IBK Annual Report 2025

Financial Support Backing the Growth of Innovative Enterprises

IBK provides stage-specific financial support to enterprises ranging from startups to middle-market enterprises, fostering an enduring innovation finance ecosystem. Going forward, the bank will continue to support SME growth through innovation-driven finance and work alongside them to build the future.

Technology Finance

IBK continues to build technology finance to support the growth of companies with innovative technologies and high growth potential. As of the end of December 2025, technology finance loans outstanding totaled KRW 130.4 trillion, with a 40.9% market share—the highest in the industry. IBK maintained its leading position in SME technology finance.

IBK strengthened support for companies in the government's 12 national strategic technology areas. The related loan balance grew by KRW 3.6 trillion—from KRW 20.4 trillion in 2024 to KRW 24 trillion as of the end of December 2025. As a policy bank, IBK actively supports the development of national strategic industries and the growth of technology-driven SMEs.

Intellectual Property (IP) Loans are financing products that provide funding secured by intangible assets to companies that lack tangible assets but possess high-quality IP. IBK provided loans totaling KRW 113.9 billion to 179 companies by the end of December 2025, supporting the growth of SMEs with strong technological competitiveness.

Venture Loan

IBK launched Korea's first Venture Debt product in 2023 to help startups overcome the "valley of death" and achieve sustainable growth. Venture loans offer low-interest funding to startups with strong technological capabilities and high growth potential, even when collateral or financial track records are insufficient. IBK selects companies with strong follow-on investment potential and provides funding through a warrant-linked structure, allowing the bank to share in the upside if a portfolio company completes an IPO.

Over the three years since its launch in 2023, the bank has supplied approximately KRW 280 billion in venture loans to more than 220 companies. In 2025, the bank achieved a milestone by producing its first portfolio company to successfully complete an initial public offering (IPO). Building on this track record, IBK plans to supply approximately KRW 100 billion in venture loans in 2026 and will continue supporting promising startups in overcoming the valley of death and revitalizing the venture ecosystem.

Venture Capital

IBK continues to expand its venture capital provision to support the growth of innovative SMEs and venture firms. The bank set a target of supplying KRW 2.5 trillion in venture capital over three years from 2023 to 2025. In 2025 alone, it supplied KRW 949.4 billion, bringing the three-year cumulative total to KRW 2.7 trillion and surpassing the original target.

IBK consistently deployed venture capital into a venture investment market constrained by high interest rates and rising funding costs. This revitalized market activity and expanded investment in startups, helping promising companies overcome the valley of death and achieve growth. The bank provides venture capital to enterprises with strong technological competitiveness and growth potential, even where collateral or financial stability is insufficient, facilitating corporate scale-up. As a result of expanded stage-specific investments, 13 IBK portfolio companies successfully completed IPOs.

To further deepen its role in the venture capital market, IBK is also pursuing its second public offering investment project, the "2025 IBK Innovation Fund." The bank plans to commit a total of KRW 200 billion—KRW 120 billion to the AI sector and KRW 80 billion to advanced industries—and, by leveraging matching private capital, establish a fund exceeding KRW 560 billion. This initiative will enable the bank to foster future strategic industries, revitalize the venture ecosystem, and secure a foundation for medium- to long-term growth.

Building an Ecosystem for Startups and Venture Firms and Supporting Their Growth

Financial Support for Startups and Venture Firms

IBK is expanding financial support for startups and venture firms to drive their stable growth, while broadening the startup ecosystem both domestically and internationally. In 2025, the bank supplied KRW 21.2 trillion in funding, surpassing its annual target at 105.8% attainment.

To enhance financial accessibility for startups and venture firms, IBK operates specialized loan products that offer preferential interest rates and higher loan limits. The bank provided KRW 1,849.3 billion in 2025 through financing programs for companies within seven years of establishment, including innovative growth firms, venture companies, and investment-backed enterprises, supporting their continued growth.

IBK Changgong

IBK has operated IBK Changgong since 2017, a startup incubation platform designed to comprehensively support the growth of innovative startups. The platform leverages IBK's expertise and network in SME finance to support startup commercialization and growth. As of 2025, IBK Changgong had nurtured 1,158 companies, providing approximately KRW 2.9 trillion in financial support and around 16,000 sessions of nonfinancial support.

IBK Changgong currently operates six domestic centers (Mapo, Guro, Busan, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Daegu), two camps (Seoul National University and UNIST), one overseas center (Silicon Valley), and one overseas desk (Germany), forming a comprehensive domestic and global startup support network. Domestically, the platform contributes to balanced regional development and the revitalization of the startup ecosystem, while internationally, it strengthens linkages with local investors and companies through global hubs.

Large-scale meetup events and demo days offer startups opportunities to attract investment and pursue collaboration, contributing to the vitalization of the venture and startup ecosystem.

Financial Support to Build a K-Content Ecosystem

IBK continues to expand financial support for the cultural content industry to identify future growth drivers and sustain the advancement of the K-Content sector. Since 2012, IBK has been the only bank to operate a dedicated cultural content finance division, providing comprehensive financial support across the cultural content industry and contributing to the development of the content ecosystem. As of 2025, the bank had executed over KRW 10 trillion in cumulative cultural content loans and investments, establishing a solid foundation for industry growth.

In 2025, IBK supplied a record-high annual total of KRW 54.9 billion in cultural content venture capital. The bank also diversified its investment portfolio by expanding into nonvisual sectors, including musicals, performing arts, and exhibitions, supporting the creation of high-quality content across a broader range of cultural fields.

As a policy financial institution, IBK actively participates in the government's policies aimed at fostering the development of the content industry. In March 2025, the bank committed capital to the "K-Content Media Strategic Fund," organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Science and ICT. In December of the same year, IBK signed an MOU with the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund to support "K-Content Innovation Growth Financing." These initiatives are improving financing conditions for cultural content companies and supporting the sustainable growth of the K-Content industry.

Tailored Consulting to Support the Sustained Growth of SMEs

With over 60 years of experience supporting SMEs—including accumulated industry-specific financial data and corporate management case studies—IBK provides consulting tailored to each SME's growth stage and business environment. Since 2003, a team of specialists—including certified public accountants, tax advisors, and labor attorneys—has delivered consulting across business succession, tax and accounting, management strategy, HR and labor relations, and ESG, helping SMEs address management challenges.

In 2025, the bank delivered a record-high 2,307 consulting sessions, focusing on diagnosing the diverse issues faced by SMEs amid a shifting business landscape and providing actionable solutions.

To support SMEs' ESG management, IBK launched the financial sector's first "ESG Precision Diagnosis System" in May 2025. The bank also operated the "Innovative Leader Camp," a management training program designed to address the shortage of core talent faced by SMEs. To ease the burden on exporters from changes in US tariff policies, IBK introduced tariff consulting services and held tariff response briefings. These efforts help SMEs respond more effectively to shifts in the business environment and formulate medium- to long-term growth strategies.