SBI Savings Bank is resuming its chatbot project that has been on halt. It is planning to introduce more enhanced service by reexamining its chatbot project from the beginning.
“We are going to resume our chatbot project as we appoint our new director for FinTech TF.” said SBI Savings Bank. “Our chatbot project will be the most advanced service out of all current savings banks.”
Previously, SBI Savings Bank was planning to launch its AWS (Amazon Web Service)-based chatbot service during the second quarter of this year with a corresponding executive (director of FinTech TF) as the head. However, this project has come to a halt when the corresponding executive announced his or her intent to resign earlier this year.
However, SBI Savings Bank has resumed its chatbot project after appointing Director Lee Eun-hwa as the new director of FinTech TF. Director Lee, who received a master’s Degree in industrial engineering from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), had held various positions such as evaluation team leader and business planning director for 8 Percent.
SBI Savings Bank is looking into completely changing its previous chatbot project based on AWS Cloud.

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Although it did not mention in detail, it explained that it will include various services as well as services that are currently available through current chatbots on markets. It is expected that SBI Savings Bank’s new chatbot will be a hybrid chatbot that is able to consult naturally as it will have both natural language method and scenario conversation method.
Currently, SBI Savings Bank has set up a PMO (Project Management Office) to write a proposal for the new chatbot project. It is planning to carry out its chatbot project as soon as possible after selecting companies that will be in charge of its project.
It is expected that other savings banks will start to introduce chatbot services as well as SBI Savings Bank, which is the top savings bank in its industry, has resumed its chatbot project. Although chatbots are widely used amongst credit card industry and insurance industry, it is relatively not used much by savings banks. Only Welcome Savings Bank, JT Chinae Savings Bank, OK Savings Bank, and KB Savings Bank are the only savings banks that are operating chatbots.
Korea Federation of Savings Bank is also looking into including a chatbot service to ‘SB toktok’ for small savings banks that have yet to introduce chatbots.
“We feel the same way that we should include a chatbot service to SB toktok.” said a representative for Korea Federation of Savings Bank. “We are going to enhance SB toktok platform by end of this year and consider carefully about including a chatbot service to SB toktok.”
Staff Reporter Park, Yoonho | yuno@etnews.com