South Korea's five major financial groups posted net profits exceeding 13 trillion won in the first half of the year, with securities operations serving as the biggest growth driver

Svmuu News: Driven by the strong performance of the South Korean stock market, South Korea’s five major financial groups (KB Financial, Shinhan Financial, Hana Financial, Woori Financial, and NH Nonghyup Financial) collectively posted a net profit of 13.12 trillion won in the first half of 2026, marking a year-over-year increase of approximately 10%. Among them, KB Financial Group remained in first place with a net profit of 3.88 trillion won, while Shinhan Financial Group ranked second with 3.44 trillion won.
Analysis shows that the securities subsidiaries of South Korea’s five major financial groups posted significant growth in earnings. NH Investment & Securities, KB Securities, and Shinhan Investment Securities saw their first-half net profits rise by 107.5%, 135.0%, and 123.1% year-over-year, respectively, driving a continued increase in the contribution of non-banking operations to group profits. At the same time, the performance of several insurance subsidiaries came under pressure due to factors such as rising claim ratios and adjustments to actuarial assumptions. Major financial groups also announced that they will continue to advance share buyback and cancellation plans in the second half of the year to further enhance shareholder returns. (Asiae)