Busan Bank strengthens startup financial support at Centum Financial Center

Dedicated team deployed to operate region-focused financial hub

Move reflects feedback from Korea Startup Forum roundtable

BNK Busan Bank on Wednesday deployed a dedicated startup support team at its Centum Financial Center to strengthen financial support for local startups and venture companies.

Marking its 59th anniversary, the bank expanded the startup-focused financial support functions of the existing Centum Financial Center to identify promising local startups early and provide tailored financial and non-financial support from the founding stage through growth. The move reflects feedback — including calls for a dedicated startup financial branch — raised at a roundtable between BNK Financial Group and Korea Startup Forum representatives.

To that end, the bank established a Startup Growth Support Team under its headquarters' Innovation Growth Finance Division, with customer consultation and operational functions housed within the Centum Financial Center, creating a support framework linked to the branch network. Dedicated startup staff based at the center will identify promising companies and develop customized financial support plans tailored to each firm's needs.

The center will offer a range of financial services, including account opening, financial consulting, connections to guarantee institutions and loans. The bank also plans to pursue direct equity investment in promising startups in cooperation with the Innovation Growth Finance Division, further strengthening funding support for company growth.

Alongside this, the bank will seek to connect startups with professional services in tax, accounting and legal matters, explore new business collaboration opportunities, and expand partnerships with related organizations including the Busan city government, startup support agencies, universities and venture capital firms. "The Centum Financial Center will serve as a hub providing the financial services local startups need to grow," a Busan Bank official said.

kaf2002@heraldcorp.com