BNK Kyongnam Bank donates 160 million won to help vulnerable residents beat summer heat

BNK Kyongnam Bank has donated 200 million won ($130,000) worth of energy vouchers and promotional fans to ease the cooling cost burden on vulnerable residents struggling with summer heat waves.

South Gyeongsang Province held a donation ceremony Tuesday at the governor's reception room in the provincial government building, with Governor Park Wan-su, BNK Kyongnam Bank President Kim Tae-han and South Gyeongsang Community Chest President Jeong Yeong-sik in attendance. The "2026 COOL BNK" project, launched by Kyongnam Bank in 2006, marks its 20th anniversary this year as one of the bank's signature community welfare initiatives.

Of the funds donated Tuesday, 160 million won will be distributed as cash to 3,180 low-income households and elderly people living alone across 18 cities and counties in the province, channeled through the South Gyeongsang Community Chest. Recipient households can use the money immediately for cooling costs and other needs before the peak summer heat sets in.

Kyongnam Bank has sustained this type of community giving year after year. In 2025, the bank contributed a combined 1.19 billion won — covering seollal (269.37 million won), summer (207.45 million won), chuseok (481 million won) and year-end (236.12 million won) campaigns — to support marginalized residents.

A separate ceremony for the donation of promotional fans supporting the relocation of public institutions also took place after the main event. Kyongnam Bank produced 20,000 fans bearing the slogan "South Gyeongsang: the ideal destination for relocating public institutions" and will distribute them across all of its branches in the province. The bank plans to offer the fans free of charge to help residents cool off during the heat, and will open all its branches as "heat-relief shelters" providing a comfortable resting space.

"We hope this support will provide real, practical help to vulnerable households facing a heavier electricity bill burden due to rising energy costs," Kim said. "As the region's representative financial institution, we will further expand our social contribution activities to improve the quality of life for residents."

Governor Park expressed gratitude to Kyongnam Bank for its meaningful contribution. "We will do our utmost in responding to heat waves and protecting vulnerable residents so that everyone in the province can spend the summer safely and in good health," Park said.