On October 13, the Shizuoka District Court awarded Suruga Bank 4.7 billion yen in damages from its former management in a ruling regarding conflict of interest related to donations. The case centered on donations made between 2013 and 2017 to the Bernard Buffet Museum, established by the third generation of the founding family, which were alleged to have benefited the family's business. The court recognized the bank's claim that these funds eventually flowed back to service loans made to the family businesses, establishing the previous management's liability.

Former executives argued that the donations were merely part of the bank's corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, intended for the museum’s renovations and art acquisitions, and asserted that no actual harm occurred. However, the court found that the former management had failed to disclose these facts to the board, thus constituting a breach of their responsibilities. It emphasized the necessity of transparency regarding the actual purposes of the donations, suggesting that their dual intent warranted further consideration and disclosure.

In response to the ruling, Suruga Bank expressed satisfaction, viewing it as a validation of their claims and clarity on the legal responsibilities of the past directors. This case also reflects ongoing scrutiny of corporate governance in Japan and the obligations of management to act in the interests of their institutions, particularly amid a backdrop of increasing public and regulatory demands for accountability in the financial sector.