Do you have an Inactive or Unused Account?
Do you have an account that you no longer use and for which you have never changed your address after moving? Or one which you used at one point but don't use now?
At Sony Bank, accounts for which the account holder has not initiated any activity, such as making no deposits or withdrawals, for 10 years or more, are in principle treated as inactive or dormant deposits.
- Examples of account activity
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- Signing in to English online banking
- Deposits and withdrawals at ATMs
- Fund transfers from other financial institutions in Japan
Your account will be canceled if it is deemed to be an inactive or dormant deposit, so we encourage you to sign in to our English online banking to check your balance.
If your account is deemed inactive or dormant deposit
If you still have a balance in your account after it has been canceled as an inactive or dormant deposit, you can have the money refunded by following our prescribed procedures. Please contact our English help desk for further information.
If you still wish to continue using Sony Bank, please open a new Yen or Foreign currency savings account after completing refund procedures.
Please confirm your "Customer Information" before starting refund procedures
Sony Bank sends out important transaction-related information to customers by email or postal mail.
When processing the withdrawal of the balance of an inactive or dormant deposit, we will verify your identity in accordance with our internal procedures, including asking for details such as the name, address, and telephone number you previously registered with us.
If the information you provide differs from the information we have on hand, it will take time for us to verify your account and you may have to prepare multiple personal identity documents. Therefore, please confirm your registered name, address, telephone number and email address and, if there have been any changes, update your information before contacting us.
To update your information, please follow the procedures on our "Updating Customer Information" page after signing in to our English online banking.
Periodic sign-in recommended
In order to prevent fraudulent use of your account, we request that you sign in to our English online banking regularly and check your balance and transaction history.
If you have trouble signing-in or have lost your cash card, please have the account holder contact our English help desk.
About dormant deposits
The Act on Utilization of Funds Related to Dormant Deposits to Promote Public Interest Activities by the Private Sector (hereinafter referred to as the "Dormant Deposits Utilization Act") came into effect on January 1, 2018. This marked the start of a system under which accounts that have been inactive for 10 years, such as accounts that have recorded no deposits or withdrawals, become dormant deposits and are utilized to address social issues.
Even if your account has been deemed dormant, you can have the funds returned to you if you have money in the account. Our English help desk can provide detailed information on how to perform the procedure.
For further information about dormant deposits, please visit the Financial Services Agency (FSA) website.
FSA (links to the official FSA Japanese website)
Process for an account to become a dormant deposit
- Customers with a deposit balance of 10,000 yen or more in an inactive account will receive a notice by postal mail to the address registered with us. If this notice is successfully delivered, your account will not be regarded as a dormant deposit.
If the balance of your deposit is less than 10,000 yen, we will not send you a notice by postal mail. - If this notice is successfully delivered, your deposit balance is less than 10,000 yen, or if you do not use your account after the publication of an electronic public notice, your account will be canceled as a dormant deposit and the balance transferred to the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan.
Electronic public notice pertaining to the Dormant Deposit Utilization Act
In accordance with the Dormant Deposits Utilization Act, deposits that have not been accessed for a long period of time will be transferred to the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan after an electronic public notice has been published by the respective financial institution no later than 10 years and 6 months from the date of the last account activity and will ultimately be used to support private sector public interest activities.
The electronic public notice will be posted on our website regarding deposits subject to transfer.
For electronic public notices as stipulated in Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Dormant Deposits Utilization Act, please refer to Electronic Public Notices Pertaining to the Dormant Deposits Utilization Act (only available in Japanese).
Electronic Public Notices pertaining to the Dormant Deposit Utilization Act
Terms and Conditions of Handling of Account Activity Circumstances Concerning Dormant Deposits Utilization Act
This document stipulates the circumstances and the final date of the transfer of deposits pertaining to the Dormant Deposits Utilization Act.
About inactive deposits (deposits not subject to the Dormant Deposits Utilization Act)
If a deposit that is not subject to the Dormant Deposits Utilization Act, such as a Foreign currency deposit, has not recorded any deposits, withdrawals or other account activity for 10 years or more, it will be deemed an inactive deposit and the account containing the deposit (such as a Foreign currency savings account or Foreign currency time deposit) will be canceled.
Even if the relevant deposit is deemed an inactive deposit, please rest assured that you will be eligible to have the funds returned to you if there is a balance in the account. Our English help desk can guide you through the procedure.
The process for an account to become an inactive deposit (deposits not subject to the Dormant Deposits Utilization Act)
- Customers with a deposit balance equivalent to 10 ,000 yen or more in an inactive Foreign currency savings account will receive a notice by postal mail to the address registered with us. If this notice is successfully delivered, your account will not be regarded as an inactive deposit.
If the balance of your deposit is less than 10,000 yen, we will not send you a notice by postal mail. - If this notice is unsuccessfully delivered, your deposit balance is less than 10,000 yen, or if you have not used your account for 10 years or more, we will cancel your Foreign currency savings account as an inactive deposit.
Important notes pertaining to the utilization of dormant and inactive deposits (deposits that are not subject to the Dormant Deposits Utilization Act)
The following are the main types of account activity for Yen deposits and Foreign currency deposits.
- Signing in to English online banking
- Deposits and withdrawals to/from Yen deposits and Foreign currency deposits
- Fund transfers from other financial institutions in Japan
In the event that your Yen deposit has been used to make transactions but your Foreign currency deposit has shown no account activity, your Foreign currency deposit may be deemed an inactive deposit.