Osaka Credit Guarantee Association

What Osaka Credit Guarantee Association does

Osaka Credit Guarantee Association (大阪信用保証協会) is a public credit guarantee institution established under Japan's Credit Guarantee Association Act, headquartered in central Osaka's Umeda district. The association acts as a public guarantor for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startup founders in Osaka Prefecture, enabling them to obtain financing from partner financial institutions when they lack sufficient collateral or credit history. Its core products include credit guarantees for startups, small businesses, business succession candidates, and post-management guarantees (経営者保証不要), supplemented by loan refinancing programs and management consultation services. Pricing follows government-set fee schedules ranging from 0.28% to 2.20% per annum depending on guarantee type, with the association receiving reinsurance support from the national government under the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act.

The association operates through a network of major city banks (Mizuho, Resona), regional banks, trust banks, credit unions, credit associations, and government-affiliated lenders that submit guarantee applications on behalf of SME borrowers. It also runs direct consultation services through headquarters, a Support Office in Chuo-ku, and four branches across Sakai, Higashiosaka, Kadoma, and Senri. Beyond guarantees, the association hosts the annual OSAKA Business Fair (now in its 10th year with ~194 exhibitors and ~2,200 visitors in 2025), provides management-support seminars, and operates a LINE Official Account for SME communications. The current entity was formed in May 2014 through a merger with the former Osaka City Credit Guarantee Association, consolidating regional guarantee services. Recent strategic activity includes equity participation in the Osaka Kagayaki Investment Partnership and the Osaka/Kansai Manpaku Activation Fund, signaling an expanding ecosystem role beyond pure credit intermediation.

The revenue model is fee-based and recurring: credit guarantee fees on disbursed loans, with rates differentiated by secured/unsecured status and program type. As a public institution under quasi-governmental supervision by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Osaka Prefecture, the association does not have traditional venture or private equity ownership and does not publicly disclose revenue. It pursues both offensive moves (launching new specialized guarantee products, equity investments in SME revitalization funds, inter-prefectural collaboration) and defensive/regulatory moves (mandated reporting, compliance infrastructure, and the Kurumin work-life balance certification obtained in October 2025).

Name

Osaka Credit Guarantee Association

Legal name

Credit Guarantee Corporation of Osaka

Website

https://cgc-osaka.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Public credit guarantee association operating under Japan's Credit Guarantee Association Act, providing SME and startup loan guarantees through partner banks across Osaka Prefecture, supported by national government reinsurance and a five-office branch network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Credit Guarantee Services

NAICS

Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

SME Lending Platforms & Embedded SME Credit (FSAKAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Mortgage Insurance & Government Credit Guarantee Programs (FSALAKAD)

Keywords

• Credit guarantee services
• SME loan guarantees
• Small business financing
• Public credit insurance
• Business support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Credit Guarantee Fees (信用保証料): The association generates revenue through credit guarantee fees charged to SMEs when a guaranteed loan is disbursed. Fee rates vary based on guarantee type (secured/unsecured), loan amount, and term. The association also receives reinsurance support from the national government under the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Osaka Credit Guarantee Association is a public credit guarantee institution established under Japan's Credit Guarantee Association Act that acts as a public guarantor for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in Osaka Prefecture seeking financing from banks and other financial institutions. It provides a portfolio of credit guarantee products (startup, small business support, business succession, business-owner-not-required, and specialized guarantee programs) along with management consulting, business succession advisory, loan refinancing support, and SME business matching events.

Product overview

Osaka Credit Guarantee Association (大阪信用保証協会) operates as a public credit guarantee institution providing a comprehensive portfolio of guarantee products and business support services. The core offering consists of guarantee systems that act as public guarantors for中小企业者 and small business owners seeking financing from financial institutions. The product portfolio includes: (1) Startup/Business Launch Guarantee programs for new entrepreneurs, (2) Small Business Support Guarantees for enterprises with limited employees, (3) Business Succession Guarantees supporting ownership transitions, (4) Business Owner Guarantee Not Required programs enabling financing without personal collateral, (5) Management Support Services including consultation and turnaround assistance, (6) Business Events and Seminars for entrepreneurship development, and (7) Loan Refinancing Services. The association also offers special consultation windows for businesses affected by external factors such as tariffs and natural disasters. The organization operates branch offices across Osaka Prefecture and maintains a LINE official account for customer communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Startup/Business Launch Guarantee (創業・開業資金) Credit guarantee product acting as a public guarantor to facilitate bank loan financing for SMEs and entrepreneurs launching new businesses, addressing limited collateral and credit history at the startup stage.
• Small Business Support Guarantee (小規模企業者向け) Credit guarantee program tailored for small-scale enterprises with fewer employees, providing financing support aligned to the smaller business scale with rates from 0.50% to 2.20% per annum.
• Business Succession Guarantee (事業承継) Credit guarantee program supporting SMEs planning business succession within 3 years or those that completed succession within the past 3 years, helping transfer ownership and sustain operations through transitions.
• Business Owner Guarantee Not Required (経営者保証不要) Guarantee product enabling SMEs to obtain business loans without requiring personal guarantee from the business owner or operator, addressing concerns about personal liability during financing.
• Management Support Services (経営支援) Financial consultation and support services for businesses facing management challenges, including business turnaround and restructuring assistance, financial diagnostics, and management improvement planning.
• Business Events and Seminars (創業・経営支援イベント) Event and seminar programs supporting entrepreneurship and business development, including startup planning seminars, women's entrepreneur support seminars, and business matching fairs such as OSAKA Business Fair.
• Loan Refinancing Services (借換) Programs to help businesses refinance existing loans to reduce monthly repayment burdens and restructure debt obligations.
• Coordinated Support Special Guarantee (協調支援型特別保証) Specialized guarantee product for SME financing with government-backed guarantee fee subsidies, supporting coordinated financing between financial institutions and the association.
• Business Revitalization Plan Implementation Related Guarantee - Management Improvement/Revitalization Support Type (事業再生計画実施関連保証【経営改善・再生支援強化型】) Specialized guarantee product supporting SMEs implementing business revitalization plans with a management improvement focus, providing credit guarantee for restructuring financing.
• Monitoring Enhancement Type Special Guarantee (モニタリング強化型特別保証) Specialized guarantee product with rates ranging from 0.45% to 1.90% per annum that supports SMEs through enhanced post-disbursement monitoring arrangements with partner financial institutions.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Other Prefecture Credit Guarantee AssociationssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Inter-regional collaboration allowing companies from other prefectures to participate in OSAKA Business Fair, expanding networking opportunities beyond Osaka.
• Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (大阪工商会議所)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 February 2025Co-hosting the 26th Osaka Prefecture SME Support Network Meeting, bringing together 44 organizations to discuss SME support and business revitalization.
• Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (近畿経済産業局)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 February 2025Government agency providing lectures on SME policy and economic measures at network meetings.
• Kansai Finance Bureau (近畿財務局)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 February 2025Government agency providing lectures on regional financial policy and initiatives for SME support.
• General Association of Credit Guarantee Corporations (全國信用保証協会連合会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization of credit guarantee associations providing statistical analysis, research, and shared systems for the credit guarantee system nationwide. The association participates in joint data utilization and system services managed by this organization.
• Credit Guarantee Service Center (信用保証サービスセンター)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization conducting research, studies, and publications related to SME promotion in Osaka Prefecture. Provides data services and analytical support for member credit guarantee associations.
• Financial Institutions NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with banks, regional banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions that process and submit credit guarantee applications on behalf of SME borrowers.
• Osaka Prefecture and Municipal GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Osaka Prefecture and municipalities to provide subsidized loan guarantee programs. Governments provide interest subsidies and guarantee fee subsidies for eligible borrowers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hyogo Credit Guarantee Association: Prefectural credit guarantee association serving Hyogo Prefecture in the Kansai region. Geographic neighbor of Osaka and member of the same national federation; directly comparable on SME composition (manufacturing-heavy) and guarantee mix.
• Tokyo Credit Guarantee Association: Statutorily chartered prefectural credit guarantee association under the same Credit Guarantee Association Act, providing public SME credit guarantees in Tokyo. Same legal framework, same product structure (startup, succession, refinancing), and same government reinsurance backing — the closest functional peer to Osaka.
• Saitama Credit Guarantee Association: Prefectural credit guarantee association serving Saitama Prefecture under the same statutory framework. Offers the same core guarantee types (startup, small business, succession, business owner guarantee not required) and is a member of the same national federation.
• Aichi Credit Guarantee Association: Prefectural credit guarantee association serving Aichi Prefecture, another major Japanese manufacturing/automotive cluster. Operates the same credit guarantee product taxonomy and is a member of the General Association of Credit Guarantee Corporations, making it a direct comparator on scale and product mix.
• Fukuoka Credit Guarantee Association: Prefectural credit guarantee association covering Fukuoka Prefecture, operating under the Credit Guarantee Association Act with the same government reinsurance structure and product portfolio.

Others

• General Association of Credit Guarantee Corporations (Zenkyoren): National federation of all 51 credit guarantee associations that manages inter-association reinsurance, joint data systems, and policy research. Acts as the umbrella organization Osaka CGA participates in — relevant as infrastructure/enabler peer rather than competitor.
• Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Regional business support organization that co-hosts SME support network meetings with Osaka CGA (44 organizations). Serves an overlapping Osaka SME member base with complementary consulting, networking, and policy advocacy services — ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Development Bank of Japan (DBJ): Government-affiliated policy bank that supports Japanese industry including SMEs. Operates in adjacent policy-finance space with overlapping stakeholders (METI, prefectural governments), though focused on larger enterprises and growth-stage financing.
• Shoko Chukin Bank: Government-affiliated cooperative financial institution specialized in SME finance. Listed as a partner institution channel for Osaka CGA, but also a broader SME lender with overlapping customer base and parallel policy mandate.
• Japan Finance Corporation (JFC): Government-backed policy-based financial institution that directly lends to SMEs and startup founders, often coordinating with credit guarantee associations. Complementary rather than competitive — JFC is the direct-lending policy arm while CGAs provide credit enhancement for private bank loans.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/embed/pOxP7SW8KWg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Osaka Credit Guarantee Association