Hi, right now I use SBI and they recently changed the transfer protocol so I need to receive an SMS and enter the code for the transfer to go through… I need to make this every month for my mansion fee, but I’m often out of Japan (temporarily deactivating my SIM) so I’m looking to change banks.
It’s the only bank I’ve ever used in Japan so I don’t know if this is common, can you let me know which bank you use that doesn’t require phone verification every time for domestic transfers? Thank you 🙏
23 comments
Rakuten doesn’t. I can just send money via the app. I also have rent as an automatic bank transfer that’s done every month.
Both UFJ and Mizuho don’t require SMS.
Shinsei (now part of SBI) doesn’t. They just use an authenthicator app
As much as people like to shit on it, transfers with JP Bank are super simple. I verify my transfer with a simple fingerprint scan and that’s it.
MUFG never asked me for sms, I don’t recall mizuho either.
I wouldn’t recommend both, but for that part, no sms.
Rakuten and Sony Bank work fully app based. However, you could easily use your J sim abroad in a dual sim phone (many Androids and all recent iPhones). You can also set up a timed transfer some weeks before that will be executed on the specific data or ask the landlord to debit it automatically from your account. Changing banks just for that seems a bit overkill.
I mainly use MUFG and Sumitomo; they don’t require SMS confirmation for the transfer.
IRC Rakuten doesn’t need SMS confirmation but requires an e-mail confirmation.
Why isn’t the payment set up as an automatic monthly transfer?
Is there some reason why you have to it manually every month?
SMBC, as long as recipient is logged in your contact list in app
Prestia doesn’t. You just need their token to set a transfer partner up once
Prestia will do it with an RSA token.
Mizuho only requires to enter a special PIN.
However, recently there were a few posts here of people getting locked out because of the browsers automatic translation option being mistaken for a virus. Something you might want to keep in mind when accessing your account from overseas.
Japan Post offers authentification via app, you scan the QR code on screen with your phone, enter your PIN and confirm the transaction.
SMBC Prestia uses a hardware token, and on top of that you can “save” the information for the recipient and future transfers to that entity and account won’t need MFA
SMBC Prestia doesnt. It does if you dont set it up and its a one-off. (They mail you the little plastic code machine.) But you can set up folks to regularly to.
JP Post, Resona, SMBC, MUFG. They do not need any sms.
SMBC, Sony Bank and Rakuten, I mostly use those 3 and they do not require SMS, Yuucho also doesn’t need it.
SMBC use app for OTP
Rakuten bank only need PIN. They have security card like shinsei for non mobile app login I think.
I don’t know if Japan Post bank supports it, they use a smart phone app so you scan a QR code provided by the transaction request (on your PC for example) to approve it.
The app can open and seems to work if I use VPN (pretending I am out of Japan), but I haven’t tried to see if a transaction really works that way.
Sony uses push alerts to their app for transfer verification, or you can just make the transfer from the app entirely. Never had an SMS verification requirement for a transfer.
You can disable data roaming and still get your texts (but need a dual
SIM enabled phone). Or you can use a Japanese VOIP service like Ringover to get a virtual Japanese number and receive your texts that way
If there’s any choice do not use SMS for your banking. SMS is spoofable and is the cause of many security problems. Banks should not be using SMS. My Android phone plan actually charges an extra fee to use SMS, so I have never used SMS on my phone. I use authenticator, and hardware tokens for Banking and post office accounts.
Resona, they have by far the most user friendly app. Also available in english
Aren’t you using the mobile app? I don’t get SMS for SBI.. I just need to approve inside the app. Actually. I need to make the transfer in the app as well.
I also have repeat payments in place that don’t require any authentication.