Fukuoka Banks

The largest local bank in Fukuoka prefecture is Fukuoka Bank. It is used by many public organizations, so it is likely that you will open an account here. Another local bank is the Nishi-Nippon City Bank. There are also branches of major national banks including MTBC, SMBC, Mizuho and UFJ in urban centers. If your office uses the automatic deposit system for your salary, it may be best to use the same bank as your office. If your office doesn’t use this system, your salary will be paid directly to you in cash.

You can open a savings account at a bank or through the post office—Japan Post publishes a very good guidebook in English available at most branches. Interest on savings accounts in any institution, however, hover at or below a paltry 1%, so don’t expect bumper gains. A minimum deposit of ¥100 is usually required when you open an account, and you will have to create a personal identification number (ansh?bang? ????) to use cash machines.

ATMs, frustratingly, function like bank employees in that they have set working hours. Generally they are open from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and until 5pm on weekends—if open at all. Check your local branch. Many convenience stores have ATMs with more extended hours. You will be charged for using the ATM outside of business hours (generally 9am-6pm), and if you use a machine that does not belong to your bank. Typically the fee is ¥105 per transaction. Be mindful that once a machine runs out of cash, it will not be refilled until the next working day. Beat the rush before weekends and holidays.

You will be hard-pressed to find a bank ATM that accepts foreign ATM cards. Post office and 7/11 convenience store ATMs are the exception, and allow you to withdraw cash using foreign-issued cards (Visa, Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express, Diners Club and JCB). They also provide an English menu. ATMs accepting foreign cards are also located at:
? Fukuoka International Airport
? Tenjin Shintencho 2F
? Outside JR Hakata (take the Chikushi exit and it’s near the Hotel Centraza)
? The Citibank branch in Tenjin

Page 189 of the JET Diary has a thorough explanation and guide for using ATMs in Japan.