u/retropop

Hi everyone!

I am wondering if there are any banks in Japan that allow foreigners to have an account with them / use their banking services even if they leave Japan... Is this even possible? I.e. They don't require regular proof (e.g. With your zairyuu card) that you reside in Japan? And won't freeze your account?

Not optimistic there's a bank like that but thought I'd ask to see if anyone had any luck on this. Thank you!

This is part a rant, part seeking people's advice on how to go about with this problem with JP post.

Tl;dr, JP post's online form is not foreigner friendly (what's new, right?) and I can't submit it and continue with processes as a result.

Context - I lived in Japan previously and had set up a credit card and automatic bank transfers for my utility bills. Filled up paper forms where I had to write my full name and bank account details. These were submitted to ゆうちょ, which processed them so my monthly bills were paid automatically + I could get my credit card.

Fast forward to present - just moved back to Japan and have to set up these processes all over again. However, I have discovered that the process of setting up bank transfers for bills and credit card registration is all done via JP bank's online form now. It doesn't matter if I go to my gas company's website, or Rakuten's website to register for a credit card... It all leads back to the same ゆうちょonline form when I need to connect my bank account to the monthly transfer/credit card registration process. The problem with this online form though is that they have stupid limitations in the 氏名(名 and 姓) fields where:

1. ​you have to keep your name to 9 characters
2. no spaces are allowed in your name (which is a problem if your full name includes a middle name)
3. you can't proceed with the form if you don't comply with their limitations

This creates a problem where I cannot be enter my full name into the 氏名 fields when filling up the form. ​And that, in turn, creates a problem where the bank cannot process my application because the name on the form doesn't match with the name on my bank account (bank error [T062G13W]) on the application form).

I am at a loss at what to do. Went to ゆうちょ and was told they no longer accept paper forms for the JP credit card (since I desperately need a card for payments). Previously, with the paper application forms, even if there weren't enough boxes for each character of your name, you could wing it and write past them on the paper. Now, with the online form, everything has to follow the limitations of the form. I think I can try to ask my utility companies for paper forms for payments for my monthly bills, but I honestly don't know if say Rakuten can provides paper forms for their credit card.

Am open to any advice or sharing on past experiences ​on how to get all these processes set up, despite being stuck with the online form... Thank you!