Hana Bank, Incheon establish 'culture bank' for foreign nationals

Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-seoung, left, poses with Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok at Incheon City Hall, after signing an agreement to operate a "culture bank" for foreign nationals, Tuesday. Courtesy of Hana Bank

Hana Bank said Tuesday it signed a memorandum of understanding with Incheon to jointly operate a "culture bank" for foreign nationals.

Through this partnership, Hana Bank and Incheon aim to create a hub that helps foreign nationals residing in Incheon integrate into the local community and achieve self-reliance through financial and cultural support.

Hana Bank will provide financial fraud prevention training, hands-on digital finance education tailored for foreign nationals and customized services to help them better understand and use Korea's financial systems.

Additionally, in collaboration with Incheon and other operating organizations, the program will offer step-by-step Korean language courses designed to support settlement and employment, assist with community activities such as multicultural clubs, and provide education on Korean culture and lifestyle.

The new hub is located within Hana Bank's Namdong Industrial Complex Financial Center branch, making it easily accessible to foreign workers employed in the industrial complex. It will also operate on Sundays to improve accessibility for foreign workers who find it difficult to visit on weekdays.

"Through this culture bank for foreign nationals in Incheon, we will help foreign residents quickly establish themselves as members of the local community," said Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-seoung. "We aim to become a leading bank that connects finance, culture and the local community."

Hana Bank previously launched a global community center at Cheonan Station, South Chungcheong Province, in 2019, and a foreign residents integration support center in Daejeon in 2021. The bank said it plans to continue expanding its network of hubs supporting foreign residents and multicultural communities across the country.