Tokyo-based Asahi Bank and Osaka's Daiwa Bank said Friday they are considering integrating to form Japan's fifth largest banking group.
The two banks are in talks over joining under a holding company and creating a network of regional banks, along with two other regional banks that Daiwa plans to merge with in April, officials said.
If realized, the consolidation would create a banking group with assets of some 50 trillion yen, trailing Mizuho Holdings Inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc. and UFJ Holdings Inc.