Fund transfer in Japan

In Japan, a credit transfer is commonly used for remittance and/or payments for transactions between physically separated parties. Credit transfers enable fast and safe settlement.

• General payments for various transactions
• Salary payments
• Pension payments
• Dividend payments
• Tax refund payments, etc.

Channels for Fund Transfer

• Bank counter
• ATM
• Internet banking（PC / mobile devices）
• Phone banking

The Zengin System is a fundamental financial market infrastructure, takes its role as a payment system that enables close-to-real-time domestic fund transfer.

In Japan each Bank has been allotted a four digit Bank Code which is called Zengin Bank Code and branches are also allotted three digits Branch Code, which is called Zengin Branch Code. Two or more branches may share same Zengin Branch Code. Zengin Bank Codes & Zengin Branch Codes are used to route payment from one Bank to another or from one Bank Branch to another of the same bank or other Banks.

Japanese Banks’ Payment Clearing Network (Zengin-Net) manages the Zengin System, and also has set a mechanism for domestic fund transfers and related rules applied to banks (“Domestic Funds Transfer System”).

Payment systems in Japan

The Zengin System - Overview

• Official name is “The Zengin Data Telecommunication System
• Developed and provided by NTT DATA Corporation and operated by Zengin-Net.
• A central online system that processes inter-bank domestic fund transfers in a real-time manner.

features of Zengin System

• Connected to domestic banks through the network
• Credit transfer requests (transfer messages) from customers received at bank all around the nation will be transmitted in a realtime manner through the online Zengin System.
• Transaction conforming Straight-Through-Processing, enabling realtime fund balance settlement from payers’ to payees’ accounts.
• Debts/credits balance of each bank calculated simultaneously
• Small-value payments: Clearance of funds between banks conducted by Bank of Japan (BOJ) after business hours in a designated-time net settlement manner.
• Large-value payments (JPY 100 million and above) : Sorted out and settled on an RTGS basis by BOJ-NET.
• The Zengin System covers only inter-bank credit transfer. Credit transfers between accounts in a same bank are completed by each bank.

Participents in Zengin System

The Zengin System has a two-tiered participation structure. Small-size financial institutions (shinkin banks, credit cooperatives, labor banks, agricultural cooperatives, etc.) connect to the Zengin System via direct participants appointed to settle their net position on their behalf.
Shingyoren Banks, Shingyoren Banks, Shinren Bank JA Banks participate in Zengin System through Norinchukin Center.
Shinkin Banks participate in Zengin System through Shinkin Central Bank Center.
Shinkumi Banks participate in Zengin System through Shinkumi Federation Bank Center & Rokin Banks participate in Zengin System through Rokinren Bank Center.