Altogether, the banks applied for 2.1 trillion yen, or about $16.7 billion.

But nearly all the major banks applied for the same amount - 100 billion yen, or about $794 million.

To help them, the bank has devised a program and applied for a patent to safeguard it.

One of the biggest questions is whether the banks will apply for public funds, even though they need them.

The bank could apply to be put under state control as early as next week.

Five other banks and investment companies did not apply for Federal protection.

The bank then successfully applied for reinstatement of its banking license.

They also let the bank apply its consumer-banking skills in an underdeveloped state.

In 2005 the bank, which at the time had 22 financial services branches, applied for and received a commercial banking license.

While many banks have applied for licenses, so far there is not a large amount of business actually being done there.