An Aum Shinrikyo follower in her 30s was involved in the development of computer systems for Wakayama-based Kiyo Bank and several other financial institutions, it was learned Friday.

The Metropolitan Police Department said it is the first time an Aum follower has been definitely linked to the production of computer software programs for banks.

Police are investigating other reports of Aum members being involved in similar deals. Security authorities said earlier they suspect that the cult attempted to steal important data from the ministries and major companies, and that the computer business of the five Aum companies was an important source of funds for the cult.

The woman, whose identity is being withheld, previously worked for a major city bank programming computers.

The programs in question have been used to input records on deposits and withdrawals by individual clients as well as their income and other financial information, MPD sources said.

Friday's announcement is also the first time Aum has been linked to the development of computer systems for firms based outside Tokyo.

The MPD believes the cult has been involved in producing computer programs for businesses across the country, they said.

The sources said the woman joined the city bank after graduating from college. She had worked for about 10 years at the bank and joined the cult as a resident follower after a series of crimes perpetrated by Aum came to light in 1995.

The incident follows recent revelations that a computer software company in Tokyo linked to the cult developed systems for a number of government ministries and major companies.

Police also discovered Thursday that the cult had obtained a list of some 3,000 senior officials of Honda Motor Co. through a computer software company linked to the cult.

The MPD said it suspects the firm obtained the list showing the officials' full names, ages and titles when the company received orders for personnel management systems from the automaker in 1997.

The cult owns at least five computer companies, at which about 40 Aum members develop software.

Senior Aum member Fumihiro Joyu denied allegations Thursday that computer software companies affiliated to the cult accepted orders from government bodies and major companies to develop systems in order to obtain important data about them.

Joyu said that Aum followers are individually engaged in such computer businesses to raise funds to compensate victims of crimes committed by Aum. , adding that the group transferred 10 million yen Thursday to a bank account of Aum's administrator as compensation money.

He denied that the cult is directly involved in the management of five software firms, which have about 20 full-time staffers, and said the companies' monthly net profits, totaling some 5 million yen, are used to compensate the victims.