[Edaily Reporter Kim Se-yeon ] Although iM Financial Group’s total operating profit increased in the first half of this year, net income decreased by approximately 4% due to the burden of education taxes and an increase in provisions. The group is continuing its shareholder return policy by purchasing and canceling an additional 30 billion won worth of treasury stock.

iM Financial Group announced on the 27th in its earnings release that it recorded a net income attributable to controlling shareholders of 295.6 billion won for the first half of 2026. This represents a 4.4% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Interest income improved by 4.1% year-over-year, driven by growth in corporate lending at iM Bank through the expansion of productive finance and growth in operating assets at iM Capital. The contribution of non-interest income from iM Securities also expanded in line with the revitalization of the capital markets. Consequently, total operating profit increased by 4.4% compared to the same period last year. However, net income decreased due to higher costs resulting from changes in the education tax rate implemented this year and an increase in provisions for loan losses driven by asset growth.
Looking at individual affiliates, iM Bank, the flagship affiliate, posted a net income of 245.7 billion won for the first half of the year. Corporate lending grew by 5.9% in the first half, driving asset growth. The outstanding balance of won-denominated loans surpassed 60 trillion won for the first time in history. The delinquency rate and non-performing loan ratio, which indicate financial soundness, stood at 0.87% and 0.94%, respectively. The loan loss provision ratio also stabilized at a lower level of 0.41%.
iM Capital posted a net income of 39.5 billion won as its operating assets increased by 13.9% in the first half. iM Securities achieved a net income of 44.9 billion won on a standalone basis, driven by a significant increase in commission income. iM Life also recorded a net income of 18.2 billion won, up 31.9% year-over-year.
DGB Financial Group(139130) Concurrent with the earnings announcement, the board of directors approved a plan to purchase and cancel an additional 30 billion won worth of treasury stock. This represents a 50% increase compared to the 20 billion won worth of treasury stock purchased and canceled in the second half of last year. If the buyback and cancellation are completed as planned, the cumulative amount of treasury stock repurchased and canceled will reach 130 billion won. In accordance with the corporate value enhancement plan announced in October 2024, iM Financial Group will carry out a total of 150 billion won in treasury stock buybacks and cancellations by 2027.
Cheon Byung-kyu, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of iM Financial Group, stated, “If 2025 was the year of performance normalization, 2026 will be the year of securing performance stability, proving that normalized performance is not a one-time occurrence.” “We will strive to achieve the first-phase goal of our corporate value enhancement plan ahead of schedule by steadily managing our capital ratios through the end of the year, and we will actively utilize opportunities for tax-exempt dividends so that shareholders can tangibly experience a substantial improvement in shareholder value,” he added.