[Edaily Reporter Kim Se-yeon ] Kakao Bank ( KakaoBank Corp.(323410)) posted a first-half net profit of 328 billion won, setting yet another record high for a half-year period. This was driven by balanced growth not only in interest income but also in non-interest income, such as fees and platform revenue.

KakaoBank Corp. announced on the 5th, through its “First Half of 2026 Financial Results Announcement,” that its net income for the first half of the year reached 328 billion won, a 24.4% increase compared to the same period last year. First-half revenue rose 5.5% year-over-year to 1.6483 trillion won, while operating profit decreased 0.5% to 351.6 billion won.
Interest income, driven by loan growth and expanded returns on fund management, increased alongside non-interest income—including fees and platform revenue—which grew evenly. Non-interest income rose 4.8% to 589.5 billion won, accounting for 36% of total revenue.
The customer base also expanded. As of the end of the second quarter, the number of customers stood at 27.63 million, marking an increase of approximately 1 million in the first half of the year alone. Monthly active users (MAU) reached 20.32 million, while weekly active users (WAU) stood at 15.04 million. The company attributes the high level of customer activity to improved access to investment services through the “Investment Tab” and the enhancement of its conversational AI services.
Deposit balances at the end of the second quarter stood at 67.11 trillion won, down from the previous quarter due to capital flows driven by the booming stock market. However, they increased by more than 1 trillion won in July, marking a return to net growth.
The number of users of group savings accounts surpassed 13 million, with a balance of 11.7 trillion won.
The outstanding loan balance stood at 48.217 trillion won, an increase of 518 billion won from the previous quarter. In the first half of the year, new loans to borrowers with medium-to-low credit scores totaled approximately 1 trillion won, and the outstanding balance of loans to sole proprietors rose to 3.687 trillion won, expanding inclusive finance and financial support for small business owners. The delinquency rate stood at 0.51%, and the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio was 0.54%, remaining at levels similar to the previous quarter.
In the second quarter, the amount of loans disbursed through KakaoBank Corp.’s loan comparison service in partnership with affiliated financial institutions reached 1.56 trillion won, a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. KakaoBank Corp. has been strengthening its competitiveness as a lending platform by expanding its network of new partners—including regional banks and credit card companies—and the range of products available on its platform. It has also enhanced its competitiveness as a comprehensive investment platform. Driven by increased usage of investment services via the “Investment Tab,” the combined sales balance of money market fund (MMF) boxes and mutual funds rose to 1.8 trillion won at the end of the second quarter.
The volume of debit card transactions in the second quarter was 6.3 trillion won. This marked a record high for a single quarter and drove growth in fee revenue. In addition, due to factors such as increased interest income from bonds resulting from rising market interest rates, net interest income for the second quarter reached 169.8 billion won, contributing to the expansion of non-interest income.
A KakaoBank Corp. official stated, “Despite an external environment marked by uncertainty and high volatility, we achieved balanced growth across all sectors based on our customer base and platform competitiveness,” adding, “In the second half of the year, we will build on this stable growth to expand inclusive finance and introduce innovative services, thereby establishing ourselves as the financial platform of first choice for customers.”