Akita Bank

The Akita Bank, Ltd. (株式会社秋田銀行) (tyo: 8343) is a Japanese regional bank headquartered in the city of Akita, Akita Prefecture. Although the bank’s core business comes from Akita prefecture, various branches are situated outside of the area. These include Koriyama, Sapporo, Morioka, Sendai, and Tokyo. The bank was noted for its initial reluctance to establish a wide ATM network, finally implementing one in January 2003.

Profile

 * Total Assets: Approximately ¥2.6 trillion
 * SWIFT Code: AKITJPJT
 * Employees: 1,554
 * Branches: 98 (83 Within Akita Prefecture)
 * President: Takao Minatoya
 * Member: Regional Banks Association of Japan

History
The forerunner of the Aomori Bank was The 48th National Bank (第四十八国立銀行), established January 20, 1879. The bank was privatized in January, 1889, becoming The 48th Bank (第四十八銀行). The former Akita branch of the First National Bank was dissolved in May 1896, becoming the Akita Bank. In March 1897, the Yuzawa Bank (湯沢銀行) was founded. These three banks merged on October 20, 1941, to form the present Akita Bank. The bank was listed on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange from April 1973, and of the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange from April 1974. While the former mascot for the bank had been Woody Woodpecker (along with Winnie Woodpecker), the current mascot is Astro Boy.