If you're a foreigner living and working in Korea, there's a lot to keep track of financially — opening a bank account, sending money abroad, and of course, saving up. KB Kookmin Bank has launched 'KB Global Star Savings' with all of that in mind.
This guide covers everything: what the product is, how the interest rates work, how to sign up, and answers to common questions.
KB Global Star Savings for Foreigners in Korea
A savings account designed for foreign nationals
26.06.18.
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3줄 요약
- KB Kookmin Bank has launched ‘KB Global Star Savings’, a savings account exclusively for foreign nationals.
- Save up to KRW 500,000 per month with flexible deposits over a 12-month term.
- Meet the salary transfer, card payment, overseas remittance, and re-registration conditions to earn up to 5.5% per annum.
What is KB Global Star Savings?
KB Global Star Installment Savings Account is a savings account designed exclusively for foreign nationals. You can deposit anywhere from KRW 1,000 to KRW 500,000 per month — no fixed amount required — making it easy to save even when your income varies.
KB Global Star Savings Details
| Category | Details |
| Eligibility |
Foreign nationals under their real names (limited to one account per
person) |
| Account Type |
Flexible installment savings account |
| Contract Term |
12 months |
| Monthly Deposit |
KRW 1,000 to KRW 500,000 per month |
| How to Open |
KB Star Banking app or any KB Kookmin Bank branch |
| Interest Payment |
Paid at maturity or upon early termination |
KB Global Star Savings Interest Rates
Your final interest rate is the base rate plus any preferential interest rates you qualify for. The base rate is 2.0% per annum — meet the preferential interest rate conditions and you can earn up to 5.5% per annum.
- Base rate: 2.0% per annum
- Maximum rate: 5.5% per annum
Preferential Interest Rate Conditions
KB Global Star Savings offers four preferential interest rate categories: salary transfer, card payment, overseas remittance, and re-registration. Meet any combination of conditions to earn up to +3.5%p per annum. Here's how each one works.
Salary Transfer (+1.0%p per annum) 💼
If your salary is deposited into your KB Kookmin Bank account, you can earn this rate. Your salary needs to be deposited in at least 6 months during the period from the first day of the month you open the account to the last day of the month two months prior to the maturity month.
What counts as a salary deposit?
- Individual deposits of KRW 500,000+ made on the designated salary payment date (within a window of 3 business days, including one business day before and after the designated date) into an account with a registered salary transfer date
- Individual deposits of KRW 500,000 or more made using salary related keywords (limited to monthly salary, wages, allowance, pay, bonus, pension, performance-based bonus, compensation, remuneration) into an account with a registered salary transfer date
- Individual deposits of KRW 200,000 or more made through KB Kookmin Bank’s payroll transfer systems (advance-dated payroll, top-line payroll, or corporate internet banking payroll transfers) under a payroll transfer agreement (or application)
- Salary transfers from the Armed Forces Financial Management Corps
- Salary transfers from the National Pension Service, Government Employees Pension Service, Private School Teachers’ Pension, or Military Pension
※ Transfers from your own KB Kookmin Bank account, transactions with no sender account information, and transfers made at a KB Kookmin Bank branch or ATMs are excluded
Card Payment (+1.0%p per annum) 💳
Use your KB Kookmin (credit, debit, BC) card and have at least 6 months of card payment withdrawals from a KB Kookmin Bank account under your name during the qualifying period (same as above).
※ Corporate card, prepaid card payments, and payments through Open Banking are excluded.
Overseas Remittance (+1.0%p per annum) ✈️
If you regularly send money home or abroad through KB Kookmin Bank, this bonus is for you. Make at least 3 overseas remittances through KB Kookmin Bank during the qualifying period (same as above).
Re-Registration (+0.5%p per annum) 🔄
If you hold your KB Global Star Savings account to maturity and re-register, you’ll receive a one-time bonus of +0.5%p. You must re-open within 3 months from the actual date your account was terminated.
For example: If your account matures on November 3, 2026, you must re-register by February 3, 2027.
How to Open KB Global Star Savings
Where to Apply
You can open the account in two ways:
- KB Star Banking app (mobile)
- In person at any KB Kookmin Bank branch
Documents You'll Need
You'll need a valid government-issued photo ID for identity verification. Accepted ID types include:
- Residence Card (외국인등록증)
- Passport (여권)
- Permanent Residence Card (영주증)
- Driver’s License Issued in Korea (국내 발급 운전면허증)
💡 Depending on your situation (e.g., Customer Due Diligence requirements), additional identity verification may be required. We recommend checking with your nearest branch or calling KB customer service at 1599-4477 before visiting.
KB Global Star Savings
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I get English-language customer support?
A. Yes. KB Kookmin Bank has a dedicated foreign language support center at 1599-4477. You can get help with KB Global Star Savings in 9 languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian, Khmer, Indonesian, Thai, and Mongolian.
If you visit a branch and need interpretation help, you can request a three-way phone interpretation service where a call center agent joins the call with you and the branch staff.
Q. What documents do I need to apply?
A. You'll need a valid ID for identity verification:
- Residence Card (외국인등록증)
- Passport (여권)
- Permanent Residence Card (영주증)
- Driver’s License Issued in Korea (국내 발급 운전면허증)
Additional documents may be required based on your Customer Due Diligence (CDD) status or foreign account opening requirements. Check with a branch or the customer service line (1599-4477) before applying.
Q. What are the preferential interest rate conditions?
A. There are 4 preferential interest rate categories, up to 3.5%p per annum.
- Salary Transfer: +1.0%p per annum
- Card Payment: +1.0%p per annum
- Overseas Remittance: +1.0%p per annum
- Re-Registration: +0.5%p per annum
Q. Can Korean Nationals Residing Abroad (재외국민) apply?
A. No. Korean Nationals Residing Abroad hold Korean citizenship and are not classified as foreign nationals under Korean law, so they do not qualify for this product.
This content was written as of June 12, 2026.
Important Notes
• Please read the Product Disclosure Statement and Terms and Conditions carefully before signing up for this product.
• Financial consumers have the right to receive an explanation of the product or service they are signing up for.
• Accounts opened through non-face-to-face channels such as KB Star Banking may only be terminated at a branch on the same day of account opening. Non-face-to-face termination is available from the following day onwards.
• In support of environmental protection, paper passbooks are not issued for this installment savings account.
• This product is limited to one account per person and cannot be opened as a joint account.
• If seizure, provisional seizure, or similar restrictions are registered on the account, payment of principal and interest may be restricted.
• If the account is designated as a suspected fraudulent transaction account or fraudulent-use account under the Special Act on the Prevention of Telecommunications-based Financial Fraud and Refund of Fraudulently Obtained Assets, financial transaction restrictions, including transfer limitations, remittance deferral, or payment suspension, may apply.
• This brochure is provided as a reference to help bank customers understand this product and to inform them of important terms and conditions. The actual contract for this product is governed by the Special Terms of the KB Global Star Installment Savings Account, the Terms and Conditions of the Installment Savings Deposit Account, and the General Terms and Conditions for Deposit Transactions. The Terms and Conditions are available at KB Kookmin Bank branches and on the website (www.kbstar.com: Customer Center → Forms/Terms & Conditions/Disclosures).
• This product is developed and managed by the Deposit Products Department (P) of KB Kookmin Bank. For further inquiries, please contact any KB Kookmin Bank branch or the Customer Center (1588-9999), visit the official website (www.kbstar.com), or refer to the Product Disclosure Statement.
Estimated Interest Yield (before tax, as of June 12, 2026)
• KRW 178,750 before taxes, based on a monthly deposit of KRW 500,000 for 12 months (subject to change depending on specific details).
• KRW 65,000 before taxes, based on a monthly deposit of KRW 500,000 for 12 months (subject to change depending on specific details).
This deposit is protected under the Depositor Protection Act. The principal and interest are protected up to a maximum of KRW 100 million per depositor (aggregated with other protected financial products held at this bank).
KB국민은행 준법감시인 심의필 제2026-2651호(2026.06.17.), 유효기간 2026.06.17.~2027.06.16.
(Compliance Review Approval No. 2026-2651 (2026.06.17.), Validity Period 2026.06.17.~2027.06.16.)
