![](https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=400&s=447180e00ba5629ac05843f72ea2ef30 400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=600&s=aa514296790d7147f939b449ddea622f 600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=800&s=a8bf9306652517d515250078d26870d0 800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1000&s=a3c9dbc4cef2ee8bbbfdbfeacf90dcfb 1000w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1200&s=00d57d5e0ef53685eb8315dafc0af5e5 1200w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1400&s=dc43330265dcf7fc8835668f4cd0cb7b 1400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1600&s=1008c9c402e7f698e09e4ebdf9ca4841 1600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1800&s=bae2c268b38bd56e30db4a6556d93d4d 1800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2000&s=f369584d510490783ee5d08b0355417e 2000w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2200&s=89c15dc9c69b1e021cf35cdb01dbb3e8 2200w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2400&s=1c1377a56e14f5c9b4e455b8b77caa7c 2400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-header-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2600&s=6ed9774215a7a6a0d586f70bc82c4fb7 2600w)
Sony Bank, a Japanese online bank, saw an opportunity to radically simplify the banking experience for expatriates, a rapidly growing demographic. They needed to understand the existing landscape, identify users’ pain points, and create a digital service that addressed those needs.
![](https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=600&s=9d4ec67a857d1eed78e787f53a9240a9 600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=800&s=2f6c6b6fa3eb45cea3fe9a3ab3847cba 800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1000&s=b53c4a14bc5237c00662cf7e01d8e633 1000w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1200&s=d3b794c18bb997171d51e101fc64b5ba 1200w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1400&s=31b8f4c1fa45f8582cd559cffebb8754 1400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1600&s=5e08dcf20f0401f895ac896775409588 1600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1800&s=720f84001703ee0fd904e73733d79d64 1800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2000&s=ae0a193e034a8eabe2ac734be30241a0 2000w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2200&s=769776b7eafbf662693ec3070b473819 2200w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2400&s=90c56c641e55f2c9391f1414d4975371 2400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-2-update.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2600&s=12b471438dd7e5d5897032a73b0978e1 2600w)
Designit’s team delved into the end-to-end banking experience of foreigners in Japan. Through desk research and interviews, we learned what users expect from banks in Japan, which currencies they use, and how current services compare to online banking standards around the world. The team distilled three main insights:
1. Due to its specific procedures and reliance on physical services, the current banking system has a steep learning curve for foreigners.
2. Newly-arrived foreigners are restricted by the lack of multilingual financial services.
3. Exchanging currency isn’t a daily banking need.
![](https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=600&s=e39af15ca96bcf511e711d0a9fcdff58 600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=800&s=620deec4fb9d54a5e73b0ab0fb70e915 800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1000&s=df6367496000ba20e75c6bc350fa396e 1000w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1200&s=a683e43b41b58b1384188b12f1cd6755 1200w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1400&s=5e7fb375fe922cdc72771aa413c71a29 1400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1600&s=000a85ee0a2d2b7994532ec6a97fc681 1600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1800&s=40e9e0ebbca583f9af93a10b07db4bb3 1800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2000&s=bc2ad8690348d9879e8e00296aeef2a3 2000w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2200&s=185170177b93bbc85c7add50ba6bc3cc 2200w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2400&s=9886effc25c1277aed7bb8b359ea600f 2400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-1b-new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2600&s=9601ccfbe6fa42f0ba0b2b25b33ccd28 2600w)
Sony Bank’s English Open Account app offers customers a simple and quick way to open a bank account online. While opening an account in Japan is usually a heavily regulated and paper-based process, now foreigners can digitally share their information and scan documents on mobile.
We collaborated with Sony Bank and its English online banking service by designing an informational and promotional website. In clear, straightforward English, the website introduces the products and explains their uses and benefits. For additional support, customers can head to the English help desk.
![](https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=600&s=5c8fc8309aca462cb81080c761992021 600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=800&s=30f6e776213672dd1327d87491ab780b 800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1000&s=63cd3a5216058cb055d851555fd93ab6 1000w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1200&s=c63e3d5ba7302db0301f45c20ff6aada 1200w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1400&s=f31e469f4ca275197156ee5f008474a4 1400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1600&s=2d6c9b8c94197a4961afa1e5d07a9fe1 1600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1800&s=b9625e91bf0d287349de3cb3af859e77 1800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2000&s=cc4a175b9fec282b618f3c3e8fa76943 2000w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2200&s=3e62f3dcde509432d16842317c1c604f 2200w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2400&s=e3c8a7f9fb99bf66638b324de409e4e4 2400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2600&s=70646023c70b8ffb6f5d0b0f8fa8f012 2600w)
![](https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=600&s=11e760a68e4e97591d796220f7bfec33 600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=800&s=87d93d4dd7b7996a45339397dfdd3a26 800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1000&s=1ec47244a456dfc0df992aa40dfe5e7c 1000w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1200&s=d5c4b29aa28487caddfe6471750f75a8 1200w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1400&s=cf10c7892e6679f4989e524a80de9023 1400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1600&s=3cec66198a466347aa631f01c64e0eb5 1600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=1800&s=fd16faf5ecef006d44ac5117aa1ef933 1800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2000&s=a448a527a45a2066b6b9e606789c77be 2000w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2200&s=4d6e7169f23a64e7c7ebae4fed2b48d7 2200w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2400&s=4b877586ff4075177e02f39d243dd959 2400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/Case-studies/Sony-Bank/Sony-Bank-Body-b.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&cs=srgb&fit=clip&q=90&w=2600&s=07374bf415f74cd3b092c7a00c255c58 2600w)
‘I really like the website. The aesthetic is very clean and simple. It is uncluttered compared to a lot of Japanese websites. Navigation is also easy, with all the most likely to be used links displayed in the top lefthand corner at all times.’
Sony Bank user
Details
Client
Project team
Contact info for Pascal Ruppert
Digital Designer
Contact info for Sai Bhavani Sunder
Designer
Contact info for Junior Castro
Design Director
Contact info for Hadas Zucker
Director of Business Design,
Tel Aviv
Contact info for Raphael Hodé
Lead Designer
Contact info for Yasuyuki Kowata
Design Director
Contact info for Mai Saito
Lead Service Designer
Get in touch
![](https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/People/Tokyo/TYO-Yasuyuki-Kowata-1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=493&q=90&w=400&s=06573e066c72f5c9784a66a558038b05 400w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/People/Tokyo/TYO-Yasuyuki-Kowata-1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=739&q=90&w=600&s=a62388992eff82b182929694bc6cd8c7 600w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/People/Tokyo/TYO-Yasuyuki-Kowata-1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=986&q=90&w=800&s=2cc54951ef5b1de4b23db787bc8e5d52 800w, https://designit-web.imgix.net/images/People/Tokyo/TYO-Yasuyuki-Kowata-1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1232&q=90&w=1000&s=c7c63cd8d2440f080a8774b27f8cde58 1000w)
Yasuyuki Kowata
Design Director