What did JB Financial partners present at the 2026 JB Forum?

Finda shared details of its AI-native banking project with Jeonbuk Bank, and Infina discussed plans to enter the U.S. market. Upstage said it was exploring AI-based improvements to financial services with JB Financial subsidiaries.

How is JB Financial expanding its strategic investment and partner network?

JB Financial said it had made strategic investments in 17 companies and was extending its focus beyond domestic and overseas fintech firms to AI and digital assets. Upstage, Streami, CipherData and Higher Diversity joined its partner network this year.

How did JB Financial aim to encourage cooperation among companies at the JB Forum?

The group arranged one-on-one meetings to connect partner companies and explore business opportunities between them. The initiative was intended to extend collaboration beyond individual investment and partnership ties with JB Financial to direct cooperation among portfolio companies.

JB Financial expands partnerships with AI, fintech companies

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Summary

JB Financial Group held its second annual JB Forum from last Friday to Saturday at its campus in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, bringing together 14 partners to discuss cooperation in AI and fintech. The forum featured partner updates, collaboration plans and demonstrations of physical AI, including humanoid robots from Chinese robotics company AGIBOT. JB Financial said it has invested in 17 companies and is broadening its focus to AI and digital assets.

Key Facts

The forum was held under the theme Navigating Tomorrow and included partners such as Finda, Upstage, Aigen Global, Higher Diversity and MediArk.
Four companies joined JB Financial’s partner network this year: Upstage, Streami, U.S.-based AI security firm CipherData and Higher Diversity.
Finda presented its AI-native banking project with Jeonbuk Bank, while Vietnamese investment platform Infina discussed its entry into the U.S. market.
Upstage said it was exploring ways to improve financial services using AI in cooperation with JB Financial’s subsidiaries.
JB Financial Chairman Kim Ki-hong said the group would use its expertise to support partners’ entrepreneurial efforts and help develop new business opportunities.

By Lee Hyo-jin

Published Oct 29, 2026 5:07 pm KST

Participants attend JB Financial Group’s annual JB Forum, which brought together partners from the fintech and artificial intelligence industries, at the group’s campus in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, last Friday. Courtesy of JB Financial Group

JB Financial Group brought together strategic partners at its annual forum to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and fintech, the company said Thursday.

The group held its second annual JB Forum from last Friday to Saturday at its campus in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, with 14 partners from Korea and abroad participating.

Held under the theme "Navigating Tomorrow," the two-day forum featured strategic partners including Finda, Upstage, Aigen Global, Higher Diversity and MediArk, which shared business developments and discussed potential areas of collaboration.

JB Financial has made strategic investment in 17 companies so far, expanding its focus this year beyond domestic and overseas fintech firms to include AI and digital assets.

Four companies joined its partner network this year including Upstage, Streami, U.S.-based AI security firm CipherData and Higher Diversity.

Participants shared developments from the past year and discussed how AI could reshape financial services and workplace practices.

The forum also featured demonstrations of physical AI, with humanoid robots from Chinese robotics company AGIBOT greeting participants.

Several partners presented business initiatives and overseas expansion plans, with Finda sharing details of its AI-native banking project with Jeonbuk Bank, while Vietnamese investment platform Infina discussed its entry into the U.S. market.

Upstage said it was exploring ways to improve financial services using AI technology in cooperation with JB Financial's subsidiaries.

The financial group also hosted a series of one-on-one meetings designed to connect partner companies and explore business opportunities among them. The initiative aims to extend collaboration beyond individual investment and partnership ties with JB Financial to direct cooperation among portfolio companies.

JB Financial Chairman Kim Ki-hong emphasized the importance of long-term partnerships built on trust, saying the group would draw on its expertise to support partners' entrepreneurial efforts and help develop new business opportunities.

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