Together, the banks represent about 7 percent of the assets of the commercial banking system.

About 35 Japanese banks are involved and represent the biggest single group in the banking syndicate.

The judge said the bank represented a "golden opportunity" for fraud.

For her, the banks represent the village's larger problem: how to create an attractive, viable downtown without going overboard.

For mutual funds, banks represent a new distribution channel - and bank-owned funds, so far, have not cut into their business.

"The two banks represent 3 percent of the assets of the new bank."

The bank occupies 39.1 percent of the space in the investment trust's portfolio and represents 33 percent of its total revenue.

The banks, in turn, charge customers for providing bonds as they represent a real obligation undertaken by a bank.

The banks main area of activity is to give loans for agricultural projects represented by farmers.

But the banks, which have vast branch networks throughout Japan, represent a huge opportunity to reach groups of customers so far untapped.