Local News

The Kitakyushu Bank, formerly the Kyushu operations of the Yamaguchi Bank that were spun off to create an independent entity, began operating on October 3. They have 23 branches in Kyushu, including 13 in Kitakyushu, and plan to open another four branches in Fukuoka Prefecture by next March. This is expected to intensify competition among financial institutions in the region, as they will enter a market that already includes the Nishi-Nippon City Bank, the Bank of Fukuoka, and several shinkin banks.