Message from the President

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, total income decreased ¥3,426 million year on year to ¥83,395 million, primarily because of the posting of gain on repayment of retirement benefit trusts in the previous fiscal year.
Meanwhile, total expenses increased ¥4,331 million year on year to ¥70,238 million, primarily because of an increase in other operating expenses such as loss on foreign exchange transactions and expenses on derivatives other than for trading or hedging.
Furthermore, income before income taxes decreased ¥7,758 million year on year to ¥13,156 million.
Net income attributable to owners of the parent decreased ¥4,593 million year on year to ¥9,040 million.

The first year of the new medium-term management plan, we have worked towards smoother regional finance and revitalization of local economies by developing financial mediation and consulting functions, and endeavored to further deepen our relationship with the regional society.

As part of our initiatives to revitalize local economies, we established the Hyakugo Regional Revitalization Fund for the purpose of broadly investing in projects that will lead to activation of local economies and the Second Mie SME Revitalization Fund for the purpose of supporting the rehabilitation of local SMEs. In addition, in order to promote the high quality foods of Mie Prefecture, which are gaining attention outside of the prefecture after the holding of the Ise-Shima Summit, we introduced our business partners as participating companies at events featuring food products from Mie Prefecture held at 150 major retail stores nationwide. We also invited 25 automotive-related companies from Malaysia to our Marunouchi Headquarter Building and provided our business partners with the opportunity to hold a business talk concerning overseas expansion.

As part of our initiatives to improve customer convenience, we established the Insurance Consultation Booth that responds to consultations and inquiries regarding various types of insurance and offers funding simulations for life planning of customers at the Suzuka Retail Banking Center that had specialized in loans. In addition, we launched a system that enables first-time individual customers to open ordinary savings accounts using a smartphone. We have also overhauled our website to an easier-to-understand and friendlier design, and enhanced the branch and ATM search function and the FAQ (frequently asked questions) section.

Additionally, as part of efforts to support our employees in balancing work and personal life and in an aim to create flexible working environments with more options, we extended the period of child care leave from “until a child is one and a half years old” to “until a child is three years old,” and revised the reduced work hour system during child care and nursing care from “six active hours” to “three or more active hours.” We will continue to create a working environment in which people with diverse backgrounds can feel comfortable to work.

Going forward, Hyakugo Bank will live up to the trust placed in us and all executives and employees will work together under this plan to ensure development of the regional society and the Bank. We appreciate your further support and cooperation.