Banks in Japan 2026: a ranking built on verified facts
A ranking of banks in Japan that serve private customers, built only on facts you can check in the Financial Services Agency (FSA) list of bank licences and on the banks' official websites: since when the bank has been operating, whether its deposits are covered by deposit insurance, whether it holds a rating of its own from a recognised agency, whether it publishes a disclosure report, whether you can open an account in an app without visiting a branch, and whether its fees, rates and complaints procedure are published. Every fact links to its source with the date we checked it. We do not compare the size of rates or fees. This is not financial advice. Places are not for sale.
| # | Company | Who it serves | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MUFG Bank (三菱UFJ銀行) | 96 | 1919 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments |
| 2 | Bank of Yokohama (横浜銀行) | 80 | 1920 | Yes | Not verified | Deposit protection App Account online Instant payments |
| 3 | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (三井住友銀行) | 77 | 1876 | Not verified | Yes | Agency rating App Account online |
| 4 | Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) | 76 | 2006 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online |
| 5 | au Jibun Bank (auじぶん銀行) | 67 | 2008 | Not verified | Yes | Agency rating App Account online |
| 6 | PayPay Bank (PayPay銀行) | 64 | 2000 | Not verified | Not verified | App Account online |
| 7 | Seven Bank (セブン銀行) | 64 | 2001 | Not verified | Yes | Agency rating App Account online |
How we calculate the Score
40%
Safety
The year the bank was licensed (from the central bank's register or, where the register shows no date, from the official website), membership of a deposit protection scheme, a current rating of the bank itself from a recognised agency (a parent group's rating does not count) and published annual reports.
25%
Digital services
Whether there is a mobile app, whether a new customer can join without visiting a branch, whether the bank supports the national instant payment system, and whether 24/7 support with a human agent is available.
15%
Products
How many of six main retail lines the bank offers: current account, savings or deposits, cards, consumer loans, mortgages and investments.
20%
Transparency
Whether tariffs and current deposit rates are published without logging in (we count the fact of publication, not the level of the rate), whether the complaints procedure is described, and how many branches the bank has in the country.
How to choose a bank
Check the licence in the register
Only banks licensed by the central bank or supervisor may take deposits. Find the bank in the register on the regulator's website and make sure the licence is valid: the National Bank in Belarus, the Bank of Russia, ARDFM in Kazakhstan, KNF in Poland, BaFin in Germany.
Find out whether your money is protected
Check whether the bank belongs to a deposit protection scheme, which accounts it covers and what the compensation limit is. These are national rules and can change, so read them on the scheme's own website.
Read the tariffs, not the advert
The cost of an account is set by the contract and the price list: maintenance fees, cash withdrawals, transfers, conditions for a free plan. Make sure the document is current and keep a copy of the terms you signed up to.
Compare rates on the day you decide
Deposit and loan rates change often, so we do not publish them. Look up the rate on the bank's official website on the day you apply, and read the terms: duration, top-ups, early withdrawal, effective rate.
Think about how you will use the bank
If you need cash and face-to-face help, look at branches near you; if not, look at the app and support. Your account in one bank does not have to be your only one.
Protect access to your account
Install the app only from a link on the bank's official website, check the site's address, and never share codes from messages. Bank staff do not ask for them on the phone.
Know where to complain
First file a written complaint with the bank and keep its reference number. If the answer does not satisfy you, go to the financial ombudsman where one exists or to the supervisor, then to court. The route is usually published on the bank's website.
Frequently asked questions
Who supervises banks in Japan?
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) grants bank licences and supervises banks. Its list of licensed city banks, trust banks, other banks and branches of foreign banks is published on the FSA website as the bank licence list (銀行免許一覧, PDF and Excel).
How can I check that a bank is licensed?
Look up the bank's exact legal name and corporate number in the FSA bank licence list. A company with a similar name that is not on the list is not a bank. Each bank card on this site states which list we used and when we checked it.
How much of my deposit is protected?
Under the deposit insurance system run by the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan, payment deposits such as current accounts and non-interest-bearing ordinary deposits are protected in full. Other deposits, such as time deposits and interest-bearing ordinary deposits, are protected up to 10 million yen of principal per depositor per bank, plus interest up to the date of failure (FSA deposit insurance page). Foreign currency deposits are not covered.
What if I have a dispute with a bank?
Complain to the bank first. If that does not resolve it, you can turn to the Japanese Bankers Association Consultation Office (全国銀行協会相談室), the designated dispute resolution body for banks under the Banking Act. The ranking checks whether a bank publishes its complaints procedure on its website.