All but one of the nation's four major banking groups returned to the black in fiscal 2003, according to their financial reports released Monday.
They were supported by a rise in stock prices as of the end of March and a reduction of loan-loss reserves for nonperforming loans.
The total balance of outstanding nonperforming loans at the four major groups was 11.8 trillion yen in fiscal 2003, down from 14.4 trillion yen at the end of September. The figure shrank for two consecutive years.