Local News

The 18 regional banks based in the Kyushu/Yamaguchi region released their business results for the year ended March 2012. Twelve of the 18 banks posted downturns in their net business profit, the category most indicative of the state of their business. Several banks boosted their final earnings with returns from reserves for non-performing accounts, unneeded due to the decline in bankruptcies. Some have also begun beefing up reserves in anticipation of a new law next May that will facilitate lending to small businesses, which they expect will increase risk.