厳しい経営環境が続く地方銀行。これまで資金需要と貸出金利の低迷によって、本業の融資で稼ぐには厳しい状況が続いてきた。

しかし、2024年3月の日本銀行のマイナス金利政策解除を受け、貸出金利上昇の兆しが見えてきた。貸出金の利息収入は残高と金利の掛け算で決まるため、残高が一定ならば金利上昇が収入増につながる。問題は地銀の貸出金利の多くが固定金利型や、横ばいを保つ短期プライムレート連動型となっていることだ。利上げに伴って費用となる預金金利も上昇しているため、貸出金利の上昇が遅れれば、むしろ利ザヤは縮小してしまう。貸出金利を上げるには融資先の了承も必要で簡単ではない。

帝国データバンクが発表した24年5月の倒産件数が12年ぶりの1000件超になるなど、企業の倒産動向にも警戒が必要だ。新型コロナ対応で行ってきた実質無利子・無担保融資の返済が重荷となっている中小企業も多い。

Regional banks are in continued difficult environments. Banks have been difficult to profit from their main business of lending due to decreased demand for money and low interest rates.

However, a sign of higher lending rates emerged after the BOJ lifted its negative interest rate policy in March 2024. Higher lending rates mean more revenues as long as "balances remain the same" since lending revenue is determined by multiplying "balances" by lending rates. An issue is most of their lending rates are fixed or linked to short-term prime rate which tends to remain flat. Higher interest rates are accompanied by an increase in deposit rates and expenses. Delayed raise of a lending rate would reduce profit margin. It is not easy to ask borrowers to accept more payments.

Vigilence is required to keep abreast of business bankruptcy. Teikoku Data Bank reported the number declared in May 2024 exceeded one thousand for the first time in twelve years. Many small or mid-sized businesses are burdened with repayment of borrowings which require effectively zero interest or no collateral.