Shinkin bank

A Shinkin bank (信用金庫, Shin-yō kinko, literally "credit treasury") is a type of Japanese deposit institution.

They are cooperative regional financial institutions serving small and medium enterprises and local residents.

Anyone who lives, works, or has an office in the region served by the bank can become a member.

In this role it makes loans to and accepts deposits from Shinkin banks.

They were created to serve some of the same functions as credit unions, but can accept deposit from non-members (inside and outside their area) without limitation and make loans to the "graduated" (outgrew the membership qualifications) members.