Article at a glance:

Asia’s banking maverick

South Korea's banking system has returned to financial health and international respectability since the Asian financial crisis of 1997. One of the bankers most responsible for that achievement is Kim Jung Tae. A stockbroker and deal maker for most of his career, Kim has smoothly executed a merger between two of South Korea’s healthiest banks to create the giant of the country's market: Kookmin Bank. In this interview, he talks about its goals for growth, its operating culture, its efforts to recruit and retain talented people, and the importance of transparency.

The take-away

Banking in Asia can be done without hanging on to politically persuasive debt, closed-door deals, and unmotivated staff. But a different approach calls for fresh ideas and a lot of communication.