South Korea\'s financial authorities expanded the scope of eased network separation rules for AI use to secondary financial institutions and electronic financial business operators. The number of firms to be selected rises to as many as 15, and eligibility thresholds are lowered. Selected institutions can use external AI and security SaaS after putting alternative controls in place. Industry expectations are mixed, with some firms cautious. Global fintech investment rose to $103.1 billion in the first half, with focus expected to shift to AI and financial infrastructure.

Toss Bank posted a first-half net profit of 58.9 billion won, its highest for any half-year, up 46 percent from a year earlier. Second-quarter net profit rose to 29.4 billion won. Loans outstanding increased 3.3 percent, while policy finance supply expanded and the share of guaranteed loans rose. Deposits fell year on year. Asset quality improved, with delinquencies and NPL ratios lower.