Major South Korean Banks Accelerate Branch Closures Despite Record Profits
The brick-and-mortar banking era in South Korea is rapidly shrinking. According to recent industry data, the number of physical bank branches operated by the country's top lenders hit a new record low in 2025, continuing a downward trend driven by the aggressive shift toward digital finance. TL;DR Historical Lows: The number of branches operated by Korea's top five banks fell to 3,748 in 2025, a significant drop from over 4,400 just five years ago. Digital Shift: Banks cite a 30% decline in foot traffic and physical workloads as customers migrate to mobile-first "non-face-to-face" services. The Profit Paradox: The closures come despite record-breaking net profits of 13.99 trillion won ($9.67 billion), sparking criticism over the marginalization of elderly customers. What Happened Data released on Tuesday reveals that South Korea's five major commercial lenders— KB Kookmin Bank, NH NongHyup Bank, Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, and Hana Bank —operated a combined ,3748...
