Question 1

What is The Tsuru Credit Cooperative?

Accepted Answer

The Tsuru Credit Cooperative (都留信用組合, Tsuru Shinyo Kumiai) is a regional credit cooperative based in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It serves the Fujikita (Fuji Northern) and Eastern Yamanashi regions, including the areas surrounding Mount Fuji. As of March 2020, the cooperative operated 21 branches with approximately 320 employees, serving nearly 50,000 members with total deposits of approximately 297 billion yen and loan balances of approximately 169 billion yen.

The institution is a cooperative financial organization built on the principles of mutual aid and community support. It primarily serves small and medium-sized enterprises and local residents in the region.

Question 2

When was The Tsuru Credit Cooperative founded?

Accepted Answer

The Tsuru Credit Cooperative was founded on March 8, 1952, as the first credit cooperative licensed by Yamanashi Prefecture. The institution was established to address a specific regional economic challenge: many local textile manufacturers in the area were struggling with excess inventory of clothing lining fabric. The cooperative was created to provide financial relief and support to these distressed businesses.

The founding philosophy, "Born for the region, The Tsuru Credit Cooperative develops together with the region," has remained the institution's core principle since its establishment.

Question 3

Where is The Tsuru Credit Cooperative headquartered?

Accepted Answer

The Tsuru Credit Cooperative is headquartered in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, at 2-19-11 Shimoyoshida, Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi 403-0004. The main office is located in the Fujikita region at the northern foot of Mount Fuji.

Fujiyoshida is a historic post town on the traditional pilgrimage route to Mount Fuji and serves as the gateway to the northern slopes of Japan's iconic mountain.

Question 4

Where does The Tsuru Credit Cooperative operate?

Accepted Answer

The Tsuru Credit Cooperative operates throughout the Fujikita and Eastern Yamanashi regions. Its 21 branches are distributed across several municipalities in Yamanashi Prefecture, including Fujiyoshida City, Tsuru City, Otsuki City, Uenohara City, and various towns and villages in the Minamitsuru District.

Key operating areas include Fujiyoshida (with 8 branches), Tsuru (with 4 branches), and the areas around Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, and other communities near Mount Fuji. The cooperative's service area encompasses the mountainous region that includes Japan's famous Five Lakes around Mount Fuji.

Question 5

What services does The Tsuru Credit Cooperative offer?

Accepted Answer

The Tsuru Credit Cooperative offers a comprehensive range of banking services for individuals and businesses. Deposit products include regular savings accounts, time deposits, installment savings, tax payment reserves, notice deposits, and asset-building deposits.

Lending services include personal loans such as auto loans, education loans, home loans, and free-purpose loans, as well as business financing for small and medium-sized enterprises. The cooperative also offers investment trusts for asset management and various insurance and mutual aid products including life insurance and non-life insurance.

Digital services include online banking, the "Shinkumi App with CRECO" mobile application, web-based loan applications, Bank Pay QR code payment service, and electronic document delivery services. The cooperative maintains an extensive ATM network throughout its service area and offers pension receipt services with special benefits for retirees.

Question 6

What makes The Tsuru Credit Cooperative unique?

Accepted Answer

The Tsuru Credit Cooperative is distinguished by its deep commitment to regional economic development in the Mount Fuji area. Since its founding in 1952 as Yamanashi Prefecture's first licensed credit cooperative, it has maintained an unwavering focus on the principle of "regional coexistence" (地域共生, chiiki kyosei).

The institution has played a crucial role in supporting the textile and tourism industries in the Fujikita region. It actively participates in business support programs, including designation as a "Management Innovation Support Organization" under Japan's Small and Medium Enterprise Management Enhancement Support Act.

The cooperative's close relationship with the Mount Fuji tourism economy and its role in serving small businesses in mountainous communities sets it apart. It has also embraced modern digital services while maintaining its traditional community-focused approach, offering initiatives such as special loan campaigns and community partnership programs.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is The Tsuru Credit Cooperative?

Accepted Answer

The Tsuru Credit Cooperative is a Shinyo Kumiai (信用組合), which is a Japanese credit cooperative. Shinyo kumiai are cooperative regional financial institutions regulated under the Act on Financial Instruments and Exchange and supervised by the Financial Services Agency of Japan.

Credit cooperatives in Japan operate on mutual aid principles, where members who live, work, or operate businesses in the designated service area can join and benefit from cooperative banking services. Unlike shinkin banks (credit unions), credit cooperatives typically serve smaller geographic areas and have more restricted membership criteria. Companies with more than 300 employees cannot become members.

The Tsuru Credit Cooperative exemplifies the cooperative banking model by focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises and individual members in the Fujikita and Eastern Yamanashi regions, providing personalized financial services that support local economic development.

The Tsuru Credit Cooperative

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About The Tsuru Credit Cooperative in Japan