LINE Corporation and Mizuho Financial Group (Mizuho FG) today announced a halt to their project for launching a new bank.
The venture was being led by LINE Bank Preparatory Company—an entity established in May 2019 through a joint investment by the two companies’ respective subsidiaries, LINE Financial Corporation and Mizuho Bank Ltd.
LINE Bank Preparatory Company had been aiming to provide a never-before-seen “smartphone bank” that would offer all its banking services within the LINE app, bringing Mizuho Bank’s extensive banking know-how together with LINE’s 94 million+ MAUs and exceptionally user-friendly UI/UX.
Recent trends have seen financial DX advancing within society and the economy, as well as heightened scrutiny towards the security of services. After much careful consideration based on these developments, LINE and Mizuho FG have mutually reached the conclusion that additional time and investment would be required to provide a secure and convenient service that meets customers’ expectations and that at present, this would not be attainable in a timely manner.
Dissolution and liquidation proceedings for LINE Bank Preparatory Company will move ahead after arrangements have been made with business partners and other stakeholders.
As the two companies have already jointly launched a personal loan service through LINE Credit Corporation, they will seek to continue their relationship and collaborate on ultra-convenient offerings for users.
As LINE strives for more secure and higher quality services, it will continue pursuing a truly user-first approach and new financial experiences that cannot be found elsewhere.
Mizuho will endeavor to energize its alliances and continue working towards enhanced convenience for its customers, building on the digital transformation investments it has made into Mizuho Direct and an array of other functions.
