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There are two types of banking services available in Kagoshima, available through banks or the post office. If you have a cash card, it is possible to use any bank’s Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), but you cannot use any credit society’s ATMs or the post office ATM.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Banking hours are from 9:00am until 3:00pm weekdays. Unlike other countries, ATMs are not open 24 hours a day, and the hours vary slightly from bank to bank. Generally speaking, ATMs are open:
Monday to Friday 9:00am to 7:00pm at the main branches
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays Hours of operation vary between banks and branches
POST OFFICE HOURS
1. Chuo (Central) Post Office
Monday to Friday
Teller operations 9:00am to 6:00pm
Automatic teller machines 7:00am to 9:00pm
Saturday, Sunday, holidays
Automatic teller machines 9:00am to 5:00pm
2. Higashi (East) Post Office
Monday to Friday
Teller operations 9:00am to 7:00pm
Automatic teller machines 9:00am to 7:00pm
Saturday, Sunday, holidays
Automatic teller machines 9:00am to 7:00pm
3. Other Post Office Branches
Monday to Friday
Teller operations 9:00am to 4:00pm
Automatic teller machines 9:00am to 6:00pm
Saturday, Sunday, holidays
Automatic teller machines Hours of operation vary between banks and
branches
OPENING AN ACCOUNT
To open an account at a bank or the post office you will need your seal, your foreign resident registration card and of course, some money (\1000 is usually the minimum). After filling out the necessary forms, you will either be issued with, or will be allowed to choose your PIN (personal identification number). You will also receive a cash card and a bankbook.
Note: You will be required to use your seal for all other teller transactions.
AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS
You can get the money automatically withdrawn from your account for your NHK television, electricity, gas, water and telephone bills. Please ask a staff member at the bank or post office for details.
USE OF CREDIT CARDS
The use of credit cards is becoming more widespread, but they are still refused at many places. There are three places where you can use a credit card to get cash advances:
1. Post Office. Both credit cards and cash cards issued by overseas financial institutions that have ties with domestic credit card companies can be accessed for cash advances. Cards of such financial institutions can be used at post office ATMs.
2. Sumitomo Bank (VISA), where you will need your passport for identification.
3. Yamakataya Department Store, first floor (JCB). If you ask at the information desk, they will direct you to the machine. It is also possible to get a cash advance from your credit card at the desk on the first floor. Yamakataya is open almost every day, 10:00am to 8:00pm.
TRAVELLER’S CHEQUES
Traveller’s cheques are not widely accepted throughout Kagoshima. You can exchange them wherever you see a sign indicating an authorized money exchange location, or at designated post offices. The post office deals with traveller’s cheques in the following currencies : U.S. dollars, German marks, Pounds sterling, French francs, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Swiss francs, Euro, and Japanese yen. At other authorized money exchange locations, you may have trouble if the cheques are not in American dollars or Japanese yen, so please check before signing the cheques.
SENDING MONEY ABROAD
Authorized money exchange banks offer three methods for sending money abroad:
1. Mail remittance, which is mailed by the bank, has a flat rate of 2500 yen
2. Money order, which is mailed by the customer, which also has a flat rate of 2500 yen
3. Cable remittance, which is an electronic funds transfer. It is the only method insured by the bank and is the fastest and safest method of sending money. For cable remittance there is a basic fee of 2500 yen plus a handling and a telex fee that depends on the amount of money that you send.
Post offices offer two ways of sending money abroad, either sending cash directly using registered and insured mail, or a postal money transfer. Both methods charge less than banks, but the banks’ exchange rates may be better.
Note: Your money may be subject to additional charges when it reaches your home country, depending upon the amount, so check before you send.
FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE
You can change money at hotels, travel agents, at the post office, and anywhere you see a sign with Authorized Money Exchange written on it. Not all currencies are accepted. The post office handles seven foreign currencies: U.S. dollars, French francs, Pounds sterling, German marks, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars and Swiss francs.
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