# KakaoBank

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kakaobank
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [KakaoBank — official](https://www.kakaobank.com/)

## Overview

**KakaoBank** is **Korea's largest internet-only lender** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Korea, Republic of report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KR)</sup>. **End of 2025 baseline**: **26.7M customers + 20M monthly active users + +1.82M new customers added in 2025** — reaching ~50% of Korea's population.

**Distinctive KakaoBank positioning** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>:
- **Korea's largest internet-only bank** (KakaoBank #1; K bank 15.5M #2; Toss Bank 12M+ #3)
- **2025 record results**: Annual operating profit 649.4 billion won + net profit 480.3 billion won (+7.0% + +9.1% YoY)
- **Deep KakaoTalk integration**: Vast, readily accessible customer base + reduced customer acquisition costs (distinctive Kakao-ecosystem advantage)
- **2027 targets**: 30M customers + total deposits 90 trillion won (per KakaoBank 2027 plan)

## History

**2015 — Korea introduces internet-only bank license framework** — distinctive Korean internet-bank regulatory innovation.

**2016 — KakaoBank founded** through collaboration between **Korea Investment Holdings + Kakao Corp**.

**July 2017 — KakaoBank launches** as Korea's 2nd internet-only bank (after K bank Apr 2017).

**2017-2024 — Mass Korean adoption** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: KakaoBank surpasses K bank to become Korea's largest internet-only bank.

**2025 — 26.7M customers + 20M MAU + record 2025 results (operating profit 649.4B KRW + net profit 480.3B KRW; +7.0% + +9.1% YoY)** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>.

**2026 May — KakaoBank targets 30M users via AI + global push** <sup>[2][2]</sup> (Seoul Economic Daily coverage).

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **KakaoBank Corp.** (KRX: 323410; KOSPI-listed since Aug 2021).

**Major shareholders**: **Kakao Corp (founding parent) + Korea Investment Holdings (KIH; founding partner) + various Korean institutional + KRX public float**.

**Regulators**: **FSC (Financial Services Commission of Korea)** + **FSS (Financial Supervisory Service)**.

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | KakaoBank app (iOS + Android; primary internet-only bank channel) + KakaoTalk integration (deep messaging-app integration) + KakaoBank cards |
| **Identifiers** | Phone + email + card number + Korean resident registration number |
| **KR rail** | **[Zero Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/zero-pay)** (Korea Financial Telecommunications & Clearings Institute KFTC instant payments + ZeroPay national QR) |
| **License** | Internet-only bank (Korea internet-only bank license; 2nd Korean internet bank after K bank) |
| **Sub-products** | KakaoBank Account + KakaoBank Cards + KakaoBank Savings + KakaoBank Mortgage + KakaoBank Loans + KakaoBank Investments + KakaoBank Insurance + KakaoBank for Children + KakaoBank Mini (minor product) + KakaoBank-Together (P2P) + KakaoBank Foreign Currency Exchange |
| **Deep KakaoTalk integration**: Distinctive Kakao messaging-app ecosystem reduces CAC + enables vast customer base |

## Users & growth

**End of 2025 baseline** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>:
- **26.7M customers** (+1.82M added in 2025)
- **20M monthly active users**
- **~50% of Korean population** reached
- **2025 annual operating profit**: 649.4B KRW (+7.0% YoY)
- **2025 annual net profit**: 480.3B KRW (+9.1% YoY)
- **2027 targets**: 30M customers + 90T KRW total deposits

## Use cases

Korean retail + savings + mortgage + loans + investments + insurance via KakaoBank app + KakaoTalk integration + KakaoBank cards; ZeroPay national QR + KFTC instant payments; deep Kakao ecosystem integration; KakaoBank-Together (P2P) + KakaoBank for Children + KakaoBank Mini + KakaoBank Foreign Currency Exchange.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **KakaoBank Corp.** (KRX: 323410).

**Major shareholders**: **Kakao Corp (founding parent) + Korea Investment Holdings (KIH; founding partner) + various Korean institutional + KRX public float**.

**Major Korean banking + payment competitors**:
- **[K Bank Korea](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/k-bank-korea)** (K bank Korea; 1st Korean internet-only bank Apr 2017; 15.5M users end 2025; BC Card 34% controlling stake)
- **[Toss Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/toss-bank)** (Batch 33 covered; Toss Bank; 3rd Korean internet-only bank; 12M+ users end 2025)
- **[KB Kookmin Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kb-kookmin-bank)** (KB Star Banking; KB Kookmin Bank; Korea's largest traditional bank with 30M+ retail customers)
- **[Naver Financial / Naver Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/naver-financial)** (Batch 32 covered; Naver Financial / Naver Pay)
- **[Kakao Pay QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/kakao-pay-qr)** (Kakao Pay; Kakao Corp's payment arm; sister entity)
- **Shinhan Bank** + **Hana Bank** + **Woori Bank** + **NongHyup Bank (NH Bank)** + **IBK Industrial Bank of Korea** (Korean traditional banks)
- **Toss Payments** + **[PayCO](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/payco)** (Batch 31 covered) + **[Samsung Pay (Samsung Wallet)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/samsung-pay)** (KR payments)

**Kakao ecosystem sisters**: **Kakao Corp + KakaoTalk + Kakao Pay + Kakao Games + Kakao Mobility** + others.

**Regulators**: **FSC + FSS**.

## Fun facts

- **Korea's largest internet-only bank** — 26.7M customers + 20M MAU + ~50% of Korean population reached.
- **2016 founded** by Korea Investment Holdings + Kakao Corp collaboration.
- **July 2017 launch** as Korea's 2nd internet-only bank (after K bank).
- **2025 record annual operating profit**: 649.4B KRW + net profit 480.3B KRW (+7.0% + +9.1% YoY).
- **+1.82M new customers added in 2025**.
- **Deep KakaoTalk integration** — distinctive Kakao messaging-app ecosystem reduces CAC.
- **2027 targets**: 30M customers + 90T KRW total deposits.
- **August 2021 KRX IPO** (KOSPI: 323410).

## Comparison

| Feature | KakaoBank | [K Bank Korea](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/k-bank-korea) (Korea 1st internet-only bank rival; 15.5M users end 2025) | [Toss Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/toss-bank) (Batch 33; Korea 3rd internet-only bank rival; 12M+ users end 2025) | [KB Kookmin Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kb-kookmin-bank) (Korea's largest traditional bank rival; 30M+ retail customers) | [bunq](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bunq) (EU #2 neobank comparable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **KakaoBank Corp. (KRX: 323410; Kakao Corp founding parent + Korea Investment Holdings + Korean institutional + KRX public float)** | K Bank (KT + BC Card 34% controlling + Woori Bank + NH Investment & Securities + 20 shareholders) | Toss Bank (Viva Republica) | KB Kookmin Bank (KB Financial Group; KRX: 105560) | bunq B.V. (Amsterdam; Ali Niknam + Series A investors) |
| Type | **Korea's largest internet-only bank + KakaoTalk integration + ~50% Korean population reached** | Korea's 1st internet-only bank + telecom (KT) + BC Card processing rails | Korea's 3rd internet-only bank + Toss Bank | Korea's largest traditional bank + KB Star Banking + 30M+ retail customers + Wallet service (Jun 2025) | EU #2 neobank + 30 European countries + flexible crypto staking |
| Country | Korea | Korea | Korea | Korea | 30 European countries |
| Users | **26.7M customers (end 2025) + 20M MAU; +1.82M added in 2025; ~50% Korean population** | 15.5M users (end 2025) | 12M+ users (end 2025) | 30M+ retail customers | 20M users (end 2025) |
| Distinctive | **2016 KakaoBank founded by Korea Investment Holdings + Kakao Corp collaboration; Jul 2017 launch as 2nd Korean internet-only bank; deep KakaoTalk integration reduces CAC; 2025 record results 649.4B KRW operating profit + 480.3B KRW net profit (+7.0% + +9.1% YoY); 2027 targets 30M customers + 90T KRW deposits; Aug 2021 KRX IPO** | Korea's 1st internet-only bank (Apr 2017); BC Card 34% controlling stake; KT telecom muscle + BC Card processing rails; net profit fell 12% 2025 + NIM collapsed nearly full percentage point | Korea's 3rd internet-only bank | Korea's largest traditional bank; KB Star Banking Wallet service (Jun 2025) integrates QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR | 2012 founding by Ali Niknam; Sep 2025 first European challenger bank with flexible crypto staking |

## Status

**Active, Korea's largest internet-only bank** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>:
- **KakaoBank Corp. (KRX: 323410)** since 2016 (founded by Korea Investment Holdings + Kakao Corp collaboration); July 2017 launch; August 2021 KRX IPO.
- **26.7M customers + 20M MAU** (end 2025) — ~50% Korean population reached.
- **2025 annual operating profit 649.4B KRW + net profit 480.3B KRW** (+7.0% + +9.1% YoY).
- **2027 targets**: 30M customers + 90T KRW total deposits.
- **Deep KakaoTalk integration** distinctive Kakao messaging-app ecosystem advantage.
- **FSC + FSS regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/banking-finance/20260204/kakaobank-posts-record-profit-for-2025-on-higher-non-interest-income "KakaoBank posts record profit for 2025 — Korea Times Feb 2026"
[2]: https://en.sedaily.com/finance/2026/05/03/kakaobank-targets-30-million-users-via-ai-global-push "KakaoBank Targets 30M Users via AI, Global Push — Seoul Economic Daily May 2026"
[3]: https://www.glinsight.com/kakao-bank-record-first-9-months-2025-gl-insight/ "Kakao Bank Hits New Record In First 9 Months of 2025 — GL Insight"
[4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KakaoBank "KakaoBank — Wikipedia"
[kr-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KR

- [1] [KakaoBank posts record profit for 2025 — Korea Times Feb 2026][1]
- [2] [KakaoBank Targets 30M Users via AI Global Push — Seoul Economic Daily May 2026][2]
- [3] [Kakao Bank Hits New Record First 9 Months of 2025 — GL Insight][3]
- [4] [KakaoBank — Wikipedia][4]
- <sup>[Korea, Republic of report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KR)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/KR-south-korea.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [kakaobank.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/kakaobank). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.