Japanese bank founders pledged suicide if they committed fraud.
Shikoku Bank's historical "Pledge," signed in blood, symbolized commitment to ethics, including severe punishments for financial misconduct.
So check it—Shikoku Bank’s got this wild history with something they call “The Pledge.” This ain't just any ol' pledge; it was signed in blood back when they were known as the 37th National Bank in 1878. Now, don’t get it twisted: back then, Japan was fresh outta the feudal era, and people were still hung up on samurai culture. The Pledge vows to handle finances ethically, but it comes with a pretty extreme punishment for fraud: ritual suicide. Yeah, you heard that right!
The actual pledge says if you steal, you’ll pay up with your own stuff and then kill yourself. They even went so far as to literally sign it in blood, including the bank's president. Fast forward to today, and the bank’s all about bright smiles and financial security, but they still treasure The Pledge as a symbol of their founding ethics. While I doubt they're still enforcing that crazy policy, you gotta respect how seriously they take trust and accountability!
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