Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
KakaoBank profit rises 25.2% as business lending grows
South Korean digital bank KakaoBank earned 469.8 billion won in the first nine months of 2026, 25.2% more than in the same period a year earlier.
Individual business owners accounted for 58% of its loan growth so far this year, as the bank expanded lending to them.
At the end of September, KakaoBank had 48.6 trillion won in loans, including 4.036 trillion won lent to individual business owners.
Fees and platform services also brought in more revenue, rising 10.9% from a year earlier.
The bank’s overdue-loan rate was 0.49% at the end of September, down 0.02 percentage points from the previous quarter.
KakaoBank plans to launch a business mortgage refinancing product this month for customers who borrowed from other financial firms.
It plans to offer loans for apartment down payments next year, following its planned launch of online loans for final housing payments.
KakaoBank reported cumulative net profit of 469.8 billion won for January to September, up 25.2% from a year earlier.
Net profit in the third quarter was 141.7 billion won, up 27.2% year on year.
Business loans accounted for 58% of the increase in the bank’s loan balance this year.
Fee and platform revenue rose 10.9% from a year earlier.
At the end of September, KakaoBank’s total loan balance was 48.6 trillion won, and its delinquency rate was 0.49%.
- Who
- KakaoBank.
- What
- The bank reported higher profit, supported by growth in business lending and fee and platform revenue.
- When
- The results were announced on November 4, 2026, covering January to September.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Growth in business lending and fee and platform revenue supported higher operating revenue.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
KakaoBank recorded cumulative net profit of 469.8 billion won, up 25.2% year on year.
Total loans reached 48.6 trillion won, while the delinquency rate was 0.49%.
KakaoBank announced its third-quarter results.
KakaoBank plans to launch a property-backed loan for business owners switching from loans at other financial firms.
KakaoBank plans to introduce interim-payment loans after launching online final-payment loans for apartment purchases.
- Cumulative net profit
- 469.8 billion won for January to September
- Year-on-year profit growth
- 25.2%
- Business loans’ share of loan growth
- 58%
- Total loan balance
- 48.6 trillion won at the end of September
- Delinquency rate
- 0.49% at the end of September
- Fee and platform revenue
- 2,563 billion won for January to September