Banks report 11% drop in net income in first half of the year

A person walks past a bank of ATM booths in Yongsan District, central Seoul on Thursday.

A person walks past a bank of ATM booths in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

A person walks past a bank of ATM booths in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Thursday.

Bank earnings for the first half of the year totaled 12.6 trillion ($9.4 billion), down 1.5 trillion or 11 percent from a year ago, according to the Financial Supervisory Service. The income of national banks decreased, but that of regional and internet-only banks logged an increase.