How to Open an SMBC Bank Account Online

Unless you are a Japanese speaker, opening a bank account in Japan can get a bit tricky. You might wonder, which bank would be suitable for expats? Before getting overwhelmed with countless banks in Japan, use this guide to quickly learn how to open a bank account online.

Among many banks that have English services, a Tier 1 bank in Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) is a great bank for you. SMBC has 455 branches across Japan, and 20 branches overseas (as of March 31, 2025)¹ .

As one of the most famous banks in Japan, it offers a full range of services such as multilingual services and a multi-currency Visa Debit Card called GLOBAL PASS. SMBC Prestia offers English language banking services, which may be suitable for non-Japanese speakers.

This article will guide you on how to open the SMBC PRESTIA Bank account step by step. We will cover key aspects such as required documents and application process. This article will also introduce Wise, the alternative for transferring funds with competitive cost and managing money efficiently.

Can a foreigner open a bank account with SMBC (Mitsui Sumitomo Trust Bank) in Japan?

Certainly! A foreigner can open a SMBC Bank account in Japan. The standard SMBC account is available for foreigners, however, it tends to be more restrictive toward foreign residents since they are required to have residency of over six months.²

And don’t forget! Someone else cannot open a bank account on behalf of you, as third-party submissions are not accepted.

Unless you are employed in Japan and have Japanese-speaking assistance, the SMBC PRESTIAis known to provide English language support and options to apply online or by phone.

PRESTIA has full English support for foreigners and offers a way to open a bank account online or by telephone with English assistance.

Disclaimer: This article is not sponsored by or affiliated with SMBC Bank and has only been reviewed by Wise, not the bank. For more information, please be sure to visit their website.

Fees charged by SMBC

SMBC PRESTIA allows you to send money domestically and overseas. However, there are fees per transfer depending on each transfer type. Check out the fees below.

Standard fees

PRESTIA withdraws a monthly maintenance fee of 2,200JPY (incl. tax). This would automatically be withdrawn from your bank account on the second business day of each month.³

Domestic transfer

Transaction fee within SMBC Trust Bank⁴

Transaction fee to other banks (via Zengin)

International transfer

Transaction fees across borders are as follows. However, there is no fee for receiving a foreign currency transfer.

International transfer fee (electronic transfers)⁴

How to open a bank account with SMBC (Mitsui Sumitomo Bank)

Opening a bank account online SMBC requires a few documents and steps, but using their online banking system makes the process smoother. There are two ways to apply for a bank account online, either via Smartphone or via computer.

If you apply from Smartphone, make sure you have these: ⁵

• ID (Residence Card / Special Permanent Resident Certificate)
• A domestic SMS enabled mobile phone
• E-mail address

If you apply via Computer, make sure you have these:

• 2 IDs
• Residence Card / Special Permanent Resident Certificate
• Also one from these IDs:
  • Driver’s License issued in Japan
  • My Number (Individual Number Card)
  • Health Insurance Card
• A domestic SMS enabled mobile phone
• E-mail address

Required documents⁵

• A valid Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate with your current address (*Period of Stay on the Residence Card should be more than three months)
• If it has been less than 6 months since your Residence Card was issued, provide one of the following documents to verify that more than 6 months have passed since your arrival in Japan.
• The previous Residence Card (with a hole punched in it)
• Japan-issued driver’s license
• A health insurance card
• If 6 months have passed since you entered Japan, submit one of the following:
  • Employee ID Card showing that the office is located in Japan.
  • Certificate of enrollment stamped or signed by your employer, including:
    • full name
    • company name
    • company address
    • start date of employment
• Health Insurance Card with name of employer on it.

Steps of opening a bank account with SMBC⁵

1. Sign-up for SMBC bank account application
2. Upload your ID and take a photo of yourself
3. Enter your information and confirm that details and image files are correct
4. Authenticate the SMS sent to your phone
5. Complete! Results will be notified after 3 to 5 business days after submission

SMBC bank opening hours

If you have a PRESTIA bank account, visiting the SMBC Trust Bank PRESTIA will be a better choice than visiting the local SMBC branches, since English services can be limited in local branches. Here are the business hours for main branches of SMBC PRESTIA.⁶

Opening hours for Main Branch (Ohtemachi, Nihonbashi, Chiba Branch, Internet Branch) ⁶

SMBC contact numbers

Access to contact numbers of PRESTIA branches in Japan by clicking on the link below.

SMBC PRESTIA Nationwide Branches

Manage your money internationally: Wise account

As one of the options for international money transfer, you could also consider a Wise account that lets you hold multi-currencies and exchange with a competitive fee. Wise card is a debit card you can use to withdraw cash and pay in different currencies. It surely makes your travels and life in Japan more convenient!

Easy steps to open Wise account:

1. Register with Wise online or download the Wise app
2. Add account details
3. ID verification (Passport, National ID card, Driver’s license)
4. Add funds to your currency
5. Set up your payment: Enter the amount you want to send and you will get a quote and estimated delivery time.
6. Order a Wise debit card

In summary, you can enjoy the following benefits by using Wise card:

If you are also curious about Japanese banks in general , check out how to open a bank account in Japan as reference.

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