KakaoBank is a South Korean internet-only bank that launched in July 2017. Its visual identity is built around a symbol combining the letter “B” for Bank with an “I” for “me” at its center, expressing the idea of “a bank where I am at the center.”[1]
Design and History
The KakaoBank symbol was introduced at the bank’s official launch in July 2017. At the launch, the bank stated that the symbol places the letter “I” (meaning “me”) inside the “B” of Bank, conveying the meaning of “my own bank.” The design was described as expressing the bank’s goal of being “a bank where I am at the center,” built around user-centric technology and frequent, easy interactions between people and the bank.[2][3]
At the time of its launch, media coverage noted that KakaoBank chose an achromatic black for its symbol itself, differentiating it from traditional banks, even though the parent company Kakao’s signature yellow color was used prominently in its marketing and branding.[4]
The brand identity was designed by CRAFIK (크라픽), a Seoul-based design studio. According to the studio’s project description, the symbol was designed using negative space to symbolize a passage toward new finance and the image of a bank that safely accumulates assets. The studio also stated that the design focuses on the “I” within “B” to convey the meaning of “banking centered on me.”[5]
In December 2025, KakaoBank introduced a new logo symbol alongside the launch of its integrated conversational AI service, “KakaoBank AI.” The new symbol replaces the “B” centered design with an expanding star-shaped AI symbol with the “I” (me) placed at its center, expressing “AI where I am at the center.”[6][7]
Meaning and Symbolism
According to KakaoBank’s official brand resource page, the symbol is a combination of the bank’s “B” and the “I” (me) standing at its center, meaning “a bank where I am at the center.” The symbol is the primary element used to represent the brand.[1]
The design agency CRAFIK further explained that the negative space in the symbol was used to symbolize a passage toward new finance and the image of a bank that safely accumulates assets.[5]
Typography and Design
KakaoBank’s official brand guidelines specify that the logo may only be used in three designated colors: Yellow, Black, and White. The primary brand color is Yellow, which serves as the center of all brand expressions and is used first when conveying the brand clearly or symbolically. Achromatic colors are used as secondary colors to neutrally support the primary Yellow.[1]
The wordmark follows the CI regulations of the Kakao community. The signature, which combines the symbol and wordmark, is used when the brand needs to be stated more clearly, with horizontal placement preferred and vertical placement used only in limited circumstances.[1]
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