photo by keyaki
Easy to open an account, low transaction fees, Japan Post Bank is widely known for its great services. Perhaps you already have an account with Japan Post Bank. It’s been for a while since internet banking became the most commonly used tool of everyday banking. As the same as other major banks, Japan Post Bank offers an internet banking service, “Yucho Direct”. It is a very handy tool to transfer money but it is available only in Japanese. So, this column will show step by step instructions how to make a payment in Yucho Direct.
Select from “between Japan Post Bank accounts” and “to other banks”
After logging on to Yucho Direct, click 「振込・振替 (payments) 」on the left of main menu.
Go to「送金先の選択 (select a payee) 」on the lower half of the page. If you are transferring money to Japan Post Bank account, click the button on the left (boxed with red). If you are transferring money to other bank account, choose the button on the right (boxed with blue).
Payments between Japan Post Bank accounts
A list of payees will come up on the screen. If your payee’s bank detail is already listed, click 「選択 (select) 」to select the payee (Blue arrow). If you are making a payment to new payee, click either of 「記号番号での入力 (search by code and account number) 」or「店名での入力 (search by branch name) 」. This section will explains procedures when you choose 「記号番号での入力 (search by code and account number) 」.
Enter payee’s details
①Code number and account number
②Amount
③Payment date
If you choose 「送金日を指定しない (pay immediately) 」 above, a total sum of payment amount and transaction fee will be debited from your account immediately.
If you choose 「送金日を指定する（指定日に引き落とし） (select the payment date) 」below, you can choose payment date up to 31 days ahead.
Enter a name you wish to notify in 「ご依頼人名 (payer’s name) 」box if you wish to make a payment under a name other than your account name (up to 48 full-width letters including katakana, alphabets and numbers). Enter comments in 「メッセージ (message) 」box if any (up to up to 100 full-width letters including katakana, alphabets and numbers).
④Tick left if you want to send a payment statement to the payee, otherwise tick right.
⑤Select email address to receive one-off pass code.
Then, click 「次へ (next) 」on the right bottom to continue.
Payments to other banks
The same as payments to Japan Post Bank accounts, a list of payees will come up on the page. If your payee’s bank detail is already listed, click 「選択 (select) 」to select the payee (Blue arrow). Click 「登録していない口座へ送金する (payment to unlisted payee) 」on the right bottom of the page if you are making a payment to a new payee (red arrow).
Select the bank from the list of major banks on the screen (boxed in red). If the bank’s name is not in the list, search by clicking「上記以外の金融機関を選択 (other banks) 」 (boxed in blue).
After selecting the bank, search the branch. It can be searched by entering first a few letters of branch name, however, searching by 50-character kana syllabary is easier way. Click first syllabary of the branch name (boxed in red). To show 50-character kana syllabary with alphabet, click 「英字に切替 (English) 」 (boxed with blue).
A list of branches starting with the syllabary you chose. Click 「選択」to select.
Enter the following details.
①Choose type of payee’s bank account from普通 (ordinary deposit, left), 当座（current deposit, middle）, 貯蓄 (savings, right).
②Account number
③Amount
④Payment date
If you choose 「送金日を指定しない (pay immediately) 」 above, a total sum of payment amount and transaction fee will be debited from your account immediately.
If you choose 「送金日を指定する（指定日に引き落とし） (select the payment date) 」below, you can choose payment date up to 31 days ahead.
⑤Enter Payer’s name you wish to notify in 「ご依頼人名 (Payer)」box.
⑥Enter your contact number in 「依頼人電話番号 (contact number)」.
⑦Select email address to receive one-off pass code.
Then, click 「次へ (next) 」on the right bottom to continue.
Enter one-off pass code to complete the payment
Enter your one-off pass code sent to your nominated email address. Click 「実行する (confirm) 」, the orange button on the right bottom.
After clicking 「実行する (confirm) 」, a confirmation message pops up. Click 「はい (Yes)」on the right, then the transaction details will come up as shown in the picture.
Log out at the top right of the screen after finishing the payment.
Click and pay!
Among all other Japanese banks that provide online banking services, Japan Post Bank is known for its low fees. Transaction fees for internet banking payments are:
Payments between Japan Post Bank accounts: free up to 5payments per month, JPY113 flat rate from 6th payment within the same month.
Payments to other bank: JPY216 for each payment under JPY50,000, JPY432 for each payment JPY50,000 or over.
Yucho Direct can be used only in Japanese at the moment, so you might have a difficulty to use it if you are not confident in Japanese language. If so, read through this column and try it again.
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