Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) is strengthening its push into artificial intelligence by investing in Japanese AI startup LayerX, aiming to streamline operations and boost efficiency within its banking arm.

MUFG will acquire nearly a 5% stake in LayerX through its corporate venture arm, MUFG Innovation Partners (MUIP). The move also formalizes a strategic partnership under a memorandum of understanding, building on a 2024 alliance around corporate expense management platforms like Bakuraku and AI Workforce.

MUFG projects that integrating LayerX’s AI solutions — especially in areas like sales proposals and customer financial data review — could save the bank approximately 200,000 work hours annually.

The collaboration reflects MUFG’s broader ambition to pivot toward becoming an AI-native institution. By embedding tools such as Bakuraku and AI Workforce into its systems, the bank seeks to advance operational productivity and support digital transformation in Japan’s financial sector.

The investment signals confidence in LayerX’s technology and marks a deepening of cooperation beyond mere capital infusion. As MUFG continues to embed AI-driven workflows, the partnership serves as a model for how traditional banks can harness tech to modernize their operations effectively.