Mizuho Bank

Corporate brand

The principal commercial banking subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group and one of Japan's three major megabank institutions, serving retail, corporate, institutional and international customers.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Mizuho Bank is the principal commercial banking institution within Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group. It provides deposits, lending, payments, foreign exchange, cash management, trade finance, securities-related services and other banking solutions to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporations, public-sector bodies and financial institutions. Although its legal identity dates from the 2013 integration of Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank, its business heritage reaches back through the former Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Fuji Bank and Industrial Bank of Japan, as well as the earlier banks that preceded those institutions. The bank’s modern structure emerged from the consolidation of three major Japanese financial groups. Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Fuji Bank and the Industrial Bank of Japan were brought together under the Mizuho group in the early 2000s, initially through separate banking entities serving retail and corporate markets. Mizuho Bank was the group’s principal retail and commercial bank, while Mizuho Corporate Bank concentrated on large companies, financial institutions and international business. In 2013, the two operating banks merged, creating the current Mizuho Bank and giving the group a single core banking platform for domestic and international commercial banking. In Japan, Mizuho operates a nationwide branch and digital banking network. Its retail activities include current and savings accounts, payment cards, mortgages, consumer lending, investment trusts and other financial products distributed through branches and electronic channels. Its corporate franchise supports working-capital finance, capital expenditure, structured lending, cash management, foreign exchange, trade settlement and treasury functions. Through coordination with other Mizuho group companies, the bank also participates in investment banking, securities, asset management, trust banking, leasing and advisory solutions, although some of these activities are conducted by affiliated entities rather than by the bank itself. Internationally, Mizuho Bank maintains branches, offices and subsidiaries in major financial and commercial centers. These operations support Japanese companies overseas, multinational corporations doing business in Japan, cross-border transactions and regional financing. The bank’s international offering includes loans, deposits, payments, correspondent banking, foreign exchange, trade finance and transaction banking. Its position is therefore broader than that of a purely regional Japanese lender, while its domestic branch franchise remains central to the brand. Mizuho has also invested in digital banking, mobile services, online account access, cashless payments and modernization of its core systems. Technology has been strategically important because the bank inherited complex systems and operating processes from several predecessor institutions. Repeated service disruptions, particularly in 2021, led to regulatory scrutiny, customer compensation and a renewed emphasis on operational resilience, governance and technology control. The bank remains active under the Mizuho Financial Group umbrella, with its brand associated with universal commercial banking, large corporate relationships and cross-border financial services.

History

Mizuho Bank’s history is rooted in the consolidation of several of Japan’s most important financial institutions. Its principal predecessor line includes Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Fuji Bank and the Industrial Bank of Japan. These banks represented different traditions within Japanese finance: retail and commercial banking, large corporate and industrial finance, and a broad network of relationships with companies and public institutions. Their combination reflected the restructuring of Japan’s financial sector after the banking and asset-price crises of the 1990s. In 2000, the three institutions created a financial group that became Mizuho Financial Group. The group initially operated through separate banking companies rather than through one unified commercial bank. Mizuho Corporate Bank was oriented toward large corporations, financial institutions and international banking, while Mizuho Bank served households, smaller businesses and a wider domestic branch network. This structure preserved specialized capabilities but also left the group operating multiple legacy systems and organizational arrangements. The current Mizuho Bank was established in 2013 through the merger of Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank. The transaction brought the group’s retail, commercial, corporate and international banking activities together under one operating bank. Mizuho Financial Group remained the listed parent, while Mizuho Bank became its principal banking subsidiary. The merger was intended to improve customer coverage, strengthen integrated relationship management and reduce duplication between the former banking entities. After the merger, Mizuho Bank continued to serve Japanese households and businesses through branches, ATMs, telephone services and online channels. Its retail franchise developed around deposits, mortgages, consumer credit, payment cards, investment products and electronic banking. Its commercial and corporate businesses provided lending, cash management, foreign exchange, trade finance and payment solutions. The bank also maintained international operations in locations connected to Japanese corporate activity and global financial markets. The integration of predecessor institutions created a persistent technology and governance challenge. Mizuho’s banking infrastructure incorporated systems, processes and data environments inherited from earlier organizations. In 2021, a series of system failures caused ATM and other service interruptions. The incidents became a major governance issue for the bank and its parent, resulting in regulatory action, investigations, customer-focused remediation and plans to improve system oversight and operational resilience. In the following years, Mizuho emphasized technology management, digital access, business-process reform and stronger controls. The bank’s role within the group also became more integrated with securities, trust, asset-management and other affiliated businesses. Mizuho Bank remains an active full-service bank whose identity combines a large domestic franchise with corporate and international capabilities.

2025
Planned majority investment in Upsider Holdings
[5]Mizuho Banken.wikipedia.org
Mizuho announced plans to acquire approximately 70 percent of Upsider Holdings, a financial-services provider serving startups, middle-market firms and challenger companies, for an approximate purchase price of USD 310 million.
2021
Series of system failures triggers regulatory action
[3]Financial Services Agency materials concerning Mizuho system problemsfsa.go.jp
Repeated ATM and banking-service disruptions lead to investigations and requirements for improvements in technology governance and operational resilience.
2021
Series of core-system service disruptions
[3]Financial Services Agency materials concerning Mizuho system problemsfsa.go.jp
Repeated system failures affect ATMs, cards, passbooks and other services, leading to regulatory intervention and a formal remediation program.
2019
Merger with Mizuho Trust & Banking
[8]Mizuho Financial Group release on the Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Trust & Banking mergermizuhofg.co.jp
Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Trust & Banking complete a legal-company merger as part of the group's effort to simplify its domestic banking structure.
2013
Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank merge
[1]Mizuho Financial Group company historymizuhogroup.com
The two banking subsidiaries combine to form the modern Mizuho Bank, consolidating retail, commercial, corporate and international banking activities into a more integrated operating bank. The retail-oriented bank and the group's wholesale-oriented banking entity combine, creating a unified bank serving retail, corporate and international customers.
2002
Mizuho begins operations through separate banking entities
[1]Mizuho Financial Group company historymizuhogroup.com
The group’s banking operations are organized through Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank, serving different customer and business segments.
2002
Mizuho Bank was established
[5]Mizuho Banken.wikipedia.org
Industrial Bank of Japan, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank and Fuji Bank were merged into the Mizuho banking group, creating Mizuho Bank and a major Japanese megabank institution. The group's banking operations were organized through Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank, serving different customer and business segments. At formation, the combined institution was reported to be the first bank in the world to exceed one trillion United States dollars in total assets. Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Fuji Bank and the Industrial Bank of Japan merge their relevant banking operations to create Mizuho Bank within Mizuho Financial Group.
2000
Mizuho Financial Group is formed
[1]Mizuho Financial Group company historymizuhogroup.com
Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Fuji Bank and the Industrial Bank of Japan establish the foundation of the Mizuho financial group.
1873
Dai-Ichi Bank was founded
[5]Mizuho Banken.wikipedia.org
Dai-Ichi Bank, the historical predecessor of Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, was established by Shibusawa Eiichi and is regarded as Japan's first modern bank. Its lineage later contributed to Mizuho's inheritance of Japan's bank code 0001.

Products and positioning

A full-service Japanese megabank combining nationwide retail coverage, corporate and institutional finance, international banking and the broader capabilities of Mizuho Financial Group. The brand is positioned as the core banking platform of Mizuho Financial Group and as a relationship bank for Japanese households, companies and cross-border businesses. A full-service Japanese megabank combining a nationwide retail and corporate franchise with international banking capabilities and access to Mizuho Financial Group's trust, securities and advisory businesses.

Consumer banking
Retail banking
Mizuho's retail franchise provides deposit accounts, domestic payments, debit and credit-related services, mortgages, consumer loans, investment trusts and other household financial products. Customers access these services through branches, ATMs, internet banking and mobile channels. The offering is designed for everyday payments as well as longer-term borrowing and savings needs, and includes domestic and international cash cards and transfers supporting cross-border financial needs. Mizuho provides individuals with current and savings accounts, domestic and international cash cards, transfers, payment services, personal loans and Internet banking. These services are delivered through the bank’s nationwide branch network and digital channels, supporting ordinary household banking and cross-border financial needs. Mizuho Bank provides ordinary and time deposits, payment accounts, domestic transfers, cards, personal loans, housing loans and digital banking services for individual customers. Its retail proposition is delivered through branches, ATMs and online channels, with additional investment and wealth-related products available through the wider Mizuho group.
Commercial banking · 2013
Corporate banking
Corporate banking covers lending, working-capital finance, capital expenditure, cash management, deposits, payments, foreign exchange and advisory support for companies. Mizuho serves small and medium-sized enterprises as well as large Japanese and multinational corporations, using the wider group's securities, trust and asset-management capabilities where appropriate. Its activities include relationship banking, settlement and international support for companies operating in Japan and overseas. The corporate banking franchise serves small and medium-sized enterprises, large Japanese corporations, multinational companies and other institutional clients. Its activities include lending, relationship banking, cash management, settlement, foreign exchange and international support for companies operating in Japan and overseas. Corporate banking covers working-capital facilities, term loans, syndicated lending, deposits, payments, cash management, foreign exchange, trade finance and support for domestic and international expansion. The bank serves small and medium-sized businesses as well as large Japanese and multinational corporations.
International commercial banking
International banking
International banking supports Japanese companies operating abroad, overseas corporations connected to Japan and cross-border trade and investment. Services include loans, deposits, foreign exchange, trade finance, transaction banking, correspondent banking and payments through the bank's overseas network and relationships.
Digital financial services
Digital banking
Digital banking includes online account access, mobile banking, electronic transfers, balance and transaction services, digital payment functions and other remote customer channels. Technology modernization has been a central business priority, particularly because the bank operates infrastructure inherited from multiple predecessor institutions. Internet banking allows customers to manage accounts and conduct payments and transfers through digital channels. It operates alongside Mizuho’s physical branches and card infrastructure as part of the bank’s retail-service model. Digital banking includes online account access, mobile banking, electronic transfers, balance and transaction services, digital payment functions and other remote customer channels. Mizuho Direct is the bank's digital banking service for eligible customers, providing online access to account information, transfers, payments and selected banking procedures, complementing the physical branch and ATM network. Technology modernization has been a central business priority, particularly because the bank operates infrastructure inherited from multiple predecessor institutions.
Institutional banking
Institutional and public-sector banking
Mizuho serves financial institutions and public-sector entities through banking, financing and transaction services. This business complements its commercial franchise and connects the bank to public and institutional financial activity in Japan.
Specialized banking service
Lottery banking services
Mizuho is the designated bank for the Japanese lottery. This role gives the institution responsibility for specified lottery-related banking operations in addition to its ordinary retail, corporate and institutional activities.
Transaction banking
Global transaction banking
The bank supports corporate and institutional clients with cross-border payments, collections, liquidity management, foreign-exchange services, trade-related finance and account structures. These capabilities are particularly relevant to Japanese companies operating overseas and foreign businesses with Japanese operations.
Wholesale finance
Project and structured finance
Mizuho participates in financing for infrastructure, energy, real estate and other capital-intensive projects. Depending on the transaction, the bank works with Mizuho group companies and external financial institutions on syndicated, structured and project-finance arrangements.
Digital banking
Mizuho Direct
Mizuho Direct is the bank's digital banking service for eligible customers. It provides online access to account information, transfers, payments and selected banking procedures, complementing the physical branch and ATM network.

Controversies

2021
Mizuho banking-system failures
Mizuho Bank experienced repeated service disruptions involving ATMs, cash cards, passbooks, transfers and related banking functions. The incidents raised concerns about technology governance, incident response, management accountability and customer protection. Japanese regulators required improvement measures, while Mizuho undertook remediation and operational reforms.
Source
2021
Mizuho president apologizes for ATM shutdowns
Mizuho Financial Group President Sakai Tatsufumi apologized for systems failures that shut down ATMs across Japan. Mizuho said the problems had been fixed and described changes intended to prevent ATMs from retaining cards and bankbooks during a future system failure.
Source

2025
Pursue a majority stake in Upsider HoldingsM&A
Background
Upsider Holdings focuses on financial services for startups, middle-market companies and challenger businesses, segments that complement Mizuho’s established corporate franchise.
Action taken
Mizuho announced plans to acquire approximately 70 percent of Upsider Holdings.
Aftermath
The proposed transaction was intended to broaden Mizuho’s reach among growth companies and combine the scale of a megabank with a specialist financial-services platform.
Approximate purchase price. Approximately USD 310 million (Announced in 2025)
Source
2021
Strengthen technology governance and operational resilienceStrategy
Background
Repeated system failures disrupted customer services and prompted regulatory scrutiny.
Action taken
Mizuho and its parent adopted improvement measures covering system management, contingency planning, governance, incident response and customer support.
Aftermath
Technology control and operational resilience became prominent priorities in the group’s management and supervisory agenda.
Source
2021
System remediation and operational-resilience programStrategy
Background
Repeated core-system incidents disrupted customer services and exposed weaknesses in incident management, governance and operational controls.
Action taken
The bank and its parent adopted corrective measures in response to regulatory requirements, including stronger system-risk governance, incident response and customer-protection processes.
Aftermath
The incidents resulted in continuing regulatory oversight and made technology resilience a central management priority for the bank.
Source
2019
Legal-company merger with Mizuho Trust & BankingM&A
Background
Mizuho pursued a more streamlined domestic banking organization and closer coordination between banking and trust services.
Action taken
Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Trust & Banking completed a legal-company merger within the Mizuho group.
Aftermath
The transaction simplified the group's legal structure while preserving specialized trust and banking capabilities within the broader organization.
Source
2013
Merge the two core banking subsidiariesM&A
Background
Mizuho Financial Group operated separate banks for retail and corporate customers, reflecting the group’s formation from several predecessor institutions.
Action taken
Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank were merged into the modern Mizuho Bank.
Aftermath
The merger created a single principal banking platform with combined domestic, corporate and international capabilities, while also increasing the importance of integrating legacy systems and controls.
Source
2013
Integrate retail and corporate banking operationsM&A
Background
Mizuho operated separate banking entities with different retail and corporate orientations after the 2002 group formation.
Action taken
Mizuho Bank merged with Mizuho Corporate Bank.
Aftermath
The merger created a more unified bank serving individuals, businesses, corporations, institutions and public-sector customers.
Source
2013
Consolidation of Mizuho's domestic banking operationsM&A
Background
Mizuho operated separate retail and wholesale banking entities after its 2002 formation. The group sought a simpler structure and more integrated customer coverage.
Action taken
Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank were merged into a single bank serving retail, corporate and international customers.
Aftermath
The merger created the group's main integrated commercial-banking platform, although subsequent technology and operational integration remained an important management issue.
Source
2002
Create a megabank through a three-way mergerM&A
Background
Industrial Bank of Japan, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank and Fuji Bank sought to combine their complementary banking businesses and improve scale and competitiveness in the changing Japanese financial sector.
Action taken
The three institutions were consolidated into the Mizuho banking group, establishing Mizuho Bank as a major integrated banking franchise.
Aftermath
The combination helped establish Japan’s megabank model and gave Mizuho a broad retail, corporate and institutional customer base.
Source

Recent events

2025
Mizuho announced plans to acquire a majority stake in Upsider Holdings[5]Mizuho Banken.wikipedia.org
M&A
Mizuho announced plans to purchase approximately 70 percent of Upsider Holdings, a Japanese financial-services provider serving startups, middle-market firms and challenger companies.
2023
Mizuho continues digital and operational transformation[2]Mizuho Financial Group financial informationmizuhogroup.com
Other
The bank and its parent group continued programs intended to strengthen digital services, technology governance, operational resilience and customer-facing banking channels.
2021
Mizuho Bank system failures disrupt ATMs and other customer services[3]Financial Services Agency materials concerning Mizuho system problemsfsa.go.jp
Regulation · Other
A series of system incidents caused problems including retained cash cards and passbooks, failed or delayed transactions, and service interruptions across parts of Mizuho Bank's ATM and banking network. The incidents led to regulatory scrutiny and demands for stronger technology governance and operational controls.
2021
Japan's Financial Services Agency orders improvement measures after Mizuho system incidents[3]Financial Services Agency materials concerning Mizuho system problemsfsa.go.jp
Regulation
Japan's financial regulator required Mizuho Financial Group and Mizuho Bank to submit and implement business-improvement measures following repeated system failures. The response focused on governance, system risk management, customer protection and the allocation of responsibility between the group and the bank.
2019
Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Trust & Banking complete legal-company merger[8]Mizuho Financial Group release on the Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Trust & Banking mergermizuhofg.co.jp
M&A
The two domestic banking entities completed a merger intended to simplify the group's operating structure and improve coordination. Customer-facing brands and business functions continued to be managed according to the group's banking strategy.
2013
Mizuho Bank merged with Mizuho Corporate Bank[5]Mizuho Banken.wikipedia.org
M&A
The retail and corporate banking entities were combined, creating a more integrated banking operation under the Mizuho Bank name.
2002
Mizuho Bank formed through the merger of three major Japanese banks[5]Mizuho Banken.wikipedia.org
M&A
Industrial Bank of Japan, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank and Fuji Bank were consolidated to create Mizuho Bank, helping establish Mizuho as one of Japan’s major megabank groups.

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