Bank Transfer

A bank transfer (furikomi 振込) is the way in which many Japanese people send money to other people or businesses since Japan does not use checks. The process requires a bit of Japanese as well as a bit of knowledge of Japanese banking, and so is understandably daunting for a newbie not yet used to Japanese. However, with this guide, anybody can succeed in mastering the furikomi system.

What You Need

• Name of destination bank.
• Name of destination branch. The branch name is critical and can be easy to forget.
• Destination bank account number.
• Destination bank account type. Probably futsū.
• Name of the person you are sending money to. It is used to double-check you did it right, you do not need to input this data.

Steps

1. Menu selection : On the ATM top menu, select furikomi (振込)
2. Bank card : Insert your bank card and put the password in. Unlike withdrawl, many ATMs won't let you put the bank book for this transaction, you will need to update it later.
3. Furikomi card : The next screen will ask if you want to input all the information, or if you want to pre-load a set of data held on a furikomi card (振込カード). It's useful to get a furikomi card for places to which you will be transferring money on a regular basis, such as GoLloyds.
4. Enter amount : The next screen will ask you for the amount that you wish to transfer. You may get in an information screen before or after this telling you of the fees associated with furikomi, usually less than 200 yen.
5. Bank name : The next screen will ask you what bank you are transferring money to. The most common banks, including Hyakugo as well as the big Tokyo banks like MUFG and SMBC will appear at the top. Otherwise, you have to search for the bank by inputting the first kana syllable of its name. Ignore ten-ten in the name. ie., for Daisan Ginkō (だいさんぎんこう), you would search under 「た」 - 「だ」 is not listed as an option.
6. Branch name : The next screen will ask you what branch you are transferring money to. This is very similar to the previous screen. You will most likely need to search by kana.
7. Account type : The next screen will ask you what type of account you are transferring money to. This is almost always "standard" (普通 futsū), which is the top option.
8. Account number : The next screen will ask you the account number you are transferring money to.
9. Sender name : The next screen will ask your name. You can enter either in katakana or romaji. Romaji input can be accessed via the 英字 button. It's OK if your name does not match the name on your bank book exactly, it is merely to tell the recipient who sent the money.
10. Sender phone number : The next screen will ask you for your phone number. Enter the phone number, some machines want you to include the dashes as well.
11. Summary : The next screen will present a summary of all the data you have input, and it was most importantly include the name associated with the account number you put in - this is the ATMs way of letting you check to make sure you "got the right answer". Make sure the name is right before you send it! Check over the rest of the data as well, and if it's all good then send away.
12. Furikomi card : The last screen will ask you if you want the machine to create a furikomi card with the data you've just entered. If you say "yes", it will print out a card that can be used next time so that you only have to enter the amount, your name, and your phone number; the recipient's data will all be stored on the card. Only say "yes" if you know you'll be doing a furikomi to the same recipient multiple times, such as GoLloyds.
13. Confirmation : よっっっしゃ!!! You did it!

Furikomi can be done anytime the ATM is open, however the actual transfers are only made between 9am - 3pm on business days. If you are making a bank transfer outside these hours, you will receive a notice screen about this.