The stable outlook on Woori Bank reflects our view that potential credit risks remain manageable and that the bank is likely to be able to maintain its current level of capitalization for the next 24 months. Standard&Poor's Ratings Services believes Woori will likely manage the potential rise in credit costs with current preprovisioning profit levels amid an increasingly challenging operating environment, characterized by potential pressure on the quality of household debt and ongoing pressure on the quality of the real-estate and construction sectors, including real-estate project finance loans, as well as the shipping and shipbuilding sectors. We could lower the ratings on Woori if we revise downward the bank's stand-alone credit profile (SACP) by at least two notches.
