For the growing numbers of Filipinos and other foreign nationals coming to Japan to work in order to support their families back home, Seven Bank’s ATM money transfer service has become a very convenient option.
In July, Seven Bank and Western Union started their overseas money transfer service. Using the Internet/mobile banking network of Seven Bank, you can send money anytime 24 hours a day from any place you like. Seven Bank ATMs are installed at about 16,000 locations nationwide.
For example, users can send 10,000 yen for only 990 yen and 50,000 yen for only 1,500 yen, with no payment due on the receiving end. Receivers do not need to open a bank account. In the agreement with Western Union, recipients will be able to collect money at more than 400,000 locations in about 200 countries.
The service is fast and extremely convenient, says Mari Nihei, one of the best-known Filipinos in Japan, who is helping to promote the service in Japan. “I have been sending money home ever since I came to Japan in 1979, but when I found out about the Seven Bank service, I was amazed. It is very good, efficient and safe. I love to support it because it is a big help to the Filipino community.”
After coming to Japan at the age of 17, Nihei married a Japanese man two years later. They operate a very well-known sushi bar in Waseda, the Yanagawa sushi bar and restaurant.
During her 32 years in Japan, Nihei has become active in the Philippine business and social community. She is a board member of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Japan. “The PCCJ acts as a bridge between Japan and the Philippines. We have business seminars once a month, forums for information dissemination, golf events and so on.”
Among her many other activities, Nihei is chairwoman of the Japan Nueva Ecija Foundation, a goodwill ambassador for Nueva Ecija Philippines, Founder of Japan Associations of Novo Ecijanos Tokyo, Founder of Teatro Kanto Organizations and Founder of Pinoy Golfers in Tokyo. They are only some of the things Nihei does. “I wish there were more than 24 hours a day,” she says.
Very active in social media, Nihei has six Facebook accounts with more than 5,000 friends – which is very handy for promoting the Seven Bank service. “I’m always posting about it. Many friends ask me how to apply. It’s a good way to reach a lot of people and teach them about Seven Bank.”
Many Filipinos went back home after the March 11 disaster, but they are starting to come back. In fact, Filipinos make up the largest number using the Seven Bank service.
“There are about 270,000 Filipinos legally residing and working in Japan,” Nihei says. “There are a lot who are married to Japanese and who have their own businesses in Japan. We are also seeing more coming to Japan to work as caregivers, nurses, in the construction and maritime industries. They can earn much more here than back in the Philippines. Most of the Filipinos I know send money back home once or twice a month.”
Besides social media, Nihei uses her sushi bar as a means to showcase the Seven Bank service. Located near Waseda University, it attracts customers of all nationalities. A Seven Bank curtain adorns the restaurant as well as posters and brochures. “I first found out about the service when Western Union officials came to the sushi bar one night,” she says. “I’m proud to promote it to our customers. We have a lot of fun here.”
For more information on Seven Bank’s money transfer service, visit http://www.sevenbank.co.jp/soukin/en/
Or phone 0120-93-7711 (English) / 0120-77-1179 (Japanese)
