Editorials Aug 17, 2017
Regional banks' merger dilemma
Regional banks pursuing mergers to ensure their survival should also scrutinize their operations to find areas where they can improve their performances.
Business Nov 2, 2015
Ashikaga, Joyo to merge next October and become Japan's third-largest regional
Ashikaga Holdings Co. in Tochigi Prefecture and Joyo Bank in Ibaraki Prefecture have reached a broad agreement to merge next Oct. 1. Their combined assets of some ¥15 trillion will the new group Japan's third-largest regional bank. Joyo will become a subsidiary of Ashikaga Holdings, ...
Business / Corporate Oct 26, 2015
Regional lender Ashikaga reportedly considering merger with Joyo Bank
Ashikaga Holdings Co. is considering merging with Joyo Bank Ltd., the latest regional lenders to weigh such a move as the slowing economy and shrinking population saps loan demand. Nothing has been decided on any tie-up, the companies said in separate statements following a report ...
Business / Economy Oct 20, 2015
Japan Post's IPO might just shake up lagging regional lenders
by Shingo Kawamoto
The nation's regional banks need a little shaking up: There are far too many of them, profits from loans are shrinking, and their customers are disappearing. The enormous privatization of Japan Post, coming up next month, may just help spur them into action. State-owned Japan ...
Business / Corporate Jul 23, 2015
Regional lenders want to work with Japan Post Bank, on one condition
by Shingo Kawamoto
As Japan Post Bank Co. prepares for an initial public offering and poses increased competition to regional banks, they are willing to do business with the state-owned company — on one condition. A ruling party proposal to raise the ¥10 million cap on how much ...
Business / Economy Dec 29, 2014
Regional banks face stress test for ultra-low rates
The Financial Services Agency has begun stress tests on regional banks to determine how much their earnings would suffer if long-term interest rates remain near record lows under the Bank of Japan's loose money policy, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the ...
Business Mar 4, 2014
Regional banks face growing pressure to merge
by Taiga Uranaka and Noriyuki Hirata
Regulators are increasing the pressure on regional banks to consolidate, worried that shrinking populations outside Japan's major cities will leave lenders too weak to stand on their own. After direct prodding from the head of the Financial Services Agency for the more than 100 regional ...
Business Jul 26, 2013
Regional financial firms should integrate across borders: LDP's Shiozaki
by Monami Yui and Takako Taniguchi
Regional financial institutions should consolidate across geographical boundaries to help revive the economy, lawmaker Yasuhisa Shiozaki of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said. To strengthen rural areas, the nation should give priority to financial restructuring, said Shiozaki, 62, vice chairman of the LDP's Policy Research ...
Business / Financial Markets May 24, 2013
Kyoto Bank eyes buying more J-REITs as peers retain holdings
Bank of Kyoto Ltd. is one of a few regional lenders weighing additional investments in real estate investment trusts as low interest rates limit returns on government bonds. The bank said it will consider boosting purchases of so-called J-REITs during the year ending in March, ...