BANK ESSENTIALS
Use banking services without guessing
Japanese banks make their own account-opening and verification decisions. BRIDGE helps you understand what the bank is asking, prepare questions, update your details and communicate safely—without handling your banking credentials.
Opening an account
Banks decide their own account-opening requirements and conduct identity and compliance checks. BRIDGE can help you prepare questions and understand the bank’s instructions, but cannot guarantee that an account will be opened.
Check this
- ✓Check the exact documents and eligibility requirements with the bank you plan to use; do not rely on a universal checklist.
- ✓Be ready to explain the intended use of the account and provide the information the bank lawfully requests for verification.
Important
Never send BRIDGE your online-banking password, PIN, one-time password, security code, or secret authentication answer.
Required documents
There is no single BRIDGE document checklist that applies to every bank. Use the bank’s current instructions for your exact account type and application method.
Important
If someone asks you to send passwords, PINs or one-time codes as part of “document verification,” stop and verify the request directly with the bank.
Keeping your details current
Keep your bank’s registered information current. The FSA specifically highlights notifying financial institutions when your period of stay has been extended or when a renewal application is pending, so follow your bank’s instructions for residence-related updates.
Check this
- ✓If your address, name or residence details changed, check the bank’s update procedure instead of assuming another government update automatically changed the bank record.
Important
Different banks use different channels and documents for updates. BRIDGE should never invent a universal deadline or document list.
Sending money
Use banks or properly registered fund-transfer providers and check fees, recipient details, limits and compliance requirements before sending money.
Important
BRIDGE can help you understand instructions or communicate with the bank, but must not handle your credentials or secretly authorize a transfer for you.