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Why Aren't Foreign Debit & Credit Cards Accepted in Japa

 
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Black_Beer_Man



Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 453
Location: Yokohama

PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:43 am    Post subject: Why Aren't Foreign Debit & Credit Cards Accepted in Japa Reply with quote

Except for Seven Bank (at 7/11 convenience stores) and Citibank, you probably can't find an ATM which will let you use your debit card from your home country to withdraw money.

Why is that? Why don't the banks in Japan accept foreign cards? This question has been gnawing at me for the longest time.

BTW, I don't know what's up with Japan Post ATMs. They used to accept my debit card and credit card, but not any more.


Last edited by Black_Beer_Man on Wed Dec 13, 2017 5:50 am; edited 1 time in total
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Harp



Joined: 09 Jan 2014
Posts: 46
Location: As far north as you can get, before you hit Saitama

PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

With SMBC if I use the ATM in English it asks me if I want to use a card issued in Japan or Overseas (this is a 'proper' SMBC ATM, not a convenience store one that accepts cards from multiple banks).

I've never used the function but I assume I could then use a non-SMBC overseas debit/credit card.
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Black_Beer_Man



Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 453
Location: Yokohama

PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 5:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Harp wrote:
With SMBC if I use the ATM in English it asks me if I want to use a card issued in Japan or Overseas (this is a 'proper' SMBC ATM, not a convenience store one that accepts cards from multiple banks).

I've never used the function but I assume I could then use a non-SMBC overseas debit/credit card.


I have an account with SMBC.
If you click on the foreign card command button, a message will come up "Sorry, we accept cards issued in Japan only."
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Shakey



Joined: 29 Aug 2014
Posts: 199

PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 7:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's always been like that here, Korea also. Japanese banks do not even issue bank cards that can be used overseas. Ah, Shinsei might, though. Sumitomo does not, but used to about 20 years ago. So what do Japanese do for money when they travel abroad? Traverler's checks? At least the banks don't close the ATM machines down anymore after 6:00 PM or for 4 or 5 days during a holiday like Golden Week like they used to.
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mitsui



Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki

PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 7:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wait until the Olympics, then it might be possible.
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currentaffairs



Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828

PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 8:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am pretty sure Mizuho has an international debit card, as well as Shinsei.
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mitsui



Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki

PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What about Mitsubishi UFJ?
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currentaffairs



Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828

PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mitsui wrote:
What about Mitsubishi UFJ?


I don't know about UFJ. At Mizuho, you had to apply for another debit card that was the special 'international version' as I recall.
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isitts



Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Posts: 193
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 4:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shakey wrote:
It's always been like that here, Korea also.

Umm..not Korea. I've never had issues using my foreign debit card or credit card there.
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btsmrtfan



Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Posts: 193
Location: GPS Not Working

PostPosted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 1:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

isitts wrote:
Shakey wrote:
It's always been like that here, Korea also.

Umm..not Korea. I've never had issues using my foreign debit card or credit card there.


Agreed. Started using atms in the mid-90s in SK and used them there for many years. I can't imagine why atm service would not have gotten better rather than worse since my time there.
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Black_Beer_Man



Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 453
Location: Yokohama

PostPosted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

isitts wrote:
Shakey wrote:
It's always been like that here, Korea also.

Umm..not Korea. I've never had issues using my foreign debit card or credit card there.


Foreign debit cards are not a problem in South Korea.
I was there in December and used mine at KB Bank. KB Bank is one of the big banks with ATMs everywhere.

Another bank called Woori Bank should take foreign cards because this bank has branches in the U.S.
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Black_Beer_Man



Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 453
Location: Yokohama

PostPosted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mitsui wrote:
Wait until the Olympics, then it might be possible.


I'm surprised that a long-term in Japan expat like yourself would say that.

Japanese culture is stubborn.

Change happens very slowly in this country.
They still allow smoking in restaurants.

When the Olympics come around, people will still be smoking in restaurants and most ATMs won't accept foreign debit and credit cards.

Just 5 years ago when I came back to Japan, The Bank of Yokohama refused to open a bank account for me because I didn't have a hanko (personal rubber stamp).


Rolling Eyes
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Maitoshi



Joined: 04 May 2014
Posts: 718
Location: 何処でも

PostPosted: Tue Feb 20, 2018 6:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just opened my fourth bank account. If it weren’t for having a hanko, I’m not sure how I ever could have crossed out and stamped all of the “mistakes.” Never in my life have I experienced a people so concerned with the way I write my own name. Sad
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mitsui



Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki

PostPosted: Tue Feb 20, 2018 12:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rigid, I know.
Maybe in 2020 nothing changes.

I remember going to UFJ in Tokyo. More of a hassle when it is not the customer's bank branch.
At first I wrote my name in Katakana. No.
Then I tried English . No.
Then I wrote my last name first and first name last. No.
Then I wrote my last name, first name and middle name.
I got some money. That really is ridiculous.
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