政府、地銀再編へ資金補助　預金保険の剰余金活用―経済対策に盛り込みへ

　地方銀行などの合併や経営統合を促すため、政府が資金を補助する新たな枠組みを来年夏にも創設することが１２日、分かった。預金保険機構の利益剰余金を活用し、再編に必要な初期コストの一部を支援する。来月にも取りまとめる経済対策に盛り込み、金融機能強化法改正案を次期通常国会に提出する方針だ。（2020/11/12-20:35）

Japan's government will establish as early as next summer a new financial assistance framework to spur business integration, including outright mergers, among regional banks in the country, it was learned Thursday.
   Under the scheme, the government will shoulder part of the initial realignment-linked costs using retained earnings at Deposit Insurance Corp., informed sources said.
   The plan will be included in a new economic package to be compiled next month. The government plans to submit a bill to revise the law on strengthening financial functions to next year's regular session of the Diet, the country's parliament, the sources said.
   Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is aiming to promote business integration and realignment among regional banks to support local economies hit hard by the novel coronavirus crisis. For that purpose, the government plans to work with the Bank of Japan, which announced earlier this week an initiative to support regional banks seeking business integration.
   Core banking and other systems often differ among financial institutions, and a large amount of money will be necessary for unifying the systems. The high costs have been a factor holding small local banks back from integration.