本文利用高雄市第三信用合作社所藏「三信檔案」，透過分析其前身高雄中洲信用組合（1917-1926）、興業信用組合（1926-1945）事例，探究1910 年代至1945 年以信用組合為中心的地方金融網絡運作實態。
全文首先陳述兩信用組合的金融定位。接著，以1937 年中日開戰為分界，透過存款、放款金額及利率變化、對銀行借款等金融指標，釐清信用組合在1913 年法制化前後，本身的金流運作網絡如何建立，以及對基層金融網絡建構的影響。其後，觀察1937 年中日開戰使地方社會逐步進入戰時體制後，信用組合的前述金融指標有何變化、為何變化，從而闡明其在戰時經濟下所發揮之功能，以及因而衍生的財務機能質變。
經由上述實例分析，本文解明日本殖民時期臺灣地方信用組合在基層金融網絡建構過程中的多面性。信用組合在最初是被設計以代替資金不足的銀行而支應小額借款需求的基層金融組織，其後透過吸收地方社會游資、以法人身分向銀行借款等方式，成為小農工商業者發展產業的借款管道。進入戰時後，信用組合原有的吸收游資功能獲得強化，亦被賦予消化國債、配合金融動員政策等任務，而和地方社會一同被編入總力戰支援體系。

Drawing archival materials from the Kaohsiung Third Credit Cooperative and using its predecessors, the Kaohsiung-based Chungchou Credit Union (1917-1926) and Hsingyeh
Credit Union (1926-1945) as case study examples, this research analyzes how Taiwan’s
financial network operated between 1917 and 1945, during which credit unions took center
stage.
This paper first discussed the standing of the two case credit unions in the financial
sector, and then examined the financial indicators, including deposits, loans, interest rates,
and bank borrowings, before and after the outbreak of Sino-Japanese War in 1937. These
investigations shed light on the development of a cash flow network before and after the
legalization of credit unions in 1913 and the impact of such a network on the establishment
of the community financial network. The study also traced the changes in the
aforementioned financial indicators when the local society of Taiwan evolved gradually
into a wartime economic system following the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, as well
as the causes to these changes. The analyses revealed the role of credit unions in the
wartime economic system and the qualitative changes in their financial functions during
this period.
Through the analysis, this study elucidated the multifaceted nature of credit unions
in the construction of Taiwan’s community financial network under Japanese colonial rule.
Initially designed as community financial entities to address the demand for small loans in
place of banks short on capital, credit unions evolved into lenders for small farmers and
business operators by absorbing floating capital in local society and taking corporate loans
from banks. During wartime, the credit unions’ function of absorbing floating capital was reinforced, and they were tasked with clearing the debts of the Japanese government and
implementing financial mobilization policies as they were included in the Total War support system along with Taiwan’s local society.