KB Kookmin Bank said on April 28 it has expanded its 'KB Hope Finance Center' to major hubs nationwide, extending beyond Seoul and Incheon to Daegu, Daejeon and Busan. The KB Hope Finance Center supports vulnerable customers' economic recovery by providing debt adjustment and credit counselling services.

An event held at the Seoul center to mark the expansion was attended by Lee Eok-won (이억원), chairman of the Financial Services Commission, Lee Chang-kwon (이창권), head of the future strategy division at KB Financial Group, and Song Yong-hoon (송용훈), executive vice president of the credit management group at KB Kookmin Bank, among others.

The KB Hope Finance Center offers the bank's own debt adjustment, guidance on debt relief systems such as the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service, the New Start Fund, individual rehabilitation and bankruptcy, and guidance on policy finance products and ways to switch from high-interest loans.

To improve work efficiency, it also introduced a post-loan management AI agent based on 'KB GenAI' developed by KB Financial Group to strengthen counselling support functions.

A 'mental care counselling service' linked with the Korea EAP Association is also operating, funded by donations from KB Kookmin Bank.

A KB Kookmin Bank official said, "We hope customers struggling with debt will receive practical help through the KB Hope Finance Center." The official added, "We will continue to fulfil our social responsibility by practising inclusive finance."