"Shopping at the Supermarket and Handling Bank Transactions"… Shinhan Bank Opens Its 2nd Innovative Branch

by Lee Minwoo

Published 12 Apr.2022 10:02(KST)

Most counter services available from 9 AM to 8 PM

A customer is conducting business at Shinhan Bank's second innovation branch located inside GS The Fresh Gwangjin Hwayang Store in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. (Photo by Shinhan Bank)

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] Shinhan Bank is opening an innovative branch where customers can conduct banking services inside a supermarket.

On the 12th, Shinhan Bank announced that it will open such an innovative branch inside the GS The Fresh Gwangjin Hwayang store, a supermarket operated by GS Retail, in collaboration with GS Retail.

Within the branch, a 'GS Retail x Shinhan Bank Innovation Space' will be created, equipped with a digital desk for video consultations and smart kiosks. At the digital desk, customers can handle most banking services such as loans, funds, trusts, and retirement pensions through video consultations with Shinhan Bank's digital sales department staff. Simple counter services like new deposit accounts can be handled via the smart kiosks. Video consultation services at the digital desk are available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., while the smart kiosks are accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The innovative branch features a robot concierge that welcomes customers, provides direct guidance, and performs tasks such as announcing events via QR codes. The AI banker checks the services needed by customers connected to the digital desk and smart kiosks and handles simple tasks as well.

Previously, in October last year, Shinhan Bank introduced an innovative GS Retail convenience store branch in Gohan-eup, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province. To date, it has opened 33 unmanned digital lounge branches.

A Shinhan Bank official stated, "By implementing a digital innovation space in GS Retail’s supermarkets, which have established themselves as local community lifestyle platforms with excellent accessibility, we expect to create new customers beyond traditional banking boundaries. We plan to expand the GS Retail x Shinhan Bank innovative branches nationwide so that customers can experience easier, more comfortable, and newer financial services."