By Miyu Okada / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

Japanese megabank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. $(MUFG)$ has announced it will establish a new company to provide an AI-powered asset-building service capable of proposing financial products tailored to individual customer profiles.

The new company will be created by integrating two MUFG group companies -- online broker Mitsubishi UFJ eSmart Securities Co. and asset management firm WealthNavi Inc. It is set to launch in fiscal 2027, which ends March 2028.

By integrating the advantages of these two companies -- Mitsubishi UFJ eSmart Securities has about two million individual customer accounts, while WealthNavi provides a robo-advisory service that automatically purchases investment products based on user preferences -- MUFG aims to address a wide range of investment needs.

The new company will utilize AI to analyze customers' data such as age and family structure to provide them with comprehensive advice on issues like asset management and reviewing insurance or loans. Customers will be able to receive appropriate advice for life events such as marriage and inheriting property, and choose products that suit their individual needs.

The company's services will be provided through a digital banking app, which will enable customers to carry out various procedures online. Customers will be able to use the app, which is scheduled to be launched in fiscal 2026, to open accounts with the new company for managing securities or for the Nippon Individual Savings Account (NISA) investment program.

"We would like to provide a seamless customer experience that combines banking and wealth management services," said Junichi Hanzawa, president and CEO of MUFG Bank Ltd., at a press conference on Tuesday. The bank is the direct parent company of Mitsubishi UFJ eSmart Securities and WealthNavi.

Japan's other two megabanks have been strengthening cooperation with online brokerage firms -- Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. pairing with SBI Securities Co. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. collaborating with Rakuten Securities Inc. By improving collaboration between its group companies, MUFG aims to compete with these movements by its rivals.

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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.

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March 26, 2026 05:55 ET (09:55 GMT)

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