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Banks are usually open from 9:00am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday. Bank machines are usually open until 6 or 7 pm, (depending on the bank) on weekdays, and until about 5:00pm on Saturdays. Some bank machines are closed on Sundays. Most bank machines close during the New Year's Holidays (in Dec/Jan) and Golden Week (in May).

Recently ATMs have become available at the 7-11 convenience store chain. These ATMs are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The cost for using these ATMs is 210 yen per use.

To open a bank account, bring your hanko and alien registration card to a bank. Be sure to request a cash card when you open the account.

Utility bills such as electricity, gas, water, telephone, and NHK fees can be automatically deducted from your savings account. To apply for this service, bring your hanko, your bankbook, and a previous month's bill. You can also apply through the individual utility companies.

SENDING MONEY OVERSEAS: Toho Bank lets you do national money transfers through their bank machines. Lloyd's Bank in Tokyo specializes in international wire transfers. This means that if you set up an account with Lloyd's in Tokyo (no charge), you can transfer your money to that account with any Toho bank machine, and Lloyd's will send it on to your pre-registered account(s) at home for a fee of 2000 yen per transfer. Especially once you make a furikomi card, it's easy, fast (transfers take one business day), and convenient whenever bank machines are open. Call 03-3589-7745 for details on the Lloyd's service, or visit their website at http://www.golloyds.com (you do not have to have a Lloyd's bank account to use this service).

You can also send money home via the Japanese Post Office. (Small branches might not have this service.) However, they only do person to person transfers, which are, in actuality, money orders. They are cheaper than the Lloyd's option, but take longer. (Because they are money orders, most non-Japanese banks will treat the money orders as cheques, and wait until the bank in Japan can clear the cheque. This normally takes about 2 weeks.) If you are interested, there are 3 types
yubin kawase--ordinary money order
denshin kawase--telegraphic money order
teigaku kogawase--postal order (only in set denominations)
Prices are different by transfer type and amount of transfer.

Are you one of those people who couldn't point out a mutual fund if it came up and bit you on the nose? Or are you more the type to have a diverse and magnanimous investment portfolio? Either way, you will probably need some advice about saving and investing your money at some point. One of the books in our library, "Jobs in Japan" by John Wharton, has an excellent chapter on various topics related to money. Or, if you are looking for some serious investment opportunities, please contact Banner Overseas Financial Services at 03-5420-6843 (Tel), 03-5420-5847 (Fax), or banner@iac.co.jp (email) for a free consultation