[First Initiative by a Regional Bank] Regional Employee Benefits App "Thanks Fukuri for Chugin" Released

Chugoku Bank (Okayama City, President Sadanori Kato) has partnered with Leafea Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director Wataru Morita, hereinafter "Leafea") to release the regional employee benefits app "Thanks Fukuri for Chugin" with the aim of supporting corporate employee retention and solving issues for people working in the region.

This app is an employee benefits app equipped with a function that provides financial services, such as preferential interest rates customized in conjunction with bank accounts, through the app.

This initiative, which integrates Leafea's employee benefits app with the provision of financial services for the workplace, is the first of its kind for a regional bank (as of July 2026).

We aim to seamlessly connect companies and finance, starting with working individuals, to reliably deliver the value of a regional financial institution to those working in the region, and to realize a vision where our bank can naturally be by their side in their daily lives.

1. Background and Objectives of This Initiative

In recent years, against the backdrop of labor shortages and rising labor costs, improving employee retention rates and satisfaction has become an urgent management issue for companies, and enhancing employee benefits, sometimes referred to as a "third wage increase," is becoming increasingly important.

By utilizing Leafea's employee benefits service "Thanks Fukuri for Chugin" and deploying it to our client companies, we aim to support people working in the region and achieve regional revitalization.

<Vision Aimed for Through the Provision of This Service>

Returns to People Working in the Region

Deliver the value of a regional financial institution to the working individuals who support the regional economy.

Smooth Integration of Financial Services into the Workplace

Efficiently deliver a variety of financial services, including preferential interest rates, through the "workplace" (work site), which is familiar to working individuals.

Smooth Future Integration with Banking Apps

Aim for an experience that naturally leads to the banking app in the future, using "Thanks Fukuri for Chugin" as an entry point.

2. About "Thanks Fukuri for Chugin"

"Thanks Fukuri for Chugin" is a system that allows employees to use discount benefits at over 100,000 partner stores nationwide by having companies bear the monthly fee.

It provides a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including a function to send "gifts with messages" expressing gratitude, and a stress check function that is scheduled to become mandatory even for companies with fewer than 50 employees in the future.

In the future, we will be developing the app to allow applications for various services such as preferential interest rates and housing loans to be made through this app.

3. Future Outlook

Based on Leafea's employee benefits service, we will build a system that can deliver offers such as preferential interest rates to specific users, and through the provision of optimal financial services tailored to needs, we will support working individuals and improve engagement with adopting companies, thereby contributing to corporate growth and the revitalization of the regional economy.

4. Partner Company Overview

Company Name

Leafea Co., Ltd.

Head Office Address

THE GATE Kayabacho 3F, 1-10-3 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Representative

Wataru Morita

Business Description

Provision of regional employee benefits services

(Development and operation of the employee benefits app "Thanks Fukuri for Chugin")

Company HP

https://leafea.co.jp

Chugoku Bank

Phone: 086-223-3111 Public Relations Center Okajima (Ext. 2255)