Banking Guide

As of February 2026

SMBC Trunk Corporate Account Guide

A practical, step-by-step guide to opening a corporate bank account with SMBC Trunk — Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation's (三井住友銀行) digital banking service — from the perspective of a newly incorporated company.

~1-2 weeksApplication to opening

¥0Monthly fee

15-30 minWeb interview

Fully onlineProcess

What is SMBC Trunk?

SMBC Trunk is a digital corporate banking service launched by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (三井住友銀行, SMBC) in May 2025. Backed by one of Japan's three mega-banks (メガバンク), it provides fully online corporate account opening specifically designed for startups and small businesses.

No physical branch visits are required — all procedures can be completed via smartphone or PC. Over 10,000 accounts were opened within two months of launch.[7]

Key Features

No monthly maintenance fee (a dormant account fee applies only after 12+ months with no transactions)[2]
Free transfers within SMBC; low flat fee for transfers to other banks[3]
Corporate internet banking (Web21) included automatically[4]
All operations available via the SMBC BUSINESS app
Supports direct debit for social insurance premiums and taxes
SWIFT code: SMBCJPJT — international transactions available via the Global e-Trade Service, SMBC's enterprise-grade platform for international remittances, foreign currency payments, and trade finance. Applied for separately after account opening[5][13]
API integration with accounting software: freee, Money Forward, Yayoi Online, and others[6]

Important limitation: Trunk accounts cannot receive loans (融資) directly from SMBC's digital branch. If you may need bank lending in the future, consider this carefully. SMBC allows only one corporate account per entity, so you would need to switch to a traditional branch account later.[8][9]

Why Trunk for Newly Incorporated Companies

Opening a corporate bank account in Japan is notoriously difficult for newly incorporated companies. Mega-banks traditionally have strict screening, and companies without a track record are often rejected. SMBC Trunk was designed to address this challenge directly.

Accepts newly incorporated companies — About 50% of Trunk account openings are newly incorporated companies. Even companies just incorporated can apply with a business plan (事業計画書)[7]
Mega-bank credibility — The SMBC brand builds trust with business partners and investors
Fully online process — No mailing of paper documents — everything from application to opening is web-based
Streamlined process — Expect about 1-2 weeks from application to account opening (including interview scheduling, review, and mail delivery)

Before You Apply

You can only apply after your company incorporation is complete. You will need:

Corporate Number (法人番号) — available on the National Tax Agency's corporate number search site
Identity verification document for the applicant: My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) or driver's license (運転免許証)
A smartphone (for the identity verification step)
Documents verifying your business activities (detailed below)

By default, the applicant should be the company's representative (代表取締役).

A non-representative can apply, but must provide a power of attorney (委任状) for account opening and the original corporate seal registration certificate (印鑑登録証明書). The applicant themselves must attend the interview — identity verification is performed during the call.[10]

Apply after incorporation is complete. Applications submitted while incorporation is still in progress will be rejected. Wait until your incorporation is complete and your corporate number (法人番号) is published.

Using a virtual office (バーチャルオフィス) does not automatically disqualify you, but your business legitimacy will be scrutinized more carefully. Having a website, contracts, or other evidence of real business activity helps significantly.

Application Steps

Pre-check

Prepare ID documents & corporate number

Identity

Verify identity via smartphone app

Company Info

Enter company details & business type

Documents

Upload business verification documents

Interview

15-30 min video interview

Realistic Timeline

While the official site advertises "as fast as the next business day," in practice you should expect about 1-2 weeks from application to being able to make transfers, due to the following steps.

Application & document upload

Form entry and document upload

1 day

Waiting for interview slot

The nearest available slots are usually a few days out

2-5 days

Web interview

Identity and business verification via video call

15-30 min

Approval decision

Results arrive from same day to a few days after the interview

1-5 business days

Receive mail & activate OTP

OTP postcard and cash card arrive by non-forwardable registered mail

~5-7 days

Total estimate~1-2 weeks

Approval may come quickly (even the same day as the interview), but you need the OTP activation postcard before you can make transfers. Book your interview early, and factor in mail delivery time for the OTP postcard.

Required Documents

In STEP 4, you need to upload one document that verifies your business activities. The following are accepted:

If you have existing business records

Signed contracts (outsourcing agreements, etc.)
Invoices, purchase orders, or delivery notes issued by other companies
Invoices or delivery notes issued by your company
Documents objectively showing sales, procurement, or business activity (e.g., dashboard screenshots)
Permits and licenses

For newly established companies (most common case)

If you don't have the above documents, the following are accepted:

Business plan (事業計画書) — company introduction materials also accepted
Business guides or product catalogs showing registered company name and address
Records of email or fax correspondence related to orders or procurement

Foreign-language documents should be translated into Japanese before submission. If you have an investment agreement (SAFE, J-KISS, etc.), submitting it with a Japanese translation is highly effective.

Even if you don't have clients yet, if you have correspondence with potential customers or investors, attaching those emails as evidence strengthens your application.

Business Plan Guide

For a newly incorporated company, the business plan is the most important document in the account opening review. Create a detailed, convincing plan with the following sections. It must be written in Japanese.

#	Section	Content
1	Executive Summary (会社概要)	Company name, date of establishment, address, representative, business summary
2	Product / Service Strategy	What you offer and what problem it solves
3	Market Analysis (市場分析)	Target market size, growth rate, concrete figures
4	Competitive Landscape (競合分析)	Key competitors and your differentiation
5	Business Model (ビジネスモデル)	Revenue model, pricing, sales channels
6	Go-to-Market Strategy (市場参入戦略)	How you plan to acquire customers
7	Team & Experience (チーム・経歴)	Founding team backgrounds and relevant expertise
8	Roadmap & Milestones	Development schedule, launch timing, upcoming milestones
9	Financial Projections (売上見込み)	1-3 year revenue forecast, break-even point, required investment
10	Risks & Mitigations	Potential risks and how you plan to address them

You will be asked about the contents of your business plan during the interview. Make sure to memorize the numbers you wrote (revenue projections, number of employees, development timeline, etc.). Consistency is key.

Tips

Create your company website first

Set up a website on your own domain (e.g., yourcompany.co.jp / .com) with your company name, address, contacts, and business description. For a newly incorporated company, this is the single most effective way to prove legitimacy — even without revenue or contracts.

Apply for international transfers later

If you apply for international wire receiving from the beginning, you will face additional screening and questions, slowing down your account opening. You can apply for the Global e-Trade Service separately after the account is opened. Even if you plan to receive international transfers in the near future, we recommend opening the account first, then applying.

If you have foreign beneficial owners

If any beneficial owner of the company is a foreign national or resides overseas, you may face additional compliance questions and verification steps. Have residence card and visa information ready.

Write the business plan in Japanese

All submitted documents should be in Japanese. Attach Japanese translations to any foreign-language documents (investment agreements, etc.). Including a cover letter (送付状) gives a polished, professional impression.

Web Interview Guide

SMBC Trunk requires a web interview (video call) as part of the account opening review. This is unusual — most banks don't require it. The interview covers identity verification and business activity confirmation.

Interview Format

FormatVideo call via ROOMS (external platform)

DurationAbout 15-30 minutes

CameraYour camera must be ON (bank side may be OFF); session is recorded

LanguageJapanese (日本語)

The interview is conducted in Japanese.

Your ability to communicate in Japanese is an important signal of credibility. Prepare your answers in advance and review key terms. The interview is outsourced to a call center and follows a standardized checklist — if you answer without raising any red flags, you will pass smoothly.

Pre-Interview Checklist

Have your My Number Card or driver's license within reach
Camera ON, good lighting, quiet environment
Memorize key numbers from your business plan (revenue forecast, number of employees, development timeline)
Practice explaining your business in under 2 minutes
Prepare answers consistent with your submitted documents
Confirm you can receive non-forwardable registered mail at your company's registered address

Interview Questions

Below are the questions most likely to be asked during the interview, along with guidance on how to prepare for each.

Please show your My Number Card or driver's license

Hold your ID up to the camera. They may ask to see the back side as well. You may also be asked to turn sideways (for photo comparison). The applicant themselves must attend — you cannot send someone else.

Do you understand the anti-fraud measures regarding account misuse?

Simply answer "Yes, I understand." This confirms that selling or renting accounts is a crime.

What kind of business are you engaged in?

Be concise and specific. Name your product or service, explain the business model. Make sure your answer matches the industry you selected during application.

What led you to establish the company?

Explain why you started this business based on your career history and experience. Emphasize any relevant industry experience you have.

How many years have you been working in this field?

Give a specific number of years. Longer experience increases credibility.

Can you tell us about your current business partners?

If you have business partners, name them. If you're a new company without partners yet, mention prospective clients or partnerships you're developing.

After Account Opening

Phase 1: Wait for Mail (~1 week after approval)

After approval, two items arrive by non-forwardable registered mail (転送不要書留) at your registered company address.

OTP activation postcard — you must activate the OTP app using this postcard before you can make any transfers (振込)
Cash card (debit card) — for ATM deposits and withdrawals

Mail is sent as non-forwardable registered post — it cannot be forwarded by Japan Post. Make sure you can receive mail at your registered address. Failure to receive it may result in account cancellation.

Phase 2: After OTP Activation — Start Using the Account

Activate the OTP app
Follow the instructions on the postcard to activate the OTP app on your smartphone. [15]
Log in to SMBC BUSINESS
This is the main internet banking dashboard. You can check balances, make transfers, and manage settings.
Share bank details with partners
To receive wire transfers, share your bank name, branch name, account type, account number, and account holder name with your business partners.

Phase 3: Additional Setup (as needed)

Reference: ValueDoor

ValueDoor is SMBC's older corporate internet banking portal. It is separate from SMBC BUSINESS and is not normally needed for Trunk accounts. It is only required for legacy services such as EB file transfers or Global e-Trade enhanced authentication. [4]

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