ongoing improvement of this system.ongoing improvement of this system.
By backing customer companies’ own By backing customer companies’ own 
initiatives in the areas of food and agriculture initiatives in the areas of food and agriculture 
in this way, SMBC will be supporting measuresin this way, SMBC will be supporting measures 
to improve the diet of the Japanese and to improve the diet of the Japanese and 
strengthen the agriculture and fisheries sector.strengthen the agriculture and fisheries sector.
The financial sector’s role in 
improving the nation’s diet and 
in strengthening the agricultural 
and fisheries sectors
Roundtable session: SMBC Food and Agricultural Assessment Loan
Making banking 
a more pleasant experience 
for all customers
Peace of mind 
at the bank counter
Preparing our businesses 
for a higher old-age 
dependency ratio  
With the old-age dependency ratio soaring, With the old-age dependency ratio soaring, 
the SMFG Group aims to provide friendly, the SMFG Group aims to provide friendly, 
easy-to-use banking services for all its easy-to-use banking services for all its 
customers.customers.ɹ
Some Group companies are likewise making Some Group companies are likewise making 
their facilities barrier-free at bank branches their facilities barrier-free at bank branches 
with large numbers of customers, to tailor with large numbers of customers, to tailor 
services to the needs of all customers.services to the needs of all customers.
For example at the Minato Bank, we have For example at the Minato Bank, we have 
equipped all ATMs at all our branches and equipped all ATMs at all our branches and 
cashpoints with voice-guidance handsets for cashpoints with voice-guidance handsets for 
the visually impaired.the visually impaired.
In addition, we have set up priority seatingIn addition, we have set up priority seating 
in the lobby of each of our branches for in the lobby of each of our branches for 
customers who are very old or who have customers who are very old or who have 
mobility problems. We are also steadily mobility problems. We are also steadily 
introducing queue-number displays using introducing queue-number displays using 
Color Universal Design (CUD) principles, Color Universal Design (CUD) principles, 
which are easier to read for customers with which are easier to read for customers with 
eyesight concerns.eyesight concerns.A roundtable session with experts held in August 2011 
considered the role of the new SMBC Food and Agricultural 
Assessment Loan in improving the food supply chain that 
links food and fishery producers with food processors and 
consumers. Opinions were also exchanged on what other 
future role the bank might assume in this regard, given 
the current situation and issues facing the food industry 
and agriculture 
in Japan.
“We want to deliver value by creating demand and quality combined with safety, peace 
of mind and trust.”
A further measure is installation of handheld A further measure is installation of handheld 
hearing support devices at all branches hearing support devices at all branches 
(except housing loan promotion offices), to (except housing loan promotion offices), to 
allay the concerns of hearing-impaired allay the concerns of hearing-impaired 
customers who find it difficult to converse customers who find it difficult to converse 
and follow spoken instructions. By using the and follow spoken instructions. By using the 
devices as communication tools, bank devices as communication tools, bank 
employees can respect customer privacy employees can respect customer privacy 
and do not have to talk loudly.and do not have to talk loudly.
Further measures include posting of “green Further measures include posting of “green 
ear” logos at branches to reassure customers ear” logos at branches to reassure customers 
that the bank has facilities for conversingthat the bank has facilities for conversing