Senior Bank Analyst - Japanese Banks, Windamee Research

J. Brian Waterhouse

Senior Bank Analyst - Japanese Banks

Windamee Research

Japanese Banks

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Deposit growth at the 112 banks that are members of the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) came to +9.7% YoY in December 2020: the highest YoY growth level ever recorded, surpassing the previous record of +9.5% YoY growth rate set back in August and far exceeding the banks’ aggregate loan growth which declined in December 2020 to just +5.3% YoY.  This represented the 171st consecutive month of YoY deposit growth for all JBA member banks.  Banks have more money than they know what to do with, and not nearly enough borrowers to lend to.Taking a closer look at the data, major bank deposit balances have actually fallen in five of the last six months (November being the exception). In contrast to the major banks, deposit balances at both the regional and secondary regional banks continue to grow markedly, +8.9% YoY (a new all-time record) and +8.6% YoY (2nd-highest YoY growth rate ever), respectively.  Unsurprisingly, their loan-to-deposit ratios (LDRs) continue to deteriorate rapidly, although nowhere near the average LDR of the major banks which is now down to 51.4%.‘Profitless prosperity’ remains an ongoing reality for Japan’s banks: awash in cash, margins under relentless pressure and struggling to avoid yet another year of shareholder disappointment through further profits decline.  Some small local banks are already forecasting consolidated net losses for FY3/2021 that have little to do with the adverse economic impact of COVID-19 per se but reflect the difficult operating conditions for all Japanese banks in an ongoing near-zero interest rate environment.“Caveat Emptor!”  (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for 2021 and beyond.<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/185/011/original/8300-WR-JBanks-2021-0126-EbbTide+TPNBNKvsTPX+in+2020.jpg?1611797731" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="185011"></figure></section>

Deposit growth at the 112 banks that are members of the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) came to +9.7% YoY in December 2020: the highest YoY growth level ever recorded, surpassing the previous record of +9.5% YoY growth rate set back in August and far exceeding the banks’ aggregate loan growth which declined in December 2020 to just +5.3% YoY.  This represented the 171st consecutive month of YoY deposit growth for all JBA member banks.  Banks have more money than they know what to do with, and not nearly enough borrowers to lend to.Taking a closer look at the data, major bank deposit balances have actually fallen in five of the last six months (November being the exception). In contrast to the major banks, deposit balances at both the regional and secondary regional banks continue to grow markedly, +8.9% YoY (a new all-time record) and +8.6% YoY (2nd-highest YoY growth rate ever), respectively.  Unsurprisingly, their loan-to-deposit ratios (LDRs) continue to deteriorate rapidly, although nowhere near the average LDR of the major banks which is now down to 51.4%.‘Profitless prosperity’ remains an ongoing reality for Japan’s banks: awash in cash, margins under relentless pressure and struggling to avoid yet another year of shareholder disappointment through further profits decline.  Some small local banks are already forecasting consolidated net losses for FY3/2021 that have little to do with the adverse economic impact of COVID-19 per se but reflect the difficult operating conditions for all Japanese banks in an ongoing near-zero interest rate environment.“Caveat Emptor!”  (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for 2021 and beyond.

Japanese Banks:  Buddy, Can We Spare You a Dime !

The latest data from both the Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) confirm the trend that we noted in earlier Smartkarma Insights on Japanese bank lending, namely that lending by the major banks continues to decline in terms of the outstanding loan balance since reaching a peak in June, even though YoY growth rates remain high compared to previous years.Total loan outstandings have fallen in five of the last six months (November being the exception), primarily because of declining loan balances at the major banks.  The declaration of a State of Emergency in several prefectures, as Japan continues to battle a surge in coronavirus infections, is unlikely to change this trend significantly.  However, as noted in other recent Smartkarma Insights on the outlook for the Japanese banking sector in 2021, these are loans, not grants, and will need either to be repaid in full or, if that becomes impossible, be declared as ‘value impaired’ by the lending banks and properly reserved against.“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for 2021 and beyond.

The latest data from both the Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) confirm the trend that we noted in earlier Smartkarma Insights on Japanese bank lending, namely that lending by the major banks continues to decline in terms of the outstanding loan balance since reaching a peak in June, even though YoY growth rates remain high compared to previous years.Total loan outstandings have fallen in five of the last six months (November being the exception), primarily because of declining loan balances at the major banks.  The declaration of a State of Emergency in several prefectures, as Japan continues to battle a surge in coronavirus infections, is unlikely to change this trend significantly.  However, as noted in other recent Smartkarma Insights on the outlook for the Japanese banking sector in 2021, these are loans, not grants, and will need either to be repaid in full or, if that becomes impossible, be declared as ‘value impaired’ by the lending banks and properly reserved against.“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for 2021 and beyond.

Japanese Bank Lending: An Ebb Tide in 2021?

Japanese people are renowned for their thrift.  Even when deposit interest rates are zero they continue to save.  Cash continues to pour into the banks at near-record levels, both from corporates and from individuals.  But that is not good news: there is little the banks can do with all those savings when loan rates are also zero (and less than zero in some circumstances!).  Unsurprisingly, Japanese banks are not looking forward to a particularly Merry Christmas this year.Deposit growth at the 112 banks that are members of the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) touched +9.4% YoY in November 2020: the 2nd-highest YoY growth level ever recorded and just short of the record +9.5% YoY growth rate set back in August.  Most of the additional ¥8.251 trillion (US$79.34 billion) in funds deposited with the banks in November ended up with the major banks, pushing their loan-to-deposit ratios (LDRs) down to record lows of inefficiency as deposit inflows were over four times greater than new loan outflows.  Only the secondary regional banks registered a small decline in deposit balances: a curious development, as their loan balances grew by a record +7.0% YoY.As the world gets ready to celebrate the end of what has been a terrible year globally and to welcome in the start of 2021 in the fervent hope that it will prove to be better than 2020, there is seemingly no end to the financial pain for Japan’s embattled banks… or for their long-suffering shareholders.“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for 2021 and beyond.<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/179/761/original/TPNBNK+vs+TPX+in+CY2020.jpg?1608608493" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="179761"></figure></section>

Japanese people are renowned for their thrift.  Even when deposit interest rates are zero they continue to save.  Cash continues to pour into the banks at near-record levels, both from corporates and from individuals.  But that is not good news: there is little the banks can do with all those savings when loan rates are also zero (and less than zero in some circumstances!).  Unsurprisingly, Japanese banks are not looking forward to a particularly Merry Christmas this year.Deposit growth at the 112 banks that are members of the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) touched +9.4% YoY in November 2020: the 2nd-highest YoY growth level ever recorded and just short of the record +9.5% YoY growth rate set back in August.  Most of the additional ¥8.251 trillion (US$79.34 billion) in funds deposited with the banks in November ended up with the major banks, pushing their loan-to-deposit ratios (LDRs) down to record lows of inefficiency as deposit inflows were over four times greater than new loan outflows.  Only the secondary regional banks registered a small decline in deposit balances: a curious development, as their loan balances grew by a record +7.0% YoY.As the world gets ready to celebrate the end of what has been a terrible year globally and to welcome in the start of 2021 in the fervent hope that it will prove to be better than 2020, there is seemingly no end to the financial pain for Japan’s embattled banks… or for their long-suffering shareholders.“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for 2021 and beyond.

Japanese Banks:  Remember, Remember, the Thrift of November

The latest data from both the Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) indicate that, while loan growth remains strong in annual terms, loan outstandings have eased back to where they were in May.  In essence, much of the increase in lending by the major banks seen between March and June was then reversed between July and October.
Peak lending occurred in June, when outstanding loans reached ¥535.407 trillion (US$5.10 trillion).  Since then, the rate of year-on-year (YoY) growth has remained just above +6%, thanks to exceptionally strong loan demand in the March-June period which pushed overall loan balances by as much as ¥34.4 trillion (US$331.0 billion) YoY.  However, total loan outstandings thereafter fell every month between July and October, bottoming out in November when the major banks finally registered an increase in lending for the first time in five months.  Month-on-month (MoM) growth in regional bank lending has slowed to a comparative trickle, with loan outstandings falling 0.2% MoM in November.  This does not bode well for 2H FY3/2021 banking sector profits generally, especially as credit costs are continuing to ‘normalise’ even as revenues and margins  -  not to mention shareholder returns  -  remain under pressure.
“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for 2021 and beyond.

The latest data from both the Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) indicate that, while loan growth remains strong in annual terms, loan outstandings have eased back to where they were in May.  In essence, much of the increase in lending by the major banks seen between March and June was then reversed between July and October.
Peak lending occurred in June, when outstanding loans reached ¥535.407 trillion (US$5.10 trillion).  Since then, the rate of year-on-year (YoY) growth has remained just above +6%, thanks to exceptionally strong loan demand in the March-June period which pushed overall loan balances by as much as ¥34.4 trillion (US$331.0 billion) YoY.  However, total loan outstandings thereafter fell every month between July and October, bottoming out in November when the major banks finally registered an increase in lending for the first time in five months.  Month-on-month (MoM) growth in regional bank lending has slowed to a comparative trickle, with loan outstandings falling 0.2% MoM in November.  This does not bode well for 2H FY3/2021 banking sector profits generally, especially as credit costs are continuing to ‘normalise’ even as revenues and margins  -  not to mention shareholder returns  -  remain under pressure.
“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for 2021 and beyond.

Equity Bottom-Up

Financial entrepreneur Yoshitaka Kitao and his flagship company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sbi-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10928:1" rel="noopener">Sbi Holdings (8473 JP)</a> have just netted their sixth and seventh regional banks, namely secondary regional banks Kirayaka Bank and Sendai Bank from the Tohoku Region of northern Japan.On Friday 20 November 2020, the holding company for these two banks, tiny <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jimoto-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5763:1" rel="noopener">Jimoto Holdings (7161 JP)</a>, finally announced its interim results for FY3/2021.  Interim net profits collapsed 91% YoY to just ¥64 million (US$615,000), and the group’s revised full-year guidance now warns of a full-year consolidated net loss of around ¥3 billion: largely the result of accumulated valuation losses in the securities portfolio of principal subsidiary Kirayaka Bank.  To rub salt into investors’ wounds, Jimoto Holdings simultaneously announced that it was issuing 3.65 million new shares to a subsidiary of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sbi-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10928:1" rel="noopener">Sbi Holdings (8473 JP)</a>  for a consideration of around ¥3.4 billion (US$33.6 million).  The SBI Group will control just over 18% of Jimoto Holdings’ outstanding shares when the transactions are completed.Jimoto Holdings is the latest investment by financial entrepreneur Yoshitaka Kitao in Japan’s struggling regional banking sector, and another ‘stepping-stone’ for the SBI Group’s president towards his goal of creating a “fourth megabank”.Foreign investors would be well advised to steer clear.  The future for Jimoto Holdings is far from certain, despite the capital injection.  Caveat Emptor! (May the Buyer Beware!) remains our advice to foreign investors considering investing in the Japanese banking sector in CY2020.

Financial entrepreneur Yoshitaka Kitao and his flagship company Sbi Holdings (8473 JP) have just netted their sixth and seventh regional banks, namely secondary regional banks Kirayaka Bank and Sendai Bank from the Tohoku Region of northern Japan.On Friday 20 November 2020, the holding company for these two banks, tiny Jimoto Holdings (7161 JP), finally announced its interim results for FY3/2021.  Interim net profits collapsed 91% YoY to just ¥64 million (US$615,000), and the group’s revised full-year guidance now warns of a full-year consolidated net loss of around ¥3 billion: largely the result of accumulated valuation losses in the securities portfolio of principal subsidiary Kirayaka Bank.  To rub salt into investors’ wounds, Jimoto Holdings simultaneously announced that it was issuing 3.65 million new shares to a subsidiary of Sbi Holdings (8473 JP)  for a consideration of around ¥3.4 billion (US$33.6 million).  The SBI Group will control just over 18% of Jimoto Holdings’ outstanding shares when the transactions are completed.Jimoto Holdings is the latest investment by financial entrepreneur Yoshitaka Kitao in Japan’s struggling regional banking sector, and another ‘stepping-stone’ for the SBI Group’s president towards his goal of creating a “fourth megabank”.Foreign investors would be well advised to steer clear.  The future for Jimoto Holdings is far from certain, despite the capital injection.  Caveat Emptor! (May the Buyer Beware!) remains our advice to foreign investors considering investing in the Japanese banking sector in CY2020.

Jimoto Holdings (7161 JP):  Kirayaka Cracks

Japan

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc. is a holding company established jointly by Chuo Mitsui Trust Holdings and Sumitomo Trust and Banking. As a financial group, the Bank provides trust banking business, as well as securities brokerage, assets management, and related financial services.

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Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings (8309 JP)

Japanese Banks: Buddy, Can We Spare You a Dime !

Cash continues to flow into bank deposits in Japan faster than the banks appear able to channel those funds into loans or investments that might...

J. Brian Waterhouse

Japanese Bank Lending: An Ebb Tide in 2021?

The ‘dash for cash’ by large corporates appears to be over, at least in terms of lending by the major banks. Only the small secondary regionals...

J. Brian Waterhouse

Japanese Banks: Remember, Remember, the Thrift of November

Japanese people are renowned for their thrift. Even when deposit interest rates are zero they continue to save. But there is little the banks can...

J. Brian Waterhouse

Japanese Bank Lending: Losing Momentum

Loan balances have eased back to May levels, with much of the increase in lending by the major banks in March-June reversing between July and...

J. Brian Waterhouse

Jimoto Holdings (7161 JP): Kirayaka Cracks

Financial entrepreneur Yoshitaka Kitao and his flagship company SBI Holdings (8473 JP) have just netted their sixth and seventh regional banks,...

J. Brian Waterhouse

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