Hana Bank opens branch in Pyeongtaek for expats

Hana Bank CEO Lee Seung-lyul, fifth from left, poses with Rep. Kim Hyun-jung of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, sixth from left, and other guests at the opening ceremony of Pyeongtaek Foreign Customer Center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Hana Bank By Yoon Ja-young Hana Bank opened a branch in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, specifically for foreign customers, the lender announced Thursday.

Located in Pyeongtaek-dong in Pyeongtaek City, the branch aims to improve access to financial services for foreign workers and residents in Pyeongtaek, Hwaseong, Anseong, and other areas in southern Gyeonggi Province, where many expatriates live, the bank noted. The lender emphasized that customers will receive specialized financial services tailored for foreigners from Hana Bank, the country's leading institution in foreign exchange services. Operating exclusively for foreign customers, the branch features a real-time AI-based multilingual translation system, digital devices that provide banking guidance, and multilingual assistance programs for completing various banking forms.



Additionally, foreign staff have been assigned to assist expat clients. The real-time multilingual translation service currently supports 38 languages, including English, Thai, and Malay. When a foreign client and bank staff communicate in their native languages, a transparent screen will display the conversation in the other person’s language through the device.

This allows foreign customers to complete banking transactions easily and conveniently in their native language without the challenges of language barriers. The branch is also open every Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM to accommodate foreign workers who find it difficult to visit the bank during weekdays. The branch also includes a separate community space for expat clients, offering room for various educational programs such as Korean language classes and social networking, in collaboration with local organizations that support foreign residents.

"Hana Bank has been leading financial services specialized for foreigners, including remittance and Sunday banking operations. The Pyeongtaek center for foreigners, which comes as the result of Hana Bank's sincere efforts for foreign customers, will continue to develop as a global financial service window in our community,” Rep. Kim Hyun-jung of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said, attending the opening ceremony of the branch, Thursday.

"I hope the Pyeongtaek center will not only provide customized financial services to foreign customers but also become a global communication space where they can obtain various information needed for life in Korea. Hana Bank will continue to innovate services to ensure that foreign customers who make Korea their home can easily and conveniently use financial services,” Hana Bank CEO Lee Seung-lyul said. Hana Bank is now operating on Sundays at 16 branches in areas with high concentrations of foreign workers, including Uijeongbu, Ansan, Gimhae, and Cheonan, to better serve those who have difficulty visiting banks during weekdays.

The bank also provides a range of tailored services for international clients, such as free accident insurance for overseas remittance customers and financial education and account opening services for foreign students..