History

As the first financial group listed in Korea, Woori Finance Group established the foundation of Korean modern finance and led financial history by opening the first foreign branch.

 

2021

12

Woori Financial Group, achieved full privatization after 23 years.

11

Approval of Woori Financial Group’s Internal Rating requlation

10

Joining in the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

09

Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation, Announcement of sale of the remaining stake in Woori Financial Group

Woori Bank, receiving the award of ‘Ministry of Science, Technology and Information and Communication’ in Woori Won Enterprise ICT KOREA 2021

Woori Bank, receiving the award of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award for Excellent Company in Building Sector Greenhouse Gas and Energy Target Management for 2021

Integration of Woori Financial Capital, Woori Asset Trust, and Woori Financial Savings Bank and move to “Woori Financial Gangnam Tower”

08

Woori Financial Capital Co., Ltd. becoming a wholly owned subsidiary

Woori Bank, joining in ‘Equator Principles’

07

Woori Bank, introduction of ‘SOAR (Automated Cyber Security Response System)’ for the first time in the banking sector

Woori Bank, upgrade of international credit rating agency Fitch's credit rating

Woori Card, acquisition of ISO45001 (Safety and Health Management System) from Korea Standards Association

06

Concluding a stock exchange contract to acquire the remaining shares of Woori Financial Capital Co., Ltd.

Woori Bank, upgrade of S&P credit rating, an international credit rating agency

05

Capital increase of Woori Financial Savings Bank (100 billion won)

Acquisition of treasury stock (3.6%) owned by Woori Financial Capital Co., Ltd.

Signing a business agreement between Woori Bank and Korea Credit Guarantee Fund for ‘Korean version of New Deal and ESG-managed companies financial support'

Woori Bank, issuance of KRW 300 billion of ESG bonds

04

Sale of 2% stake in Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation

Additional equity purchase of Woori Financial Capital Co., Ltd. (12.9%)

Woori Bank, signing the business agreement with Naver for digital innovation business

03

Establishment of ESG Management Committee within the Board of Directors

Woori Financial Savings Bank, incorporated as a subsidiary of Woori Financial Group

Woori Card, acquiring ISO14001 (Environmental Management System) from Korea Standards Association

01

Joinig in CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), declaration of support for TCFD (Climate Change Financial Information Disclosure), and enactment of Woori Financial Group’s ESG management principles

Woori Bank, Implementation of VG (Value Group) System, a Customer-Centered Innovation Sales Channel

Woori Bank, receiving the award of Grand Prix in Digital Advertising & Campaign category at ‘2020 & Awards’ hosted by Korea Digital Enterprise Association

2020

12

Woori Financial Capital, incorporated as an affiliate of Woori Financial Savings Bank

Woori Asset Trust, acquiring preliminary approval for lease AMC from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Woori Card, receiving the Minister's Award at the 'Korea Brand Grand Prize' hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Woori Bank, selected as 'World's Best Bank' by The Banker

11

Woori Financial Group, Completion of capital increase (KRW 100 billion)

10

Woori Card, Success in Issuing $100 Million Formosa Bond for the First Time in a Credit Finance Company in Korea

Woori Asset Management, becoming the industry's largest bond-type ESG fund (worth 400 billion won)

09

Early introduction of Basel III credit risk sector

08

Woori Bank, issuance of KRW 300 billion of ESG bonds

07

Woori Bank, Selected as 'Best Open Banking/API Initiative' in Asia's Best Institution by The Asian Banker

06

Launching Dino Lab (Digital Innovation Lap), an integrated group startup nurturing program

05

Declaration of the group’s digital vision and launch the Digital Innovation Committee

03

Woori Bank, opening all branches of the electronic document system for the first time in the financial sector

Establishment of the first internal control committee (Internal Control Management Committee) under the board of directors for the first time in a financial group

02

Woori Bank WB Finance, merge of Woori Finance Cambodia

01

Woori Bank, establishment of the first AI-based sanctions regulation review system for commercial banks

2019

12

Woori Global Asset Management, incorporated into Woori Asset Trust Group’s subsidiary

11

Implementation of Woori Bank’s customer-centered performance evaluation system (KPI)

10

Announcement of opening of Woori Bank Senior Plus website

09

Woori Card, incorporated as a subsidiary of Woori General Financial

08

Woori Bank, implementation of the ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’ system, an anti-money laundering internal control system for the first time in a domestic bank

Woori Bank, opening ‘Woori WON’ banking

Incorporated as a subsidiary of Woori Asset Management Group

07

Woori Financial Group, issuance of 500 billion won in new capital securities

06

Issuance of 300 billion won in capital securities (subordinated bonds) for the first time after Woori Financial Group was established

Woori Card, installment finance asset securitization (ABS) issuance of KRW 300 billion

05

Woori Bank, issuance of $450 million in ‘Formosa Sustainable Bonds’ for the first time in Korea

04

Woori Financial Group, acquiring a credit rating from Korea's top 3 credit rating agencies (rating AAA)

03

Woori Bank, operating Small Business Startup Support Center

02

Woori Financial Group, listed on the Korea Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange

Woori Bank, success in issuing KRW 200 billion of ‘sustainable bonds’

01

Inauguration of the Woori Finance Group

120th anniversary of Woori Bank

Establishment of a new Woori Bank overseas branch system (WGSS)

2018

12

Reached 300 Global Networks

11

Acquired the certificate of incorporation of financial holding company

Selected as Best Bank in South Korea 2018 by The Banker

10

Acquired approval for European subsidiary

Putting forth the best current net income accumulated for three quarters

06

Took over VisionFund Cambodia and changed name to WB Finance

05

Opened the Ta Khon II Woori Finance Branch in Myanmar

Built and activated a next generation computer system, WINI (Woori Innovative New Infra)

03

Introduced Big Eye, a management consulting system utilizing big data (first in Korea)

Signed a strategic alliance contract with Aberdeen Standard Investments in UK

02

Launched WiBee Homes, a real estate information platform

01

Selected as secretary trustee bank of the Housing and Urban Fund of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Opened Incheon International Airport 2nd Terminal branch

2017

12

Son Tae Seung appointed 51th chairman of Woori Bank

11

Selected as Best Bank in South Korea 2017 by The Banker

10

Selected as major bank of the National Pension Service

06

Selected as Best Transaction Bank and awarded as Best Fund Management Bank by The Asian Banker

02

Opened first Woori bank Office in Katowice, Poland

01

Selected as Best Wealth Management Provider 2016 by World Finance of the UK (first in Korea)
Awarded in Korea as Best Wealth Management Provider

2016

12

Selected as Best Bank in South Korea 2016 by The Banker

11

Privatized in 16 years

10

Acquired preliminary approval in Vietnam

09

First in Korea to issue $500 million Foreign Currency Hybrid Bond (CoCo bond)

06

First in Korea to launch Offshore Foreign Currency Liquidation Service

05

Opened Iran office in Teheran (first among Korean financial institutions)

02

WiBee Bank introduced in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Brazil

2015

11

Opened Woori Finance Myanmar, Global Network no. 200 (first in Korea)

09

Launched “WiBee Bank Cambodia” for first overseas expansion

05

Launched the first mobile-only bank in Korea, WiBee Bank

04

Awarded Best Cash Management Bank and Sub-Custodian Bank of the Year in South Korea by The Asian Banker

02

Officially launched PT. Bank Woori Saudara Indonesia

2014

12

Acquired final approval to merge PT. Bank Woori Indonesia with Saudara Bank

11

Woori Finance Holdings Co., Ltd. merged with Woori Bank (listing resumed November 19)

06

The Woori Bank establishment documents, “Establishment & Accounting for Daehan Cheon Il Bank”, designated as National Archives of Korea No. 11

05

Awarded as “Korea’s Top Bank in Money Management” by The Asian Banker

04

Became the first domestic bank to issue Basel III subordinated debt in foreign currency (USD 1 billion)

01

Acquired final approval to take over Indonesia Saudara Bank

2013

12

Awarded Grand Prize of Inclusive Finance by the Financial Supervisory Service

2012

11

Awarded first Grand Prize of Financial Consumer Protection by the chairman of the Financial Services Commission

09

Established local business corporation of Woori Bank in Brazil

08

Established local branch in Brazil

04

Awarded as Best Bank in Korea by The Asian Banker for two consecutive years

2011

11

Selected as “Best Bank in Korea 2011” by The Banker for two consecutive years

04

Awarded as Best Bank in Korea for Foreign Currency Department by The Asian Banker

2010

11

Woori Bank IT Department acquired "ISO 27001 Certification" in all departments

03

China Woori Bank qualified for "international settlement of yuan" as the first Korean bank

2009

01

Woori Bank establishment documents, “Establishment & Accounting for Daehan Cheon Il Bank”, designated as Seoul Tangible Cultural Property No. 279

2008

11

Selected as “Best Bank in Korea” by The Banker for two consecutive years

01

First among Korean financial institutions to establish local business corporation in Russia

2007

11

Established local business corporation, Woori Bank (China) Limited

01

Awarded 2006 Deal of the Year by The Asset

2006

12

Established Hong Kong Woori Investment Bank

2005

11

Opened Woori Finance Plaza, the first comprehensive finance center in Korea

2004

12

First to open Kaesong Industrial Complex Branch after the division of Korea

07

Opened Bank History Museum, the first museum in Korea to specialize in bank history

2003

08

Acquired the FRB approval for taking over Panasia Bank in the US

06

Opened office in Moscow

2002

12

Opened Ho Chi Minh branch in Vietnam

05

Changed name to Woori Bank and CI (corporate identity)

2001

12

Division-merger with Peace Bank of Korea

04

Inaugurated Woori Finance Group

1999

12

Finished building Hoehyun-dong main office and relocation

01

Merger of Commercial Bank of Korea and Hanil Bank; inauguration of Hanbit Bank

1982

02

First in Korea to install online ATM (Hanil Bank)

1977

09

First in Korea to start online business between Seoul and Busan (Commercial Bank of Korea)

1968

11

First in Korea to open Tokyo Branch (Hanil Bank)

1959

06

Opened vault for ladies (Commercial Bank of Korea)

1956

03

First public offering on stock exchange

1937

08

Established Jungang Mujin Company (originally Hanil Bank)

1932

12

Established Chosun Trust Company (originally Hanil Bank)

1909

07

Built Gwangtonggwan, the first modern bank building among national banks (currently Woori Bank's Jongno Branch)

1899

01

Established Daehancheonil Bank (originally Commercial Bank of Korea)