iM Financial Group is scaling back events for its 15th anniversary and instead stepping up community giving and social contribution activities. It is pursuing shared-growth finance through employee volunteering and donations. It also signalled its resolve to strengthen future financial competitiveness based on AI and ESG.

iM Financial held its 15th anniversary ceremony on May 15 at iM Bank's second headquarters in Daegu. Considering difficult economic conditions and the international situation, it simplified the event under the theme "Give With Grace" and returned the saved costs to the local community.

It designated May as a "month of social contribution" and said all employees will take part in shared-growth activities for all generations, including children, youth, older people and people with disabilities. It is supporting 74 welfare facilities nationwide this year. It donated a total of 150 million won to the Daegu Community Chest of Korea, including funds from employees' "1 percent of salary" sharing initiative.

Ahead of the ceremony, Chairman Hwang Byung-woo (황병우), an employee volunteer group and student ambassadors visited social welfare facilities and carried out volunteer activities including making snacks for children, repairing shelters and painting murals.

In his 15th anniversary address, Hwang presented a major shift in capital, hyper-personalised finance and an open ecosystem as key words for future financial strategy.

He stressed the need to respond to money moves by building high value-added finance based on capital markets as a growth engine. He also said the group should actively develop markets in a technology-driven financial ecosystem such as blockchain-based asset securitisation.

He added that the group needs to secure customer touchpoints and information through embedded finance in collaboration with various industries. He said it should break down the boundaries between services and partnerships, expand a connection-centred ecosystem and become deeply integrated into customers' lives.