Finance$12.4bn payout a result of higher lending ratesJapan's three megabanks are expected to pay more than 2 trillion yen in dividends combined this fiscal year, an all-time high. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Nikkei)TAKERO MINAMIJune 21, 2026 04:04 JSTTOKYO -- Japan's three megabanks are expected to pay more than 2 trillion yen ($12.4 billion) in dividends combined for the first time this fiscal year, a result of rising interest rates on loans after the Bank of Japan ended its negative interest rate policy three years ago.