Japan Bank Chief Flags Proactive ATM Shutdowns Against AI Attacks

Katsuhiko Kato, chairman of the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) and president of Mizuho Bank, said at a June 18, 2026 press conference that banks are considering "proactive suspension" of services such as ATMs and online banking as a management option in response to cyberattacks that exploit frontier AI. Kato stated that "between convenience and customers' precious assets, the latter should take priority," signaling that protecting assets outweighs keeping services running. Details