Foreign currency deposit

1. Foreign currency savings account

Sony Bank's foreign currency savings account is available in 12 major currencies. A foreign currency savings account may involve fluctuating interest rates according to market conditions. Please see the table below for available currencies.

Available currencies

As of 08, 13, 2019 10:54

The unit refers to the unit of deposit and payment

Details of foreign currency savings account

Who can own an account?

Anyone who is an individual customer and living in Japan is eligible to open and use a foreign currency savings account. Customers under the age of 20 have restrictions on available transactions. If you plan to leave Japan permanently, you must cancel your account prior to your departure.

Deposit limit and period

Unlimited

Account maintenance fee

Free

Buying/Receiving foreign currency

• Buy foreign currency from Yen
• Buy foreign currency from US Dollar
• Receive foreign currency remittance from other banks to Sony Bank

• Please note that Sony Bank applies exchange rates to foreign currency exchange.
• Limit order transactions are only available in Japanese, please check our Japanese language website for details.

Selling/Withdrawing foreign currency

• Sell foreign currency from your foreign currency savings account to Yen
• Sell foreign currency from your foreign currency savings account to US Dollar
• Remit foreign currency to other banks
• You can use your Sony Bank WALLET to withdraw local currencies at overseas ATMs

• Please note that Sony Bank applies exchange rates to foreign currency exchange.
• Limit order transactions are only available in Japanese, please check the Japanese language website for details.

Transaction history

You can check your transaction history details on our Online banking.

Deposit insurance

Foreign currency savings account is not covered by deposit insurance.

Available time

24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Please note there are specific times when transaction will not be available due to system maintenance. To learn more check System maintenance time and available time for trading.

More details

Detailed Description of Foreign Currency Savings Account

2. Foreign exchange rates

While looking at trends in the foreign exchange market, Sony Bank calculates its own reference rate (TTM: Telegraphic Transfer Middle Rate). The term TTS applies when buying foreign currency, and TTB applies when selling foreign currency. Please see below how, from this rate, the exchange rates for buying (TTS) and selling foreign currency (TTB) are calculated.

The rates listed below apply to the ones for customers with no Club S membership level. Since the rates fluctuate, TTS and TTB rates differ for each level, please check the latest exchange rate on the transaction screen after signing on to our Online banking.

As of 08, 13, 2019 10:54

3. Foreign exchange fee

When trading foreign currency, the foreign exchange fee differs according to trading currency and your Club S membership level. For more information, please check Club S.

4. Trading foreign currencies

Opening foreign currency savings account

With Sony Bank, you can open foreign currency savings account for US Dollar, Euro, British Pound, Australian Dollar, New Zealand Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Swiss Franc, Hong Kong Dollar, Brazilian Real, Chinese Yuan, South African Rand, and Swedish Krona.

How to open an account

1. Sign in to our Online banking
2. Select Foreign currency deposit from Menu
3. Select Buy
4. Select the currency
5. Select the Open Foreign Currency Savings Account

• If [Foreign currency deposit] is not listed on the menu, you'll need to update or register your Financial Profile to use currencies other than Japanese yen.
• If you'd like to open multiple foreign currency savings accounts at once, please go to [Sony Bank WALLET] - [Open Multiple Foreign Currency Savings Accounts at Once].

Buying foreign currency

You can easily buy foreign currency from Yen or US Dollar. If you buy foreign currency, the foreign exchange fee you'll be charged depends on your Club S membership level and the currency you are buying.

How to buy foreign currency

1. Sign in to our Online banking
2. Select Foreign currency deposit from Menu
3. Select Buy
4. Select the currency you want to buy
5. Select the currency you want to exchange from
6. Specify the amount you want to buy

• If you don't have a US Dollar foreign currency savings account, you can only exchange from your Yen savings account.

Selling foreign currency

You can easily sell foreign currency to Yen or US Dollar. If you sell foreign currency, the foreign exchange fee you'll be charged depends on your Club S membership level and the currency you're selling.

How to sell foreign currency

1. Sign in to our Online banking
2. Select Foreign currency deposit from Menu
3. Select Sell
4. Select the currency you want to sell
5. Select the currency you want to exchange to
6. Specify the amount you want to sell

• If you don't have a US Dollar foreign currency savings account but want to exchange your foreign currency to US Dollars, you can open a US Dollar account at the time of the transaction.

Trading against the US Dollar

Sony Bank allows you to trade foreign currency against the US Dollar. This way you can avoid the double foreign exchange fee that would occur if you trade against Japanese yen.

For example:

Foreign exchange fee

When exchanging US Dollar to Yen and Yen to another foreign currency, you will have to pay foreign exchange fee twice.

Foreign exchange fee

When directly exchanging US Dollar to other foreign currency you will have to pay foreign exchange fee only once.

5. Foreign currency trading hours

Trading foreign currency at Sony Bank is available 24 hours a day except during system maintenance and during times shown below. During these times, buying or selling foreign currency and canceling foreign currency savings account are not available.

Trading foreign currencies is not available

• Saturday, 5:56 AM - Monday, 7:59 AM
• January 1, 5:56 AM - January 2, 7:59 AM
• December 25, 3:00 PM - December 26, 7:59 AM

• Foreign currencies refer to US Dollar, Euro, British Pound, Australian Dollar, New Zealand Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Swiss Franc, Hong Kong Dollar, Chinese Yuan (CNH), South African Rand, and Swedish Krona.

Trading Brazilian Real is not available

• Saturday, 5:56 AM - Monday, 7:59 AM
• December 31, 5:56 AM - First business day after January 4, 8:59 PM
• New York public holidays, 5:56 AM - Next business day, 8:59 PM
• Sao Paulo public holidays, 5:56 AM - Next business day, 8:59 PM