Early Cross and Koza Shinkin Bank enter a business alliance. Aiming to eliminate the 'retirement benefit gap' for SMEs in Okinawa through the introduction of corporate DC
Early Cross and Koza Shinkin Bank have formed a business alliance to support the introduction of corporate DC pension plans for SMEs in Okinawa Prefecture. They aim to solve issues such as retirement benefit disparities and labor shortages.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 18:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 10:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 18:44 (128h 42m after Collected)
Early Cross Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; Representative Director: Masaya Hanashiro; hereinafter 'Early Cross'), which provides support from the introduction of corporate defined contribution (DC) pension plans to financial education, has started a business alliance with Koza Shinkin Bank (Head office: Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture; President: Isamu Kiyuna; hereinafter 'Koza Shinkin Bank').
This alliance presents a solution that combines the network of a community-based financial institution with know-how in asset building through corporate DC for SME managers in Okinawa Prefecture who are struggling with retirement benefit preparation and employee retention amid rising prices.
Background: Why corporate DC now?
In Okinawa Prefecture, the active job openings-to-applicants ratio has recovered to 1.16 times, and competition for hiring full-time employees is intensifying again (*1). On the other hand, the turnover rate within three years of employment exceeds the national average by 11.5 percentage points for high school graduates and 7.3 percentage points for university graduates (*2), creating a dual challenge where hired personnel do not settle. Under these circumstances, the enhancement of welfare benefits, including retirement benefit systems, may function as a differentiator for job seekers. Early Cross will collaborate with Koza Shinkin Bank to address this issue through the spread of corporate DC.
References
*1 Okinawa Labor Bureau 'Reiwa 6 Labor Administration Operation Policy'
https://jsite.mhlw.go.jp/okinawa-roudoukyoku/content/contents/001838283.pdf
*2 Ibid. (Turnover status of graduates in March, Reiwa 2)
Details of the Business Alliance and Role Division
[STEP 1: Information Provision / Koza Shinkin Bank]
Representatives of the Shinkin bank, who are deeply rooted in the community and familiar with management issues, will provide information on corporate DC as an option to improve corporate welfare and prepare for retirement benefits.
[STEP 2: System Design and Introduction Support / Early Cross]
Early Cross will handle applications to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and design contributions tailored to the manager's objectives.
[STEP 3: Continuous Financial Education / Early Cross]
After the system is introduced, we will conduct investment education (employee briefings and individual interviews) so that employees can 'protect and grow their own assets by themselves.'
Representative Comment
Early Cross Co., Ltd.
Representative Director Masaya Hanashiro
We are very pleased to have realized this alliance with Koza Shinkin Bank. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to work together to face the challenges of SMEs in Okinawa Prefecture and the people working there, who previously did not have sufficient access to information on corporate DC, through the bank's community-based network and deep relationships of trust with business owners.
We believe that behind Okinawa's high turnover rate and labor shortage lies anxiety about money in the future. Many managers probably feel that just raising wages will not lead to employee retention. We believe what job seekers truly want is the peace of mind that comes with a clear outlook for the future. Our goal is to realize the financial well-being of every working individual. We consider corporate DC to be the most practical means to achieve this.
Introducing corporate DC is not the goal in itself. True value is born only when employees actually make contributions, think about their own asset management, and take action to save for the future. To that end, understanding how the system works is essential.
This alliance with Koza Shinkin Bank is a major step forward in expanding this circle of support to regional SMEs. By combining the bank's community-based network with our DC operation know-how, we will take on the challenge of eliminating the retirement benefit gap and financial education gap among regional companies.
Overview of Alliance Partner
Corporate Name: Koza Shinkin Bank
Representative: President Isamu Kiyuna
Location: 2-10-1 Uechi, Okinawa City
Business Details: Financial businesses such as deposits, loans, and domestic exchange, insurance business, securities business
HP: https://www.shinkin.co.jp/kozashinkin/about/profile.php
About Early Cross Co., Ltd.
Under the theme of 'Solving future money problems,' Early Cross supports the future asset building of SME managers and employees by supporting the introduction of the corporate defined contribution (corporate DC) pension plan system.
Corporate Overview
Corporate Name: Early Cross Co., Ltd.
This alliance presents a solution that combines the network of a community-based financial institution with know-how in asset building through corporate DC for SME managers in Okinawa Prefecture who are struggling with retirement benefit preparation and employee retention amid rising prices.
Background: Why corporate DC now?
In Okinawa Prefecture, the active job openings-to-applicants ratio has recovered to 1.16 times, and competition for hiring full-time employees is intensifying again (*1). On the other hand, the turnover rate within three years of employment exceeds the national average by 11.5 percentage points for high school graduates and 7.3 percentage points for university graduates (*2), creating a dual challenge where hired personnel do not settle. Under these circumstances, the enhancement of welfare benefits, including retirement benefit systems, may function as a differentiator for job seekers. Early Cross will collaborate with Koza Shinkin Bank to address this issue through the spread of corporate DC.
References
*1 Okinawa Labor Bureau 'Reiwa 6 Labor Administration Operation Policy'
https://jsite.mhlw.go.jp/okinawa-roudoukyoku/content/contents/001838283.pdf
*2 Ibid. (Turnover status of graduates in March, Reiwa 2)
Details of the Business Alliance and Role Division
[STEP 1: Information Provision / Koza Shinkin Bank]
Representatives of the Shinkin bank, who are deeply rooted in the community and familiar with management issues, will provide information on corporate DC as an option to improve corporate welfare and prepare for retirement benefits.
[STEP 2: System Design and Introduction Support / Early Cross]
Early Cross will handle applications to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and design contributions tailored to the manager's objectives.
[STEP 3: Continuous Financial Education / Early Cross]
After the system is introduced, we will conduct investment education (employee briefings and individual interviews) so that employees can 'protect and grow their own assets by themselves.'
Representative Comment
Early Cross Co., Ltd.
Representative Director Masaya Hanashiro
We are very pleased to have realized this alliance with Koza Shinkin Bank. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to work together to face the challenges of SMEs in Okinawa Prefecture and the people working there, who previously did not have sufficient access to information on corporate DC, through the bank's community-based network and deep relationships of trust with business owners.
We believe that behind Okinawa's high turnover rate and labor shortage lies anxiety about money in the future. Many managers probably feel that just raising wages will not lead to employee retention. We believe what job seekers truly want is the peace of mind that comes with a clear outlook for the future. Our goal is to realize the financial well-being of every working individual. We consider corporate DC to be the most practical means to achieve this.
Introducing corporate DC is not the goal in itself. True value is born only when employees actually make contributions, think about their own asset management, and take action to save for the future. To that end, understanding how the system works is essential.
This alliance with Koza Shinkin Bank is a major step forward in expanding this circle of support to regional SMEs. By combining the bank's community-based network with our DC operation know-how, we will take on the challenge of eliminating the retirement benefit gap and financial education gap among regional companies.
Overview of Alliance Partner
Corporate Name: Koza Shinkin Bank
Representative: President Isamu Kiyuna
Location: 2-10-1 Uechi, Okinawa City
Business Details: Financial businesses such as deposits, loans, and domestic exchange, insurance business, securities business
HP: https://www.shinkin.co.jp/kozashinkin/about/profile.php
About Early Cross Co., Ltd.
Under the theme of 'Solving future money problems,' Early Cross supports the future asset building of SME managers and employees by supporting the introduction of the corporate defined contribution (corporate DC) pension plan system.
Corporate Overview
Corporate Name: Early Cross Co., Ltd.