DGB Financial Group

What DGB Financial Group does

DGB Financial Group is a South Korean banking holding company headquartered in Daegu that operates a hybrid financial group model through 11 subsidiaries covering the major verticals of Korean finance: commercial banking (iM Bank), securities brokerage (iM Securities), life insurance (iM Life), capital markets (iM Capital), asset management (iM Asset Investment & Management), digital payments (iM U Pay), data services (iM DS), credit information (iM Credit Information), investment partnerships (iM Investment Partners), algorithmic stock investments (Newsystock), and Asia-focused investments (iM Investment Asia). The group serves both retail and corporate customers through this integrated subsidiary network, with AAA credit ratings from NICE Investors Service, Korea Ratings, and Korea Investors Service supporting its positioning as a trusted domestic financial partner.

The group's core technology layer centers on its digital and fintech subsidiaries, most notably Newzstock (incorporated as the 10th subsidiary in August 2021 with a 74.03% controlling stake), which provides algorithmic stock investment services through quantitative trading algorithms aimed at automated, accuracy-precision-driven portfolio management. The acquisition thesis explicitly targeted international expansion into the United States and China markets. Complementary technology infrastructure includes iM U Pay for mobile and digital payment solutions and iM DS for data management and analytics, indicating a deliberate build-out of proprietary digital rails across the group.

DGB's business model is that of a regulated financial holding company: it does not directly sell to end customers but consolidates revenues from banking spreads, brokerage commissions, insurance premiums, asset management fees, capital markets activities, and fintech/investment services channeled through its 11 subsidiaries. The group is now branded under the 'iM Financial Group' identity and pursues an investor-relations-led go-to-market posture, with transparent disclosure of financial statements, annual reports, fact books, and investor presentations. Pricing for individual products is not publicly disclosed, consistent with the norms of regulated financial services where product terms are governed by disclosure rules rather than published rate cards.

Name

DGB Financial Group

Website

https://dgbfg.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DGB Financial Group is a South Korean banking holding company headquartered in Daegu, operating 11 subsidiaries across banking, securities, insurance, asset management, payments, credit information, data services, and algorithmic investment services for retail and corporate customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Banking and Financial Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399), Open-End Investment Funds (525910), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Finance Services (6199), Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

SME/Industrial Development Banks (FSABAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Account & Balance Services (Operating accounts, statements, eBAM) (FSABAIAD), Corporate Cash Management & Treasury Services (FSAMAOAA), Robo-Advisors & Digital Wealth Managers (FSAAAAAD)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Commercial lending
• Securities brokerage
• Life insurance products
• Asset management

Headquarters

HQ city

Daegu

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

DGB Financial Group (now operating as iM Financial Group) is a South Korean banking holding company that provides a full range of financial services through 11 subsidiaries spanning retail and commercial banking, securities brokerage, life insurance, capital markets, asset management, mobile payments, credit information, investment partnerships, algorithmic stock investment, and Asia regional investment. The group is headquartered in Daegu, South Korea and operates as a hybrid banking financial group serving both individual and corporate customers.

Product overview

iM Financial Group (formerly DGB Financial Group) operates as a hybrid banking financial group with a multi-subsidiary platform model. The group consists of 11 core subsidiaries spanning banking (iM Bank), securities trading (iM Securities), life insurance (iM Life), capital markets (iM Capital), asset management (iM Asset Investment & Management), digital payments (iM U Pay), data services (iM DS), credit information, investment partnerships, algorithmic stock investments (Newsystock), and Asia regional investments (iM Investment Asia). The group is headquartered in Daegu, South Korea, and holds AAA credit ratings from NICE Investors Service, Korea Ratings, and Korea Investors Service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• iM Bank
• iM Securities
• iM Life
• iM Capital
• iM Asset Investment & Management
• iM U Pay
• iM DS
• iM Credit Information
• iM Investment Partners
• Newsystock (formerly Newzstock)
• iM Investment Asia

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NewzstockcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDGB Financial Group acquired a 74.03% stake in Newzstock, a fintech startup specialized in algorithmic stock investments. Newzstock will be incorporated as DGB Financial Group's 10th subsidiary. The acquisition aims to accelerate digital innovation and expand Newzstock's algorithmic stock investment services internationally to the United States and China markets.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• JB Financial Group:
• BNK Financial Group: Another mid-sized Korean regional financial holding company (Busan-headquartered) with multiple regional bank, securities, and capital subsidiaries. Closest direct peer to DGB/iM in terms of scale, regional orientation, and subsidiary mix.

Emerging players

• Kakao Pay: Korean digital payments and financial services platform. Comparable to DGB/iM's iM U Pay subsidiary and represents direct competition in mobile payments and embedded financial services.
• Kakao Bank: Korean digital-only bank, relevant as a comparator for DGB/iM's fintech strategy via Newsystock and iM U Pay. Represents the digital-native competitive threat to incumbent regional banking groups.
• Mirae Asset Financial Group: Korean financial group with leading asset management, securities, life insurance, and venture capital operations. Comparable to DGB/iM's asset management and securities subsidiaries but with a more investment-banking-skewed mix.

Broad incumbents

• Hana Financial Group: Top-tier Korean financial holding company led by Hana Bank, with integrated securities, insurance, and asset management arms. Comparable diversified financial group structure.
• Woori Financial Group: Korean financial holding company built around Woori Bank, offering banking, securities, insurance, and capital services. Similar multi-subsidiary structure to DGB/iM with national footprint.
• NongHyup Financial Group: Agricultural/mutual Korean financial holding company combining NH Bank with securities, insurance, and asset management. Comparable diversified structure but with a much larger and more rural base.
• Shinhan Financial Group: Major Korean financial holding company anchored by Shinhan Bank with full securities, insurance, and asset management subsidiaries. Closely comparable business model to DGB/iM but at national scale.
• KB Financial Group: Korea's largest financial holding company, operating Kookmin Bank plus securities, insurance, asset management, and capital subsidiaries. Direct structural comparator to DGB/iM's hybrid banking group model, with materially greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dgb-financial-group-co.-ltd.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DGB Financial Group