FIDEA Holdings said its two wholly owned banks signed a merger contract on 30 September 2026, turning a plan first announced on 8 November 2024 into a binding agreement. The merged bank is planned to start on 1 January 2027, but the timetable depends on regulatory permissions.
How the merger works
The Yamagata-based bank survives and absorbs the Akita-based bank in what the company calls an absorption-type merger, so all assets, liabilities and rights pass to the survivor. The merging parties' shareholder approval is also dated 30 September. Because FIDEA holds all the shares in both banks, no shares or cash change hands as consideration. The enlarged bank will be renamed The FIDEA Bank, Ltd., with its head office in Yamagata, capital of ¥8.5bn and a 31 March year-end.
Two unequal partners
The figures below are standalone results for the year to March 2026. The Akita bank has slightly more assets and deposits, but the Yamagata bank earned far more.
| Item | Yamagata bank (surviving) | Akita bank (merging out) |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | ¥1.445tn | ¥1.474tn |
| Deposits | ¥1.317tn | ¥1.361tn |
| Loans | ¥1.003tn | ¥982.9bn |
| Ordinary profit | ¥3.98bn | ¥714mn |
| Net profit | ¥2.96bn | ¥512mn |
| Employees | 500 | 486 |
Conditions
The merger proceeds only if the relevant authorities grant their permissions. The banks may change the schedule, procedures or terms after consultation if a serious obstacle to the merger arises during merger procedures or system integration. FIDEA said the merger does not affect its earnings forecast for the year to March 2027.
The company said the new bank will spread across Yamagata and Akita prefectures and aims to support local businesses and regional projects in renewable energy and tourism. The announcement gives no cost figures for the integration.