (or W275 billion) declared in April 2024 and paid in May 2024, an interim dividend of W540 per share (or W273 billion) declared in July 2024 and paid in August 2024, an interim dividend of W540 per share (or W272 billion) declared in October 2024 and paid in November 2024 and a year-end dividend of W540 per share (or W268 billion) declared in February 2025, approved in March 2025 and paid in April 2025.
Includes an interim dividend of W570 per share (or W278 billion) declared in April 2025 and paid in May 2025, an interim dividend of W570 per share (or W277 billion) declared in July 2025 and paid in August 2025, an interim dividend of W570 per share (or W273 billion) declared in October 2025 and paid in November 2025 and a year-end dividend of W880 per share (or W418 billion) declared in February 2026, approved in March 2026 and paid in April 2026.
Won amounts for the year ended December 31, 2025 have been expressed in U.S. Dollars at the rate of W1,444.6 to US$1.00, the Noon Buying Rate in effect on December 31, 2025, for the convenience of readers. No representation is made that the Won or U.S. Dollar amounts referred to above could have been or could be converted into U.S. Dollars or Won, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.
Under the Financial Holding Companies Act and the regulations thereunder, a financial holding company may not pay an annual dividend unless it has set aside as its legal reserve an amount equal to at least one-tenth of its net income after tax and shall set aside such amount as its legal reserve until its legal reserve reaches at least the aggregate amount of its stated capital.
Other than as set forth above and the dividend rights granted to preferred shareholders as further described in “— Description of Preferred Stock,” our Articles of Incorporation do not provide special rights to our common or preferred shareholders to share in our profits. For information regarding Korean taxes on dividends, see “Item 10.E. Taxation — Korean Taxation.”
Distribution of Free Shares
In addition to permitting dividends in the form of shares to be paid out of retained or current earnings, the Korean Commercial Code permits a company to distribute to its shareholders, in the form of free shares, an amount transferred from the capital surplus or legal reserve to stated capital. Any such free shares must be distributed to all shareholders on a pro rata basis. Our Articles of Incorporation require that holders of preferred shares receive the same type of preferred shares in the event of such distribution. For information regarding the treatment of free share distributions under Korean tax laws, see “Item 10.E. Taxation — Korean Taxation — Taxation of Dividends on Shares of Common Stock or ADSs.”
Preemptive Rights and Issuance of Additional Shares
Except as otherwise provided under the Korean Commercial Code, a company may issue authorized but unissued shares at such times and on such terms as its board of directors may determine. A company must offer its newly issued shares on uniform terms to all shareholders who have preemptive rights and who are listed on the shareholders’ register as of the applicable record date. Our shareholders are generally entitled to subscribe for newly issued shares in proportion to their existing shareholdings.
However, as provided in our Articles of Incorporation, we may issue new shares to persons other than existing shareholders pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors if those shares are: (1) publicly offered, provided that the number of shares so offered does not exceed 50% of our total number of issued and outstanding shares; (2) preferentially allocated to members of our employee stock ownership association pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act; (3) issued for the purpose of issuing depositary receipts pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, provided that the number of shares so issued does not exceed 50% of our total number of issued and outstanding shares; (4) issued to directors or
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employees upon the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Korean Commercial Code; (5) issued to a financial investment company, a private equity fund or a special purpose company under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act; or (6) issued to specified foreign investors, foreign or domestic financial institutions or alliance companies for operational purposes, including the introduction of advanced financial technology, improvement of our or our subsidiaries’ financial structure, funding or strategic alliances, provided that the number of shares so issued does not exceed 50% of our total number of issued and outstanding shares.
Under the Korean Commercial Code, a company may differentiate, without shareholder approval, the terms of preemptive rights among different classes of shares. Public notice of the preemptive rights to newly issued shares, and the transferability thereof, must be given not less than two weeks (excluding any period during which the shareholders’ register is closed) prior to the applicable record date. We will notify the shareholders who are entitled to subscribe for newly issued shares of the subscription deadline at least two weeks prior to such deadline. If a shareholder fails to subscribe on or before such deadline, the shareholder’s preemptive rights will lapse. Our board of directors may determine how to distribute the shares for which preemptive rights have not been exercised or the fractional shares resulting from such issuance.
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, if a listed company issues new shares by way of allotment to shareholders, it must issue certificates representing the preemptive rights to such shares. In addition, the company must list the newly issued shares on the Korea Exchange for a specified period of time or designate a securities company to broker or deal in such shares to ensure their proper distribution. If certain shareholders forfeit their subscription rights, the company may, subject to certain conditions (including conditions relating to the purchase price), allot such forfeited shares to third parties, although the company must withdraw such shares in principle. Under the Korean Commercial Code, when a company issues new shares by way of allotment to third parties, such company must notify its shareholders or provide public notice of the terms and other details of such issuance at least two weeks prior to the relevant subscription payment date. Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, however, a listed company may substitute such notification or public notice by disclosing the material fact in a report publicly filed with the listing authorities.
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, members of a company’s employee stock ownership association, whether or not they are shareholders, generally have a preemptive right to subscribe for up to 20% of the shares publicly offered pursuant to such Act, subject to certain exceptions. However, this right is exercisable only to the extent that the aggregate number of shares acquired and held by such members does not exceed 20% of the total number of shares to be newly issued and then outstanding. As of December 31, 2025, our employee stock ownership association owned 24,470,282 shares, or 5.04%, of our common stock.
Corporate Value-Up Plan
In February 2024, the Government announced a corporate value-up support plan for listed companies, encouraging voluntary disclosures to improve valuations. Following discussions among our board of directors, we announced our Corporate Value-Up Plan in July 2024, which includes goals through 2027 to improve return on equity and enhance shareholder returns through share buybacks and cancellations. We plan to continue engaging with our shareholders and other market participants to enhance our corporate value. However, such goals are subject to numerous variables and uncertainties beyond our control, and no assurance can be given that we will be able to achieve such goals in a timely manner or at all.
General Meeting of Shareholders
There are two types of general meetings of shareholders: annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings. We are required to convene our annual general meeting within three months after the end of each fiscal year. Subject to a resolution of our board of directors or court approval, an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders may be held when necessary or at the request of our Audit Committee. In addition, under the
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Korean Commercial Code, an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders may be held at the request of shareholders who have held, for at least six months, an aggregate of 1.5% or more of the outstanding shares with voting rights of a listed company, subject to a board resolution or court approval. Furthermore, under the Act on the Corporate Governance of Financial Companies of Korea and its sub-regulations, an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders may be held at the request of shareholders who have held, for at least six months, an aggregate of 0.75% or more of the outstanding shares of a financial holding company (i) with total assets of W5 trillion or more as of the end of the latest fiscal year and (ii) that controls two or more subsidiaries, each with total assets of W2 trillion or more, subject to a board resolution or court approval.
Meeting agendas are determined by our board of directors or may be proposed by shareholders holding an aggregate of 3% or more of the outstanding shares with voting rights by submitting a written proposal to the board of directors at least six weeks prior to the meeting. In addition, under the Korean Commercial Code, meeting agendas may be proposed by shareholders who have held shares for at least six months of an aggregate of 1% or more of the outstanding shares of a listed company, or 0.5% or more in the case of a listed company whose capital was W100 billion or more as of the end of the latest fiscal year. Furthermore, under the Act on the Corporate Governance of Financial Companies and its sub-regulations, meeting agendas may be proposed by shareholders who have held shares for at least six months of an aggregate of 0.1% or more of the outstanding shares.
Written notice stating the date, place and agenda of a general meeting of shareholders must be provided to shareholders at least two weeks prior to the date of such meeting. However, notice to holders of 1% or less of the total number of issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote may be given by publication of at least two public notices, at least two weeks in advance of the meeting, in at least two daily newspapers or by using an electronic method defined under the Korean Commercial Code and related regulations. Currently, we publish such notices in The Korea Economic Daily and Maeil Business Newspaper. Shareholders who are not listed on the shareholders’ register as of the applicable record date are not entitled to receive notice of, attend, or vote at a general meeting of shareholders.
The general meeting of shareholders is held at our registered executive office or, if deemed necessary, anywhere in the vicinity of our registered executive office.
Voting Rights
Holders of our common shares are entitled to one vote per share. However, voting rights with respect to common shares held by us and common shares held by a corporate shareholder, more than one-tenth of whose outstanding capital stock is directly or indirectly owned by us or such shareholder, may not be exercised. Unless otherwise provided in a company’s articles of incorporation, the Korean Commercial Code permits holders of an aggregate of 3% (or 1%, in the case of a company whose total assets were W2 trillion or more as of the end of the latest fiscal year) or more of the outstanding shares with voting rights to request cumulative voting when electing two or more directors. Our Articles of Incorporation currently do not prohibit cumulative voting.
If a listed company’s total assets were W2 trillion or more as of the end of the latest fiscal year, the company is required to establish and maintain an audit committee, whose members must be directors appointed at a shareholders’ meeting, of whom at least one must be an outside director. For a large listed company with total assets of W2 trillion or more as of the end of the latest fiscal year, and a listed company with total assets of W100 billion or more as of the end of the latest fiscal year, that has established an audit committee instead of a full-time auditor, at least one director (or at least two directors, effective September 10, 2026) who will serve as an audit committee member must be appointed separately from the other directors at the general meeting of shareholders. If the aggregate number of voting shares held by any shareholder exceeds 3% of the total issued and outstanding voting shares, such shareholder may not exercise voting rights with respect to the shares held in excess of such 3% threshold to elect or remove an audit committee member. In the case of the company’s largest shareholder, the shareholder and its specially related persons (as defined under applicable law) may not exercise
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voting rights with respect to the shares they collectively hold in excess of the 3% threshold to elect or remove an audit committee member who is not an outside director. Effective July 23, 2026, this restriction will also apply to the election or removal of audit committee members who are outside directors. If a listed company’s total assets were W100 billion or more but less than W2 trillion as of the end of the latest fiscal year, the company is required to appoint at least one standing director or audit committee member at a shareholders’ meeting. If the aggregate number of voting shares held by any shareholder of such company exceeds 3% of the total issued and outstanding voting shares, such shareholder may not exercise voting rights with respect to the shares held in excess of the 3% threshold to elect or remove a statutory auditor.
The Korean Commercial Code and our Articles of Incorporation provide that an ordinary resolution may be adopted with the approval of holders of at least a majority of the common shares present or represented at a meeting, provided that such majority also represents at least one-fourth of our total issued and outstanding common shares. Holders of non-voting shares (other than enfranchised non-voting shares) are not entitled to vote on any resolution or to receive notice of any general meeting of shareholders unless the agenda includes a resolution on which such holders are entitled to vote. The Korean Commercial Code allows a company’s Articles of Incorporation to prescribe the conditions under which non-voting shares may be enfranchised. For example, if our general meeting of shareholders resolves not to pay annual dividends on preferred shares, the holders of such preferred shares will be entitled to exercise voting rights from the general shareholders’ meeting immediately following the adoption of such resolution until the end of the meeting at which such dividends are declared. Holders of such enfranchised preferred shares have the same rights as holders of common shares to request, receive notice of, attend and vote at general meetings of shareholders.
Under the Korean Commercial Code, amendments to the Articles of Incorporation (including changes to the authorized share capital) and certain other matters, including removals of directors, dissolutions, mergers or consolidations, transfers of all or a significant portion of a company’s business, acquisitions of the entirety of another company’s business or issuances of new shares at a price below par value, require adoption of a special resolution by holders of at least two-thirds of the shares present or represented at the meeting, provided that such approval also represent at least one-third of the total issued and outstanding shares with voting rights. In addition, in the case of amendments to the Articles of Incorporation, mergers, consolidations or other matters affecting the rights or interests of preferred shareholders, a separate resolution must be adopted at a meeting of preferred shareholders. Such resolution requires approval by the holders of at least two-thirds of the preferred shares present or represented at the meeting, provided that such shares also represent at least one-third of the total issued and outstanding preferred shares.
A shareholder may exercise voting rights by proxy granted to another shareholder. If a shareholder intends to solicit proxies, a reference document specified by the Financial Supervisory Service must be delivered to the shareholder granting the proxy, with copies furnished to our executive office or branch office, our transfer agent and the Financial Services Commission. A proxy must present the power of attorney prior to the start of the general meeting of shareholders.
Rights of Dissenting Shareholders
Pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, in certain limited circumstances (including, without limitation, a transfer of all or a significant portion of our business or a merger or consolidation with another company), dissenting shareholders have the right to require us to purchase their shares. In addition, pursuant to the Financial Holding Companies Act, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the Korean Commercial Code, if a financial holding company acquires a new direct or indirect subsidiary through the exchange or transfer of shares, dissenting shareholders have the right to require us to purchase their shares, subject to certain limited exceptions. To exercise such right, shareholders must submit a written notice of intent to dissent prior to the relevant general meeting of shareholders. Within 20 days (or 10 days in certain circumstances under the Financial Holding Companies Act) after the adoption of the relevant resolution, a dissenting shareholder must request in writing that we purchase their shares. We are obligated to
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purchase the shares of dissenting shareholders within one month after the end of such request period, at a price determined through negotiation between the shareholder and us. If no agreement is reached, the purchase price will be the arithmetic mean of: (1) the weighted average of the daily closing prices of the shares on the KRX KOSPI Market for the two-month period prior to the date of adoption of the relevant board resolution, (2) the weighted average of the daily closing prices of the shares on the KRX KOSPI Market for the one-month period prior to the date of adoption of the relevant board resolution and (3) the weighted average of the daily closing prices of the shares on the KRX KOSPI Market for the one-week period prior to the date of adoption of the relevant board resolution. If either we or the dissenting shareholder does not accept such purchase price, either party may request a court to adjust such purchase price.
Register of Shareholders and Record Dates
We maintain our register of shareholders at our transfer agent’s office in Seoul, Korea. The Korea Securities Depository, as our transfer agent, registers transfers of shares on the register of shareholders upon presentation of share certificates.
The Korean Commercial Code and our Articles of Incorporation permit our board of directors to set a record date (which must be publicly announced at least two weeks prior to such date) and/or close the register of shareholders for a period of up to three months to determine the shareholders entitled to exercise certain rights. The trading of shares and the delivery of share certificates may continue while the register of shareholders is closed.
Other Shareholder Rights
Our Articles of Incorporation do not have sinking fund provisions or provisions imposing liability on additional capital calls. No specific action is required to change the rights of holders of our capital stock other than to amend our Articles of Incorporation in accordance with the Korean Commercial Code. In addition, our Articles of Incorporation do not contain provisions governing changes in capital or provisions which would delay, defer or prevent a change in control of us and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring involving us or any of our subsidiaries.
Directors
Under the Korean Commercial Code and our Articles of Incorporation, any director intending to engage in a transaction with us or any of our subsidiaries in his or her personal capacity is required to obtain prior approval from the board of directors, and any director having an interest in such transaction may not vote on the board resolution approving such transaction.
Neither our Articles of Incorporation nor applicable Korean laws contain provisions relating to: (i) directors’ authority to approve compensations for themselves in the absence of an independent quorum, (ii) borrowing powers of directors or procedures for varying such powers, (iii) retirement or non-retirement of directors based on an age limit or (iv) the number of shares required to become a director.
Description of Preferred Stock
From time to time in the past, we have issued various series of preferred stock in connection with acquisitions and financing transactions. All such preferred shares have been redeemed or converted into common stock, and as of December 31, 2025, no shares of preferred stock were issued or outstanding.
Annual Report
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, we must file with the Financial Services Commission and the Korea Exchange an annual business report (containing audit report and audited annual non-
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consolidated and consolidated financial statements) within 90 days after the end of our fiscal year as well as a semi-annual business report within 45 days after the end of the first six months of our fiscal year and quarterly business reports within 45 days after the end of the first three months and nine months of our fiscal year, respectively (in each case, containing review report and reviewed interim non-consolidated and consolidated financial statements). Copies of such reports are available for public inspection on the websites of the Financial Services Commission and the Korea Exchange.
Transfer of Shares
Under the Korean Commercial Code, transfers of shares are effected by the delivery of share certificates. In order to exercise shareholders’ rights, the transferee must have his name and address registered in the registry of shareholders. Shareholders must file their name, address and seal with us. Nonresident shareholders must designate a proxy in Korea to receive notices, and notify us of such proxy’s name. Under the Financial Services Commission regulations, nonresident shareholders may appoint a standing proxy and may not allow any person other than the standing proxy to exercise rights regarding the acquired share or perform any task related thereto on his behalf, subject to certain exceptions. Authorized standing proxies under current Korean regulations include the Korea Securities Depository, foreign exchange banks (including domestic branches of foreign banks), licensed financial investment companies and internationally recognized custodians. Certain foreign exchange controls and securities regulations apply to the transfer of shares by nonresidents or non-Koreans. See “Item 10.D. Exchange Controls.”
For a description of restrictions on the aggregate shareholdings of a single shareholder and specially related persons, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Supervision and Regulation — Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies — Restrictions on Financial Holding Company Ownership.”
Acquisition of Treasury Shares
Under the Korean Commercial Code, we may acquire our own shares pursuant to resolution of the general meeting of shareholders or, in certain cases, a resolution of the board of directors in accordance with Article 165-3 of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. Such acquisitions may be made by either: (i) purchasing shares on a stock exchange or (ii) purchasing a number of shares, other than the redeemable shares as set forth in Article 345, Paragraph (1) of the Korean Commercial Code, from each shareholder in proportion to such shareholder’s existing shareholding, through methods prescribed by Presidential Decree, provided that the total purchase price does not exceed the amount of profits available for distribution as dividends in respect of the immediately preceding fiscal year.
In addition, pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and regulations under the Financial Holding Companies Act, we may purchase our own shares on the KRX KOSPI Market, through a tender offer, through a trust agreement with a trust company, or by retrieving shares from a trust company upon termination of a trust agreement, subject to the following restrictions:
the aggregate purchase price may not exceed the total amount available for distribution of dividends at the end of the preceding fiscal year less the amounts of dividends and reserves for such fiscal year, minus the sum of:
the purchase price of treasury shares acquired (if any) after the end of the preceding fiscal year;
the amounts subject to trust agreements;
the amount of dividends approved at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders after the end of the preceding fiscal year; and
the amount of retained earnings reserve required under the Korean Commercial Code;
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plus the acquisition price of any treasury stock that has been disposed of after the end of the preceding fiscal year; and
(2) the acquisition of such shares must satisfy the applicable capital adequacy requirements under the Financial Holding Companies Act and the guidelines issued by the Financial Services Commission.
In general, under the Financial Holding Companies Act, our subsidiaries are not permitted to acquire our shares.
In March 2026, the Korean Commercial Code was amended to, among others, mandate the cancellation of all treasury shares held by a company, including those held prior to the amendment, subject to certain limited exceptions.
Liquidation Rights
In the event we are liquidated, the assets remaining after the payment of all debts, liquidation expenses and taxes will be distributed to shareholders in proportion to the number of shares held by such shareholders. Holders of preferred shares may have preferences over holders of common shares in liquidation.
Material Contracts
None.
Exchange Controls
The Foreign Exchange Transaction Act of Korea, together with its Presidential Decree and the regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws”), regulate investments in Korean securities by nonresidents and issuance of securities by Korean companies outside Korea. Under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws, nonresidents may invest in Korean securities only to the extent specifically permitted thereunder or as otherwise permitted by the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Korea. In addition, pursuant to its authority under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the Financial Services Commission has also adopted regulations that further restrict investments by foreigners in Korean securities and regulate the issuance of securities by Korean companies outside Korea.
Under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws, (1) the Ministry of Finance and Economy may temporarily suspend payments, receipts or all or part of the transactions subject to the Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws, or may impose an obligation to safekeep or deposit at, or sell foreign currencies to, the Bank of Korea or certain specified financial institutions, if the Government determines that such measures are necessary due to the outbreak of a natural calamity, war, armed conflict or any grave and sudden changes in domestic or foreign economic circumstances or other comparable circumstances and (2) if the Government determines that Korea’s international balance of payments or international financial conditions face, or are likely to face, serious difficulties, or the movement of capital between Korea and other countries will cause, or is likely to cause, serious obstacles to the implementation of monetary, exchange rate or other macroeconomic policies, the Ministry of Finance and Economy may take measures to require prior approval for capital transactions or require that a portion of the payments received for such transactions be deposited at certain Korean governmental agencies or financial institutions, in each case subject to certain limitations.
Under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws, a foreign investor intending to acquire shares must designate a foreign exchange bank at which to open a foreign currency account and a Won account exclusively
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for stock investment purposes. No Korean governmental approval is required to remit foreign currency funds into Korea or to deposit such funds into the foreign currency account. Foreign currency funds may be transferred from the foreign currency account, as necessary to fund or settle the purchase price of a stock purchase transaction, to a Won account opened with a financial investment company duly licensed to engage in securities dealings or brokerage activities. Funds held in the foreign currency account may be remitted abroad without any Korean governmental approval.
Dividends on shares of Korean companies are paid in Won. No Korean governmental approval is required for foreign investors to receive dividends on, or the Won proceeds from the sale of, any shares, provided that they are paid, received and retained in Korea. Dividends paid on, and the Won proceeds from the sale of, any shares held by a nonresident of Korea must be deposited either into a Won account maintained with the investor’s financial investment company holding a securities dealing or brokerage license or into the investor’s Won account at a designated foreign exchange bank. Funds in a foreign investor’s Won account may be transferred to the investor’s foreign currency account or withdrawn for local living expenses, provided that any withdrawal of local living expenses by any one person exceeding US$10,000 per day must be reported by the relevant foreign exchange bank to the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service. Funds in the Won account may also be used for future investment in shares or for the payment of the subscription price of new shares obtained through the exercise of preemptive rights.
Financial investment companies with a securities dealing, brokerage or collective investment licenses are allowed to open foreign currency accounts with foreign exchange banks exclusively to accommodate foreign investors’ stock investments in Korea. Through such accounts, such licensed financial companies may engage in certain limited foreign exchange transactions, including conversions between foreign currencies and Won, either as a counterparty to or on behalf of foreign investors, without requiring such investors to open their own accounts with foreign exchange banks.
Taxation
The following summary is based on tax laws, regulations, rulings, decrees, income tax conventions (treaties), administrative practice and judicial decisions of Korea and the United States as of the date of this annual report, and is subject to any change in Korean or United States law that may come into effect after such date. Investors in shares of common stock or ADSs are advised to consult their own tax advisers as to the Korean, United States or other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of such securities, including the effect of any national, state or local tax laws.
Korean Taxation
The following summary of Korean tax considerations applies to you so long as you are not:
a resident of Korea;
a corporation having its head office, principal place of business, or place of effective management in Korea (a Korean corporation); or
engaged in a trade or business in Korea through a permanent establishment or a fixed base to which the relevant income is attributable or with which the relevant income is effectively connected.
Taxation of Dividends on Shares of Common Stock or ADSs
We will deduct Korean withholding tax from dividends (whether in cash or in shares) paid to you at a rate of 22% (including local income surtax). If you are a qualified resident and a beneficial owner of the dividends in a country that has entered into a tax treaty with Korea, you may qualify for a reduced rate of Korean withholding
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tax. See “— Tax Treaties” below for a discussion of treaty benefits. If we distribute to you free shares representing a transfer of certain capital reserves or asset revaluation reserves into paid-in capital, such distribution may be subject to a Korean withholding tax.
Taxation of Capital Gains from Transfer of Common Shares or ADSs
As a general rule, capital gains earned by non-residents upon transfer of our common shares or ADSs are subject to a Korean withholding tax at the lower of (1) 11% (including local income surtax) of the gross proceeds realized or (2) 22% (including local income surtax) of the net realized gain, subject to the production of satisfactory evidence of acquisition costs and certain direct transaction costs associated with common shares or ADSs, unless exempt from Korean income taxation under an applicable tax treaty between Korea and the country of your tax residence. See “— Tax Treaties” below for a discussion on treaty benefits. Even if you do not qualify for the exemption under a tax treaty, you will not be subject to the foregoing withholding tax on capital gains if you meet certain requirements for the exemption under Korean domestic tax laws discussed in the following paragraphs.
You will not be subject to the Korean income taxation on capital gains realized upon a transfer of our common shares through the Korea Exchange if you (1) have no permanent establishment in Korea and (2) do not own and have never owned (together with any shares owned by any entity with which you have a special relationship and possibly including the shares represented by the ADSs) 25% or more of our total issued and outstanding shares at any time during the calendar year in which the sale occurs and during the five consecutive calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the sale occurs.
Under Korean tax law, ADSs are viewed as shares of stock for capital gains tax purposes. Accordingly, capital gains from sale or disposition of ADSs are taxed (if taxable) as if such gains are from sale or disposition of shares of our common stock. It should be noted that (i) capital gains earned by you (regardless of whether you have a permanent establishment in Korea) from a transfer of ADSs outside Korea will generally be exempt from Korean income taxation by virtue of the Special Tax Treatment Control Law of Korea, or the STTCL, provided that the issuance of ADSs is deemed to be an overseas issuance under the STTCL, but (ii) in the case where an owner of the underlying shares of stock transfers ADSs after conversion of the underlying shares into ADSs, the exemption under the STTCL described in (i) will not apply. In the case where an owner of the underlying shares of stock transfers the ADSs after conversion of the underlying shares of stock into ADSs, such person is obligated to file corporate income tax returns and pay tax unless a purchaser or a financial investment company with a brokerage license, as applicable, withholds and pays the tax on capital gains derived from transfer of ADSs, as discussed below.
If you are subject to tax on capital gains with respect to a sale of common shares or ADSs, the purchaser or, in the case of a sale of common shares on the Korea Exchange or through a financial investment company with a brokerage license in Korea, the financial investment company is required to withhold Korean tax from the sales proceeds in an amount equal to 11% (including local income surtax) of the gross realization proceeds and to remit the withheld tax to the Korean tax authority, unless you establish your entitlement to an exemption under an applicable tax treaty or domestic tax law or produce satisfactory evidence of your acquisition costs and certain direct transaction costs associated with common shares or ADSs. See the discussion under “— Tax Treaties” below for an explanation of claiming treaty benefits.
Tax Treaties
Korea has entered into a number of income tax treaties with other countries, including the United States, which reduce or exempt Korean withholding tax on the income derived by residents of such treaty countries. For example, under the Korea-U.S. income tax treaty, reduced rates of Korean withholding tax on dividends of 16.5% or 11.0%, respectively (including local income surtax), depending on your shareholding ratio, and an exemption from Korean withholding tax on capital gains are generally available to residents of the United States
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that are beneficial owners of the relevant dividend income or capital gains. However, under Article 17 (Investment or Holding Companies) of the Korea-U.S. income tax treaty, such reduced rates and exemption do not apply if (1) you are a United States corporation, (2) by reason of any special measures the tax imposed on you by the United States with respect to such dividends or capital gains is substantially less than the tax generally imposed by the United States on corporate profits, and (3) 25% or more of your capital is held of record or is otherwise determined, after consultation between competent authorities of the United States and Korea, to be owned directly or indirectly by one or more persons who are not individual residents of the United States. Also, under Article 16 (Capital Gains) of the Korea-U.S. income tax treaty, the exemption on capital gains does not apply if (a) you have a permanent establishment in Korea and any shares of common stock in which you hold an interest and which gives rise to capital gains are effectively connected with such permanent establishment, (b) you are an individual and you maintain a fixed base in Korea for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year and your common shares or ADSs giving rise to capital gains are effectively connected with such fixed base or (c) you are an individual and you are present in Korea for a period or periods of 183 days or more during the taxable year.
You should inquire for yourself whether you are entitled to the benefit of an income tax treaty with Korea. It is the responsibility of the party claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty in respect of dividend payments or capital gains to submit to us, the purchaser, the financial investment company, or other withholding agent, as the case may be, a certificate as to his tax residence. In the absence of sufficient proof, we, the purchaser, the financial investment company, or other withholding agent, as the case may be, must withhold tax at the normal rates. Furthermore, in order for you to claim the benefit of a tax rate reduction or tax exemption on certain Korean source income (e.g., dividends or capital gains) under an applicable tax treaty as the beneficial owner of such Korean source income, Korean tax law requires you (or your agent) to submit an application (in the case for reduced withholding tax rate, an “application for entitlement to reduced tax rate,” and in the case for exemption from withholding tax, an “application for tax exemption”) with a certificate of your tax residency issued by the competent authority of your country of tax residence, subject to certain exceptions (together, the “BO application”). For example, a U.S. resident would be required to provide a Form 6166 as a certificate of tax residency with the application for entitlement to reduced tax rate or the application for tax exemption, as the case may be. However, if such application for tax exemption is being sought by an entity for an amount that is W1 billion or more (including where the aggregate amount exempted within one year from the last day of the month in which the payment was made, is W1 billion or more), in addition to the certificate of tax residence issued by a competent authority of such entity’s country of residence, such entity will be required to additionally submit (i) the names and addresses of all of the members of its board of directors, (ii) the identities and shareholding percentages of all of its shareholders (provided that if there are more than 100 shareholders, it may instead provide a statement showing the total number of shareholders and the aggregate investment amount from each country), and (iii) audit reports for the most recent three years submitted to the country of residence (or, if the entity has been in existence for less than three years, audit reports since incorporation). Such application should be submitted to the withholding agent prior to the payment date of the relevant income. Subject to certain exceptions, where the relevant income is paid to an overseas investment vehicle (an “OIV”) that is not the beneficial owner of such income, a beneficial owner claiming the benefit of an applicable tax treaty with respect to such income must submit its BO application to such OIV, which in turn must submit an OIV report and a schedule of beneficial owners (and the BO applications collected from each beneficial owner, if such beneficial owner is applying for tax exemption) to the withholding agent prior to the payment date of such income. Effective as of January 1, 2022, an OIV shall be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the Korean source income if (i) under the applicable tax treaty, the OIV bears tax liabilities in the country in which it is established and (ii) the Korean source income is eligible for the treaty benefits under the tax treaty. The benefits under a tax treaty between Korea and the country of such OIV’s residence will apply with respect to the relevant income paid to such OIV, subject to certain application requirements as prescribed by the Corporate Income Tax or Individual Income Tax Law. In the case of a tax exemption application, the withholding agent is required to submit such application (together with the applicable OIV report in the event the income will be paid to an OIV) to the relevant district tax office by the ninth day of the month following the date of the payment of such income. On the other hand, if a payer applies for a reduced tax rate, the withholding agent is required to submit the
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application (together with the applicable OIV report if income is paid to an OIV) to the relevant district tax office by the end of February of the year after such income is paid.
Inheritance Tax and Gift Tax
If you die while holding an ADS or donate an ADS, it is unclear whether, for Korean inheritance and gift tax purposes, you would be treated as the owner of the shares of common stock underlying the ADSs. If the tax authority interprets depositary receipts as the underlying share certificates, you may be treated as the owner of the shares of common stock and your heir or the donee (or in certain circumstances, you as the donor) will be subject to Korean inheritance or gift tax, which ranges from 10% to 50% recently, assessable based on the value of the ADSs or shares of common stock and the identity of the individual against whom the tax is assessed.
If you die while holding a common share or donate a subscription right or a common share, your heir or donee (or in certain circumstances, you as the donor) will be subject to Korean inheritance or gift tax at the same rate as indicated above.
At present, Korea has not entered into any tax treaty relating to inheritance or gift taxes.
Securities Transaction Tax
If you transfer common shares through the Korea Exchange, you will be subject to a securities transaction tax at the rate of 0.05% and an agriculture and fishery special surtax at the rate of 0.15% of the sales price of common shares. If your transfer of common shares is not made through the Korea Exchange, subject to certain exceptions, you will be subject to a securities transaction tax at the rate 0.35% but will not be subject to an agriculture and fishery special surtax.
Depositary receipts, which the ADSs constitute, are included in the scope of securities transfer subject to securities transaction tax. Nonetheless, transfer of depositary receipts listed on a foreign securities exchange similar to the Korea Exchange (e.g., the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ National Market) will not be subject to the securities transaction tax.
In principle, the securities transaction tax, if applicable, must be paid by a transferor of common shares. When a transfer is effected through a securities settlement company in Korea, such settlement company is generally required to withhold and remit the tax to the tax authorities. When such transfer is made through a financial investment company only, such financial investment company is required to withhold and remit the tax. Where a transfer is affected by a non-resident who has no permanent establishment in Korea by a method other than through a securities settlement company or a financial investment company, the transferee is required to withhold the securities transaction tax.
Non-reporting or underreporting of securities transaction tax will generally result in the imposition of penalties equal to 20% to 60% of the non-reported or 10% to 60% of underreported tax amount and a failure to timely pay securities transaction tax due will result in penalties of 8.03% per annum of the due but unpaid tax. The penalty is imposed on the party responsible for paying the securities transaction tax or, if the securities transaction tax is to be withheld, on the party that has the withholding obligation.
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following summary describes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations for beneficial owners of our common shares or ADSs that hold the common shares or ADSs as capital assets and are “U.S. holders.” You are a “U.S. holder” if you are for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
an individual citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source;
a trust that is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and has one or more U.S. persons with authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or
a trust that has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
In addition, this summary only applies to you if you are a U.S. holder that is a resident of the United States for purposes of the current income tax treaty between the United States and Korea (the “Treaty”), your common shares or ADSs are not, for purposes of the Treaty, attributable to a permanent establishment in Korea and you otherwise qualify for the full benefits of the Treaty.
This summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), final, temporary and proposed U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative rulings, judicial decisions and the Treaty, all as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those summarized below. It is for general purposes only and you should not consider it to be tax advice. In addition, it assumes that each obligation under the deposit agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms. This summary does not represent a detailed description of all the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you in light of your particular circumstances, and does not address the Medicare tax on net investment income, U.S. federal estate and gift taxes or the effects of any state, local or non-U.S. tax laws. In addition, it does not represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to you if you are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including if you are:
a bank or one of certain other financial institutions;
a dealer or broker in securities or currencies;
an insurance company;
a regulated investment company;
a real estate investment trust;
a tax-exempt entity;
a trader in securities that has elected to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings;
a person holding common shares or ADSs as part of a hedging, conversion, constructive sale or integrated transaction or a straddle;
a person liable for alternative minimum tax;
a partnership or other pass-through entity for United States federal income tax purposes (or an investor in such an entity);
a person who owns or is deemed to own 10% or more of our stock (by vote or value);
a person required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to our common shares or ADSs as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement;
a person whose functional currency is not the U.S. Dollar; or
a United States expatriate.
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If a partnership (or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our common shares or ADSs, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership (or an owner of an interest in the pass-through entity) will generally depend upon the status of the partner (or owner) and the activities of the partnership (or other pass-through entity). If you are a partner in a partnership (or an owner of an interest in any other pass-through entity) holding our common shares or ADSs, you should consult your tax advisors.
You should consult your own tax advisors concerning the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of the ownership and disposition of common shares or ADSs, as well as the consequences to you arising under other United States federal tax laws and the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
ADSs
If you hold ADSs, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you generally will be treated as the owner of the underlying common shares that are represented by such ADSs. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of common shares for ADSs will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Distributions on Common Shares or ADSs
Subject to the discussion below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” the gross amount of distributions on our common shares or ADSs (including amounts withheld to reflect Korean withholding tax) will be taxable as dividends to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Such income (including withheld taxes) will be includable in your gross income as ordinary income on the day you actually or constructively receive it, in the case of our common shares, or the day actually or constructively received by the ADS depositary, in the case of ADSs. Such dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to corporations under the Code.
Subject to applicable limitations (including a minimum holding period requirement), dividends received by non-corporate U.S. investors from a qualified foreign corporation may be treated as “qualified dividend income” that is subject to reduced rates of taxation. A qualified foreign corporation includes a foreign corporation that is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States that the U.S. Treasury Department determines to be satisfactory for these purposes and that includes an exchange of information provision. The U.S. Treasury Department has determined that the Treaty meets these requirements, and we believe we are eligible for the benefits of the Treaty. A foreign corporation is also treated as a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends paid by that corporation on shares (or ADSs backed by such shares) that are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. U.S. Treasury Department guidance indicates that our ADSs, which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States for these purposes. However, our common shares that are not represented by ADSs will generally not be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States for these purposes. There also can be no assurance that our ADSs will be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States in later years. Furthermore, non-corporate U.S. holders will not be eligible for the rate reduction on any dividends that we pay if we are a PFIC (as discussed below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules”) in the taxable year in which such dividends are paid or were a PFIC in the preceding taxable year. If you are a non-corporate U.S. holder, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the application of these rules given your particular circumstances.
The amount of any dividend paid in Korean Won will equal the U.S. Dollar value of the Korean Won received calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date you receive the dividend, in the case of our common shares, or the date received by the ADS depositary, in the case of ADSs, regardless of whether the Korean Won are converted into U.S. Dollars. If the Korean Won received as a dividend are converted into U.S. Dollars on the date they are received, you generally will not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. If the Korean Won received are not converted into U.S. Dollars on the day
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of receipt, you will have a basis in the Korean Won equal to their U.S. Dollar value on the date of receipt. Any gain or loss realized on a subsequent conversion or other disposition of the Korean Won will be treated as United States source ordinary income or loss.
Subject to certain significant conditions and limitations, Korean taxes withheld from dividends (at a rate not exceeding the rate provided in the Treaty) may be treated as foreign income taxes eligible for credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability. See “— Korean Taxation — Tax Treaties” for a discussion of the Treaty rate. Korean taxes withheld in excess of the rate allowed by the Treaty will not be eligible for credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability until you exhaust all effective and practical remedies to recover such excess withholding, including the seeking of competent authority assistance from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). For purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit, dividends paid on our common shares or ADSs will be treated as foreign source income and will generally constitute “passive category income.” However, U.S. Treasury regulations addressing foreign tax credits (the “Foreign Tax Credit Regulations”) impose additional requirements for foreign taxes to be eligible for a foreign tax credit, and unless you claim benefits under the Treaty, there can be no assurance that those requirements will be satisfied. The Department of the Treasury and the IRS are considering proposing amendments to the Foreign Tax Credit Regulations. In addition, notices from the IRS provide temporary relief by allowing taxpayers that comply with applicable requirements to apply many aspects of the foreign tax credit regulations as they previously existed (before the release of the current Foreign Tax Credit Regulations) for taxable years ending before the date that a notice or other guidance withdrawing or modifying the temporary relief is issued (or any later date specified in such notice or other guidance). Instead of claiming a foreign tax credit, you may be able to deduct Korean withholding taxes on dividends in computing your taxable income, subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. law (including that a U.S. holder is not eligible for a deduction for otherwise creditable foreign income taxes paid or accrued in a taxable year if such U.S. holder claims a foreign tax credit for any foreign income taxes paid or accrued in the same taxable year). The rules governing the foreign tax and deductions for foreign taxes are complex. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit or a deduction under your particular circumstances.
To the extent that the amount of any distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits for a taxable year, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, the distribution will first be treated as a tax-free return of capital, causing a reduction of your adjusted basis in our common shares or ADSs (thereby increasing the amount of gain, or decreasing the amount of loss, to be recognized by you on a subsequent disposition of our common shares or ADSs), and the balance in excess of adjusted basis will be taxed as capital gain recognized on a sale or exchange. However, we do not expect to determine earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles. Therefore, you should expect that a distribution will generally be reported and treated as a dividend (as discussed above).
Distributions of our common shares or ADSs or rights to subscribe for our common shares or ADSs that are received as part of a pro rata distribution to all of our shareholders (including holders of ADSs) generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to recipient common shareholders (including holders of ADSs). Consequently, such distributions will not give rise to foreign source income, and you will not be able to use a foreign tax credit for any Korean withholding tax imposed on such distributions unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against U.S. federal income tax due on other income derived from foreign sources.
Disposition of Common Shares or ADSs
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, you will recognize gain or loss upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares or ADSs in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, exchange or other disposition and your adjusted tax basis in our common shares or ADSs, as the case may be, both as determined in U.S. Dollars. Subject to the discussion below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss and will generally be long-
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term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, exchange or other disposition, our common shares or ADSs have been held for more than one year. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. holders (including individuals) are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Any gain or loss recognized by you on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares or ADSs will generally be treated as United States source gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Consequently, you may not be able to claim a foreign tax credit for any Korean tax imposed on the disposition of our common shares or ADSs unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable conditions and limitations) against tax due on other income treated as derived from foreign sources. However, pursuant to the Foreign Tax Credit Regulations, unless you elect to apply the benefits of the Treaty, any such Korean tax would generally not be a foreign income tax eligible for a foreign tax credit (regardless of any other income that you may have that is derived from foreign sources). In such case, it is possible that the non-creditable Korean tax would reduce the amount realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares or ADSs. As discussed above, however, notices from the IRS provide temporary relief by allowing taxpayers that comply with applicable requirements to apply many aspects of the foreign tax credit regulations as they previously existed (before the release of the current Foreign Tax Credit Regulations) for taxable years ending before the date that a notice or other guidance withdrawing or modifying the temporary relief is issued (or any later date specified in such notice or other guidance). If any Korean tax is imposed upon the disposition of our common shares or ADSs and you apply such temporary relief, such Korean tax may be eligible for a foreign tax credit or deduction, subject to the applicable conditions and limitations. You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the Foreign Tax Credit Regulations (and the related temporary relief in the IRS notices) and the availability of the foreign tax credit or a deduction under your particular circumstances.
You should note that any Korean securities transaction tax imposed upon a disposition of our common shares or ADSs generally will not be treated as a creditable foreign tax for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
Based on the past and projected composition of our income and assets and valuation of our assets, we do not believe that we were a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for 2025, and we do not expect to be a PFIC in 2026 or to become one in the foreseeable future, although there can be no assurance in this regard. PFIC status is a factual determination that is made annually. Accordingly, it is possible that we may become a PFIC in the current or any future taxable year due to changes in composition of our income or assets or valuation of our assets.
In general, we will be considered a PFIC for any taxable year in which:
at least 75% of our gross income is passive income; or
at least 50% of the value (generally determined based on a quarterly average) of our assets is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income.
For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, certain royalties and rents and gains from financial investments (other than certain income derived in the active conduct of a banking business as discussed below). In addition, cash and other assets readily convertible into cash are generally considered passive assets. If we own at least 25% by value of another corporation’s stock, we will be treated, for purposes of the PFIC rules, as owning our proportionate share of the assets and receiving our proportionate share of the income of that corporation.
Our determination with respect to our PFIC status is based in part upon certain proposed U.S. Treasury regulations and other administrative pronouncements from the IRS, which provide special rules for determining the character of income derived in the active conduct of a banking business for purposes of the PFIC rules. Specifically, these rules treat certain income earned by a non-U.S. corporation engaged in the active conduct of a
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banking business as non-passive income. Although we believe we have adopted a reasonable interpretation of the proposed U.S. Treasury regulations and administrative pronouncements, there can be no assurance that the IRS will follow the same interpretation. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the application of these rules.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which you hold our common shares or ADSs (and you do not make a timely mark-to-market election, as described below), you will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” that you receive and any gain you realize from the sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of our common shares or ADSs. These special tax rules generally will apply even if we cease to be a PFIC in future years. Distributions you receive in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions you received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or your holding period for our common shares or ADSs will be treated as excess distributions. Under these special tax rules:
the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over your holding period for our common shares or ADSs;
the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which we are a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income; and
the amount allocated to each other year will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for that year for individuals or corporations, as applicable, and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each such year.
In certain circumstances, you could make a mark-to-market election (under which in lieu of being subject to the special rules discussed above, you will include gain on our common shares or ADSs on a mark-to-market basis as ordinary income), provided that our common shares or ADSs are regularly traded on a qualified exchange or other market. Our common shares are listed on the Korea Exchange, which must meet certain trading, listing, financial disclosure and other requirements to be treated as a qualified exchange under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations for purposes of the mark-to-market election, and no assurance can be given that the common shares are or will continue to be “regularly traded” for purposes of the mark-to-market election. Our ADSs are currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which constitutes a qualified exchange, although there can be no assurance that the ADSs are or will continue to be “regularly traded.” If you make a valid mark-to-market election, for each year that we are a PFIC you will include as ordinary income the excess of the fair market value of your common shares or ADSs at the end of the year over your adjusted tax basis in the common shares or ADSs. You will be entitled to deduct as an ordinary loss in each such year the excess of your adjusted tax basis in the common shares or ADSs over their fair market value at the end of the year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. If you make an effective mark-to-market election, in each year that we are a PFIC any gain you recognize upon the sale or other disposition of your common shares or ADSs will be treated as ordinary income, and any loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but such loss will be ordinary only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election, and thereafter will be capital loss.
A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in common shares or ADSs will be increased by the amount of any income inclusion and decreased by the amount of any deductions under the mark-to-market rules. If a U.S. holder makes a mark-to-market election, it will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years unless the common shares or ADSs are no longer regularly traded on a qualified exchange or other market or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election. You should consult your tax advisor about the availability of the mark-to-market election, and whether making the election would be advisable with respect to your particular circumstances.
In addition, a holder of common shares or ADSs in a PFIC can sometimes avoid the rules described above by electing to treat the company as a “qualified electing fund” under Section 1295 of the Code. This option is not available to you because we do not intend to comply with the requirements necessary to permit holders to make this election.
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If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which you hold our common shares or ADSs and any of our non-U.S. subsidiaries is also a PFIC, you will be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of the PFIC rules. You will not be able to make the mark-to-market election described above in respect of any lower-tier PFIC. You are urged to consult your tax advisors about the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.
If you hold our common shares or ADSs in any year in which we are classified as a PFIC, you will generally be required to file IRS Form 8621.
Non-corporate U.S. holders will not be eligible for reduced rates of taxation on any dividends received from us if we are a PFIC in the taxable year in which such dividends are paid or were a PFIC in the preceding taxable year. You should consult your tax advisor concerning the determination of our PFIC status and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding our common shares or ADSs if we are considered a PFIC in any taxable year.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
In general, information reporting will apply to dividends in respect of our common shares or ADSs and the proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares or ADSs that are paid to you within the United States (and in certain cases, outside the United States), unless you establish that you are an exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification number and a certification that you are not subject to backup withholding or if you fail to report in full dividend and interest income.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
A holder that is not a U.S. holder may be required to comply with certification and identification procedures in order to establish its exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
Foreign Financial Asset Reporting
Certain U.S. Holders that own “specified foreign financial assets” with an aggregate value in excess of U.S.$50,000 on the last day of the taxable year or U.S.$75,000 at any time during the taxable year are generally required to file an information statement along with their tax returns, currently on Form 8938, with respect to such assets. “Specified foreign financial assets” include any financial accounts held at a non-U.S. financial institution, as well as securities issued by a non-U.S. issuer that are not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions. Higher reporting thresholds apply to certain individuals living abroad and to certain married individuals. Regulations extend this reporting requirement to certain entities that are treated as formed or availed of to hold direct or indirect interests in specified foreign financial assets based on objective criteria. U.S. Holders who fail to report the required information could be subject to substantial penalties. In addition, the statute of limitations for assessment of tax would be suspended, in whole or part. Prospective investors are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of these rules, including the application of the rules to their particular circumstances.
FATCA
Under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as “FATCA”), certain entities in a broadly defined class of foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”) may be subject to a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax on certain United States source payments made to the FFI, unless the FFI is a “participating FFI,” which is generally defined as an FFI that (i) enters into an agreement with the IRS pursuant to which it
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agrees to comply with a complicated and expansive reporting regime or (ii) complies with the requirements of an intergovernmental agreement entered into by the United States and another jurisdiction regarding the implementation of FATCA (an “IGA”), or the FFI is otherwise deemed compliant with or exempt from FATCA.
The FATCA legislation also contains complex provisions requiring certain participating FFIs to withhold on certain “foreign passthru payments” made to FFIs that are not participating FFIs or otherwise exempt from FATCA withholding and to holders that fail to comply with certain certification and/or information reporting requirements. The term “foreign passthru payment” has not yet been defined by the IRS but is intended to capture payments that are from non-United States sources but are attributable to certain United States payments described above. Pursuant to proposed U.S. Treasury regulations (upon which taxpayers may rely until final regulations are issued), withholding on foreign passthru payments, if applicable, would not be required with respect to payments made before the date that is two years after the date of publication of final regulations defining the term foreign passthru payment. It is unclear whether or to what extent payments on our common shares or ADSs would be considered foreign passthru payments that are subject to withholding under FATCA.
On June 10, 2015, the United States and Korea entered into an IGA to implement the foregoing requirements. The IGA is intended to result in the automatic exchange of tax information through reporting by FFIs to report to the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Korea, which then automatically exchanges such information with the IRS. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the FATCA rules to an investment in our common shares or ADSs.
Dividends and Paying Agents
Statements by Experts
Documents on Display
We are subject to the information requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, in accordance therewith, are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). As a foreign private issuer, we are also required to make filings with the Commission by electronic means. Any filings we make electronically will be available to the public over the Internet at the Commission’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.
Subsidiary Information
Annual Report to Security Holders
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
See “Item 4.B. Business Overview — Risk Management” for quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Debt Securities
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Warrants and Rights
Other Securities
American Depositary Shares
Depositary Fees and Charges
Under the terms of the Deposit Agreement in respect of our ADSs, a holder of our ADSs may be required to pay the following fees and charges to Citibank, N.A., which acts as the depositary for our ADSs:
Item
Services
Fees
Paid by
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Holders and beneficial owners of ADSs, persons depositing common shares for deposit and persons surrendering ADSs for cancellation and for purposes of withdrawing deposited securities shall be responsible for the following charges:
taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;
such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of common shares or other deposited securities on the share register and applicable to transfers of common shares or other deposited securities to or from the name of the custodian, the depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;
such cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of the person depositing or withdrawing common shares or holders and beneficial owners of ADSs;
the expenses and charges incurred by the depositary in the conversion of foreign currency;
such fees and expenses incurred by the depositary to comply with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to common shares, deposited securities, ADSs and American depositary receipts; and
the fees and expenses incurred by the depositary, the custodian or any nominee in connection with the servicing or delivery of deposited securities.
Depositary fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of ADSs are typically paid to the depositary by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly-issued ADSs from the depositary and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the ADSs to the depositary for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these transaction fees to their clients.
Depositary fees payable in connection with distributions of cash or securities to ADS holders and the depositary service fees are charged by the depositary to the holders of record of ADSs as of the applicable record date. The depositary fees payable for cash distributions are generally deducted from the cash being distributed. In the case of distributions other than cash, such as stock dividends or rights offerings, the depositary charges the applicable fee to the ADS record date holders concurrent with the distribution. In the case of ADSs registered in the name of the investor (whether certificated or un-certificated in direct registration), the depositary sends its invoice to the applicable record date ADS holders. In the case of ADSs held in brokerage and custodian accounts via The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), the central clearing and settlement system, the depositary generally collects its fees through the systems provided by DTC (whose nominee is the registered holder of the ADSs held in DTC) from the brokers and custodians holding ADSs in their DTC accounts. The brokers and custodians who hold their clients’ ADSs in DTC accounts in turn charge their clients’ accounts the amount of the fees paid to the depositary banks.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary may, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder.
The fees and charges the ADS holders may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us or by the depositary. The ADS holders will receive prior notice of any such changes.
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Depositary Payments for the Fiscal Year 2025
In 2025, we received the following payments from Citibank, N.A., acting as depositary for our ADSs:
Reimbursement of settlement infrastructure fees (including DTC fees)
Reimbursement of proxy process expenses (printing, postage and distribution)
Legal expenses
Contributions towards our investor relations efforts (i.e., non-deal roadshows, investor conferences and IR agency fees) and legal expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year 2025
Note: The amounts provided above are after deduction of applicable U.S. taxes.
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Control
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of December 31, 2025. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon our evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2025 were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file and submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decision regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, for our company. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 based on the framework established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) suspended the original framework issued by COSO in 1992 on December 15, 2014. We adopted the 2013 Framework on December 15, 2014. Further details of the changes made are set out below. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with
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generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of a company’s assets, (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that a company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of a company’s management and directors, and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of a company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, a system of internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to consolidated financial statement preparation and presentation and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2025.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting has been audited by KPMG Samjong Accounting Corp. (“KPMG”), an independent registered public accounting firm, who has also audited our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025. KPMG has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as stated in its report included herein.
Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG’s attestation report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting can be found on page F-2 of this annual report.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during 2025 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
[RESERVED]
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
Our Audit Committee currently consists of four outside directors, namely Lim Seung Yeon (Chair), Kwak Su Keun, Bae Hoon and Choi Young Gwon. Our board of directors has determined that Lim Seung Yeon and Kwak Su Keun are “audit committee financial experts,” as such term is defined by the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued pursuant to Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Lim Seung Yeon, Kwak Su Keun, Bae Hoon and Choi Young Gwon are independent as such term is defined in Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and the Korea Stock Exchange listing standards.
CODE OF ETHICS
We have adopted a code of ethics for our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions as required under Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, together with an insider reporting system in compliance with Section 301 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We have not granted any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics to any of the above-mentioned officers during our most recently completed fiscal year. As a further detailed guideline to the code of ethics, we have also adopted a code of ethics applicable to all the officers and employees of our holding company and our subsidiaries which sets forth standards for both the performance of
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duties and day-to-day conduct. Furthermore, each of our subsidiaries has established and implemented its own code of conduct, which allows us to systematically improve the ethical awareness of officers and employees on a group-wide level.
Our code of ethics outlines seven standards that all employees must adhere to, which encompass guidelines for customers, shareholders and investors, society, interactions among employees, performance of duties, external communications, and relationships with partner companies and competitors. Additionally, our employees are required under our code of ethics to report internal misconduct, prevent money laundering, manage internal accounting, and ensure transparent financial reporting. In the event of a violation of our code of ethics, employees may face penalties and disciplinary actions in accordance with applicable laws and internal regulations. Our code of ethics is available on our website www.shinhangroup.com.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by our principal auditors for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, for various types of services and a brief description of the nature of such services. KPMG, a Korean independent registered public accounting firm, was our principal auditors for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Type of Services
Nature of Services
Audit fees
Audit related fees
Tax fees
All other fees
Our Audit Committee generally pre-approves all engagements of our principal accountants pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by it. Our Audit Committee has adopted the following policies and procedures for consideration and approval of requests to engage our principal accountants to perform audit and non-audit services. Engagement requests for audit and non-audit services for us or our subsidiaries must, in the first instance, be submitted to our Audit Team. If the request relates to services that would impair the independence of our principal accountants, the request must be rejected. If the engagement request relates to audit and permitted non-audit services, it must be forwarded to the Audit Committee for consideration. To facilitate the consideration of engagement requests between its meetings, the Audit Committee has delegated approval authority of the following: (i) permitted non-audit services to our holding company, (ii) audit services to our subsidiaries and (iii) permitted non-audit services to our subsidiaries, to one of its members who is “independent” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. Such member in our case is Lim Seung Yeon, the chair of our Audit Committee, and she is required to report any approvals made by him to the Audit Committee at its next meeting. Our Audit Committee meets regularly once every quarter.
Any other audit or permitted non-audit service must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Our Audit Committee did not approve any non-audit services under the de minimis exception of Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
The following table sets forth information regarding purchases by us of our common shares during the period covered by this annual report.
Period
January 1 to January 31, 2025(1)
February 1 to February 28, 2025(2)
March 1 to March 31, 2025(2)
April 1 to April 30, 2025(2)
May 1 to May 31, 2025(2)
June 1 to June 30, 2025(2)
July 1 to July 31, 2025(3)
August 1 to August 31, 2025(3)
September 1 to September 30, 2025(3)
October 1 to October 31, 2025(3)
November 1 to November 30, 2025(3)
December 1 to December 31, 2025(3)
Comprises common shares that were purchased through a broker in a series of open-market transactions in Korea during the periods indicated above, pursuant to a trust agreement for the acquisition of up to W400 billion worth of treasury shares between October 28, 2024 and April 27, 2025, as announced via our report of foreign private issuer furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission via Form 6-K on October 25, 2024. Following the expiration of the agreement on April 28, 2025, we subsequently cancelled all of the shares that we purchased.
Comprises common shares that were purchased through a broker in a series of open-market transactions in Korea during the periods indicated above pursuant to a trust agreement for the acquisition of up to W500 billion worth of treasury shares between February 7, 2025 and August 6, 2025, as announced via our report of foreign private issuer furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission via Form 6-K on February 6, 2025. Following the early termination of the agreement on June 23, 2025 upon our completion of such purchases, we subsequently cancelled all of the shares that we purchased.
Comprises common shares that were purchased through a broker in a series of open-market transactions in Korea during the periods indicated above, pursuant to a trust agreement for the acquisition of up to W800 billion worth of treasury shares between July 31, 2025 and January 30, 2026, as announced via our report of foreign private issuer furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission via Form 6-K on July 25, 2025. Following the expiration of the agreement on January 30, 2026, we subsequently cancelled all of the shares that we purchased.
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In February 2026, we entered into another trust agreement with NH Investment & Securities Co., Ltd. to acquire, by July 2026, our shares of common stock in the aggregate amount of approximately W500 billion. We also currently intend to cancel all such shares of common stock either upon the completion of the acquisition or the expiration of the trust agreement on July 10, 2026.
Other than as described above, neither we nor any “affiliated purchaser,” as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) of the Exchange Act, purchased any of our equity securities during the period covered by this annual report.
CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
Our independent accountant has recently changed from KPMG to Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”), following the expiration of KPMG’s term of engagement, which covered the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Our Audit Committee evaluated the suitability and independence of PwC, and decided to appoint PwC as our independent auditor for the audit of our financial statements in Korea prepared in conformity with IFRS as adopted by Korea for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2026, 2027 and 2028. Our Audit Committee also approved the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the audit of our financial statements in conformity with IFRS as issued by the IASB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2026. PwC’s appointment was effective from February 6, 2026. KPMG’s engagement as our independent auditor and independent registered public accounting firm expired upon the completion of their audit of our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025, with no separate procedure required for their dismissal, although resolutions by the audit committees of each of our subsidiaries were required, which have been obtained to date.
KPMG’s audit reports on our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. Furthermore, during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and in the subsequent interim period preceding KPMG’s dismissal (the “Pre-engagement Period”), there were no disagreements with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practice, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure that if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG, would have caused KPMG to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in its reports. In addition, during the Pre-Engagement Period, there were no “reportable events” requiring disclosure pursuant to Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of Form 20-F.
During the Pre-Engagement Period, neither we nor anyone acting on our behalf consulted with PwC regarding any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement, as that term is defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F (and the related instructions thereto), or a reportable event as described in Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of Form 20-F.
We provided a copy of the disclosure in this Item 16F to KPMG and requested that KPMG furnish us with a letter addressed to the Commission stating whether it agrees with such disclosure, and if it does not agree, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of KPMG’s letter dated April 22, 2026 is filed as Exhibit 15.1 to this annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Differences in Corporate Governance Practices
We are a “foreign private issuer” (as such term is defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act), and our ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE. Under Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, NYSE-listed companies that are foreign private issuers are permitted to follow home country practice in lieu of the corporate governance provisions specified by the NYSE with limited exceptions. Under the NYSE Listed Company Manual, we as a foreign private issuer are required to disclose significant differences between NYSE’s corporate governance standards and those we follow under Korean law. The following summarizes
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some significant ways in which our corporate governance practices differ from those followed by U.S. companies listed on the NYSE under the listing rules of the NYSE:
NYSE Corporate Governance Standards
Majority of Independent Directors on the Board
Listed companies must have a board the majority of which comprises independent directors satisfying the requirements of “independence” as set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.
Our board of directors consists of 11 directors, of whom 9 directors satisfy the requirements of “independence” as set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.
Executive Session
Non-management directors are required to meet on a regular basis without management present and independent directors must meet separately at least once a year.
Listed companies must have an audit committee that has a minimum of three members, and all audit committee members must satisfy the requirements of independence set forth in Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.
Nomination/Corporate Governance Committee
Listed companies must have a nomination/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors. In addition to identifying individuals qualified to become board members, this committee must develop and recommend to the board a set of corporate governance principles.
Compensation Committee
A compensation committee of independent directors is required. The committee must have a charter that addresses the purpose, responsibilities and annual performance evaluation of the committee. The charter must be made available on the company’s website. In addition, in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules adopted pursuant to Section 952 of the Dodd Frank Act, the New York Stock Exchange listing standards were amended to expand the factors relevant in determining whether a committee member has a relationship with the company that will materially affect that member’s duties to the compensation committee.
Additionally, the committee may obtain or retain the advice of a compensation adviser only after taking into consideration all factors relevant to determining that adviser’s independence from management.
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Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Listed companies are required to establish corporate governance guidelines and to adopt a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees, and promptly disclose any waivers of the code for directors or executive officers.
Shareholder Approval of Equity Compensation Plans
Shareholders of listed companies are required to approve all equity compensation plans.
Although we may grant stock options under our Articles of Incorporation, we have not granted any stock options since April 1, 2010. We currently maintain two equity compensation plans: a PS plan for directors and key employees and an employee stock ownership plan for all employees under the Framework Act on Labor Welfare.
PSs for directors require a board resolution within limits approved by shareholders, while PSs for key employees require only a board resolution. No specific requirements for granting PSs are imposed under applicable Korean law or our Articles of Incorporation.
The employee stock ownership association’s equity compensation scheme is governed by its own internal regulations, over which we have no control under Korean law.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We have responded to Item 18 in lieu of responding to this item.
Reference is made to Item 19(a) for a list of all financial statements filed as part of this annual report.
EXHIBITS
Exhibits filed as part of this Annual Report:
See Exhibit Index beginning on page 249 of this annual report.
Financial Statements filed as part of this Annual Report:
See Index to Financial Statements on page F-1 of this annual report.
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A fair and accurate translation from Korean into English.
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s previous filing on Form 20-F (No. 001-31798), filed on September 15, 2003.
Incorporated by reference to “Item 10.B. Memorandum and Articles of Association — Description of Share Capital” of this annual report.
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s previous filing on Form 20-F (No. 001-31798), filed on June 30, 2008.
Incorporated by reference to Note 1 of the the consolidated financial statements of the registrant included in this annual report.
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s previous filing on Form 20-F (No. 001-31798), filed on April 23, 2025.
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s previous filing on Form 20-F (No. 001-31798), filed on April 18, 2024.
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SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
Date: April 22, 2026
/s/ Jin Okdong
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