FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun visited a KB Kookmin Bank branch that provides retail banking services with extended operating hours on January 5 to check the benefits and difficulties of having extended operating hours. With the acceleration of digital transition across financial sectors, the rise of contactless financial transactions has led to a decline in the number of bank branches, causing difficulties for digitally inept individuals including the elderly to access financial services. Against this backdrop, banks have been seeking alternative ways to enhance financial access for the digitally inept groups by extending working hours at certain branches, opening joint bank branches and making banking services available at local post offices. During his visit, Chairman Kim said that although these efforts made by the banking sector are still at an early stage, they will be very helpful to meet diverse demands from consumers who still prefer having adequate access to contact-based financial services.