Personal loans in Japan 2026: licensed banks ranked
A ranking of Japanese banks by their standard unsecured loan in yen. All are on the Financial Services Agency's list of bank licences. Consumer finance companies registered as money lenders, intermediaries and comparison sites are not included. Where a bank offers a free-use term loan (フリーローン) we measure it; where it offers only a card loan, a revolving credit line, we measure that, and each card says which. Japanese banks publish a rate range, and the low end needs a very large limit, so we use the top of the published range and show it as a percentage of the reference of 14.6% a year (the median at launch). Several large banks close their sites to automated reading, so they have no data here. A loan is a financial obligation: it must be repaid with interest, and the rate depends on the applicant and the bank's decision. This ranking is not a recommendation and promises neither approval nor a rate. Compare Scores only within Japan. Score is not for sale; paid placements, if any appear, will be a separate labelled block.
| # | Company | Who it serves | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMBC (loans) | 90 | 1996 | Yes | 47% | Licensed No arrangement fee Fees published Online application |
| 2 | MUFG Bank (loans) | 89 | 1919 | Yes | 100% | Licensed Free early repayment No arrangement fee Fees published Online application |
| 3 | Tokyo Star Bank (loans) | 88 | 2001 | Yes | 100% | Licensed Free early repayment No arrangement fee Fees published Online application |
| 4 | Chiba Bank (loans) | 85 | 1943 | Yes | 101% | Licensed Free early repayment Fees published Online application |
| 5 | PayPay Bank (loans) | 84 | 2000 | Yes | 123% | Licensed Free early repayment No arrangement fee Fees published Online application |
| 6 | Bank of Yokohama (loans) | 79 | 1920 | Yes | 100% | Licensed Fees published Online application |
| 7 | Shizuoka Bank (loans) | 66 | 1943 | Yes | 99% | Licensed Fees published Online application |
| 8 | docomo SMTB Net Bank (loans) | 66 | 2007 | Yes | 91% | Licensed Free early repayment Fees published Online application |
| 9 | au Jibun Bank (loans) | 66 | 2008 | Yes | 122% | Licensed Free early repayment No arrangement fee Fees published Online application |
Not ranked yet: not enough verified data
These services are known to us, but we haven't verified enough facts to rank them fairly.
- Aeon Bank (loans) (14% backed by facts)
- Bank of Fukuoka (loans) (14% backed by facts)
- Mizuho Bank (loans) (14% backed by facts)
- Rakuten Bank (loans) (14% backed by facts)
- Resona Bank (loans) (14% backed by facts)
- SBI Shinsei Bank (loans) (14% backed by facts)
- Sony Bank (loans) (14% backed by facts)
How we calculate the Score
35%
Licence
Whether the lender appears in the regulator's official list, or states its licence number on its site, and how long it has held a licence or registration. Where the register shows no date we use the year stated on the official site, which can be the founding year. A licence means supervision; it does not make a loan cheap or safe for you.
30%
Transparency
Whether a fees document or the full loan terms can be read without logging in, whether the lender publishes how to complain, and whether its terms state that early repayment is free. A statutory early repayment charge counts as a charge.
25%
Cost
The published rate of the standard cash loan as a percentage of the country's reference rate, the median of the rates we collected at launch (100% equals the reference; the score falls from 50% to 200%). The original rate with its example amount and term is shown beside it. The basis differs by country, so compare only within one country. We also count whether the standard terms have no arrangement fee. This factor deliberately weighs less than licence and transparency.
10%
Service
Whether a new customer can apply online, weekly hours of general support, and the maximum amount and term compared within the country. A larger or longer loan is not better for you: more time usually means more interest paid. That is why these two facts carry little weight.
What to check in a loan offer
A loan is an obligation
You commit to fixed payments for the whole term, whatever happens to your income. Late or missed payments can bring extra charges and harm your credit history, and the lender can take legal steps to recover the debt.
Verify the licence
Look the lender up in the official list of the central bank or financial regulator by its exact legal name and compare the website address. Fraudsters copy the names of real lenders. A real lender does not ask for an upfront payment to release a loan.
Read the rate as an example
The published figure is an example or a lowest rate. Your rate depends on your income, credit history, amount and term, and the lender may refuse. Read the individual offer before signing.
Look at the total to repay
Compare the total amount repayable, not only the monthly payment. A longer term lowers the payment but usually raises the interest you pay overall.
Check fees and insurance
Look for arrangement fees, early repayment charges, late payment charges and whether insurance is required. Each of these changes the real cost. The figures must be in the pre-contract information.
Know how to complain
Complain to the lender in writing first and keep the reference. If the reply does not resolve it, contact the financial ombudsman, where one exists, or the regulator. If you have trouble repaying, contact the lender early and consider free independent debt advice where available.
Frequently asked questions
Who supervises banks in Japan?
The Financial Services Agency (FSA, 金融庁). Banks hold a bank licence from it, and consumer finance companies register as money lenders (貸金業者) with a local finance bureau or a prefecture. The FSA states that banks are not money lenders. This ranking covers banks only.
How can I check that a bank is licensed?
Open the FSA page 免許・許可・登録等を受けている事業者一覧, the list of licensed, permitted and registered businesses, and choose the list of banks. Compare the bank's exact legal name and head office address with the bank's own site. Money lenders are listed separately on the same page.
Is there a legal cap on interest?
Yes. The FSA explains that interest above the limits of the Interest Rate Restriction Act (利息制限法), 15% to 20% a year depending on the loan amount, is void, and that interest above 20% under the Investment Act is a criminal offence. Since 18 June 2010 there is no longer a grey zone between these limits.
Does the one-third-of-income rule apply to bank loans?
No. The total borrowing limit (総量規制) stops new borrowing from money lenders once your money lender debt exceeds one third of your annual income. The FSA states that bank lending, bank card loans included, is outside this rule. Banks still check your ability to repay.
Is this a recommendation, and can a lender buy a place?
No. The ranking compares banks on published facts and is not financial advice. Score is calculated by one formula and is not for sale. Paid placements, if any appear, will be a separate labelled block and do not affect Score.