So… as written here: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/w4dfva/yuucho_debit_jp_post_debit_card_giving_up/ I recently gave up on trying to figure out which of the JP debit card requirements I’ve not met (but I can’t think of any, nor could the guy at the JP post bank office…), I decided to make a Sony bank account (at the last minute, kinda).
1) it was super simple. I thought I need to go _scan_ my documents (like, at a kombini or so) because it said “scan your documents” in preparation in in the app, but in fact the app just makes you take a photo.
2) it recognized most of my info, just my name was a bit misspelled but I corrected that
3) registration done in like 20 minutes. Very simple. Normal smartphone works fine (why am I mentioning this – it’ll become relevant later lol)
4) 2 days later, I received an email that my account was approved and opened, and that I’ll receive my card + OTP thing in mail within 10 days
5) yesterday (about 4 days later), the OTP thingy arrived, and today the card arrived (which is nice, even though it’s the weekend mail still works, thank you Japan!)
6) registered my account with the OTP and such, took about… 20 minutes too or so.
Everything fine. No issues whatsoever. I can’t believe the interface also doesn’t look like it’s from the 80s.
Then I was like, hmm let me try sending myself some money from my JP post bank account… now here’s the fun see… I tried to login to the JP post “Yuucho Direct” thing, but when I opened the app that lets you login with your fingerprint, the option to login via QR code was greyed out. I haven’t used it since a while cause I only really pay with the card; I only needed it like 2 or 3x to login and send some stuff to Transferwise (Wise now). So I was like “why is this happening”.
Well. Turns out that you need to update your info there. Which I tried to do and it was like.. you gotta scan your residence card. So I’m like okay, that’s fair. NEXT… “your phone does not support NFC so, you can’t do it”.
Wtf? Why?! So, turns out if you use that app you need a NFC-reader capable phone. I have an older android device which does not have NFC reader… so essentially my money is stuck on my account LOL. Previously all you had to do was take a photo of your face and then use the fingerprint reader on your device, which was enough. Why did they change this I have no idea.
Thankfully I remembered I had an older iPhone which I use (without a sim card, for some other purpose) and it has an NFC chip… so I painstakingly set up the app there and finally I was able to send myself the money.
The only good thing is that – unexpectedly – the money arrived very shortly, even though it was the weekend (it said something like you can’t send money @ weekend but maybe that’s just for international transfers or something).
I then went to migrate all of my configured payments from the Mijica debit card to this new card. Not only everything worked flawlessly but in fact several services that would not work previously now started working. I think it has to do with the fact that the yuucho visa was not a “real” visa, since it also didn’t have my full name writen on the front and such.
I’m going to move all of my money to Sony bank, change my salary destination account to it as well and leave a tiny bit in yuucho for “whatever purposes” if ever needed, but honestly, I cannot believe how much simpler everything was in Sony bank. And it’s not because the UI is in English (because I didn’t have particular issues with the japanese of Yuucho); it’s more because if you wanna do some stuff you don’t have to go to their branch office. Like if you want to change your pin or change daily limits etc, everything is easily within reach in Sony, whereas I remember I tried via the web and it was like “nope you gotta sign some paperwork and then we will gracefully unlock your account for larger withdrawals” or some bs.
Anyway this is more of a “thank you Sony bank, and good bye JP post bank” story; and if it should bring even one more person from JP Post bank to Sony then the world will be better for it.
Seriously…
10 comments
Yeap opened sony account last month too. Couldn’t be happier
> but in fact several services that would not work previously now started working
This is probably due to the Sony card supporting 3d secure out of the box which more and more merchants (especially internationally) are starting to require. https://faq.moneykit.net/faq_detail.html?id=1910165
For Mijica, you had to turn that on in an obscure settings menu on the webpage, and it was not on by default.
It’s great when something works out so nicely. Thanks for the writeup. I’ve heard good things about Sony, may have to give them a try one of these days. (and no, I have never had a yucho account)
Sony Bank is great but the interface is still kind of terrible.
What ATMs can you use with Sony? I have Mizuho and I’m over it 😐
Yea Sony bank are probably the best bank (IMO) in Japan. Especially for foreigners. The online real time chat…. In English alone, is such a great resource too. Other banks that would have been a lengthy phone call… in Japanese, or a physical trip to the branch to resolve a similar issue I once had.
Just one thing to note with the card (for those unaware) when you use it in a Japanese ATM you have to put it in Chip towards you side. When you use the card in an ATM overseas you put it chip towards ATM side. So essentially, Japanese ATMs it goes in backwards.
Obviously when you use a chip and pin device in Japan or overseas it goes in chip side though.
I’ve been using Sony Bank since they opened and never had an issue with them. In fact, they’re some of the nicest customer service people I’ve spoken to. I’ve needed help with cashback and they handled it like a champ.
One thing though, if you log in through the Japanese portal of Sony Bank rather than the Money Kit English one, you’ll get A LOT more options. Not the app, the online portal. I usually use the English one for quick things, but if I have to do anything serious, the Japanese side is much more robust.
How did you settle on Sony bank, as opposed to Prestia (SMBC信託銀行) or one of the mega banks?
Anyone familiar with both Shinsei and Sony can compare them?
Out of curiosity, is your Android phone a foreign model? As far as I’m aware, NFC readers have been standard here for as long as smartphones have existed.