4. SMFG's response to nbaブックメーカー Great East Japan Earthquake

As SMFG entered a new phase with nbaブックメーカー new head office, nbaブックメーカー Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. At 2:46 p.m. JST on March 11, 2011, nbaブックメーカー Tohoku region in northern Japan was hit by a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 and an epicenter in nbaブックメーカー Pacific Ocean off nbaブックメーカー Sanriku coast. nbaブックメーカー powerful earthquake triggered nbaブックメーカー largest tsunami on record, which flooded nbaブックメーカー entire area on nbaブックメーカー Pacific coast, inflicting heavy damage to surrounding districts. Even worse, nbaブックメーカー tsunami induced a serious damage to Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, with nbaブックメーカー meltdown of its reactors resulting in a release of huge amounts of radioactive substances into nbaブックメーカー environment.

At SMBC, a range of activities was conducted in response to nbaブックメーカー unprecedented disaster. Immediately after nbaブックメーカー earliest report of nbaブックメーカー earthquake, an emergency task force headed by nbaブックメーカー president was set up to collect information and create action plans. SMBC’s Sendai Branch, located in nbaブックメーカー region hit by nbaブックメーカー earthquake, accommodated nbaブックメーカー needs of affected customers in a flexible manner. For example, nbaブックメーカー branch processed requests for deposit refunds from those who lost their passbooks, instead requiring only valid identification. nbaブックメーカー branch also provided agent services for nbaブックメーカー customers of affected local banks. Additionally, SMBC introduced programs to provide concessions on nbaブックメーカー repayment of housing loans to those affected, while offering special interest-rate housing loans and special funds for corporations. SMBC Group donated about 600 million yen in addition to donations made by employees. Also, special leave programs were introduced to support employees engaging in volunteer activities.