The Japanese proposal has raised sensitive questions on the use of public money to help weak and strong banks alike.

The legislation would help banks and credit card companies recoup billions.

The low rates have helped banks by keeping their own borrowing costs down.

Low interest rates do not help banks other than in creating demand for loans.

That vote followed a lively debate about whether the purpose of the legislation was to help banks or their customers.

That could induce them to accept legislation otherwise intended mostly to help large banks.

Prescreen was developed to help banks efficiently tap this new, national pool of potential customers.

He thinks ministers could do more to help small banks such as Aldermore.

The government has set aside 1 trillion yen ($8.5 billion) to help smaller banks merge.

Countries which help banks financially are not eliminating the causes of the crisis.