Credit Saison Group Signs MOU with Asian Development Bank to Advance Financial Inclusion
～Discussions on up to US$500 million in financing to expand access to finance for MSMEs and women entrepreneurs across Asia～
2026.11.09
Credit Saison Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; Representative, Executive President and COO: Katsumi Mizuno; hereinafter “Credit Saison”) announces that Saison International Pte. Ltd. (“Saison International”), its subsidiary overseeing the Group’s overseas businesses, and the Asian Development Bank (“ADB”) signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) on August 18, 2026, to advance financial inclusion in Asia.
Under the MOU, ADB will explore arranging a potential financing package of up to US$500 million, in medium- and long-term financial assistance over the next three years to group companies under Saison International to drive financial inclusion efforts in ADB's developing member countries in Asia.
The parties will also explore future collaboration to improve access to finance for underserved individuals and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (“MSMEs”), including women entrepreneurs, and to promote climate finance and climate-related financial disclosures.
Note: Any actual financing will be subject to the appraisal of individual transactions, ADB policies and procedures, required approvals, discussions, and the execution of definitive agreements. The MOU does not constitute a commitment to provide financing.
Left to Right - Isabel Chatterton, Director-General, Private Sector Operations Department of ADB, Bhargav Dasgupta, Vice President, Market Solutions of ADB, Kosuke Mori, Chief Executive Officer of Saison International and Presha Paragash, Wholetime Director & Chief Executive Officer of Credit Saison India at the MOU signing ceremony at ADB in Manila on 18 August 2026
Key Areas of Collaboration
• Jointly exploring projects to improve access to finance for MSMEs including women-led businesses
• Sharing knowledge and market solutions
• Collaborating towards the development of best practices in climate finance and climate-related financial disclosures
Background to the MOU
Credit Saison has already been working with ADB through its Indian subsidiary, Kisetsu Saison Finance (India) Pvt. Ltd. (“Credit Saison India”), to expand access to finance for MSMEs, including women entrepreneurs.
In May 2026, ADB participated in a multi-currency external commercial borrowing (ECB) syndicated loan entered into by Credit Saison India, supporting the expansion of lending to individual customers and MSMEs, including women customers. The MOU marks an opportunity to expand the collaborative relationship with ADB built through Credit Saison India across the broader Credit Saison Group, with Saison International serving as the starting point.
In addition to further advancing financial inclusion in Asia, the Credit Saison Group will seek to broaden the potential for collaboration in sustainability, including climate action, with the aim of creating wider social impact.
Going forward, Credit Saison will continue to contribute to a sustainable society by advancing financial inclusion while pursuing business growth through financial services tailored to the needs of each country and region. By further developing these initiatives, Credit Saison will continue its transformation into a “GLOBAL NEO FINANCE COMPANY” that supports the growth of more people and businesses.
■Comment
About Saison International
Saison International is the international headquarters of Credit Saison Co., Ltd., one of Japan's largest non-bank financial institutions with a listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. From Singapore, Saison International drives the Credit Saison Group's global business strategy in its key markets of India, Brazil, and Mexico, and spearheads strategic debt and equity investments across markets worldwide.
Saison International has directly disbursed 3.7 million loans totaling $3.3 billion, with an active portfolio of $2.3 billion across 19 countries as of March 2025, directly financing over 30,000 MSMEs and supporting more than 138,000 jobs. Collectively, its portfolio companies have served more than 34 million end-clients, including 15 million women.
■Saison International Overview
| Company Name |
Saison International Pte. Ltd.
|
|---|---|
| Location | Singapore |
| Representative | Managing Director, CEO Kosuke Mori |
| Established | May 2014 |
| Business | Overseas business development and overall management of overseas Group companies (IHQ) |
Kosuke Mori
Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, Credit Saison Co., Ltd.
Managing Director and CEO, Saison International Pte. Ltd.
“Providing financial services to the underserved has been an important focus of our global business. We're proud to deepen our partnership with ADB, building on our ongoing relationship through Credit Saison India.Financial inclusion and sustainability have been part of Credit Saison's DNA throughout our 75-year history, from our long-standing commitment to advancing financial inclusion for women, having been the first player in Japan to issue credit cards to women, to our commitment to climate transparency and resilience. This partnership is a landmark step towards expanding access to finance for MSMEs, including women entrepreneurs in Asia, and an opportunity to explore extending our work with ADB into climate finance and disclosure.