FX.co ★ Japan Loan Growth in Line with Expectations

In May 2025, the value of loans in Japan experienced a 2.4% increase compared to the same month the previous year. This marks a slight uptick from the adjusted 2.3% growth recorded in April, meeting the predictions of market analysts. The aggregate amount of outstanding loans held by major banks, regional banks, and "shinkin" banks reached JPY 634.8 trillion. Specifically, the major banks reported a modest growth of 1.3%, whereas regional banks exhibited a more robust increase of 3.7%. Meanwhile, "shinkin" banks, which are community-focused institutions catering to smaller businesses and local regions, noted a 1.2% rise in their loan values.