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Major banks' household loans fell again in March due to continued regulation

Published: 01 Apr. 2026, 21:08

A leasing office and an ATM are seen in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on April 1. [YONHAP]

Household loans by major banks fell again in March amid continued strict regulations, industry data showed on Wednesday.

Outstanding household loans from the country's five major banks — KB Kookmin, Woori, Hana, Shinhan and NH Nonghyup — stood at 765.73 trillion won ($501 billion) as of end-March, down 136 billion won from the previous month, according to the data.

Household loans rose slightly in February after falling for two consecutive months in January and December.

Mortgage loans by banks fell 387 billion won last month to 610.33 trillion won, following a rise of 597 billion won the previous month.

The government has been implementing a series of measures to cool the overheated housing market and curb household debt.

Under a comprehensive policy package announced in October of last year, the government designated 21 additional districts in Seoul as speculative zones, bringing all 25 districts in the capital under stricter regulations.

It also tightened lending rules, lowering the cap on mortgage loans to as little as 200 million won, down from the 600 million-won limit set in June of last year.

Yonhap