Local News

The Fukuoka City-based Nishi-Nippon City Bank has begun a program of providing loans with favorable interest rates for such environmental projects as the corporate purchase of energy-saving equipment. The bank plans to expand the program next April when new energy conservation laws take effect and offer loans with preferential interest rates to larger retail stores, hotels, hospitals, and office buildings. Companies will be required to cut average annual energy use by at least 1% from the FY 2009 base in the future, so the bank sees the potential to increase its loan portfolio.