Difficulty Opening a Bank Account in Japan as a Foreigner – SMBC

Hi everyone, I need some advice about opening a bank account in Japan as a foreigner.

I came to Japan earlier this year and have been living here for over six months. My Japanese is still limited.

A few days ago, I went to a SMBC (Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation) branch in person to open a bank account. I explained that I wanted the account mainly for online shopping and daily payments. The teller told me I could not open the account at the branch and that I had to apply online.

I submitted the online application. As a foreigner, the only document they requested from me was my Residence Card (在留カード).

Today, I received a notice from SMBC saying that the Residence Card alone is not enough to verify my residency, and my application was rejected. They told me I need to go back to the branch to complete the process.

I’m now unsure how to proceed. Has anyone experienced a similar situation with Japanese banks, especially as a foreigner with limited Japanese? What documents or steps are typically required to successfully open an account in Japan?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.