Hana Bank is launching a 500 billion won liquidity supply program to foster industries in the Busan and Yeongnam regions.
Hana Financial Group announced that Bank CEO Lee Ho-sung signed a business cooperation agreement on Tuesday at Busan City Hall with Busan Metropolitan City, Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT), and Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KIBO) to support the development of anchor companies in the Busan and Yeongnam areas.
Hana Bank will contribute 10 billion won to KODIT and 5.2 billion won to KIBO. Using these funds as a base, the bank plans to supply a total of 505.6 billion won in liquidity to companies in the Busan and Yeongnam regions. Eligible recipients include companies in new growth engine industries, export-oriented and overseas-expanding firms, and businesses in regional base industries.
Notably, for 265.6 billion won in loans, the bank will provide guarantee fee support of 0.6 percentage points for two years. KIBO and KODIT will also offer preferential guarantee ratios and fee reductions to ease financial burdens on regional companies. Busan Metropolitan City will provide 2 percentage points of interest support for three years on working capital of up to 800 million won per company, covering a total of 150 billion won. The Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry will promote the program to encourage corporate participation.
The agreement was established to support the government's national balanced development strategy centered on the "5 Poles, 3 Special Zones" initiative. Hana Bank aims to stabilize corporate management and invigorate regional economic ecosystems through financial support tailored to local industrial structures and demands.
Hana Bank is also working systematically to ensure regional and small-to-medium enterprises are not left behind in the transition to productive finance. Last month, the bank contributed 1 billion won to KIBO to supply 20 billion won in working capital for future strategic industry companies in the Chungcheong region. It also signed a financial support agreement with Korea Trade Insurance Corporation to provide 5 trillion won over three years, reducing financial costs and supporting working capital and facility investment for export-oriented SMEs and mid-sized companies. The bank has restructured its key performance indicators and added bonus criteria to channel funds to core advanced industries such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
"Regional balanced development is a core pillar for securing new national growth engines," CEO Lee said. "We will spare no effort in providing the financial support needed to foster technology-driven anchor companies in the Busan and Yeongnam regions and establish regional growth engines."
Attendees at the signing ceremony included Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun, Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Yang Jae-saeng, KIBO Executive Director Lee Sang-chang, and KODIT Executive Director Chae Byung-ho.