Agriculture and Industry Bank

A special bank established under the Agricultural and Industrial Bank Law and its Subsidy Law enacted in 1896 (Meiji 29). Starting with Shizuoka Agricultural and Industrial Bank in January 1898, 46 banks were established, one in each prefecture in Japan except Hokkaido, until Awa Agricultural and Industrial Bank in August 1900. At the time of establishment, in addition to the payment of subscription stocks by each prefecture under the Subsidy Law, influential landowners were forced to subscribe for stocks. The main business was real estate mortgage loans, and the bank also considered financing for local agricultural and industrial businesses of medium or smaller income, such as joint mortgage-free loans for 20 people, and had a color of small farmer protection along with the policy of promoting industry and revitalization. In particular, it was expected to play the role of a central bank for local credit unions and industrial unions, but fund raising through the issuance of agricultural and industrial bonds was not smooth, and the lending function was weak, so the expected results were not seen. Thus, from the end of the Meiji period, through the agency loans of the Japan Industrial Bank and other assistance, the independence of agricultural and industrial banks, especially in agricultural prefectures, weakened. In 1921 (Taisho 10), the "Action Concerning the Merger of the Industrial Bank of Japan and the Agriculture and Industry Bank" was enacted, and between 1921 and 1923, 19 banks were merged into the Industrial Bank of Japan, 10 banks by 1934 (Showa 9), 12 banks in 1936, and five banks in 1944 during World War II. All of these banks were merged into the Industrial Bank of Japan and became local branches.

[Kazuyoshi Okada]

"Masayuki Sugimoto, 'The History of the Development of National Agricultural and Industrial Banks' (First edition, 1924, revised and expanded, 1927, Publisher of 'The History of the Development of National Agricultural and Industrial Banks')" ▽ "The Ministry of Finance, 'The Financial History of the Meiji and Taisho Periods, Vol. 15' (1938, Financial and Economic Association)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1896年（明治29）に制定された農工銀行法および同補助法により設立された特殊銀行。1898年1月の静岡農工銀行を最初として、1900年8月の阿波(あわ)農工銀行まで、北海道を除く全国各府県に1行ずつ46行設立された。設立に際して補助法による各府県引受株式払込金の交付のほか、有力地主などに株式引受けが強制された。主たる業務は、不動産抵当貸付のほか、20名連帯無抵当貸付など中産以下の地方農工業者への金融も考慮され、殖産興業政策と並んで小農保護思想の色彩もあった。とくに地方の信用組合・産業組合の中央金庫としての役割を果たすことが想定されたが、農工債券発行による資金調達も円滑化せず、貸付機能も弱く、予期の成果をみるに至らなかった。かくて明治末年から、日本勧業銀行の代理貸付、その他の援助を通して、とくに農業県の農工銀行は独立性を弱めることとなった。1921年（大正10）には「日本勧業銀行及農工銀行ノ合併ニ関スル件」が制定され、21～23年に19行、34年（昭和9）までに10行、36年に12行、第二次世界大戦下の44年に5行と、すべて日本勧業銀行に合併され、各地方支店となった。

［岡田和喜］

『杉本正幸著『全国農工銀行発達史』（初版・1924／改版増補・1927・全国農工銀行発達史発行所）』▽『大蔵省編『明治大正財政史　第15巻』（1938・財政経済学会）』

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