Points and miles collection in Japan for the non-Japanese.
Sony Bank: Japan’s Digital Pioneer—and a Quiet ANA Mileage Powerhouse
After exploring Japan’s walking apps that reward every step with points and miles, it’s time to shift focus to banks that turn everyday financial activity into airline mileage. Sony Bank stands out as one of Japan’s most established direct or "net" bank (ネット銀行), offering ANA‑linked debit cards, foreign‑currency time deposits, and generous mileage campaigns. This Points & Miles Japan guide breaks down Sony Bank’s history, services, ANA‑earning opportunities, account‑opening experience for foreign residents, and the upcoming reduction in English support.
In recent Points & Miles Japan articles, the spotlight has been on walking apps—those clever tools that convert your daily steps into shopping points, gift cards, and even airline miles. Now, the focus shifts to a different but equally powerful category: banks and banking transactions that earn airline miles.
Sony Bank (ソニー銀行) is a perfect place to begin this new series. Founded in 2001 under the Sony Financial Group, Sony Bank was built from the ground up as a direct bank (ネット銀行). It has no physical branches, no in‑person counters, and no traditional brick‑and‑mortar footprint. Instead, it delivers a fully digital banking experience—one that has evolved into a surprisingly strong platform for earning ANA miles.
Sony Bank’s products and services—with a focus on ANA Mileage
Sony Bank offers a wide range of digital banking services, but two product lines matter most for mileage collectors.
1. ANA Mileage Club / Sony Bank WALLET (Visa Debit). This is Sony Bank’s flagship ANA‑linked product: a Visa debit card that earns ANA miles on domestic spending. Key features include:
Earn 5 miles per ¥1,000 spent on domestic purchases
Annual earning cap of 4,000 miles
Bonus miles during seasonal campaigns
Usable in over 200 countries
Seamless integration with Sony Bank’s foreign‑currency accounts
Sony Bank and ANA frequently run large promotional campaigns. Some recent campaigns have offered up to 40,000 miles for new account holders who open an account and meet spending or deposit conditions. These are among the most generous mileage‑earning opportunities available from any Japanese bank.
2. Foreign‑Currency Time Deposits (外貨定期預金) with ANA Miles. Sony Bank is widely known for its foreign‑currency products, and its ANA‑linked time deposits are a standout. Mileage‑earning structure typically includes:
Miles awarded per USD 100 deposited
Higher mileage for longer deposit terms
Opportunities to accumulate substantial miles through long‑term saving
For frequent travelers or those who already hold foreign currency, this is one of the easiest ways to earn ANA miles passively.
3. Sony Bank WALLET (Non‑ANA Version). Even without ANA, Sony Bank WALLET is a strong debit card:
Free domestic ATM withdrawals up to 4 times per month
Free domestic transfers up to 2 times per month
Low foreign‑currency conversion fees
This makes Sony Bank a useful secondary account for expats who travel frequently or shop internationally.
Ease of opening an account for foreign residents. Sony Bank is generally considered foreigner‑friendly, especially compared to traditional regional banks. Requirements typically include:
Residence card
MyNumber
Address in Japan
Japanese phone number
Because Sony Bank is fully online, the entire process—from application to identity verification—is handled digitally.
✔️ Advantages for foreign residents
No branch visits
English‑language website and app (currently)
Clear documentation
Fast processing
⚠️ But English support will soon be significantly reduced. Sony Bank has announced that its English support will be scaled back. This includes:
The English‑language website being discontinued or partially removed
The English version of the Sony Bank WALLET app being phased out
Customer service shifting to Japanese‑only for most inquiries
This change will make Sony Bank less accessible for newcomers who rely on English interfaces. For now, English support still exists—but users should prepare for a more Japanese‑centric experience.
Final thoughts: Sony Bank is a rare combination of:
A fully digital direct bank or "net bank" (ネット銀行)
Strong foreign‑currency tools
A powerful ANA Mileage Club partnership
Its ANA‑linked debit card and foreign‑currency time deposits offer some of the most accessible mileage‑earning opportunities in Japan. As Points & Miles Japan shifts from walking apps to mileage‑earning banks, Sony Bank stands out as a natural starting point—especially for residents comfortable navigating Japanese interfaces.