Had been to SMBC to open a bank account, they said , i have to stay for 6 months in Japan to open a account inspite of residence card.
I showed employment records, they they gave an appointment after 10 days.
Then when the date came i went to xyro card, residence paper they said I need Henko.
Wasted my time and travel and why Henko, why they didn’t tell me in the first place.
8 comments
There is a movement to eliminate hanko but it’ll take time. UFJ started offering hankoless account. Long ago Shinsei didn’t need hanko. Not sure if still.
Always check requirements on official site and don’t rely just on phone operators.
It takes few minutes to order a Heeeeenko online.
*xyro —> zairyu ざいりゅ 在留
*Henko—> hanko はんこ
I managed to open an account with Sony Bank after only being here for two months. No hanko was required, but evidence of employment was required to circumvent the 6-month rule. As you indicated that you have evidence of employment, maybe give them a go.
Try the post office. They don’t need a Hanko
Make sure you also don’t need to register your hanko at city hall first. Or you’ll be going back to city hall and the bank again for an inkan shomeisho.
I went to MUFG with US passport, “xryo” card and hanko. [Made appointment by phone first before going.] This was about 1 month after entering Japan on 5-year spousal visa [as former citizen]. I messed up one paper and they made me re-write the whole page [rather than correcting it, which my wife was allowed to do — we’re both former citizens but my Japanese writing is pretty bad compared to her, so maybe that’s why]. Otherwise it went rather smoothly.
I’m a sole-proprietor/freelancer [working as 1099 remotely for US company, my former employer].
I’ve had nothing but problems with SMBC over the years. The last problem I had was trying to wire 1000man yen to my house agent a few years ago from the bank in Yokohama ( I couldn’t do that with my bank card from a convenient store because of my gaijin status). I filled out papers and waited 30 minutes. After another 15 I requested an English speaking agent. I asked why it was taking so long. She didn’t know. So I asked them would it be easier to just take the (nearly) $100,000 in cash with me? Apparently, yes, so I walked out with the cash, called my agent (he laughed when I told him the payment was in cash) and was relieved when he signed for the cash at my house. Sounds pretty ass-backwards to me.