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Korea-Canada March 23, 2026 · 18 min read

Korean Fintech Partners Directory

Korean Fintech Partners Directory

Key Takeaway

Korea's banking sector is dominated by five major commercial banks (KB, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, NH), each with assets ranging from KRW 380–500 trillion, alongside a rapidly growing digital banking segment led by Kakao Bank, K Bank, and Toss Bank. Canadian fintech firms will find the most immediate partnership opportunities in digital banking APIs, stablecoin payment infrastructure, SME credit scoring, and agri-fintech — sectors where Korean institutions are actively seeking external innovation.

# Korean Fintech Partners Directory

A comprehensive directory of Korean banks, fintech companies, regulators, and industry associations relevant to Canadian fintech firms seeking partnerships, licensing, or market entry in South Korea.

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Major Commercial Banks

| Company Name | Korean | Website | Industry/Specialty | Size/Revenue | Contact/Entry Point | Notes for Canadian Companies | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | KB Kookmin Bank | KB국민은행 | kbstar.com | Retail and commercial banking, wealth management | Assets ~KRW 500 trillion; largest by assets | Fintech Partnership Division | Korea's largest bank by assets; KB Financial Group parent; patented hybrid credit card-stablecoin payment system; active fintech investor | | Shinhan Bank | 신한은행 | shinhan.com | Retail and commercial banking, digital banking | Assets ~KRW 450 trillion | Digital Innovation Division | Consistently rated top Korean bank for digital innovation; testing stablecoin transactions; Shinhan Financial Group parent; open to fintech partnerships | | Hana Bank | 하나은행 | hanabank.com | Retail and commercial banking, foreign exchange | Assets ~KRW 430 trillion | Fintech Alliance Team | Formed KRW stablecoin consortium; strong in FX and trade finance; Hana Financial Group parent; has Canadian correspondent banking relationships | | Woori Bank | 우리은행 | wooribank.com | Retail and commercial banking | Assets ~KRW 420 trillion | Digital Strategy Division | Integrating stablecoin settlement within Samsung Wallet; Woori Financial Group parent; good entry point for payment-related fintech | | NH NongHyup Bank | NH농협은행 | nonghyup.com | Agricultural cooperative banking, retail banking | Assets ~KRW 380 trillion | Digital Banking Team | Korea's agricultural banking powerhouse; strong rural network; relevant for agri-fintech solutions | | IBK (Industrial Bank of Korea) | 기업은행 | ibk.co.kr | SME lending, corporate banking | Assets ~KRW 350 trillion; government-owned | SME Finance Division | Korea's primary SME bank; government-owned; relevant for SME lending technology and credit scoring solutions | | Kakao Bank | 카카오뱅크 | kakaobank.com | Digital-only bank | 24+ million customers; KOSPI-listed | Business Partnership Team | Korea's largest digital bank; integrated with KakaoTalk; rapid account opening via mobile; open to BaaS and API partnerships | | K Bank | 케이뱅크 | kbanknow.com | Digital-only bank | Growing rapidly; backed by KT and BC Card | Partnership Division | Korea's first internet-only bank; partnered with crypto exchanges; API-first architecture open to integration | | Toss Bank | 토스뱅크 | tossbank.com | Digital-only bank | Part of Toss (Viva Republica) ecosystem | Banking Partnership Team | Newest internet bank; seamlessly integrated with Toss super-app; innovative credit scoring using alternative data |

Fintech Companies

| Company Name | Korean | Website | Industry/Specialty | Size/Revenue | Contact/Entry Point | Notes for Canadian Companies | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Toss |

Implications

Canadian fintech companies entering the Korean market should prioritize outreach to the dedicated Fintech Partnership or Digital Innovation divisions at major banks, as these units are structurally mandated to evaluate and onboard external technology partners. Hana Bank's existing Canadian correspondent banking relationships offer a lower-friction entry point for cross-border payment or trade finance solutions. The three internet-only banks — Kakao Bank, K Bank, and Toss Bank — present strong API and BaaS partnership opportunities for Canadian firms with modular, integration-ready technology stacks. IBK's government-backed SME mandate creates a receptive environment for Canadian credit scoring, alternative lending, or SME financial management platforms seeking a public-sector anchor partner.

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