After a good 2 months, I finally managed to set up two local bank accounts, so I figured I'd share my experience.
Background: I do mostly freelance work, which currently includes part-time work with no set hours for a Japanese company as a subcontractor. (業務委託) So, I'm technically not a 正社員/full-time employee. I also don't have a MyNumber Card, or even the MyNumber notice/通知, I guess it never got sent out to me for some reason.
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Yucho / Japan Post Bank:
I tried using their app to apply online, but got an error saying I might already have had a Yucho account. Which is kinda true, I had one between 2013-2015, so I assume that was an issue. The app told me to drop by an office directly, but I left that as a last resort since I wanted a "proper" account, preferably without any restrictions. -
Sony Bank:
So apparently they dropped most (or all?) of their English support this year in June. I sent them an English email asking whether I can use my contract in lieu of a "proof of employment" (since my company can only issue that for full-time employees.) but their answer just said "unfortunately we no longer accept applications for English-based banking accounts with us."
I think their English app for creating an account might be gone too, my only option was their Japanese site. But they required either a driving license or a MyNumber Card, with no alternatives. So I had to give up, despite all the good things I've read about them here before. -
Rakuten bank:
The process seemed relatively smooth at first. Application online, then download an app to take a photo of my residence card and my technically-not-insurance-card (国民保険資格確認書), but for some reason the app just wouldn't take a normal picture. I'd line up the shot without any issue, and then it'd completely go out of focus the moment I took the photo. The camera image would be crystal clear right up to the moment I pressed the button, and only then go all blurry. After trying for 10+ minutes, I figured maybe it's some security feature – I might see it blurred, but the actual image would be okay.
It wasn't.
Anyway, two days later, I got an unexpected call from them – I couldn't answer at the time, but later I got an email telling me they'd tried to reach me to confirm some stuff for the application. They asked me to choose whether I want them to call me in the morning or the afternoon and reply accordingly.
About two days after I answered, they called me back, and after a quick identification (they asked for my birthdate) they told me my images were too blurry, and they also need some proof of employment. I could choose to send it over fax (sasuga Japan) or post. I chose post, and they sent me the details of what to send and how via email later. And that's where I left it because by that point I already managed to set up an account elsewhere. -
SMBC Olive:
The process online was relatively painless. They sent me an email about 3 days later telling me my application failed because with my Residence Card alone they couldn't confirm my residency, but encouraged me to go to an office in person. This was because of the famous 6-month rule (I haven't been in the country long enough.)
I put it off for two weeks, but then when I went to a nearby SMBC office they confirmed that after 6 months of staying here, they could get me an account without any issues at all. I explained that I do do work for a Japanese company and need the account to receive my payment, and showed them my contract, having arrived prepared.
They asked for the company's phone number, and the clerk actually disappeared for a while to phone them.
After the call, everything went okay, although I had to fill out basically the same application form again. This was on August 29th, and my card got delivered on September 7th – one Visa debit card secured, yay! -
Seven Bank:
Surprisingly, this turned out to be the simplest and most straightforward option. Relatively simple and fully English registration procedure, and, unlike Rakuten or SMBC, they actually had an option for uploading a "proof of employment" right away during application. IIRC they needed my Residence Card, the Juminhyo/住民票, and the proof of employment. Although I did have to upload my documents as jpg from my PC. (Even had to resize the pictures I took with my phone because their size was too large…)
But yeah, I applied on August 20th, got a confirmation that my card has been sent on the 30th, and it arrived on September 1st. Overall, the cleanest, simplest procedure with 0 hiccups along the way.
It seems they have separate English and Japanese apps, though. I could set up the English one by going to an ATM, but the Japanese one either doesn't work, or I might need to go to an ATM again to set it up. But it works as it is, so it's fine, I guess.
I also got a debit card right away with them, although they only have JCB.
So, what's the takeaway?
Even though lot of banks let you apply online via website or app, you're probably better off just going into an office directly, even for Yucho. If you really don't want to do that but have a job secured here, Seven Bank seems to be a nice and simple way to go.
by RottenPantsu