South Korea
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- Fee
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KakaoBank
Korean internet bank. FSC. KDIC KRW 50m. KakaoTalk is distribution, not the deposit.
Rate this app
7.0Solid
AlternativesOur take
Desk verdict
KakaoBank Corp. is an FSC internet bank. KDIC up to KRW 50 million. Seongnam. KakaoTalk is how you open it. The deposit is KakaoBank, not the yellow chat bubble. Toss Bank and K Bank sit in the same licence class. Directories that file this next to a prepaid card are illiterate.
Launched 2017 after the 2016 licence wave. Listed 323410. Directories lowercase it Kakao. This desk writes KakaoBank Corp. and leaves KakaoPay in the payments bucket.
KakaoBank lists Internet bank — KakaoBank Corp. under FSC / FSS in South Korea. On safeguarding we currently write: KDIC up to KRW 50 million per depositor per bank. Holder / issuer line: KakaoBank Corp.. An AML programme is claimed. There is no IBAN-class local rail on the flags we store. We list 1 live markets on the product. As we score the sticker: monthly KRW 0 core pitch — confirm live; FX Bank tariff / overseas SKUs; ATM KakaoBank / network; interest Deposit products — rates move. This desk would open it for: South Korea residents who want an FSC internet bank with KDIC, not a messenger wallet.
What it does well: Named internet bank; KDIC; Scale. What to watch: Korea-resident / ID; Korean App Store is mixed (~3.3); Not a travel IBAN. Desk score 7.0 / 10 (safety 8.6, fees 8.2, features 8.0, app 6.2). Last verified 2026-08-30. Headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea; founded 2016. None of this is advice — it is a file so you can read the entity before the card colour.
Best for: South Korea residents who want an FSC internet bank with KDIC, not a messenger wallet.
Pros
- +Named internet bank
- +KDIC
- +Scale
- +Listed
Cons
- −Korea-resident / ID
- −Korean App Store is mixed (~3.3)
- −Not a travel IBAN
- −Kakao group is not the scheme
Account facts
- Platforms
- iOS · Android
- Account types
- KRW current · savings
- Partner bank
- KakaoBank Corp.
- Minimum balance
- KRW 0
- Lowest monthly fee
- Digital SKU — confirm live
- Who can open
- South Korea residents
- Availability
- South Korea
How it actually works
- Custody
- Bank balance
- Local rails
- In-app ledger
- Built for
- Personal
- Settlement
- App-ledger instant; bank rails per corridor
- Review risk
- Bank-grade; still not freeze-proof
- Pay surface
- mastercard · physical · virtual · Google Pay
Safety
KDIC up to KRW 50 million per depositor per bank
Holder / issuer: KakaoBank Corp.
- FSC / FSSInternet bank — KakaoBank Corp. · South Korea
Fees
- Monthly
- KRW 0 core pitch — confirm live
- FX markup
- Bank tariff / overseas SKUs
- ATM
- KakaoBank / network
- Interest
- Deposit products — rates move
Features
- –IBAN
- –Fee-free core
- –Multi-currency
- –Apple Pay
- ✓Google Pay
- ✓Virtual card
- ✓Physical card
- –Metal card
- –Crypto
- –Stocks
- –Business
- –Kids
- –Halal
- Korean won current / savings
- KakaoTalk onboarding
- KDIC bank
- Listed
- Lending SKUs
Score
- Safety25%
- 8.6
- Fees20%
- 8.2
- Features15%
- 8.0
- App15%
- 6.2
- Global15%
- 3.0
- Support10%
- 6.4
Change log
Full logLicence
FSC internet-only bank, KDIC KRW 50m
South Korea residents. Kakao is distribution, not the deposit.
Available in
FAQ
01Is KakaoBank a bank?
KakaoBank holds a banking-style licence (FSC / FSS). Still read the legal entity on the statement, not the app icon.
02How is money protected?
KDIC up to KRW 50 million per depositor per bank
03Where is KakaoBank available?
We list 1 market desk on the desk. Residency and onboarding rules still sit with KakaoBank.
04Card and wallets?
mastercard · physical · virtual · Google Pay
Ratings and reviews
No published user reviews yet. The desk score still comes from licence, fees, and the product — not from a empty star average.
Alternatives
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- London
- Fee
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