Initiatives for society Relationship with the local community
Initiatives for regional revitalization
To realize one of the business strategies in the Group’s Medium-term Management Plan, “expansion of the regional industrial promotion function,” we support the sustainable and long-term growth of our customers and the region.
Focusing on the promotion of the region’s key industries such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and tourism, we are actively engaged in non-financial businesses in addition to our traditional financial functions.
Establishment of funds to promote industry (investment)
- KUMAMOTO DMC Co., Ltd. (promotion of tourism)
- Haru Ichiban Co., Ltd. (agricultural company)
- KAGOSHIMA OLIVE Co., Ltd. (Regional industry promotion, expansion of markets)
- Roan (antenna shop and expanding of markets)
- GL Connect Corporation (expansion of markets)
- Glocal Crowdfunding Inc. (support for SMEs)
Roan
Haru Ichiban
Establishment of funds to promote industry
- KFG Regional Enterprise Support Fund
- KFG Agri-fund
- Higo/Kagoshima Regional Vitalization Fund
- Kumamoto Future Creation Fund
- Kumamoto Restoration Support Fund
Private placement bonds for industrial promotion
- Kagin SDGs private placement bonds
- Kagin SDGs medical agency bonds
- Higin SDGs medical agency bonds
- Higin SDGs private placement bonds
Initiatives for expanding customers’ markets
- Planning and implementing various business meetings (domestic / overseas)
- Operating a business matching system among the banks
Regional revitalization / business succession
- Regional revitalization support-related loans
- Providing business succession and M&A solutions
- Providing personnel placement service
- Side-job human resource referral
- Establishment of organization to accept foreign national trainees
Support for start-ups
- Establishment of the Kumamoto Next-generation Venture Creation Consortium (Higo Bank, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kumamoto University, Leave a Nest Co., Ltd., Kumamoto Industrial Federation)
- Conclusion of partnership agreements relating to initiatives for regional revitalization (Kagoshima Bank, 8 higher educational institutes in Kagoshima Prefecture)
- Staging of business contests within Kumamoto and Kagoshima Prefectures
- Training programs for local business managers (District Economics Research Institute of Kumamoto Area)
- Training program for the next generation of young entrepreneurs (Kyushu Economic Research Institute)
Contribution activities for regional communities
We continue to assist in revitalizing local communities over the mid-to-long term through work that includes participation in volunteer activities for environmental conservation, such as planting watershed protection trees and forest maintenance, involvement in local events and sporting and cultural events, and social welfare activities. We have also improved our systems by setting up a “volunteer leave system” for encouraging employees to engage in their voluntary activities.
Participation in local events
We continue to stand hand-in-hand with the region by actively participating in local events and clean-up activities to deepen ties with local customers and create a bright and comfortable society.
Otemoyan Dance
Ohara Festival
Sports promotion
For the development of sports in the region, we support marathon events and hold sports classes.
We are also contribute to the region through sports, such as setting up a women’s ekiden road relay club (Higo Bank) and athletics club (Kagoshima Bank), supporting Roasso Kumamoto, Kumamoto Volters, and Hinokuni Salamanders, official partnership with Kagoshima United FC and Kagoshima Rebnise.
Higo Bank Women’s Ekiden Club
Kagoshima Bank Athletics Club
Local Cultural Conservation Activities
We provide various kinds of support to preserve the region’s tradition and culture for the next generations, such as donations to the Eisei Bunko Permanent Exhibition Promotion Fund and Kumamoto City Fund for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Artifacts, and a variety of art exhibitions. We have also set up the Higo no Satoyama Gallery at the headquarters of Higo Bank as a center to provide cultural information.
Also, Kagoshima Bank set up the Kagin Cultural Foundation in 1997, providing subsidies to inherit and develop the traditional culture and promote the contemporary culture.
Higo no Satoyama Gallery
Kagin Cultural Foundation subsidy recipient in FY2018 - Myoenji Mairi Festival 2018
Donations for the sustainability of the regional environment and society
The Group, based on an ESG perspective, is actively engaged in environmental conservation activities and social contribution activities through products fixed with donations in our primary business and donations to non-profit organizations and other recipients in our non-primary business.
| Fiscial year |
Donation Recipient | Donation amount (thousand yen) |
| FY2018 | Aso Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System Fund, Funds for Kumamoto cultural property recovery support, and others | 787,974 |
|---|---|---|
| FY2019 | 282,615 | |
| FY2020 | 379,590 | |
| FY2021 | 685,754 | |
| FY2022 | 68,060 |
Efforts to develop local human resources
We are actively engaged in activities to improve financial literacy in the region and among children who will lead the future by offering comprehensive financial education to realize sustainable local communities.
Offering money classes for elementary school students
We hold “Money Class for Kids,” targeting elementary school students as an activity to improve financial literacy in the community.
The program provides children with opportunities to learn about money while having fun, such as experiencing how the economy works in a game format. A total of 43 sessions were held from FY 2017 to FY 2022, with 3,487 elementary school students participating.
Other initiatives
- Signed an agreement relating to collaborative courses at Prefectural University of Kumamoto
- Organizing Economics Koshien Kagoshima Quiz Tournament
- Contribution to the development of the educational environment by handling private placement bonds with donations to schools ("Higin SDGs private placement bonds" and "Kagin SDGs private placement bonds")
Regional Revitalization Project working with Kagin
Presentation ceremony for privately-placed bonds that include a donation to schools
Money class for kids
Initiatives to Promote Local Employment
To support stable employment in the region, we actively recruit locally and offer internships. In addition, through investment and loan activities, we promote key industries in the region and contribute to the expansion of employment opportunities in the local community.
Internships
We offer internship programs targeting students who will carry the region’s future to motivate them toward finding local jobs.The program offers a diverse curriculum for students to experience the work such as banking, sales, and regional development projects; a cumulative total of 556 students participated in the program in FY2022.
Other Initiatives
- Promotion of local agricultural engagement through the establishment of the agricultural corporation "Haruichiban"
- Supporting the independence and employment of local people with disabilities through the operation of " KAGIN Job Center Sawayaka"