Hello, this is Sierra from the Sony Bank market research team!

Following on from my first article here I will report back on how much cashback I earned during my month-long experiment in going cashless. Although I initially did this experiment back in December last year, I decided to do it for a second time a couple of months ago.

My mission in July 2020 was to use my Sony Bank WALLET as much as possible to pay for goods and services, check how easy it is to actually use and see how much cashback I could earn from using it.

Basics of Sony Bank WALLET's cashback program

  • Cardholders can earn cashback on purchases made in Japan at Visa network merchants
  • The cashback rate is between 0.5 to 2.0%, depending on your Club S level
  • Cashback earned is credited automatically into your Sony Bank account, by the 25th of the following month, with no formalities required

Click here for more details.

After recently reaching Silver level of the Club S rewards program, this time I decided to use my Sony Bank WALLET instead of my regular credit card because I was attracted by the fact that I could get a whopping 1.0% cashback on all my purchases in Japan.

Since I had to attend an increasing number of online seminars and meetings due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic spread, in July of this year I decided to buy a new computer as my old one had given up the ghost the previous month.  Along with that, I bought some computer accessories such as a printer and ink as well as some summer clothing, which resulted in a high total monthly spend. Given this, I expected to receive a reasonable amount of cashback.

The cashback for my shopping in Japan between July 1st to 31st, 2020 was deposited into my account on August 20, 2020.

I received an email to let me know that a deposit had been made into my account, so I quickly checked my transaction history via Sony Bank's English online banking.
Here is my actual total cashback amount for July! Drum roll, please!

Wow, 1,877 yen!

That's enough money to enjoy a nice lunch or two or three cups of quality coffee. Personally, I decided to treat myself to a matcha and coffee latte and Japanese sweets at a cute new café. Of course, you can also save your cashback rewards, put them towards a future goal (like buying a new coat or a well-deserved vacation), or even make a donation to your favorite charity.

Personally, I love receiving cashback as it feels like getting a present! A lunch paid for with cashback rewards always tastes better.

My thoughts on going cashless for a month with Sony Bank WALLET

Using Sony Bank WALLET for payments was stress-free and I benefited from receiving cashback! Even though I had mostly relied on cash and e-money as my preferred payment methods, once I made a conscious effort to pay for things using Sony Bank WALLET, I became accustomed to card payment and I loved not having to carry around a wallet full of heavy coins.

In particular, I found it easy to pay at convenience stores and other places that accept card payments without requiring your signature. However, the understanding of 'debit' in Japan, including by some store clerks, is still not widespread, so it is better to say you want to pay by 'one-time Visa payment'. An additional benefit is that, unlike points, which have expiry dates, cashback is credited automatically into your Sony Bank account, so you don't have to worry about your cashback rewards expiring.

As I continue to go cashless going forward, I challenge you to try using your own Sony Bank WALLET at various shops, restaurants, hotels, and other places in Japan and for online purchases from Japan-based web stores!

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