The highest number of 75 Shinhans… ‘Uncomfortable’ for the elderly
Preparing to open joint stores in some areas
Bank stores are rapidly decreasing as non-face-to-face transactions such as mobile banking increase after Corona 19. Rural areas are also being affected by population decline. According to the ‘2021 Domestic Bank Store Operation Status’ announced by the Financial Supervisory Service on the 30th, there were 6,094 domestic bank stores as of the end of last year, a decrease of 311 in one year. Bank branches decreased by 23 in 2018, 57 in 2019 and 304 in 2020.
By bank, Shinhan Bank’s branches decreased the most to 75 last year, followed by KB Kookmin Bank (58), Woori Bank (53), Hana Bank (38), Busan Bank (20), and Kyongnam Bank (14). followed By bank type, the number of commercial banks decreased by 230 to 3316, and the number of regional bank branches decreased by 57, leaving 832. Special bank branches such as Korea Development Bank, Export-Import Bank, Nonghyup Bank, and Suhyup Bank decreased by 24 to 1,946.
By region, the number decreased by 244 in metropolitan areas such as metropolitan areas and metropolitan areas to 4641, and in non-metropolitan areas, 67 decreased to 1,454.
There is also concern that the number of bank branches will decrease rapidly, causing inconvenience to the disadvantaged class in digital finance, such as the elderly.
Last year, when Shinhan Bank tried to close a branch in Wolgye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul, it met with protests from residents, so the store was closed, but it was also agreed to leave a digital branch and two counter staff.
Recently, the banking sector is looking for alternatives, such as introducing a joint branch instead of reducing the number of branches. Hana Bank and Woori Bank will open a joint branch in April in Sinbong-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do. This is an area where Hana Bank and Woori Bank branches closed one after another last year. Hana Bank and Korea Development Bank also started a store network joint use service from the 29th. KB Kookmin Bank and Shinhan Bank are preparing to open a joint branch in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk. The Financial Supervisory Service said, “We plan to actively support the post office window alliance and joint store promotion that banks are promoting.”
