Japanese Bank Vocabulary: Cheatsheet and Quiz

Live in Japan long enough, and you’ll eventually need to open a bank account. Sooner or later, withdrawing money, using the ATM — or even investing — in Japan will be a difficult task if you’re not familiar with the right Japanese words.

In this cheat sheet, we will list some of the most common Japanese bank vocabulary. We included vocabulary that will help you in banks as well as ATMs in Japan.

What you need to know about banks in Japan

Visiting a bank in Japan, like anywhere else, can be difficult. You’re dealing with a new set of regulations and procedures. It’s easy to be at loss. While more people are shifting to mobile payments in Japan, the nation is still a cash-based society.

Thankfully, you don’t need to become a permanent resident in Japan to have a bank account, as long as you hold a residence card. Most banks also do not require a minimum deposit amount to open an account and have low-interest fees.

There are a wide variety of banks located all over Japan from commercial banks with branches in Tokyo. This includes HSBC and Bank of America. Popular domestic banks are Japan Post Bank and Shinsei Bank. Domestic banks, in particular, require a proficient level of Japanese and money in order to open an account.

Even so, there are many banks out there in Japan with staff that are highly skilled in English. Especially in big cities like Tokyo, you don’t need to worry about the language barrier. Still, it can be good to learn at least the more common Japanese vocabulary before heading to a bank!

Interested in finance and cryptocurrency? Check out our article on crypto in Japan for related vocabulary.

Popular banks in Japan

Eligibility to open a Japanese bank account :

1. Must have been living in Japan for at least 6 Months prior with a valid address
2. Must have your Japanese residence card (Zairyu)

1. Japan Post Bank

Japan Post (ゆうちょ銀行) is one of the most popular Japanese banks for foreigners. It is also the bank with the largest number of ATMs located all over Japan. Japan Post has branches located in many parts of Japan with many of their staff having great English-speaking ability.

Visit the Japan Post website for more information about their services.

2. SMBC Prestia

SMBC Prestia Bank offers services in both Japanese and English and is great for those who are still honing their Japanese-speaking skills. They allow you to deposit your savings in 17 foreign currencies.

Visit the SMBC Prestia Bank website for more information about their services.

3. Shinsei Bank

Shinsei Bank is probably the bank with the most number of foreign customers as they are highly regarded for their friendly and efficient service. You can apply for a Shinsei Bank account if you’ve been resident in Japan for 6 months, or are currently employed in Japan.

Visit the Shinsei Bank website for more information about their services.

Japanese bank vocabulary

Banks in Japan are open 9:00 to 15:00 (JST), and are closed on weekends and national holidays. ATMs on the other hand have longer operating hours, with an increasing number of ATMs being open 24 Hours.

Kanji	Hiragana	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence
銀行	ぎんこう	ginkou	Bank	今日は銀行に向かっています Kyō wa ginkōu ni mukatte imasu I am heading to the bank today
銀行員	ぎんこういん	ginkouin	Bank Clerk	銀行員は本当に親切です Ginkōin wa hontōni shinsetsudesu The bank clerk ​are really helpful
受付	うけつけ	uketsuke	Information Desk	受付にカードを取りに来てください。 uketsuke ni kaado o tori ni kite kudasai. Please come to information desk and get your card.
番号札	ばんごうふだ	bangou fuda	Numbered Ticket	47番の番号札をお持ちのお客様、3番の窓口までお越しください。 47-Ban no bangō-satsu o o-mochi no okyakusama, 3-ban no madoguchi made okoshi kudasai. If you have a 47th numbered ticket, please come to the 3rd window.
窓口	まどぐち	madoguchi	Teller Window	初診の受付は一番窓口です。 Shoshin no uketsuke wa ichiban madoguchidesu. Registration for the first visit is at Counter No.1.
預金	よきん	yokin	Deposit	預金したいのですが。 Yokin shitai nodesuga. I want to deposit some money.
返済	へんさい	hensai	Repayment	クレジットカードの負債は毎月返済しておいた方がいい。 Kurejittokādo no fusai wa maitsuki hensai shite oita kata ga ī. It makes sense to pay off your credit card balance every month.
両替	りょうがえ	ryougae	Money Exchange	これをドルに両替してください。 Kore o doru ni ryōgae shite kudasai. Please change this to dollars.
貸し金庫	かしきんこ	kashi kinko	Safe Deposit Box	貸し金庫はありますか。 Kashi kinko wa arimasu ka. Do you have safety deposit boxes?
クレジットカード	クレジットカード	kurejittokādo	Credit Card	私はクレジットカードを取りたいと思う Watashi wa kurejittokādo o toritai to omou I want to get a credit card.
送金	そうきん	soukin	Remittance	フランスへの送金の仕方を教えて欲しいんですが。 Furansu e no sōkin no shikata o oshiete hoshī ndesuga. I’d like to know how to send money to France.
利子	りし	rishi	Interest (Bank)	この貸付金は高い利子をとられることになっている。 Kono kashitsuke-kin wa takai rishi o tora reru koto ni natte iru. This loan will carry very heavy interest.
投資	とうし	tōshi	Investment	銀行にお金を投資するにはどうすればよいですか？ Ginkō ni okane o tōshi suru ni wa dōsureba yoidesu ka? How can I invest my money in the bank?
ローン	ローン	ro-n	Loan	銀行ローンを借りたい Ginkō rōn o karitai I want to take a bank loan
借金	しゃっきん	shakkin	Debt	必要なら、借金を今お返ししましょう。 Hitsuyōnara, shakkin o ima okaeshi shimashou. If it’s necessary to do so, I’ll pay back my loan now.

Japanese vocabulary for visiting an ATM in Japan

ATMs can be widely found across train stations, airports and convenience stores in Japan. From ATMs, you can withdraw, deposit, update your passbook, check your balance, as well as make transfers to another account. Although many of these machines have options for English services, not all do.

Check our more comprehensive guide on how to use an ATM in Japan!

Kanji	Hiragana	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence
現金自動預け払い機	げんきんじどうあずけばらいき	genkin jidō azukeharaiki	Automatic Teller Machine (ATM)	現金自動預け払い機は、ATMとも言われている。 Genkinjidōazukeharaiki wa, ATM to mo iwarete iru. Automatic teller machines are also known as ATMs.
通帳	つうちょう	tsucho	Passbook/ Bankbook	私は自分の通帳を見たが、幸運にも５０ドル余分に入っていた。 Watashi wa jibun no tsūchō o mitaga, kōun’nimo 50-doru yobun ni haitte ita. I looked at my bank account book, and happily discovered that I had an extra $50!
現金	げんきん	genkin	Cash	では、現金で支払います。 Dewa, genkin de shiharaimasu. I’d like to pay in cash.
引き出し	ひきだし	hikidashi	Cash Withdrawal	ATM で現金を引き出したい ATM de genkin o hikidashitai I want to withdraw cash at the ATM
振替	ふりかえ	furikae	Transfer (Money)	口座振替でも納付できます。 Kōza furikae demo nōfu dekimasu. Bank transfer payments are also possible.
振込手数料	ふりこみてすうりょう	furikomi tesuuryou	Bank Transfer Fee	振込手数料はお客様負担となっております。 Furikomi tesūryō wa okyakusama futan to natte orimasu. Transfer Fees must be paid by the customer.
口座	こうざ	kouza	Bank Account	彼は口座に１００ドル預けた。 Kare wa kōza ni 100-doru azuketa. He deposited 100 dollars in his saving account.
暗証番号	あんしょうばんごう	anshou bangou	PIN Number	暗証番号を押してください。 Anshō bangō o oshite kudasai. Please input your PIN number.
口座番号	こうざばんごう	kouza bangou	Bank Account Number	口座番号はこれなんだけど Kōza bangō wa korena ndakedo This is my account number.
預け入れ	あずけいれ	azukeire	Cash Deposit	貯金口座にお金を預け入れたいです Chokin kōza ni okane o adzukeiretaidesu I’d like to deposit money into my checking/saving account.
紙幣	しへい	shihei	Paper Money	私は１０ドル紙幣をなくした。 Watashi wa 10-doru shihei o nakushita. I lost a ten-dollar note.
残高	ざんだか	zandaka	Balance	私の預金残高はどうなっていますか。 Watashi no yokin zandaka wa dō natte imasu ka. What’s the balance of my account?
残高照会	ざんだかしょうかい	zandaka shoukai	Balance Inquiry	ATMで残高照会ができます. ATM de zandaka shōkai ga dekimasu You can make a balance inquiry at the ATM
銀行カード	キャッシュカード	Kyasshukādo	Cash Card/ATM Card	後日 銀行 カードは、あなたの住所に送られてきます。 Gojitsu kyasshukādo wa, anata no jūsho ni okura rete kimasu. Cash card will be sent to you later by post.
通帳更新	つうちょうこうしん	tsucho koushin	Passbook Update	通帳更新するためにATMに向かっています。 Tsūchō o kōshin suru tame ni ATM ni mukatte imasu. I am heading to the ATM to get my passbook updated.

Download our Japanese Bank Vocabulary Cheatsheet in PDF below!

Useful Japanese phrases you might need when visiting a bank

Become familiar with these useful phrases that you will definitely use when you are visiting a bank!

ATMの機会はどこにありますか？ ATM wa dokoni arimasuka? Where can I find the ATM machines?	お金を預けたいのですが。 Okane o azuketai nodesuga. I would like to deposit money.
当座預金口座から下ろしたいです Tōza yokin kōza kara oroshitaidesu. I would like to withdraw from my checking account	口座を解約したいです。 Kōza o kaiyaku shitaidesu. I want to close my account.
普通口座から下ろしたいです。 Futsū kōza kara oroshitaidesu. I would like to withdraw from my savings account	預金口座を作りたいです Yokin kōza o tsukuritaidesu I want to create a deposit account
窓口で話したいのですが。 Madoguchi de hanashitai nodesuga. I need to speak with a teller	明細のコピーをもらえますか？ Meisai no kopī o moraemasu ka? May I have a copy of my statement?
送金したいです。 Sōkin shitai desu. I would like to transfer some money	支払いをしたいです Shiharai o shitaidesu I’d like to make a payment.

Want to learn more essential Japanese vocabularies? Check out our cheatsheet summary to avoid getting tongue-tied during your next errand in Japan.

Japanese Bank Vocabulary Related FAQs

Can I invest in crypto in Japan?

Foreigner can invest in crypto in Japan, and you can check the article for related vocabulary for your

What is the bank with the largest atms in Japan?

Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) is one of the most popular and has the largest number of ATMs all around Japan. The office of Japan Post Bank is always located right next to a post office.

How to say withdraw cash in Japanese?

In Japan, 引き出し (hikidashi) means withdraw money from bank account. For example, ATM で現金を引き出したい (I want to withdraw cash at the ATM.

How to say bank balance in Japanese?

残高 (zendaka) means balance in your Japanese bank account. You usually see the two kanji on one of the tabs on your account screen.

Want to test your skill? Take our quick two-minute quiz and find out if you’ve mastered these Japanese bank vocabularies!