IM Financial Group

What IM Financial Group does

iM Financial Group is a publicly traded South Korean financial holding company headquartered in Daegu, operating 11 wholly-owned subsidiaries under a "hybrid banking" model that combines traditional branch-based banking with digital financial services. The group's flagship iM Bank (founded 1976 as Daegu Bank) anchors the franchise in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region and provides deposits, lending, foreign exchange, and financial product distribution. The other ten subsidiaries cover the full spectrum of financial services: iM Securities (brokerage, trading, advisory), iM Life (insurance), iM Capital (credit finance, leasing, auto finance), iM Asset Investment & Management (collective investment vehicles), iM UPay (electronic payments integrated with Korean transit infrastructure), iM DS (in-house IT and systems integration), iM Credit Information (collections and credit investigation), iM Investment Partners (venture capital), Newsystock (digital asset management via a quantitative investment platform), and iM Investment Asia (Singapore-based overseas asset management and M&A). The group rebranded from DGB Financial Group to iM Financial Group in 2023 and appointed Hwang Byung-Woo as CEO in March 2024.

The company serves individual consumers, SMEs, and corporate/institutional clients through both physical branches and digital channels, with primary geographic concentration in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region of South Korea and a recently established presence in Singapore for cross-border activity. Revenue is generated across multiple streams: net interest income from lending, transaction-based brokerage and asset management fees, recurring insurance premiums, leasing/installment finance margins, and payment processing economics. Major institutional shareholders include the National Pension Service (9.02%), OK Savings Bank (9.99%), and Samsung Life Insurance (3.53%), alongside meaningful foreign institutional ownership (Oakmark, Goldman Sachs International, Vanguard). The group holds AAA credit ratings from all three major Korean rating agencies and has built a leadership-tier ESG profile (MSCI AA, DJSI Year Book member, CDP Leadership A-) that supports both funding costs and access to sustainable finance mandates.

Name

IM Financial Group

Legal name

iM Financial Group

Website

https://imfngroup.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

iM Financial Group is a South Korean regional financial holding company operating 11 subsidiaries spanning banking, securities, insurance, asset management, payments, and fintech, serving retail, SME, and institutional clients primarily in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region with an expanding Singapore presence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Holding Services

NAICS

Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (522180)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Bank-Affiliated Retail Wealth Management (FSAAAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Managed Accounts & Model Portfolios (SMA/UMA) (FSAAAAAG)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Investment brokerage
• Life insurance products
• Asset management services
• Consumer lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Daegu

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Banking Services: Traditional banking services including deposits, loans, foreign exchange, and financial product sales through iM Bank subsidiary serving the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region and nationwide customers
2. Securities Services: Investment trading, brokerage, discretionary investment, investment advisory, and trust services through iM Securities subsidiary
3. Life Insurance: Sales of insurance products including coverage, endowment, pension, variable products, and asset management services through iM Life subsidiary
4. Capital Finance: Facility rental (lease), installment finance, automobile finance, corporate loans, personal loans, and new technology business finance through iM Capital subsidiary
5. Asset Management: Collective investment business, investment discretionary business, and investment advisory services through iM Asset Investment & Management subsidiary
6. Payment Services: Issuing and managing prepaid electronic payment means and payment gateway services through iM UPay subsidiary
7. IT Services: Information system development, operation, maintenance, system integration, IT consulting, and e-commerce services through iM Data System subsidiary

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

iM Financial Group is a South Korean financial holding company operating a "hybrid banking" model that combines traditional finance with digital innovation. Through 11 wholly-owned subsidiaries, it delivers deposits, loans, foreign exchange, investment trading and brokerage, life insurance, credit finance, asset management, electronic payments, IT services, credit information, venture investment, and digital asset management to retail consumers, SMEs, and corporate clients, primarily anchored in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region with nationwide and selective overseas reach.

Product overview

iM Financial Group operates as a financial holding company with a diversified portfolio of 11 subsidiaries providing banking, securities, insurance, capital, asset management, electronic payment, IT services, credit information, venture investment, and digital asset management services. The group follows a 'hybrid banking' model combining traditional finance with digital innovation, positioning itself as 'Only 1 Hybrid Financial Group' that approaches customers digitally. The core banking subsidiary iM Bank serves as the flagship, complemented by iM Securities (investment services), iM Life (insurance), iM Capital (credit finance), iM Asset Investment & Management (asset management), iM U Pay (electronic payments), iM DS (IT services), iM Credit Information (credit services), iM Investment Partners (venture capital), Newsystock (fintech/digital asset management), and iM Investment Asia (overseas expansion).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• iM Bank Regional bank providing deposits, loans, foreign exchange, sales of financial products (funds, bancassurance), asset management services, and Internet banking to individual and corporate customers nationwide.
• iM Securities Financial investment services firm offering investment trading, investment brokerage, discretionary investment, investment advisory, and trust services.
• iM Life Life insurance company providing sales of insurance products (coverage, endowment, pension, variable), asset management services, and insurance contract loans.
• iM Capital Credit finance corporation providing facility rental (lease), installment finance, automobile finance, corporate loans, personal loans, new technology business finance, automobile rental, and rental services.
• iM Asset Investment & Management Asset management company providing collective investment business, investment discretionary business, and investment advisory services.
• iM U Pay Electronic payment services provider issuing and managing prepaid electronic payment means and payment gateway services, with focus on transportation infrastructure (bus, subway, taxi) and retail distribution networks across Korea.
• iM DS (Data System) Professional IT company providing information system development, operation, maintenance, system integration, IT consulting, IT education, e-commerce, and Internet-related business.
• iM Credit Information Credit information company performing credit investigation, debt collection, and civil affairs agency services.
• iM Investment Partners Venture capital firm providing venture investment and startup support to accelerate local economic growth.
• Newsystock Digital asset management fintech company based on Korea's No.1 quantitative investment platform, providing smart and easy asset management through innovative technology.
• iM Investment Asia (iMA) First overseas subsidiary established in Singapore for global expansion, providing asset management, global M&A, and global investment services targeting ASEAN markets.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 June 2026iM Financial Group serves as official sponsor of the 20th Daegu International Musical Festival, supporting young musical talents and community cultural sharing projects. The group sponsors the Chairman's Award and other prizes at the University Musical Festival with participation from eight universities including Kyungmyung University, Daegu University of Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Baekseok Arts University, and China's Sichuan University of Culture and Arts.
• iM Social Contribution FoundationcoreOthers · 22 June 2026Internal foundation focused on social contribution activities promoting cultural life support projects inviting young social workers and seniors from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region to DIMF performances and other community engagement initiatives.
• Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosure (TNFD)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Joined in 2024. Committed to analyzing and disclosing nature-related risks and opportunities following TNFD framework for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Joined in 2021. Committed to measuring and disclosing greenhouse gas emissions from lending and investment activities using PCAF methodology for financed emissions.
• UN Principles for Responsible BankingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Joined as Endorser in 2018 and Signatory in 2019. Committed to aligning business strategy with UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement goals.
• Women's Empowerment PrinciplesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Joined in 2019. Participated in TGE (Target Gender Equality) Program in 2020 promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in the workplace.
• Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Joined in 2018 and achieved SBTi validation for targets in 2022. Committed to science-based targets for carbon emissions reduction aligned with Paris Climate Agreement.
• FTSE4Good Korea IndexcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Incorporated into FTSE4Good Korea Index for 8 consecutive years from 2011. Index measures ESG performance of companies meeting global sustainability standards.
• CEO Water MandatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Joined in 2010. Reports on management status of water resources including rainwater recycling as part of water resource management responsibility.
• Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Participated as signatory authority every year since 2007. Selected as excellent company in climate change response category for 7 years from 2009. Achieved Leadership A- rating in 2025.
• UN Global CompactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Joined in 2006. Chairman of iM Financial Group serves as member of board of directors of UNGC Korea Association. Company submits Communication on Progress and has declared Fair Play Anti-corruption Pledge.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JB Financial Group: JB Financial Group is a Korean regional financial holding company based in Daejeon, operating Jeonbuk Bank, Kwangju Bank, and JB Securities among others. Highly comparable to iM in regional banking roots, holding company structure, and combined with iM and BNK as the 'Big 3' Korean regional financial groups.
• BNK Financial Group: BNK Financial Group is another Korean regional financial holding company headquartered in Busan, with subsidiaries across banking (BNK Busan Bank, BNK Kyongnam Bank, BNK Gyeongnam Bank), securities, and asset management. Closest direct peer to iM given similar scale, regional focus, and integrated holding company structure.
• Meritz Financial Group: Meritz Financial Group is a Korean financial holding company with strong positions in insurance (Meritz Fire & Marine), securities (Meritz Securities), and asset management. Comparable as a mid-sized Korean holding company with similar securities and asset management subsidiaries, though stronger in insurance than iM.
• Mirae Asset Financial Group: Mirae Asset Financial Group is a Korean financial group with strong asset management (Mirae Asset Global Investments), securities (Mirae Asset Securities), and life insurance businesses. Comparable to iM's securities and asset management subsidiaries, with stronger global asset management footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Hana Financial Group: Hana Financial Group operates Hana Bank, Hana Securities, Hana Life Insurance, and Hana Capital among other subsidiaries. Direct national incumbent comparable to iM's diversified holding company model but at substantially greater scale with nationwide deposit and branch network.
• Woori Financial Group: Woori Financial Group is one of Korea's 'Big 4' national financial holding companies with Woori Bank, Woori Investment Bank, and other subsidiaries. Represents the scaled, national incumbent that iM Financial Group competes against, with broader geographic reach and capital markets franchise.
• Shinhan Financial Group: Shinhan Financial Group is Korea's largest financial holding company with Shinhan Bank, Shinhan Securities, Shinhan Life Insurance, and Shinhan Investment. Comparable as a full-service Korean financial holding company, though significantly larger and more geographically diversified than iM.
• KB Financial Group: KB Financial Group is one of Korea's largest financial holding companies with KB Kookmin Bank, KB Securities, KB Insurance, and KB Capital. Represents the largest national incumbent with a comparable multi-subsidiary structure (banking, securities, insurance, capital) but at much greater scale and capital markets depth.

Emerging players

• Toss Bank: Toss Bank is a Korean internet-only bank operated by Viva Republica (Toss), targeting younger consumers with a mobile-first banking and payments experience. Comparable to iM's fintech subsidiaries (Newsystock, iM UPay) as a digital challenger reshaping Korean retail banking economics.
• Kakao Bank: Kakao Bank is Korea's leading internet-only bank, spun off from Kakao Talk's messaging platform with millions of customers and a digital-first deposit and lending franchise. Represents the digital-native competitor whose mobile-first model threatens iM Bank's retail and SME primary-customer relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries12 records

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 IM Financial Group