Focus Area 2: Promote Responsible Finance

Major Initiatives

• Practice responsible investment and lending for the resolution of environmental and social issues
• Provide financial services assuming the expansion of demand for renewable energy
• Improve financial access in each and every location throughout Japan using a variety of channels, including mobile branch vehicles and internet banking

Related SDGs

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Initiatives for the Equator Principles

The Equator Principles is an assessment framework used by private financial institutions when financing large-scale development projects. This framework is used to assess whether the development project pays the appropriate attention to the natural environment and local communities.
It is widely used in the project finance field as a method to identify, evaluate and manage environmental and social risks. Financial institutions that have adopted the Equator Principles are required to incorporate these into their internal policies and procedures and to construct appropriate management and administrative systems. Furthermore, they may not invest in projects that are not compliant with the Equator Principles.
Based on the increasing public awareness of environmental and social issues and society’s expectations of financial institutions, the Bank adopted the Equator Principles in fiscal 2017 to realize a higher level of consideration toward a sustainable environment.
Specifically, under the Basic Policy on Finance, the Bank has formulated both the Basic Policy Regarding the Equator Principles and the Administration Guidelines for the Equator Principles. A dedicated staff member has been assigned to determine conformity with these principles, and we continue to request that customers address environmental and social considerations at the required level according to their project category.

Environmental and Social Risk Assessment process

Project Category Definition

Category	Definition
A	Projects with potential significant adverse environmental and social risks and/or impacts that are diverse, irreversible or unprecedented
B	Projects with potential limited adverse environmental and social risks and/or impacts that are few in number, generally site-specific, largely reversible and readily addressed through mitigation measures
C	Projects with minimal or no adverse environmental and social risks and/or impacts

Financed transactions in accordance with Equator Principles in FY 2021 （From 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022）
<Project Finance>

<Project-Related Corporate Loans>

<Project Finance Advisory Services and Bridge Loans>

No transactions in FY 2020.

<Project-Related Refinance and Project-Related Acquisition Finance>

No transactions in FY 2020.

Issuance of the Bank’s First Green Bond

In September 2021, the Bank issued U.S. dollar–denominated Norinchukin Bank debentures that correspond to a total value of US$1 billion as green bonds in foreign markets. The Norinchukin Bank debentures are bonds, of which the issuance is authorized for the purpose of funding by the Bank, in accordance with the Norinchukin Bank Act.
These bonds are usually issued with limited use for businesses that will contribute to environmental improvement such as those in renewable energy. This was the Bank’s first issuance of green bonds. Ahead of the issuance, we formulated the Bank’s Green Bond Framework and confirmed that it complies with the Green Bond Principles 2021 published by the International Capital Market Association (ICMA). We will contribute to the realization of a sustainable environment and society through the issuance of green bonds as well as investments and financing in which the funds procured by the green bonds are used.

Contribute to Sustainable Energy Utilization

Providing Financial Services Assuming the Expansion of Demand for Renewable Energy

For details on the Bank’s efforts related to renewable energy, please refer to project finance examples and JA Bank initiatives.

Worldwide Action in Project Finance

In our investment business, we are fully engaged in project finance. Unlike corporate finance, which provides loans according to the creditworthiness of the corporation receiving the loan, project finance targets a specific business/project and then evaluates its profitability before making a loan.

Project Finance Examples

As of March 31, 2022

Realize Financing for Everybody

Improving Financial Access in Each Location Throughout Japan using a Variety of Channels

The Bank aims to realize financing for everybody in order to promote responsible finance. By leveraging the strength of its comprehensive business, JA branches provide a variety of services. It is developing different channels to provide financial services to our members and users, even those in depopulated mountainous areas.

Opening of Yorisoi Plaza

We are introducing the Yorisoi Plaza, at which customers can easily use JA Bank services even when there is no branch with a financial counter nearby. Financial services are provided via remote consultation booths and ATMs at branches that lack financial counters. We also expect that this to function as a community venue for exchanges.

Introduction of mobile branches

Handling of housing loans for the LGBTQIA+ community

As part of realizing diversity, social interest in LGBTQIA+ persons has been increasing. In addition, the trend of introducing a “partnership system,“ which publicly recognizes the rights of LGBTQIA+ couples has accelerated in Japan in several local governments. In line with this trend, JA Bank commenced, in collaboration with Kyodo Housing Loan Co., Ltd. (KHL), a JA Bank Group company, the handling of housing loans that accept the qualification of LGBTQIA+ people, for which KHL’s corporate guarantee is effected, in several prefectures.
This loan product accepts the aggregation of a couple’s income for a housing loan for couples who are authorized by the partnership system of each local government.
In the future, we intend to increase the number of prefectures where this product is offered. In addition, we are proceeding with the investigation on the treatment of the guarantee offered by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Credit Foundations.