OREANDA-NEWS. Aozora Bank, Ltd. announced the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding for business cooperation between Aozora Loan Services Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Bank, with Shinkin Central Bank and Shinkin Capital Co., Ltd.

Under this business cooperation agreement, Aozora Loan Services aims to support business recovery (management improvement) for the SME customers of shinkin banks, serving as an external specialist for Shinkin Central's 'Life Stage Support Program'. This recovery support will be provided in the form of the transfer of loan claims to the Shinkin Regional Revitalization Fund in response to consultations from shinkin banks regarding business recovery deals.

The Shinkin Regional Revitalization Fund is a recovery fund exclusively for shinkin banks, and is operated by Aozora Chiiki Saisei Co., Ltd., which was established by the Aozora Bank Group in November 2012 to respond to the business recovery support needs of SMEs throughout Japan.

Aozora Bank invests in the fund and provides various forms of support. Shinkin Central is a shareholder of Aozora Loan Services and this memorandum of understanding has been concluded with the objective of further enhancing their business relationship.

Taking advantage of its business recovery expertise, Aozora Loan Services aims to use this fund to support the business recovery services that shinkin banks nationwide have provided independently to date, as part of its commitment to contributing to the invigoration of regional economies.