FX.co ★ Japan Loan Growth Slows in March

In March 2025, the value of loans in Japan grew by 2.8% compared to the previous year, a deceleration from February's 3.1% increase, which had marked the highest level in seven months. The recent data also fell short of market expectations, which had forecasted a 3.1% rise. The total outstanding loans held by major, regional, and "shinkin" banks amounted to 636.7 trillion yen. Among these, major banks recorded a 2.4% increase in loan growth; regional banks saw a 3.6% rise, and "shinkin" banks, which focus on serving smaller businesses and local communities, experienced a modest increase of 1%.