Several senior loan bankers at Mizuho Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking (SMBC) have departed their Asia roles amid a regional lending slump. The offshore loan market in Asia is burdened by high dollar interest rates, geopolitical risks, and intensified competition among global lenders as deal flow diminishes. Syndicated loan volumes in dollars, euros, and yen dropped 12% in 2025 to $166 billion outside Japan, marking a two-year low.
Asia's offshore loan market is facing headwinds from persistently high dollar interest rates, escalating geopolitical risks, and fiercer competition among international lenders, leading to a slowdown in deal activity. This has prompted several senior loan bankers at major Japanese institutions—Mizuho Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking (SMBC)—to exit their positions in the region.
According to people familiar with the matter, at Mizuho, Kong Chiu Tham, head of Asia syndicated finance for South and Southeast Asia, and Fiona Tan, an executive director in the same unit, have departed. At SMBC, Aaron Chow, managing director of loan capital markets for Asia Pacific, has resigned and is currently on gardening leave.
Such exits echo similar departures at other firms in recent months. Data shows that syndicated loan volumes in dollars, euros, and yen—excluding bilateral deals—fell 12% in 2025 to $166 billion for the region outside Japan, the lowest in two years. This downturn underscores broader challenges in Asian lending, potentially signaling ongoing pressures for banks in the sector.