Chiba Bank and Chiba Kogyo Bank said Monday that the two regional lenders based in Chiba Prefecture have reached a basic agreement on their business integration as early as April 2027.
They will advance discussions to establish a holding company, with both coming under its umbrella. The plan is to keep the two banks separate rather than merging them, to maintain convenience for existing customers.
Their combined total assets as of the business year ended March 2025 amounted to nearly ¥25 trillion, which will make them the country's second-largest regional banking group, after Fukuoka Financial Group. Chiba Bank is the largest regional lender in the prefecture, while Chiba Kogyo Bank ranks third.
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