Shinhan Bank dedicated to helping foreign customers on weekends

Kim Ji-eun, right, a Shinhan Bank employee, talks to a foreign customer at the branch in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 19. Courtesy of Shinhan Bank

Kim Ji-eun, an employee at Shinhan Bank’s newly opened Ansan branch dedicated to foreign customers, said she is glad to assist them during the branch’s weekend hours.

“Many of our foreign customers are full-time workers and can’t visit during the week. Our weekend operating hours have been getting positive feedback,” she said.

The branch operates from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

The digital lounge is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, where customers can open accounts with multilingual translation services provided. For less common languages, customers can connect to interpreters through phones installed at the digital desks.

“They have the same financial needs as Korean customers. Many want to open savings accounts, send money overseas or request balance certificates,” she said. “We’ve also hired on-site interpreters who can explain financial products in a way that’s easy to understand. We provide specialized consultation services, including advice on loans and investment products.”

The branch in Gyeonggi Province is the third international client-focused location, following those in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, and Doksan-dong, Seoul.

Shinhan is expanding both its online and in-person channels to enhance financial accessibility for foreign customers. The new branch was opened to meet the growing demand for financial services among foreign workers and multicultural families living in Ansan.

In addition to the three foreigner-focused branches, three other branches are open on Sundays, including the Dongdaemun branch in Seoul, Suwon Station in Gyeonggi Province and Onyang Financial Center in Asan, South Chungcheong Province.

“We hope foreign customers can have a better experience at our branches nationwide including ours,” Kim said. “We will continue to offer various services to improve financial accessibility, especially in communities where many foreign residents live.”