South Korean online-only lender KakaoBank Corp. announced on Monday that it will extend the waiver on early repayment charges for mortgage loans by another six months.

The move will allow borrowers to repay loans ahead of schedule without incurring fees through January 1, 2026.

The extension continues a policy that has been in place since the bank launched its mortgage lending service in February 2022.

KakaoBank has waived early repayment penalties worth approximately 49 billion won ($36 million) for around 43,000 borrowers between February 2022 and March 2025.

Early repayment penalties are typically imposed when borrowers pay off their loans before the agreed-upon term ends. By removing the charges, KakaoBank says it aims to ease financial pressure on customers.

“We are returning operational cost savings made possible by our innovative tech infrastructure to customers through direct financial benefits,” said a company official.

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