Japan Bank Lending Growth Below Forecasts

Japan’s bank lending grew by 5.3% year-on-year in September 2026, matching the downwardly revised figure for August and falling short of market expectations for a 5.5% rise. Outstanding loans at major, regional, and shinkin banks averaged JPY 681.97 trillion. Lending at major and regional banks rose 5.7%, easing from 5.8% in August, with major-bank lending growth slowing to 7.7% from 7.8%, while regional-bank lending growth stood at 4.1%. Within regional banks, lending growth held steady at 4.5% for regional banks I, while growth at regional banks II eased to 1.9% from 2.0%. Meanwhile, lending by shinkin banks held steady at 2.0%, remaining at its strongest growth rate since early 2023. Foreign-bank lending growth slowed to 14.5% from 25.6% in August.

Japan’s bank lending rose by 5.4% year-on-year in August 2026, falling short of market expectations for a 5.5% gain and unchanged from the previous month. Outstanding loans at major, regional, and shinkin banks averaged JPY 680.3 trillion, up from JPY 679.2 trillion in July. Lending at major and regional banks increased 5.8%, easing from 5.9% in July, with major-bank lending growth steady at 7.9%, while regional-bank lending slowed to 4.1% from 4.2%. Within regional banks, lending growth accelerated to 4.6% for regional banks I from 4.5%, while growth at regional banks II eased to 2.0% from 2.4%. Meanwhile, lending by shinkin banks accelerated to 2.0% from 1.9%, marking its strongest growth since early 2023. Foreign-bank lending growth also remained strong at 25.6%, though easing from 28.3% in July.

Japan’s bank lending rose 5.4% year-on-year in July 2026, slowing from a five-year high of 5.7% increase in the previous month. Outstanding loans at major, regional, and shinkin banks averaged JPY 679.2 trillion, up from JPY 679.0 trillion in June. Lending at major and regional banks increased 5.9%, easing from 6.2% in June, with major-bank lending growth slowing to 8.0% from 8.6%, while regional-bank lending remained unchanged at 4.2%. Within regional banks, lending growth was steady at 4.6% for regional banks I and 2.4% for regional banks II. Meanwhile, lending by shinkin banks accelerated to 1.9% from 1.7%, marking the strongest growth since early 2023.