(코리아타운뉴스) Korean Banks Without Korean Websites

Only three of seven banks have websites available in Korean

Several Korean banks, emphasizing the convenience it provides via “Internet banking,” are seemingly turning a blind eye to offering the service in its own language.

Across Southern California alone, seven Korean banks—Bank of Hope, Hanmi Bank, Pacific City Bank, CBB Bank, Open Bank, Uniti Bank and US Metro Bank—are currently in business. Only three—Hanmi Bank, Pacific City Bank and Uniti Bank—offer online services in Korean.

Bank of Hope, the biggest Korean bank in the U.S., simply stated on its website that the Korean services will be “starting soon,” while CBB Bank explained that Korean will be provided after its website goes through a makeover.
Employees of the banks that are not offering Korean services online pointed to legal issues to explain why their current websites are only in English.

“The plan was to provide Korean services within the first quarter of this year,” said a Bank of Hope employee. “However, the Americans with Disabilities Act standards require that we would then have to provide audio services to the hearing impaired in Korean and that has delayed things. It takes a bit of time to prepare services in a completely different language from a legal standpoint. We’ll have everything ready later in the year.”

Open Bank also said that its management is considering whether or not providing a Korean website is feasible given the legalities of the matter.

Regardless, many of the banks’ Korean customers have expressed their disappointment.

“I guess the Korean banks are concerned about the additional cost of running a Korean website,” said a self-proclaimed 10-year customer at a Korean bank, only identified by his last name Kim. “I would imagine that it’s obvious they should provide Korean services especially if they’re targeting Korean customers.”

“Even Korean restaurants with many Chinese customers have started to put out menus in Chinese. This is the age of Internet banking. Ignoring the need for Korean services online only shows their lack of interest in offering the best services to Korean customers.”


By Sungcheol Jin