Second, despite the current low interest rate environment, the profits of both major banks and regional banks are close to record levels, mainly reflecting the significant decline in credit costs due to the steady economic recovery. And third, when the Bank introduced the negative interest rate policy, it designed the policy so as not to excessively squeeze banks’ profits.
Similar position is generally evident even in terms of credit accounts per  BIS Review 21/2007  1  1000 population. However, Southern states are relatively better off in this regard (Annex 1 and Annex 2).