Sony Bank
Launched in 2001 as Sony's internet-only bank; a multi-currency mainstay for Japan's savers that later pushed into Web3 products.
Branchless direct bank owned by Sony Financial; the Sony Bank WALLET Visa debit spends 11 currencies, with an English app for foreign residents.
- Who holds it
- The company itself — it holds a full banking licence — Japanese banking license (Sony Financial Group).
- The ledger
- The bank’s own core ledger.
- If it fails
- A covered-deposit payout through the local scheme, up to its limit.
Derived from Sony Bank’s regulation type and custody — a class of protection, not a guarantee. Limits and eligibility vary by scheme, balance and jurisdiction; confirm before you rely on it. What happens if a neobank shuts down →
The facts
| Category | traditional |
| HQ | Tokyo, JP |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Licensed bank |
| License detail | Japanese banking license (Sony Financial Group) |
| Card | Visa · Debit |
| Cashback | 0.5% (Japan) |
| Stablecoins | No |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | Asia |
| Countries | Japan |
Verified links: official site ↗
Common questions about Sony Bank
What is Sony Bank?
Sony Bank is a fiat neobank, headquartered in Tokyo, JP and founded in 2001. Your money is held custodially, so Sony Bank or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It is regulated as a licensed bank (Japanese banking license (Sony Financial Group)).
Does Sony Bank have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Visa debit card. It is available in Asia.
Does Sony Bank require KYC?
Yes. Sony Bank requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a licensed bank.
What does Sony Bank cost?
From the verified fields: cashback 0.5% (Japan). Cashback and yield are "up to" figures that change constantly and often depend on a paid plan — confirm current terms with Sony Bank before relying on them.
Peers
Wise · KakaoBank · WeBank · bKash · Maya · GCash
Sony Bank appears in
Neobanks that hold their own banking license (132) · Neobanks that require identity verification (334) · Neobanks available in Asia (133) · Neobanks that issue a Visa card (184)
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.