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drum · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 16

There is a thread on this regarding credit cards, but I am beginning a new thread as I think this situation may be different.

Here's my story. Working in Japan now, have saved up a bit. Going abroad (elsewhere in SE Asia) for several months. May not even return to Japan after. I am American, have no US bank account or credit card. In Japan I do all my banking with JP at the Post Office. So I have the post office cash card for withdrawing cash from post office ATMs, but it cannot be used for online purchases, etc. (not visa/MC, no card numbers).

Naturally, I don't want to travel for such a long amount of time with loads of cash. Applied at the post office for a visa card, got rejected, no reason stated. If the reason is that I have not enough credit history, this is very confusing because in the application I checked to never use credit, and that the card would only be used for debit/withdrawing cash directly from my bank account. And the fact that I just want a card for online purchases (Skype credit, for ex).

Not sure what to do now, as I may be leaving as early as April. Would really like to not have to try and open a new US bank account from here, get a debit card, figure out how to (probably expensively) wire money from Japan to the US, and all that headache.

Any ideas/recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

drum · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 16

Tuan · Joined: 05 Feb 2011 Posts: 38 Location: Netherlands

I'll try to answer your question with the only bank that I know that will do what you are planning to do.
The bank is Citibank:
http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/
First you would need to open an account at one of their branches:
http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/openaccount/index.html
After opening an account you can use the banking card overseas:
http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/bankingservice/usingoverseas/index.html
Take the time and browse the site and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. If I had to work in Japan all over again, I would have just opened up a Citi Jpn account and would have done my remitt to a US Citi account all online without going to the Post Office.