KB Financial Group held a digital New Year’s ceremony utilizing AI technology on Jan. 2 to mark the Year of the Horse. The group presented “Transition and Expansion” as its management keywords for 2026.
Instead of an offline event, the ceremony was held digitally, with KB Chairman Yang Jong-hee’s New Year’s message delivered using AI streaming technology.
In the video, KB Financial Group expressed its commitment to innovation, leveraging the latest advancements in AI technology and shifts in the financial paradigm as new opportunities, and presented its management strategy for the next 10 years.
KB Financial Group employees were able to participate freely through internal messaging apps, tailored to their individual work schedules.
In the AI video, Yang expressed his gratitude to customers and shareholders for their consistent trust and support, as well as to employees who have demonstrated their excellence in rapidly changing internal and external environments.
Yang then emphasized that, rather than resting on past laurels, KB Financial Group must transform his business model to with extraordinary determination and efforts, while simultaneously expanding its vision and business boundaries to encompass customers and the market.
He shared an anecdote about discovering a school magazine from his high school days decades ago, urging the importance of anticipating future changes such as an upcoming wave of AI technology advancements, rather than focusing on immediate concerns.
Yang emphasized the need to strengthen productive finance based on professional business evaluations and a sophisticated risk management system in order to transform KB Financial Group’s business model.
He also emphasized the need to transform its business model into the capital-efficient IB business, offering comprehensive asset and liability solutions through advice- and consultation-focused sales.
Furthermore, he called for establishing inclusive finance as a core business principle to ensure that everyone will be able to enjoy KB’s financial services, and a financial consumer protection system that prioritizes consumer rights and interests throughout the entire process.
Yang also urged the expansion of customers and markets to extend KB Financial Group’s reach among strategic customer segments, including youths, seniors, small and medium-sized enterprises, and high-net-worth individuals.
He also urged KB employees to seize customers and business opportunities in the emerging digital asset and AI business markets.
Furthermore, Yang reiterated trust as the essential value of finance. “The core of finance is trust, and trust comes from competence,” Yang said.
“We must live up to the trust of our customers and the market by protecting customer information and assets, offering optimal products and solutions based on innovative AI technologies, and corporate management that can promote win-win growth with communities.”
Winning Presidential Citation at 2025 Sustainable Management Awards
KB Financial Group took home the Presidential Citation, the highest prize, in the general ESG category at the 2025 Sustainable Management Awards hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and organized by the Korea Productivity Center on Dec. 16.
In the environment category, KB Financial Group stood out with its leading strategies for responding to climate change. KB Financial Group is leading the way in building a sustainable, low-carbon society by establishing a goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030 through its mid- to long-term carbon neutrality strategy, “Net Zero S.T.A.R.”
In the society category, KB Financial Group was praised for various activities to protect future generations and promote self-reliance and growth in local communities as best practices.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, KB Financial Group will invest a total of 6 billion won over three years, starting in 2026, to expand local childcare infrastructure and strengthen public interest and stability to address nighttime childcare issues.
In terms of governance, KB Financial Group built a board-centered, accountable management system, establishing exemplary practices that enhance the board’s transparency and independence.
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