Resona Holdings, Inc.

Five major banks including MUFG Bank announced on the 30th the mortgage rates to apply in October. For the variable-rate preferential rates used by most borrowers, Resona Bank, Mizuho Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank raised their rates by 0.25 to 0.62 percentage points from the previous month, bringing Resona to 1.25%, Mizuho to 1.275%, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust to 1.7%. MUFG and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation left their rates unchanged, but all banks raised their fixed rates. With this revision, variable rates now exceed 1% at all banks, reflecting the rise in the benchmark short-term prime rate following the Bank of Japan's rate hike in June. The Bank of Japan decided on an additional rate hike at its September meeting, and this is expected to be reflected in variable rates going forward. For the 10-year fixed preferential rate, all five banks raised their rates by 0.12 to 0.77 percentage points from the previous month in light of rising long-term interest rates, with MUFG at 3.75%, Sumitomo Mitsui at 4%, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust at 4.965%, Mizuho at 3.6%, and Resona at 4.205%.

Five major banks announced on the 31st the mortgage interest rates they will apply to new loans in September. For floating-rate loans, which most borrowers choose, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation raised their rates by 0.25% from the previous month, bringing their most favorable rates to 1.195% and 1.525%, respectively. The other three banks kept their rates unchanged. This reflects the increase in the benchmark short-term prime rate following the Bank of Japan's additional rate hike in June. For fixed-rate loans, all five banks raised their most favorable rates for 10-year fixed mortgages: Mitsubishi UFJ Bank increased by 0.04% to 3.63%, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation by 0.05% to 3.70%, Mizuho Bank by 0.1% to 3.45%, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank by 0.09% to 4.195%, and Resona Bank by 0.16% to 3.955%.

The combined net profit of five major Japanese banking groups in the April–June 2026 quarter rose 42.3% year-on-year to 1.9564 trillion yen. The Bank of Japan's rate hikes improved lending margins, while rising stock prices boosted fee income from investment trust sales and other sources. By bank, net profit rose 48.2% at Mitsubishi UFJ, 33.0% at Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, 45.5% at Mizuho Financial Group, 56.6% at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, and 14.2% at Resona Holdings. All except Resona posted record April–June profits. For the full year ending March 2027, Mizuho and Resona raised their forecasts following the additional rate hike in June, while the other three banks kept theirs unchanged.

After the close on July 31, 22 companies including Kioxia and Seven & i Holdings announced share buybacks. Kioxia will acquire up to 30 million shares, representing 5.5% of outstanding shares, for a maximum of 800 billion yen, while Seven & i will acquire up to 189,663,300 shares, or 8.19% of outstanding shares, for a maximum of 399,999,989,700 yen, both through ToSTNeT-3 on the morning of August 3. Resona Holdings will buy back up to 30 million shares, or 1.34%, for up to 50 billion yen from August 3 through January 31, 2027. Alps Alpine will acquire up to 20 million shares, or 10.3%, for up to 30 billion yen from August 3 through March 31, 2027, and cancel all repurchased shares. Marvelous will buy back up to 4,630,700 shares, or 7.61%, for up to 2,167,167,600 yen through ToSTNeT-3, and will cancel 5,003,341 shares, representing 8.04% of outstanding shares, effective August 6.

Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Mizuho Bank, Resona Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank began offering preferential interest rates on housing loans, renovation loans, and unsecured loans for victims of the earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on the 29th. Rates will be reduced upon submission of a disaster victim certificate, and affected businesses will also receive low-interest financing. The Kyushu Local Finance Bureau and the Bank of Japan's Kumamoto Branch have requested that financial institutions allow withdrawals based on identity verification even if passbooks or seals have been lost, and each bank plans to respond flexibly. The Life Insurance Association of Japan and the General Insurance Association of Japan announced that premium payment grace periods will be extended by up to six months, and insurance claim procedures will be simplified.

JR West President Shoji Kurasaka stressed that the company will first aim to acquire 500,000 accounts for the banking service it plans to launch next fiscal year in partnership with Resona Holdings Group, and revealed a target of contributing 10 billion yen in profit by fiscal 2030. JR West will acquire a 20% stake in Kansai Mirai Bank within this fiscal year, and plans to invest 80% by fiscal 2028 to establish a joint venture with Resona Holdings, gradually transferring payment operations and other functions. In addition to deposits and home loans, the company intends to handle corporate payment agency services and corporate card businesses, with President Kurasaka stating, "We want to provide customers with better payment methods." He expressed enthusiasm for nurturing this into a growth business that boosts profit by around 10 billion yen, including dividends from Kansai Mirai Bank shares, and linking it to revitalizing the Kansai regional economy.