Tag - regional-banks

 
 

REGIONAL BANKS

Katsunori Tanaka, an ex-Goldman Sachs analyst who now heads hedge fund Ariake Capital, is betting big on Japan's smaller regional banks.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 25, 2025
Ex-Goldman analyst’s hedge fund reaps 300% returns on small Japan banks
Katsunori Tanaka spent years at Goldman Sachs scrutinizing Japan’s biggest banks. Now at Ariake Capital, he obsesses over much smaller regional lenders.
Nomura Holdings and Japan's other big brokers are having second thoughts about selling so-called structured loans to regional lenders.
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 11, 2025
Japan brokers rethink repackaged JGBs after regulator warning
There are concerns that buyers might lack proper risk management for the product and could suffer mounting losses if market interest rates move against them.
Toshinori Yashiki, director-general of the Financial Services Agency’s strategy development and management bureau, speaks during an interview on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 28, 2025
Japan to crack down on booming market for JGB-backed loans
The Financial Services Agency will scrutinize banks that have increased purchases of Japanese government bonds that are repackaged into loans over the past year.
There’s keen interest in the market on whether Japan’s regional banks will pour back into benchmark 10-year notes, whose yields jumped to the highest levels since 2009 in Tokyo trading on Friday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 25, 2025
One of Japan's top regional banks holds JGB buying on bet rates to climb
There’s keen interest in the market on whether Japan’s regional banks will pour back into benchmark 10-year notes.
Staff from Aomori Bank and Michinoku Bank, along with family members, participate in the Aomori Nebuta Festival in August 2023, with a large float sponsored by Procrea Holdings behind them.
BUSINESS / Companies / Regional Voices: Tohoku
Jan 20, 2025
Rival regional Aomori banks merge to survive amid population decline
Aomori Bank and Michinoku Bank, which had long been rivals, merged this month to form Aomori Michinoku Bank.
Tomoki Arai, head of markets at Bank of Yokohama
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 8, 2024
Bank of Yokohama weighs Japan bond comeback with more rate hikes to come
More financial institutions are weighing a return to local debt after years of investing abroad.
A male employee of Gunma Bank in Fukaya, Saitama Prefecture, allegedly swindled clients out of a total of ¥55.35 million ($377,000) by falsely claiming to exchange their old banknotes for new ones.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 3, 2024
Gunma Bank dismisses employee over alleged ¥55 million scam
He allegedly took money from clients under the pretext of exchanging old banknotes for new ¥10,000 ones.
Toru Yamasaki, president of San-in Godo Bank, says buying the Japanese government bonds are better for a regional bank like his than foreign debt.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 24, 2024
Japan bank stung by Fed hikes plots return to government bonds
A bank operating in Japan’s least populated area is doing something that may have global repercussions if its peers do the same.
 Atsushi Ukawa
BUSINESS
Sep 8, 2024
Japanese bank seeks to help regional economy with bus business
The company is in talks with around 10 municipalities. Senshu Ikeda plans to expand operations possibly to neighboring Hyogo Prefecture.
As if moving isn't stressful enough, Japan requires a host of paperwork to accompany your switch to a new apartment — a process that may get a little simpler in the near future.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Aug 16, 2024
Online banking consortium to slash the busywork of moving in Japan
The free service is expected to launch in February 2025, with even more functions available online by 2026.
Fukuoka Financial Group President Hisashi Goto
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 16, 2024
Regional bank that hired JPMorgan’s Japan strategist seeks more
Fukuoka Financial Group is seeking specialists in alternative investment and equities as it faces pressure to boost returns for shareholders.
Keisuke Mukunashi, CEO of Yamaguchi Financial Group, says the regional bank is ready to pay compensation comparable to that of Japan’s biggest banks.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 14, 2024
Regional Japan lender dangles megabank pay for market hires
Competition among financial institutions to hire bond traders and other specialists is intensifying as the Bank of Japan nudges interest rates higher.
The Iyogin Holdings headquarters in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture
BUSINESS / Companies
May 31, 2024
Bond traders make one-of-a-kind gain at tiny bank in Ehime
Iyogin Holdings, a regional bank based in the prefectural capital of Matsuyama, has delivered record net income for two years in a row.
A Towa Bank employee's suicide in 2017 has been recognized as a work-related accident.
JAPAN / Society
May 8, 2024
Towa Bank employee suicide linked to overwork and harassment
Findings from the Labor Standards Inspection Office showed the man was under extreme stress due to unmanageable work pressures.
Gunma Bank's video message in English is geared toward those from overseas who are flocking to Japan to buy up stocks, bonds and real estate as the nation’s assets emerge from decades of slumber.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 22, 2024
English video shows Japanese regional banks opening up to overseas investors
Foreigners are flocking to Japan to buy up stocks, bonds and real estate as the nation’s assets emerge from decades of slumber.
Kyoto Financial Group's early bets on Nintendo and other Kyoto-based startups are now bringing huge gains to the regional bank.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 3, 2023
Early bets on Nintendo and Nidec yield big gains for Kyoto bank
Kyoto Financial Group has equity holdings worth almost ¥903 billion thanks to investments made decades ago.
The BOJ’s monetary easing has kept the benchmark yield on 10-year JGBs below 1% for over a decade, and most traders have never experienced a major surge in rates that would put them at risk of large writedowns.
BUSINESS
Aug 16, 2023
Traders who survived the 1980s become must-have hires in Japan
With the benchmark yield on 10-year JGBs below 1% for over a decade, most traders have never experienced a surge in rates that would put them at risk.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 23, 2023
Regional banks given business improvement orders over risky bond sales
The Financial Services Agency made the order after judging the institutions hadn't warned customers about the risks of structured bonds.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 9, 2023
Japan watchdog seeks penalty for regional banks over bond sales
The agency said the banks sold the bond products without properly checking customers’ investment preference and experience, or explaining the risks involved.
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2023
Japanese banks face ‘gender washing’ spotlight on its managers
The issue has broader implications for other industries in Japan, which has long lagged behind global counterparts for workplace diversity.

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