Minna Bank, Ltd.

Minna Bank, Ltd. (株式会社みんなの銀行, Minna no Ginko) is a Japanese digital bank (net bank) established by Fukuoka Financial Group (FFG). It began operations on May 28, 2021, and is classified as a "new type of bank" under Japanese banking regulations. The bank targets digital-native younger generations and aims to create a new business model for digital banking. It is one of the newest net banks in Japan, following UI Bank which opened in January 2022. The bank was founded in response to the challenges facing regional banks in Japan, particularly the rapid population decline in rural areas. FFG, which had expanded through mergers and acquisitions of regional banks, recognized that consolidation alone would not solve the fundamental problems. Minna Bank was created to break away from the traditional role of regional banks and to establish a new business model. It targets digital natives across Japan who are comfortable with smartphones, offering a service that is completed entirely on a smartphone. Accenture, which was involved in system development, claims it is "Japan's first" such bank. Minna Bank uses Google Cloud Platform (GCP) as the platform for its core banking system, based on Accenture's "Accenture Cloud Native Core Solution (MAINRI)". This is the first adoption of a public cloud for a domestic bank's core system, and Accenture calls it the "world's first full-cloud banking system". Since November 18, 2022, this system has been offered externally as a "full-cloud bank system" through Zero Bank Design Factory, a group company, to financial institutions and non-financial businesses aiming to enter banking services. In May 2025, MUFG Bank announced that its new digital bank would adopt this system, marking the first external provision for Zero Bank. FFG has also been promoting its own fintech services called the iBank business, including the release of an asset management app named "Wallet+". This experience led to the establishment of Minna Bank, which aims to acquire new customer segments and utilize fintech. Initially, FFG aimed to achieve a single-year profit by the third year of operation (fiscal 2023). However, the bank struggled with its card loan business, which was expected to be a profit driver, and losses expanded. In its financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2024, the company announced that cumulative losses since opening amounted to approximately 26 billion yen. Minna Bank offers a range of services including "Wallet" (ordinary savings account), "Saving" and "Box" (savings accounts with up to 20 virtual sub-accounts), "Minna no Cheer Box" (a service that supports partner organizations), "Premium Service" (monthly fee-based service with benefits), "U25 Z Discount" (for users under 25), "Cover" (overdraft protection), and a friend referral program. The bank also operates "Partner Branches" in collaboration with partner companies as part of its BaaS (Bank as a Service) business. In 2026, it began offering corporate accounts and multiple accounts for individuals. The bank has received several design awards, including the iF Design Award, Good Design Award, and Red Dot Design Award.

Minna Bank was established as a subsidiary of Fukuoka Financial Group (FFG) with the goal of creating a new digital banking model. The plan was announced on August 7, 2019, when FFG revealed its intention to establish a new net bank under the name "Minna Bank" and also announced the establishment of a preparatory company, Minna Bank Establishment Preparation Co., Ltd. On October 2, 2019, FFG announced the adoption of Google Cloud Platform (GCP) for the core banking system. In 2020, the preparatory company applied for a preliminary examination of a banking license with the Financial Services Agency on November 18. On December 10, the preliminary examination was completed, and the company changed its name from Minna Bank Establishment Preparation Co., Ltd. to Minna Bank, Ltd. On the same day, it applied for a banking business license, which was granted on December 22, 2020. The bank's system began operation on January 4, 2021, and the service officially launched on May 28, 2021. On September 30, 2021, the first partner branch, "Pixiv Branch," was launched. In 2022, the bank started offering "Minna Bank Loan" on July 12 and began handling national treasury fund transfers on August 22. On November 18, 2022, the full-cloud banking system was made available externally through Zero Bank Design Factory. In 2025, the bank began issuing real JCB debit cards on May 12. On May 27, 2025, MUFG announced that its new digital bank, scheduled to open around 2026, would adopt Minna Bank's system. On June 9, 2025, the Maruzen Junkudo Branch opened. In July 2025, the bank adopted JPKI (public personal authentication) for identity verification during account opening. On August 25, 2025, a business alliance with Mercari's Merpay was announced, aiming to allow seamless use of Minna Bank services from the Mercari app. In 2026, the bank began offering corporate accounts on April 27 and multiple accounts for individuals on June 11. The bank has faced financial challenges, with cumulative losses of approximately 26 billion yen as of the fiscal year ending March 2024, due to struggles in its card loan business. Despite this, it continues to innovate and expand its services.

• Fukuoka Financial Group announces plan to establish a new net bank named 'Minna Bank' and establishes preparatory company.

• Announcement of adoption of Google Cloud Platform (GCP) for core banking system.

• Application for preliminary examination of banking license submitted to Financial Services Agency.

• Preliminary examination completed; company renamed to Minna Bank, Ltd.; application for banking business license submitted.

• Banking business license granted.

• Banking system begins operation.

• Service officially launched.

• First partner branch 'Pixiv Branch' launched.

• Start of 'Minna Bank Loan' service.

• Start of handling national treasury fund transfers.

• Full-cloud banking system offered externally through Zero Bank Design Factory.

• Start of issuing real JCB debit cards.

• MUFG announces its new digital bank will adopt Minna Bank's system.

• Maruzen Junkudo Branch opens.

• Adoption of JPKI (public personal authentication) for identity verification at account opening.

• Announcement of business alliance with Merpay (Mercari).

• Start of corporate account services.

• Start of multiple account services for individuals.

A digital-native, smartphone-first bank targeting younger generations and offering a fully cloud-based banking platform, also providing BaaS to other companies.

• Wallet

  Ordinary savings account with no cash card; deposits and withdrawals via Seven Bank ATMs using smartphone; includes JCB virtual debit card.

• Saving / Box

  Savings account with up to 20 virtual sub-accounts (Boxes) for different purposes; funds can be transferred between Wallet, Saving, and Box by flicking.

• Minna no Cheer Box

  Service where users can support partner organizations by depositing into a designated Box; Minna Bank donates up to 1% of the balance to the organization.

• Premium Service

  Monthly subscription (600 yen) offering benefits such as free ATM withdrawals and transfers up to 10 times per month, higher debit card cashback, higher savings interest, access to Cover overdraft, and free real card issuance.

• U25 Z Discount

  For users under 25, offering free ATM withdrawals and transfers up to 3 times per month; can be combined with Premium Service.

• Cover

  Overdraft service available with Premium Service; covers up to 50,000 yen when Wallet balance is insufficient, with no interest.

• Friend Referral Program

  Program where both referrer and new account opener receive 500 yen (previously 1,000 yen) when a new account is opened using a referral code.

• Corporate Accounts

  Corporate accounts available since April 27, 2026; can be opened as fast as the next business day, with passkey login; however, cannot be used on smartphones and requires a PC web browser; no cash withdrawals or loans.

1. 1Minna no Ginko - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2みんなの銀行 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org