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 in kanji and kana. The kanji at the end of the bank name will specify the type of bank it is and you may need to know this.
• Name of destination branch in kanji and kana. 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 in katakana. Typically you will not need to input this data, however in some cases you will.

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 insert a 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 from the start, or if you want to pre-load the recipient's info from a furikomi card (振込カード) - see below if you aren't sure what this is. If you have no furikomi card (which you probably don't, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this guide...), then hit the "input recipient's info" (振込先入力) which is the bottom of the two buttons.
4. Bank name : The next screen will ask you what bank you are transferring money to. The most common bank are listed at the top, and if you're lucky, the destination account will be at one of these banks making your task a bit easier. Otherwise, you'll have to search for the bank by name - hit "other" (その他) at the bottom right. The four banks listed at the top are:
   • Hyakugo Bank (百五銀行)
   • Mie Bank (三重銀行)
   • Daisan Bank (第三銀行)
   • Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (東京三菱銀行).
5. Bank search : (Skip this step if the bank you are sending money to is one of the four listed above). The next screen will ask what type of bank the recipient's account is at. The first option, "regular bank" (普通銀行), is most likely the one you want to choose, however if for example you're sending money to a JA bank account, you'll be looking for the JA option (農業協同組合...or maybe just 農協 for short). The person requesting money should specify what type of bank they use. Once selecting the type, you must search for the bank name by inputting the first kana of its name. Be aware that if the first kana syllable is voiced (has a ten-ten or maru), you search by its base kana. For example, if searching for a bank by the name of 十六銀行 (jūroku ginkō), which starts with the kana 「じ」, you would search under 「し」.
6. Branch name : The next screen will ask you what branch you are transferring money to. This is very similar to the previous step. A few main branches are listed at the top but you will most likely need to search exactly as in the bank search step above.
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 small 英数字 button on the left. 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. 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.
12. Enter recipient's name : This step isn't usually necessary. Most destination banks will automatically retrieve the recipient's name for you based on the account number you entered and display it in the "summary" (next step). However, some banks, including the post office's "Yūcho" bank, require you to input the recipient's name.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.