Nippon Life Insurance Co. and Nichii Gakkan Co. are trying to interest regional banks in their joint advisory services for health and nursing-care concerns, officials of the two companies said Wednesday.
Nippon Life, Japan's largest life insurer, and Nichii Gakkan, a leader in the market for home nursing services, have so far asked some 10 regional banks to participate in the service in the hope of securing at least one partner bank in each prefecture, the officials said.
Starting in April, Nippon Life and Nichii Gakkan will provide the life insurer's customers with free advice on health and nursing care 24 hours a day via telephone and the Internet as part of the collaboration.
The two companies said regional banks can expand their customer bases by joining the nursing-care service.
The Bank of Fukuoka has already decided to provide the advisory service to its customers, the officials said.