# KB Kookmin Bank

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

Specifications:
- [KB Kookmin Bank — official](https://www.kbstar.com/)

## Overview

**KB Kookmin Bank** is **Korea's largest bank by retail customers** + **KB Financial Group's flagship banking subsidiary** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Korea, Republic of report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KR)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: **Korea's first traditional bank to exceed 30M retail customers**.

**Distinctive KB Star Banking positioning** <sup>[3][3]</sup>:
- **Korea's largest bank by retail customers** (30M+ retail customers; first Korean bank in banking sector to exceed this)
- **KB Star Banking 2025 redesign**: Focused on improving speed and convenience; provides comprehensive financial services with core services of six affiliates of KB Financial Group
- **June 2025 — "Wallet" service launch on KB Star Banking**: Distinctive payment + identification integration in one place (QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR)
- **One of the largest banks in the world historically**: 60th largest globally as of 2017

## History

**1963 — Kookmin Bank founded** by Korean government — distinctive Korean state-bank heritage origin.

**2001 — Kookmin Bank + Housing & Commercial Bank merger** to form modern Kookmin Bank.

**2008 — KB Financial Group holding company** established (KRX: 105560).

**2011 — KB Star Banking app launches** as KB Kookmin Bank's flagship mobile banking app.

**2010s-2025 — Mass Korean digital banking expansion** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: KB Kookmin Bank exceeds 30M retail customers (first Korean bank in banking sector).

**June 2025 — KB Star Banking "Wallet" service launch** <sup>[3][3]</sup> — distinctive payment + identification integration (QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR).

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **KB Kookmin Bank** (KB Financial Group subsidiary; KB Financial Group: KRX: 105560).

**Major shareholders (KB Financial Group)**: **National Pension Service (Korean state pension fund; major shareholder) + BlackRock + Vanguard + various Korean institutional + KRX public float** (widely held; significant Korean institutional ownership).

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

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | KB Star Banking app (iOS + Android; primary KR retail-banking mobile channel; Wallet service since Jun 2025) + KB Global Banking (for overseas Korean residents) + KB Pay (KB Financial Group payment arm) + KB Kookmin Bank cards (KB Card) + KB Kookmin Bank extensive Korean branch network |
| **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; KB Star Banking Wallet QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR integration) |
| **License** | Bank (KB Kookmin Bank full Korean banking license; Korea's largest bank by retail customers) |
| **Sub-products** | KB Kookmin Bank Account + KB Cards (Kookmin Card / KB Card) + KB Loans + KB Mortgage + KB Investments + KB Insurance (KB Insurance + KB Life Insurance) + KB Securities + KB Pay + KB Star Banking Wallet (Jun 2025; QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR) + KB Asset Management |
| **6 KB Financial Group affiliates integrated** in KB Star Banking |
| **Distinctive Wallet (Jun 2025)**: Payment + identification integration in one place (QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR) |

## Users & growth

**2025 baseline** <sup>[2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **Korea's largest bank by retail customers** (30M+ retail customers; first Korean bank in banking sector to exceed)
- **KB Star Banking 2025 redesign**: Improved speed + convenience; 6 KB Financial Group affiliates integrated
- **June 2025 KB Star Banking Wallet service launch**: QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR
- **60th largest bank in world** (as of 2017; historical context)
- **Multi-country presence**: 12 countries

## Use cases

Korean + multi-country retail + corporate + investment + insurance banking via KB Star Banking + KB Global Banking + KB Pay + cards + branches; ZeroPay national QR + KFTC instant payments; distinctive Jun 2025 Wallet service (payment + identification integration: QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR); 6 KB Financial Group affiliates (banking + cards + securities + insurance + asset management + life insurance) integrated in KB Star Banking.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **KB Kookmin Bank** (KB Financial Group subsidiary; KRX: 105560).

**Major shareholders**: **National Pension Service (Korean state pension fund; major shareholder) + BlackRock + Vanguard + Korean institutional + KRX public float**.

**Major Korean banking + payment competitors**:
- **[KakaoBank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kakaobank)** (KakaoBank; Korea's largest internet-only bank; 26.7M customers end 2025; KakaoTalk integration)
- **[K Bank Korea](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/k-bank-korea)** (K bank Korea; 1st Korean internet-only bank; 15.5M users end 2025)
- **[Toss Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/toss-bank)** (Batch 33 covered; Toss Bank; 3rd Korean internet-only bank; 12M+ users end 2025)
- **[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)
- **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)

**KB Financial Group sister entities**: **KB Kookmin Bank + KB Securities + KB Insurance + KB Life Insurance + KB Asset Management + KB Capital + KB Pay + Kookmin Card (KB Card)**.

**Regulators**: **FSC + FSS + per-country (e.g., HKMA HK + OCC US + others)**.

## Fun facts

- **Korea's largest bank by retail customers** — 30M+ retail customers (first Korean bank in banking sector to exceed).
- **1963 founding as Kookmin Bank** by Korean government.
- **2001 Kookmin Bank + Housing & Commercial Bank merger** formed modern Kookmin Bank.
- **2008 KB Financial Group holding company** established (KRX: 105560).
- **2011 KB Star Banking app launch**.
- **June 2025 KB Star Banking "Wallet" service launch** — distinctive payment + identification integration in one place (QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR).
- **6 KB Financial Group affiliates integrated** in KB Star Banking.
- **60th largest bank in world** (as of 2017; historical context).
- **Multi-country presence**: 12 countries (KR + CN + HK + JP + IN + ID + VN + KH + MM + KZ + US + GB).

## Comparison

| Feature | KB Star Banking | [KakaoBank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kakaobank) (Korea's largest internet-only bank rival; 26.7M customers) | [K Bank Korea](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/k-bank-korea) (Korea 1st internet-only bank rival; 15.5M users) | [Toss Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/toss-bank) (Batch 33; Korea 3rd internet-only bank rival; 12M+ users) | [HSBC UK Mobile Banking + First Direct](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/hsbc-uk) (UK Big-4 + global UK-anchored international bank comparable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **KB Kookmin Bank (KB Financial Group; KRX: 105560; National Pension Service + BlackRock + Vanguard + Korean institutional + KRX float)** | KakaoBank Corp. (KRX: 323410; Kakao Corp founding parent + Korea Investment Holdings + Korean institutional + KRX float) | K Bank (BC Card KT subsidiary 34% controlling + KT + Woori Bank + NH Investment & Securities + 16 others) | Toss Bank (Viva Republica) | HSBC Holdings (LSE: HSBA + HKEX: 5 + NYSE: HSBC; widely held) |
| Type | **Korea's largest bank by retail customers + KB Star Banking + 6 KB Financial Group affiliates integrated + Jun 2025 Wallet service (QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR) + 12 countries** | Korea's largest internet-only bank + KakaoTalk integration + ~50% Korean population reached | Korea's 1st internet-only bank + BC Card 34% controlling stake | Korea's 3rd internet-only bank | UK Big-4 + global UK-anchored international bank + First Direct subsidiary |
| Country | KR + 11 other countries | Korea | Korea | Korea | UK + 60+ countries |
| Users | **30M+ retail customers (first Korean bank in banking sector to exceed)** | 26.7M customers (end 2025) + 20M MAU | 15.5M users (end 2025) | 12M+ users (end 2025) | 15M UK customers + 7M+ registered mobile banking customers + 1.7B+ logins past year |
| Distinctive | **1963 founding as Kookmin Bank by Korean government; 2001 Kookmin Bank + Housing & Commercial Bank merger; 2008 KB Financial Group holding established; 2011 KB Star Banking launch; Jun 2025 Wallet service distinctive payment + identification integration (QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR); 6 KB Financial Group affiliates integrated; 60th largest bank in world (2017); 30M+ first Korean bank to exceed retail customers** | 2016 KakaoBank founded by Korea Investment Holdings + Kakao Corp; Jul 2017 launch as 2nd KR internet-only bank; deep KakaoTalk integration; 2025 record results | Korea's 1st internet-only bank (Apr 2017); BC Card 34% controlling stake; KT telecom muscle; 2025 challenges (net profit -12% + NIM collapse) | Korea's 3rd internet-only bank | UK's most significant app transformation since 2012; 18-month redesign; First Direct subsidiary; Ping An Insurance historically major shareholder (reduced 2023-2024) |

## Status

**Active, Korea's largest bank by retail customers** <sup>[2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **KB Kookmin Bank** (KB Financial Group; KRX: 105560) since 1963 (Korean government founding) / 2001 (Kookmin Bank + Housing & Commercial Bank merger) / 2008 (KB Financial Group holding established).
- **30M+ retail customers** — first Korean bank in banking sector to exceed.
- **KB Star Banking 2025 redesign + Jun 2025 Wallet service launch** (QR payment + ZeroPay + KB Pay + Health Insurance QR).
- **6 KB Financial Group affiliates integrated** in KB Star Banking.
- **Multi-country presence**: 12 countries.
- **National Pension Service (Korean state pension fund) major shareholder**.
- **FSC + FSS + per-country regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://en.namu.wiki/w/KB%EA%B5%AD%EB%AF%BC%EC%9D%80%ED%96%89 "KB Kookmin Bank — NamuWiki"
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kookmin_Bank "Kookmin Bank — Wikipedia"
[3]: https://cm.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2025061915570496007 "KB Kookmin Bank Revamps KB Star Banking Wallet Service Jun 2025 — 아시아경제"
[4]: https://www.kbfg.com/eng/about/group/history/jump.htm "KB Financial Group Our History — official"
[kr-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KR

- [1] [KB Kookmin Bank — NamuWiki][1]
- [2] [Kookmin Bank — Wikipedia][2]
- [3] [KB Kookmin Bank Revamps KB Star Banking Wallet Service Jun 2025 — 아시아경제][3]
- [4] [KB Financial Group Our History — official][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 [kb-kookmin-bank.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/kb-kookmin-bank). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.