KB Kookmin Bank said on April 12 it will operate a 6 trillion won productive finance support programme with the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency.

The programme, called the preferential programme for companies using KOSMES policy funds, will take effect from April 13. It was set up as part of KB Financial Group's "KB People’s Happiness Growth Project".

The programme targets SMEs and venture companies that use policy funds. KB Kookmin Bank plans to provide special interest rate preferences within a limit of 6 trillion won.

Companies eligible for agreement guarantees will also receive additional benefits. Firms covered by the "special contribution agreement guarantee" will have a 100 percent guarantee ratio applied for 3 years and can receive up to a 0.3 percentage point reduction in guarantee fees. Firms covered by the "guarantee fee support agreement guarantee" will receive guarantee fee support of 1.0 percentage point per year for 2 years, totalling 2 percentage points.

KB Kookmin Bank plans to expand financial support, particularly for companies facing difficulties such as rising logistics costs and contract delays due to the Middle East situation. It aims to ease management burdens through rapid funding support.

It also plans to pursue balanced regional development through regional-level cooperation between the two institutions if additional financial demand arises among regional SMEs and venture companies.

A KB Kookmin Bank official said, "We hope this programme will provide practical help to companies harmed by the Middle East situation." The official added, "We will continue to expand productive finance support and consistently support companies' management stability and stronger competitiveness."