Shinhan Bank will extend for another year its inclusive-finance program that lowers interest rates on household loans exceeding 9.8% to a flat 9.8%. The move to ease the burden on high-interest borrowers is expected to cover more than 300 billion won ($217 million) in loans.
The bank said on the 26th that it would extend the rate-cut support for household loans by one year starting that day, to reduce financing costs for customers with high-interest household loans.
The rate cut is part of the "Help-up & Value-up Project," an inclusive-finance program that Shinhan Financial Group launched in 2025. The program aims to support customers' sustainable financial lives by helping them achieve economic independence (Help-up) and by raising the value of their assets (Value-up).
For one year starting July 18 last year, Shinhan Bank has been lowering the rates on household loans carrying interest above 9.8% down to 9.8%. It decided to extend the support by another year, judging that high-interest borrowers still needed relief on their interest burden even after the original support period ended.
Eligibility applies to customers who, as of this July, held household loans with rates exceeding 9.8% and had at least three months remaining until maturity. The rates on qualifying loans are cut to 9.8% with no separate application required.
The rate-cut benefit applies until each loan reaches maturity. For loans with more than one year remaining, however, the support runs for up to one year. Shinhan Bank estimated that the measure would cover a total of 28,411 loans worth about 311.4 billion won ($217 million) in outstanding balances. If a loan falls into arrears during the support period, the borrower must pay both the original loan interest and overdue interest.
On the 21st of this month, Shinhan Bank also launched the "Super SOL Mid-Rate Loan" to improve financing access and lower interest costs for borrowers with low-to-middle credit. The product provides up to 20 million won per person to low-to-middle-credit customers who rank in the bottom 50% of external credit scores based on NICE or KCB ratings. By applying its in-house "alternative credit scoring model for underserved borrowers," it extended eligibility even to customers with relatively thin financial transaction histories, such as young people early in their careers and homemakers.
"We decided to extend the rate-cut support to continue easing the financing burden for customers with high-interest household loans," a Shinhan Bank official said. "We will keep pursuing inclusive finance that customers can tangibly feel."
