Q3 net profit rises 13.6% year-on-year to 112.8 billion won

Delinquency rate falls for second consecutive quarter

[KB Kookmin Card]
[KB Kookmin Card]

KB Kookmin Card posted a cumulative net profit of 331.7 billion won ($248 million) through the third quarter of this year, surpassing its full-year 2025 earnings in just nine months. The card unit improved profitability through cost efficiency and stronger sales despite rising funding costs, and its delinquency rate fell for a second consecutive quarter.

According to KB Financial Group's third-quarter earnings report released Thursday, KB Kookmin Card's cumulative net profit reached 331.7 billion won, up 51.1 billion won, or 18.2 percent, from the same period last year. The figure also edged past the company's full-year 2025 net profit of 330.2 billion won by 1.5 billion won.

Third-quarter net profit came in at 112.8 billion won, up 13.5 billion won, or 13.6 percent, year-on-year. It also rose 1.4 billion won, or 1.3 percent, from the previous quarter. KB Kookmin Card said stronger sales, sustained cost efficiency and tighter profitability management drove the earnings improvement.

Asset quality also improved. The delinquency rate stood at 1.02 percent at the end of the third quarter, down 0.05 percentage points from the previous quarter, extending a two-quarter declining trend. The non-performing loan ratio improved to 1.00 percent from 1.11 percent a year earlier, though it rose 0.07 percentage points from the previous quarter's 0.93 percent.

KB Kookmin Card said it plans to maintain a balance between profitability and asset quality in the fourth quarter through risk management and improved capital efficiency, while expanding inclusive finance initiatives to broaden financial access for vulnerable groups.

"In the remaining fourth quarter, we plan to proactively respond to external uncertainties such as rising funding costs and an economic slowdown, while securing a stable earnings base through stronger sales," the company said. "We will also focus on building sustainable growth drivers — expanding customer touchpoints through the KB Pay platform, advancing company-wide AI-driven operational innovation, and enhancing customer convenience through greater use of AI and data."


snsd@heraldcorp.com