Bank of the Ryukyus, Ltd. was established in 1948 under an ordinance of the U.S. military government for the purpose of “restoring financial order and stabilizing the currency” in order to facilitate the sound development of the Okinawan economy. From its founding up to the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese jurisdiction, the Bank dedicated itself to promoting the development of the prefectural economy in its role as the region’s de facto central bank.

When Okinawa was restored to Japanese jurisdiction in 1972, the Bank reverted to the status of an ordinary bank subject to Japanese banking law, and as the prefecture’s leading bank, it facilitated the shift to the Japanese economic and financial systems. In 1983, we became the first bank in Okinawa to be listed on the stock exchange, and in 1986 construction of our Computer Center was completed. In 1988, we established the Bank of the Ryukyus Foundation for the Promotion of Internationalization as well as the Ryugin Financial Archives. In this way, the Bank has been simultaneously working to strengthen its business structure and actively contribute to the prosperity of the regional community.

In September 1999, in an effort to strengthen the soundness of its assets and financial structure, the Bank made a ¥22.7 billion equity private placement and received an injection of ¥40 billion in public funds.

In April 2001, we decided to integrate our services with six regional banks based in other prefectures, and are now preparing to put this transition into practice. The Bank is also actively entering new fields, for example, by beginning to offer Internet and mobile banking services, utilizing new information technology.

At the end of fiscal 2000, the year ended March 31, 2001, the total assets of the Bank amounted to ¥1,444.6 billion (US$11,660.0 million) on a consolidated basis, and its capital ratio, calculated by domestic standards, stood at 8.98%.

With the banking business as its core, the Bank’s group includes 6 subsidiaries in the fields of trust banking, credit cards, and leasing, as well as 2 affiliated companies. The group provides comprehensive financial services under the slogan “We serve as your long-term business partner.”