AI is no longer just a topic for big tech companies. The competitiveness of the financial industry is now determined not by the size of capital but by how well data is utilized and how deeply AI is integrated into organizations. The capital sector is no exception. In an era where survival is difficult for traditional financial institutions focused on interest rates and loans, transforming into a data-driven financial company is essential.
In this changing landscape, Jang Jong-hwan, CEO of NH Nonghyup Capital, is taking a unique path. Since his appointment, he has emphasized the transition to an 'AI financial company' as a core management strategy rather than mere digitalization. He has declared 2026 as the 'Year of Generative AI Expansion' and is promoting AI training for all employees, establishing AI governance, innovating non-face-to-face services, and increasing AI investments. He has recognized that the competitiveness of financial companies stems from their ability to utilize AI, rather than the number of branches or the size of assets.
Customer-Centric AI Revolution
Jang Jong-hwan's background is somewhat different from that of a typical financial CEO.
He has extensive experience in consumer protection, public relations, and mutual finance at the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and NH Financial Group. His management philosophy emphasizes customer focus over technology. He views AI not merely as a cost-cutting tool but as a means to innovate customer experiences.
Since taking office, Jang has declared, "We will actively promote the expansion of customer-centric non-face-to-face services and the transition to AI." This means not just automating tasks but redesigning the entire organization to provide financial services that meet customer needs more easily and quickly.
2026: The Year of Generative AI
The key term in Jang Jong-hwan's management is generative AI.
NH Nonghyup Capital has proclaimed 2026 as the year of generative AI expansion. The company is expanding AI capability enhancement programs for employees, discovering AI use cases, building a generative AI platform, and establishing governance systems to comply with AI regulations.
Notably, the emphasis is on AI training for all employees.
This aims to make AI a capability of the entire organization rather than just a skill of a few experts. NH Nonghyup Capital has designated AI utilization, AI regulations, and AI task automation as mandatory training courses for all employees.
This strategy accurately reflects the future of the financial industry.
In the future, the competitiveness of financial companies is likely to be determined not by the size of their AI departments but by how naturally all employees can utilize AI.
Significance of Establishing a Future Business Division
One of the first changes Jang Jong-hwan implemented after taking office was a reorganization of the company.
He established a Future Business Division.
This division is responsible for AI-based financial services and investments in new growth industries, focusing on the Non-Face-to-Face Business Division and the Investment Banking Division. The Non-Face-to-Face Business Division will expand AI-based customized financial services and MyData projects, while the Investment Banking Division will handle investments in startups and new industries.
This is a highly symbolic move.
In the past, the core of capital companies was lending. The structure was based on lending money and receiving interest.
However, Jang Jong-hwan is looking for future growth in AI and investment banking.
He believes that the future of capital business lies not in simple loans but in data, technology, and investment.
AI Finance: A Data War
What is the most important asset of a financial company?
It is not money.
It is data.
Jang Jong-hwan understands this well.
NH Nonghyup Capital has completely revamped its mobile app and web environment, expanding the scope of public MyData and financial MyData utilization. The integration with the NH Financial Super Platform has also been strengthened.
AI operates only with data.
By analyzing customer consumption patterns, loan repayment records, and financial usage habits, tailored financial services can be provided.
The digital innovation Jang Jong-hwan is pursuing is not just a simple mobile app overhaul.
It is the establishment of a data infrastructure for future AI finance.
DT-Master and AI Talent Development
In the age of AI, talent is a competitive advantage.
Jang Jong-hwan places great importance on this.
NH Nonghyup Capital operates a digital talent certification program called DT-Master, and the number of related personnel has recently increased significantly. Additionally, through generative AI contests and internal training programs, the culture of AI utilization is being spread within the organization.
While most financial companies focus on hiring AI experts from outside, Jang Jong-hwan has chosen to develop internal personnel into AI talent.
This is a way to build a stronger organization in the long run.
Ultimately, AI is a tool that people use.
Investment in Rebellion and Participation in the AI Ecosystem
Jang Jong-hwan's AI strategy does not stop at internal innovation.
He is also investing in the AI industry itself.
NH Nonghyup Capital invested 5 billion won in Rebellion, an AI semiconductor company, as the first direct investment case of the National Growth Fund. NH Nonghyup Capital noted its focus on Rebellion's NPU technology and the growth potential of the AI infrastructure market.
This investment is highly symbolic.
It signifies that financial companies are beginning to supply capital for the growth of the AI industry, moving beyond merely utilizing AI.
The essence of entrepreneurial spirit in the age of AI is to discover future industries first and connect capital to them.
Jang Jong-hwan is striving to fulfill that role.
Connecting NH Nonghyup's Strengths with AI
NH Nonghyup Financial's greatest asset is its nationwide network.
It possesses data on agricultural workers, small business owners, and local economic customers.
Jang Jong-hwan aims to connect this strength with AI.
While large financial groups compete for data centered around metropolitan areas and high-income individuals, Nonghyup has differentiated assets in the form of nationwide local economic data.
As the era of AI credit evaluation and AI asset management unfolds, this data could become a powerful competitive advantage.
Jang Jong-hwan seeks to establish a unique financial model for Nonghyup through AI.
The Intersection of Inclusive Finance and AI
Another characteristic of Jang Jong-hwan's management is inclusivity.
He has emphasized support for financially vulnerable groups.
AI is not merely a technology to enhance efficiency.
It is a technology that can provide new financial services to customers who have been difficult for traditional financial institutions to reach.
Alternative credit assessments using unstructured data are a prime example.
For NH Nonghyup, which has many agricultural workers, small business owners, and elderly customers, AI can be a tool to realize inclusive finance, not just an innovative technology.
In this regard, Jang Jong-hwan's AI strategy aligns with the very reason for Nonghyup's existence.
The Essence of Entrepreneurial Spirit in Finance
Entrepreneurial spirit is the ability to take risks and choose the future.
AI is still an area where results have not been definitively verified.
However, Jang Jong-hwan has already set a direction.
He believes that the future of capital business lies in AI.
Therefore, he is building AI organizations, nurturing AI talent, investing in the AI industry, and expanding AI services.
His strategy is not flashy.
But it is very realistic.
Starting with AI training for all employees, he is gradually changing the organizational culture and systems.
This is management that prioritizes long-term competitiveness over short-term results.
As the era of AI finance becomes more pronounced, Jang Jong-hwan's true achievements are likely to become clearer.
The experiment of whether NH Nonghyup Capital can transform from a simple lending company into an AI-based financial company has already begun.
SWOT Analysis:
Strengths
Jang Jong-hwan is a customer-centric manager with rich experience in consumer protection and fieldwork. He is spreading AI as an organizational capability rather than a project of a specific department. The direction of AI transition is clear with the declaration of the year of generative AI expansion, mandatory AI training for all employees, DT-Master development, and the establishment of a Future Business Division. Additionally, he has a differentiated foundation with NH Financial's nationwide network and data assets.
Weaknesses
Due to the nature of the capital business, the scale of data and platform influence is limited compared to banks or card companies. AI investment and organizational transformation are still in the early stages, and short-term profitability may not be significant.
Opportunities
The expansion of generative AI, growth of non-face-to-face finance, activation of MyData, and expansion of AI credit evaluation present new growth opportunities for NH Nonghyup Capital. Participation in the AI ecosystem, such as the investment in Rebellion, can also create future revenue sources.
Threats
Interest rate volatility, economic slowdown, rising delinquency rates, the entry of big tech into finance, and stricter AI regulations are major risk factors. The digital competition with large financial groups is also likely to intensify continuously.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.