Challenges and Current Initiatives of Regional Financial Institutions Supporting Local Businesses and Communities: A Summary of the 2023 Survey on the Status and Issues of Regional Finance for the Sustainable Development of Local Businesses (Japanese)

In November and December 2023, a survey was conducted with 7,000 regional financial institution branch managers, receiving 2,516 responses (35.9% response rate). The survey focused on branch managers who directly interact with customers, rather than headquarters staff. While many managers feel a sense of fulfillment in their work, this feeling has declined compared to previous surveys conducted in 2017 and 2019. Although a strong sense of commitment to working for the local community is evident, particularly strengthened by client gratitude, younger staff do not have adequate opportunities to experience similar successes. Meanwhile, increasing client numbers have created a need for more efficient support. Efforts to assist with digitalization and decarbonization are underway, but the anticipated positive impacts are not yet fully realized. Challenges remain in addressing business continuity planning (BCP) and management guarantees. Human resource development and evaluation are also key areas that require improvement, especially in adapting to post-COVID needs.