KB Financial Group, one of South Korea's largest financial holding companies, reported a net profit of KRW 3,884.6 billion for the first half of 2026, an increase of 13.1% from the same period a year earlier, the group said in its interim results.
Return on equity for the period improved to 14.09%, while total consolidated assets stood at KRW 866.9 trillion.
FEE INCOME AND SECURITIES SUBSIDIARY LEAD
The group attributed the 13.1% rise to a strong improvement in non-interest income led by capital-markets-related fees: net fee and commission income rose 50.6% to KRW 2,961.2 billion. Non-banking affiliates contributed 44% of group net profit, with KB Securities alone accounting for 21%.
First-half net profit was a record, and the group announced a further KRW 700 billion share buyback and cancellation for the second half plus a quarterly dividend of KRW 1,155 per share. CFO Na Sang-rok said total shareholder returns for the year were expected to reach around KRW 3.7 trillion.
Second-quarter net profit was KRW 1,992.2 billion, up 14.6% year on year and a quarterly record.
PROFITABILITY REACHES MID-TEENS
Return on equity of 14.09% was up 1.06 percentage points year on year, while return on assets was 0.95% and the CET1 ratio stood at 13.74% at the end of June.
KB Securities' first-half net profit rose 135% year on year to KRW 796.3 billion.
The group operates through Kookmin Bank as its core commercial banking subsidiary alongside securities, non-life and life insurance, card and asset management businesses.
KB Financial Group released the preliminary results at an earnings conference on 23 July, with presentation materials published on its website.
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