Job Discussion Forums

Canuk girl · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 60

I don't live in a hole or anything, but I had NO IDEA that bank machines were closed for golden week! Does anyone know where I might find a bank machine that will work for SMBC accounts? This is crazy. I have 156Yen!
Thanks

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Might be tough if not impossible. I learned the hard way my first year in japan and that was 1999.

Things have improved but I certain Mizuho, my lousey bank, will be shut until Wednesday.

If you find a machine that takes credit cards, often near dept. stores, you might be able to use one or if you have a cirus system card from a foreign country some of those also work.

Good luck!

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Welcome to Japan...

My coworker uses Mitsubishi, and he can't get into his account, yet I could make a withdrawal on an ATM at the Seven Eleven in my neighbourhood. I bank with Chiba Gin.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

What's with the annoying hours of these bank machines anyway? Like the OP, I got stuck last night at a train station w/out any money (spent it all on my samurai swords in Himeji Very Happy

). Of course the bank machines are all locked up. What's wrong with having a 24 hr bank machine? The crime is so low, it can't be fear of theft.

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Actually the crime of choice has been stealing a truck and loading a stolen backhoe onto it (you know the small ones) then ripping the maching out of it's little enclosure and pilffering it.

Think about it a box filled with 50,000 grand and since
Japan is a giant construction site the tools you need to steal to do it are readily available.

There have been well over 100's cases of this type of theft in the last year in Kanto alone. I guess open or not as long as the cash is there it doesn't matter.

The main reason they close seems to be that many bank machines, when there are two or more, seem to be manned in the back. I've seen the man in the back come out in a grocery store parking lot and at the banks themselves. Could be some arcane Japanese government law, that the machines need to be manned, in case there's some sort of problem.

Still doesn't explain why the stand alone varietes would have to shut down. They can't fit a small man in the Kombini type, but who knows with al the extra jobs around here in Japan.

I guess since Japanese banks are only recently comprehending customer service that things like 24hr ATMs and Saturday openings come into mind.

Speed · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 152 Location: Shikoku Land

Try a Family Mart Convenience store ATM. They usually
take SMBC cards.

7-11s take UFJ cards.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I've actually had no problem finding an ATM open today.

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

Odd, when I lived in Chiba, I often had a hard time finding a usable cash machine during holiday periods. Now I live in the sticks and the cash machine in the main branch of Kagoshima Bank is open 365 days a year (not 24 hrs. though). Go figure.

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

My first year there I got stuck also.. for New Year and Golden Week. Someone in the NOVA chain refrained to remind us about the closures and the veterans did not say anything either.. I had to swallow my pride and borrow a couple thousand yen from a bud... ate Cup a Noodles for three days.. Mad

One good thing though is that the AM/PM stores are 24hrs... I had tried Family Mart a couple times late at night with no luck.. My thinking is that phone or computer connections from shops not affiliated with SMBC are shut down after 9 PM. Except Sunday night after 9 PM.. forget it!