A Change in Financial Function of Japanese Regional Banks

During the last 13 years Japanese economy has continuously declined particularly in regional areas excluding Kanto and Tokai districts. The deterioration of regional economies has affected the business performance of regional banks along with the increase of borrowers' credit risk. One of the important roles of the regional banks is to support and help their regional economies' development. However it has become quite hard for them to do that through traditional lending due to both constraint of reducing credit risk and necessity of securing management stability. Less effects of relationship banking can be found in comparatively large regional banks than in small ones though FSA is pressing the regional financial institutions strongly to push forward with relationship lending. They should consider adjusting their financial function from traditional lending business to "break through investment" business. No excessive positive return cannot be expected in traditional lending business, whereas 100% loss would be possible. Ventures or new business creators need equity investment rather than lending. The CLO scheme which has been launched by Tokyo Prefecture is suggesting a framework of risk sharing for a new investment scheme. In that scheme equity investment instead of banking loan will be proposed utilizing financial funds in regions. Regional banks will undertake an equity part. Regional individual investors and institutional investors will be expected to undertake a senior part and a mezzanine part respectively. Regional banks are requested to have a determination of taking an important responsibility for development of their regional economies.departmental bulletin pape