Rakuten Bank review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Rakuten Bank suits people who want easy-access Japanese savings, digital account management and a low minimum deposit. Its headline rate is 0.4%, below the site median of 3%, so it is more practical for access and flexibility than for maximising the advertised savings rate.
Key facts
- Best for
- People wanting easy-access Japanese savings with a low minimum deposit and broad digital access.
- Headline rate
- 0.4%↗
- Rate type
- Variable↗
- Minimum deposit
- ¥1↗
- Access terms
- Usable 24 hours a day, 365 days a year except system maintenance; deposits and withdrawals via online banking, Rakuten Bank app, bank ATMs and convenience store ATMs↗
- Monthly fee
- ¥0↗
- Account kind
- Easy access↗
- Legal entity
- Rakuten Bank, Ltd.↗
- Headquarters
- Japan↗
- Founded
- 2000↗
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Phone, Help-centre↗
- Official website
- rakuten-bank.co.jp
Debit cards
Loans
Mortgages
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 9 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- Google Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy-access account type, stated as easy access.
- Minimum deposit of ¥1.
- Digital and ATM access through online banking, the Rakuten Bank app, bank ATMs and convenience store ATMs.
- Support includes email, chat and phone.
Cons
- The headline rate of 0.4% is below the site median of 3%.
- The easy-access account has a variable rate, as stated by variable.
- The account's minimum deposit is ¥1, so it is not positioned as a savings product for larger balances.
Who it suits
- People seeking an easy-access account with online banking and app access.
- People who want a low minimum deposit of ¥1.
- People who prefer support by email, chat and phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- People seeking a higher headline rate than the site median of 3%, where bunq or Wise may offer more.
- People wanting a fixed-rate savings product, since variable is variable.
- People primarily seeking a savings product with a larger-balance proposition, since the minimum deposit is ¥1.
How it compares on our data
Rakuten Bank ranks 424 on headline rate among 488 brands. It ranks 183 on minimum deposit among 379 brands. The comparison places the easy-access account against alternatives using headline rate and minimum deposit, with Rakuten Bank's own rate at 0.4% and its minimum deposit at ¥1.
How Rakuten Bank compares
9.0 vs 8.0
9.0 vs 9.4
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9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.0- 9.0 vs 8.0
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9.0 vs 8.6
9.0 vs 8.3
9.0 vs 9.5
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9.0 vs 8.4- 9.0 vs 8.0
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Where Rakuten Bank is available
- Available
- Japan
- Licence in Japan
- Kanto Local Finance Bureau (registered financial institution) (No. 609 (dokin 609)), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What rate does Rakuten Bank offer on easy-access savings?+
Rakuten Bank's easy-access account has a headline rate of 0.4% and a variable rate type. The account is designed for access rather than locking money away for a fixed term.
What is the minimum deposit and card fee?+
The minimum deposit is ¥1. Rakuten Bank also offers a debit card with a monthly fee of ¥0.
How can you deposit and withdraw money?+
The account supports deposits and withdrawals through online banking, the Rakuten Bank app, bank ATMs and convenience store ATMs. Its access terms are usable throughout the year except during system maintenance.
Which support channels are available?+
Support runs on email, chat and phone only.
How is Rakuten Bank regulated?+
Rakuten Bank is a registered financial institution in Japan with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau named as regulator. The supplied information does not state a deposit protection scheme.
Sources
- wise.com/en-jp/blog/open-bank-account-rakuten-bank checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free ATM withdrawals, Cashback rate, Monthly fee
“Depending on your Happy Program Membership rank, you will have a maximum of 7 free withdrawals”
- rakuten-bank.co.jp/account checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Access terms
“You can use it 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, excluding system maintenance and system processing”
- rakuten-bank.co.jp/assets/fixeddep checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Account kind, Minimum deposit
“Ordinary deposit: deposit period - no fixed period”
- rakuten-bank.co.jp/corp/about/profile.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity
“Established: January 14, 2000”
- rakuten-bank.co.jp/home-loan/flat35 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Fixed period, Maximum loan to value, Product fee, Purpose
“Repayment period: 15 years or more, up to 35 years; Flat35 is a whole-term fixed-rate mortgage”
- rakuten-bank.co.jp/interest/details.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headline rate, Rate type, Licences
“Ordinary deposit (yen) rate: 0.40% per year (0.318% after tax)”
- rakuten-bank.co.jp/loan checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Loan amount, APR, Credit check, Lender type, Loan types
- rakuten-bank.co.jp/support/contact/contact.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Ask the AI chatbot / chat with an operator / contact by email / frequently asked questions; calls with customers are recorded”
- yenfinder.com/tips/rakuten-debit-card-overseas-guide checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Features, Currency conversion fee, Card network
“The card is available in Visa, Mastercard, and JCB versions”
Compiled from 9 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Term, Deposit protection.
Rakuten Bank
People wanting easy-access Japanese savings with a low minimum deposit and broad digital access.