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Alinma Bank has partnered with JCB International Co. Ltd., Japan's only international payment brand, to enable the acceptance of JCB Cards through its POS and ATM network devices deployed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative benchmark interest rates are becoming commonplace in Europe and Japan. Here's what US credit unions need to know in case that happens here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the weak financial condition of several Japanese banks as of December 1995. In November 1995, Japan's finance ministry outlined plans for a body to rescue insolvent banks. Tokyo Kyodo Bank is to be turned into the Japanese equivalent of the Resolution Trust Company, the organization the U.S. created to handle its bankrupt savings-and-loans institutions. Since December 1994, Japanese government had to bail out four credit unions namely Tokyo Kyowa Credit Association, Anzen Credit Association, Cosmo Credit Union and Kizu Credit Union. There combined bad debt and problem loans totaled almost 1.5 trillion Yens. The finance minister of Japan described the failure of banks as an extraordinary situation. To deal with the problem, he has called for loans from the Osaka Prefectural Government and relief from the Deposit Insurance Corp. Two months before the Hyogo Bank collapsed, its annual financial statement put bad loans at just 61 billion Yens. However, after collapse of the Hyogo bank, its problem loans were estimated at 1.5 trillion Yens. Japan also needs to do something about eight housing-loan companies whose combined bad debts total 7.4 trillion Yens.

Analyzes the scandals in the financial services market in Japan. Revelation of the practice of an Osaka-based credit union of issuing fake deposit certificates to its client; Size of the fraud involving Fuji Bank; Need for the Finance Ministry to control the banks' lending for property investment.

Reports on a financial scandal involving credit unions in Japan. Resort magnate Harunori Takahashi; Finances of the Tokyo Kyowa Credit Union Corp. and the Anzen Credit Union Corp.; Illegal loans to his businesses; Differences in the regulations of financial intermediaries; Raising funds for investments; Interest rate offered to depositors.

The article offers information on a claim settlement service system, Densai-net, from densai.net Co. densai.net Co. was founded by Japanese Bankers Associations (JBA) in Japan. Along with the member banks of JBA, users of Densai-net will also be accessing credit associations, credit unions, and Central Bank for Commercial and Industrial Associations in the country.

Reports on the worthless assets of Tokyo Kyodo Bank. Bank's takeover of two failed credit associations in Tokyo: Anzen and Tokyo Kyowa; Bank's creation under a bailout devised by the Finance Ministry, the central bank, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan (LTCB); Resignation of LTCB president Horie Tetsuya.

Presents the case of Keiko Fujinori, 57, who allegedly stole $13 million from a small Tokyo credit union. Details of the case; Impact.

There are 35 Japanese banks in London, England. Zenshinren Bank is a central cooperative bank for Japanese credit unions. The Japanese are now the second-largest foreign grouping in London after American banks, accounting for 22 percent of total Great Britain banking assets in October 1984. Four main groups of Japanese banks have a foothold: the large city banks, the trust banks, long-term credit institutions, and regional banks. These organizations have concentrated their activities on money-market transactions, foreign exchange, syndicated loans for corporate and sovereign borrowers, and acceptance credits. Japanese expansion in London must be seen in the context of growing trade contacts between Japanese multinationals and their customers.

This article reports on a decision by major credit card associations to use the same communications protocol for their contactless programs, as of March 2006. Japan-based credit card issuer and acquirer JCB Co. Ltd. announced it would join Visa International and use MasterCard International's PayPass protocol. The protocol covers payment cards and related devices that consumers wave near or tap on a reader. A uniform protocol from the three powerful organizations suggests that card-accepting merchants should have an easier time buying payment terminals that accept contactless payments.

Reports that representatives from the Maine Credit Union League and two affiliated credit union have hosted representatives from Japan's largest cooperative financial institution for agriculture in Westbrook, Maine.

Presents updates on credit unions as of December 10, 2001. Arrest of Kang Young Kwan, top official of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, over allegations of embezzlement in pro-Korean credit unions sponsored by the group; Decision of Joi Haynes to plead guilty to charges that she set up the 1998 armed heists at Communications Federal Credit Union and Nazarene Credit Union in Oklahoma; Conversion of Foothill Federal Credit Union to state charter.