The Banque Franco-Japonaise (BFJ) (Japanese: 日仏銀行, Hepburn: Nichi-Futsu Ginkō, lit.
It was founded in 1912 with intent to pursue common projects with Japanese stakeholders in Asia, especially in China.
[5] It arranged a first yen loan to France in November 1915, reflecting the rapid rise of Japan's role as an international creditor during World War I.
[6]: 98 The bank was initially established at 132, rue Réaumur in Paris,[4]: 14 in a building originally erected in 1901 for the short-lived Banque Spéciale des Valeurs Industrielles.
[9] It was involved in gold trades with the Soviet Union via offshore financial centers such as Beirut and Tangier.