TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, BANK OF

in full Bank Of Tokyo-mitsubishi, Ltd., Japanese Tokyo-mitsubishi Ginko, major Japanese city bank, which also issues debentures and is Japan's only specialized foreign-exchange bank. It is one of the largest banks in the world and has subsidiaries and associated banks on five continents. Headquarters are in Tokyo. It was founded in 1880 as the Yokohama Specie Bank, an international bank specializing in foreign exchange. In 1946 it became the Bank of Tokyo, and its business emphasis was changed to that of an ordinary commercial bank. In 1954 the bank was reorganized as Japan's specialized foreign-exchange bank, and in 1962 it was authorized to issue debentures to support its yen funding. A merger (completed in 1996) between the Bank of Tokyo and the Mitsubishi Bank created the present company. In its domestic business, the bank provides a full array of commercial banking services. Its international banking services include investment financing. The bank has assisted the Export-Import Bank of Japan and the Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund in extending credit. It is a major commissioned bank for foreign bonds issued in yen denominations.