A process produces an optically active amine or its salt and includes the steps of reacting a ketone of Formula (1a): ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 is typically an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon group; and R.sup.2a is typically a hydrocarbon group having at least one oxo group and optionally having other substituent, with an optically active amine of Formula (2): ##STR00002## wherein R.sup.3 is an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group; R.sup.4 is an unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl group; and C.sup.1 is an asymmetric carbon atom, in the presence of an organic acid to thereby yield a corresponding optically active imine, hydrogenating the imine in the presence of a catalyst to yield a corresponding amine, subjecting the amine or its salt to hydrogenolysis in the presence of a catalyst, and reducing the hydrogenolyzed product with a reducing agent.