Hana Bank is pushing ahead with a support programme aimed at easing small business owners' management burdens and strengthening sales competitiveness. It aims to help cut costs and diversify revenue by supporting the adoption of energy-efficient equipment and the development of online sales channels.

Hana Bank said on Tuesday it will run a "Small Business Competitiveness Enhancement Support Programme" for small businesses. It will recruit applicants for three weeks from June 11 and plans to select a total of 1,300 business sites by dividing the scheme into support for adopting energy-efficient equipment and support for developing online sales channels.

The energy-efficient equipment adoption support programme will be open to small business owners nationwide who want to participate. It will select 1,000 sites and subsidise purchases of energy-efficient equipment up to 2 million won per site.

Eligible items include air conditioners, heating and cooling units, refrigerators, kimchi refrigerators, washing machines, clothes dryers, air purifiers and dehumidifiers rated in energy efficiency grades 1 to 3.

The online sales channel development support programme will select 300 sites and provide solutions to help them enter online platforms and boost sales.

Detailed areas of support include assistance with entering online platforms, support for live commerce and support for crowdfunding. Platform entry support covers improving product design, creating pages and developing sales strategies. Live commerce support includes planning broadcasts and recruiting influencers, while crowdfunding support includes planning reward-based funding and building funding pages.

Hana Bank plans to select final recipients after a comprehensive review of each applicant site's business viability, sustainability and appropriateness for support.

Small businesses located in "alley-type shopping districts" designated by local government ordinances will receive preferential treatment in the screening process if they have completed approval to register as Onnuri Gift Certificate merchants.

A Hana Bank official said the programme was designed to help improve small business owners' practical management competitiveness. The official said the bank will continue to take the lead in revitalising local economies and practising inclusive finance through various support programmes that reflect voices from the field.