Korean internet-only banks see 70% surge in mortgage loans

[Image source: Yonhap]

The combined outstanding balance of mortgage loans at South Korea’s top three internet-only banks—KakaoBank Corp., Kbank, and Viva Republica Inc.’s Toss—surged by over 11 trillion won ($8.2 billion) in 2023 compared to the previous year, data showed Monday.

According to data obtained by Democratic Party Representative Yang Kyung-sook on Monday, the combined outstanding balance of the mortgage loans at the three internet-only banks, including loans for monthly rent and lease, was about 26.64 trillion won as of the end of 2023. This marks an increase of 70.8 percent compared to the end of 2022 when the outstanding balance was 15.59 trillion won.

The 70 percent increase is significantly higher than the 3.3 percent growth in those loans last year at the four major commercial banks—KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, and Woori Bank.

The outstanding balance of mortgage loans at the four commercial banks increased by 13.6 trillion won to 431.93 trillion won at the end of 2023 from a year ago.

KakaoBank’s outstanding balance of mortgage loans stood at 21.31 trillion won as of the end of 2023, up 60.3 percent from a year ago. Kbank’s outstanding balance of mortgage loans was 4.92 trillion won, more than double the amount compared to the previous year’s 2.3 trillion won.