Resona Bank targets 45 billion yen in startup loans by 2028

Resona Bank President Kazuhiro Chida has announced plans to significantly expand the bank’s support for startups. The bank aims to extend approximately 45 billion yen in loans to startups in fiscal 2028, a figure more than nine times the level projected for fiscal 2025. The institution intends to reach a cumulative loan balance of 100 billion yen for such firms by the end of fiscal 2028.

To facilitate this growth, Resona Bank plans to establish a second startup lending fund in partnership with Tokyo-based Fivot Inc. Chida emphasized the bank’s goal to act as a “bridge” between startups and large corporations to accelerate growth.

Additionally, the bank will launch an internal venture program in October to foster new businesses within the Resona group. Selected projects are expected to be commercialized by April 2028. In the realm of investment management, the bank aims to increase its Resona Fund Wrap assets under management from 900 billion yen to 2 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2028.