exchange bank
Historical term for a bank that specialized in foreign exchange and trade finance, particularly during Japan's early modern and Meiji periods.
明治時代、為銀は貿易金融の中心的な役割を果たした。
In the Meiji period, exchange banks played a central role in trade finance.
Abbreviation of 為替銀行 (かわせぎんこう, exchange bank), with 為 (ため) from 為替 (かわせ, exchange) and 銀 (ぎん) from 銀行 (ぎんこう, bank).