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Sony Bank no longer runs a separate English banking service. It stopped English account applications on June 30, 2025. It replaced English online banking with AI machine translation in late March 2026. Your existing account still works, and an English help desk remains by chat and email. If you need fuller English support, PRESTIA and SBI Shinsei Bank are the closest options as of October 2026.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- English opening: Ended June 30, 2025. Foreign nationals now apply by mail only, after 6 months in Japan.
- English online banking: Ended late March 2026. The website uses AI translation, but apps, PDFs, emails, and letters are not translated.
- Existing customers: No action needed to keep your account. Re-save your bookmarks.
- English help: Chat and email only. No English phone support.
- Alternatives: PRESTIA (English phone and branches, ¥2,200 a month unless conditions are met) and SBI Shinsei Bank (English internet banking).
What exactly did Sony Bank change?
Sony Bank made two changes in two steps. Both come from its official notices.
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | Stopped taking account applications through English online banking | Sony Bank |
| Late March 2026 | Ended English online banking and added AI machine translation to its website | Sony Bank |
The bank also planned to remove its account opening app from app stores around July to August 2025. (Sony Bank) Sony Bank also removed its English pages. (Sony Bank)
What does this mean if you already have an account?
Your account stays open. Sony Bank says no special procedure is needed. If you saved English pages as favorites or bookmarks, register them again after the change. (Sony Bank)
The machine translation covers the website only. These items stay in Japanese. (Sony Bank)
- Sony Bank’s apps
- PDFs, images, and videos
- Emails and letters the bank sends you
Sony Bank also said most emails would switch to Japanese, with some exceptions. (Sony Bank) Check your inbox carefully so you don’t miss a notice.
Where can you still ask in English?
The English help desk answers by chat or email. Sony Bank does not offer English phone support. (Sony Bank)
The help desk covers a limited list of products. The list includes mail account opening, Sony Bank WALLET, and yen and foreign currency savings accounts. (Sony Bank)
Remember your residence card
Since October 13, 2025, Sony Bank restricts accounts if it can’t confirm your renewed card before expiry. Limits start the day after your period of stay ends. (Sony Bank) Send the new card details as soon as you renew.
Can you still open a Sony Bank account?
Yes, but only by mail and only after 6 months in Japan. Sony Bank says foreign nationals can’t use its app or smartphone opening. (Sony Bank)
You need to live in Japan. Foreign nationals must have stayed 6 months or more. You send a residence card and a juminhyo (certificate of residence, 住民票) that show this. (Sony Bank, Sony Bank)
The application is in Japanese. The English help desk can answer questions about mail opening. (Sony Bank)
Which banks still offer English?
Here are the alternatives, checked against official pages. We list only features each bank states.
| Bank | English support | How foreigners apply | Under 6 months | Fee note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESTIA | English site, phone banking, English branches | Online | Only if employed at an office in Japan | ¥2,200 a month unless conditions are met |
| SBI Shinsei | English internet banking, web forms, callback | Online request, then mail | OK if you list your job or school | Not stated on the pages we checked |
| Japan Post Bank | App menus in 7 languages, Japanese input only | App or post office | No 6-month rule stated | Not covered here |
| Seven Bank | ATMs in 9 languages, multilingual contact center | ATM or online | Online needs proof of work | Not covered here |
| Rakuten Bank | English application form, Japanese after that | Online | Non-residents can’t apply | Not covered here |
| Mizuho | App can switch to English | Online or branch, in Japanese | Limited account type | Paper passbook ¥1,100 |
Sources: PRESTIA, SBI Shinsei, Japan Post Bank, Seven Bank, Rakuten Bank, Mizuho.
PRESTIA: the most English, with a fee condition
PRESTIA (SMBC Trust Bank) is the closest match to what Sony Bank used to offer. It runs an English website and English phone banking. It also has flagship branches for English-speaking customers. (PRESTIA)
The GLOBAL PASS Visa debit card handles yen and 17 foreign currencies. PRESTIA also sends money to over 200 countries and regions. (PRESTIA) Sony Bank WALLET users looking for a multi-currency card may want to compare it.
The cost is the main drawback. PRESTIA charges ¥2,200 a month unless you meet its conditions. (PRESTIA) Read the current conditions before you apply.
To apply online, you must be 18 or older and registered as a resident in Japan. Foreign nationals need 6 months in Japan or a job at an office here. You also need 3 months or more left on your period of stay. (PRESTIA)
SBI Shinsei Bank: English online, mail opening
SBI Shinsei offers English internet banking and customer support. (SBI Shinsei) Its app is Japanese only, and English phone calls ended in October 2024. (SBI Shinsei, SBI Shinsei)
Like Sony Bank, it accepts foreign nationals by mail only. Unlike Sony Bank, it accepts people under 6 months who work or study in Japan. (SBI Shinsei, SBI Shinsei) Details are in SBI Shinsei Bank in English.
Japan Post Bank, Seven Bank, and others
These banks give partial English. Japan Post Bank translates its app menus, but you type in Japanese. (Japan Post Bank) Seven Bank has English ATM screens and multilingual phone staff. (Seven Bank)
One warning for Seven Bank. It can’t accept residence cards issued from June 14, 2026 yet. (Seven Bank)
For a fuller comparison, see Best Banks in Japan for Foreigners.
Should you keep your Sony Bank account?
That depends on how much Japanese you can handle. You can also keep it and open a second bank for English tasks. Your situation may differ.
| If you… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Can read Japanese with browser translation | Keeping Sony Bank and using the English help desk |
| Need English phone support | PRESTIA |
| Want English online banking without a branch visit | SBI Shinsei |
| Want English app menus or English ATMs for daily use | Japan Post Bank or Seven Bank |
If you close your Sony Bank account, open the new one first. Then move salary deposits and automatic payments before you close the old one.
What about investing?
A bank account alone won’t give you NISA in English. PRESTIA says NISA accounts are not available there. (PRESTIA) To compare brokerages that accept foreign residents, see Best NISA Accounts for Foreigners.
FAQ
Does Sony Bank still have English?
Partly. The website uses AI machine translation, and an English help desk answers by chat and email. Apps, PDFs, emails, and letters are in Japanese. (Sony Bank)
When did Sony Bank English online banking end?
In late March 2026. English account applications had already ended on June 30, 2025. (Sony Bank, Sony Bank)
Do I need to do anything to keep my account?
No special procedure is needed. Re-save any bookmarks to English pages. Keep your residence card details up to date. (Sony Bank, Sony Bank)
Can foreigners still open a Sony Bank account?
Yes, by mail only, after 6 months in Japan. You send your residence card and a juminhyo. (Sony Bank)
Is PRESTIA free?
Not always. PRESTIA charges ¥2,200 a month unless you meet its conditions. (PRESTIA)
Which bank is closest to Sony Bank’s old English service?
PRESTIA has the most English channels, including phone and branches. SBI Shinsei offers English internet banking without English phone support.
This article is general information, not financial or tax advice. Information is as of October 5, 2026. Bank services change often, so check each bank’s official page before you apply or close an account. Sources: Sony Bank notice, January 2026, Sony Bank notice, June 2025, and each bank’s pages linked above.