Seven Bank and Digital Wallet Collaborate to Improve Financial Inclusion for Foreign Residents, Entering Partnership in the International Remittance Sector [Joint Press Release]


seven bank digital wallet acquisition

 

Digital Wallet Acquires Seven Global Remit's Service, Sendy

 

Tokyo, Japan, 9 February 2024 - Seven Bank, Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Masaaki Matsuhashi) has reached an agreement with Digital Wallet Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Eiji Miyakawa), the provider of the mobile international remittance service, Smiles Mobile Remittance (Smiles), have agreed to collaborate in the field of international remittance services. supporting the lives of foreign residents in Japan through the international remittance sector. Seven Bank’s fully-owned subsidiary, Seven Global Remit Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Masanori Iijima), which operates the overseas remittance service, Sendy, has transferred all its issued shares to Digital Wallet. Furthermore, Seven Bank and Digital Wallet have concluded an ATM partnership agreement effective 9 February 2024. This collaboration aims to further promote financial inclusion for foreigners residing in Japan.

 

Customers currently using Sendy are scheduled to transition to Smiles sequentially. Seven Bank and Digital Wallet will promptly inform its customers regarding the service transition as soon as it is determined.

 

The Seven Bank Group has been providing convenient financial services to foreigners through its nationwide network of over 27 thousand ATMs and overseas remittance service Sendy. Additionally, since its establishment in 2014, Digital Wallet has been offering the mobile international remittance service, Smiles, winning the Good Design Award 2021 for its outstanding service design. Through this collaboration, users can easily deposit funds into their accounts at any Seven Bank ATM across Japan, and with Digital Wallet's Smiles, they can almost instantly remit funds to over 200 countries worldwide using their smartphones.

 

With the anticipated easing of travel restrictions due to the transition from the COVID-19 pandemic and administrative support aimed at addressing labor shortages accompanying the decline in the working-age population, there is an expected increase in foreign residents living in Japan. Considering this, by leveraging Digital Wallet's technology and expertise in the user experience field, along with Seven Bank's nationwide ATM network coverage, the alliance aims to provide a highly user-friendly overseas remittance service, contributing to the improvement of lifestyles for foreign residents.

 

Currently, there are no changes to the services provided by Seven Bank's overseas remittance service.

 

“Seven Bank has been providing convenient financial services nationwide through its ATM network, ensuring peace of mind for users anytime, anywhere. We aim to create a society where everyone, including foreign residents living in Japan, can enjoy a comfortable life through accessible financial services tailored to individual lifestyles. Through collaboration with Digital Wallet, a company with strong technological and UX design capabilities, we hope to enhance the convenience for our customers and take a step further in enhancing financial inclusion.”

(Seven Bank, Ltd., President, Masaaki Matsuhashi)

“Currently, foreign users of our services are not only prevalent in the traditional sectors such as food and retail but have also seen a significant increase in areas such as caregiving, agriculture, and fishing. As a result, they reside not only in urban areas but also contribute to society in various regions across the country. The infrastructure of Seven Bank, with Japan's largest network and excellent consumer banking services, aims to provide the best living environment for such users. Through this collaboration, we feel honored to contribute our fintech expertise and service design capabilities to the partnership, aspiring to contribute to the improvement of society.”

(Digital Wallet Corporation, CEO, Eiji Miyakawa)

The Seven Bank Group and Digital Wallet Corporation are combining their strengths to further meet the diverse needs of customers, aiming to provide highly convenient products and services.

 

About Seven Bank

Seven Bank Group, with a purpose to “create the future of everyday life beyond customers' wants and needs,” provides unique financial services to meet various necessities, ensuring “proximity and convenience” and “trust and peace of mind.” ATMs, in over 27,000 locations nationwide, include not only Seven-Eleven stores but also commercial facilities, tourist spots, airports and train stations. The group also offers convenient and safe financial account services, business services leveraging the strengths of banks and overseas ATM services utilizing ATM operation expertise.

 

Company name

Seven Bank, Ltd.

Location

1-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

President

Masaaki Matsuhashi

Established date

April 2001

Business

ATM services, financial services

 

About Seven Global Remit

Seven Global Remit, with a vision to “make life in Japan more convenient for foreign customers, contribute to multicultural coexistence and contribute to the stable development of the Japanese economy,” provides a convenient mobile remittance service known as Sendy. By becoming a bridge between Japan and people’s home countries, the company aims to provide equal social infrastructure to everyone.

 

Company name

Seven Global Remit, Ltd.

Location

1-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

President

Masanori Iijima

Established date

June 2019

Business

Financial services for foreign residents
Banking agency (Kanto Finance Bureau Director (Gin-dai) No. 370)

Second-class fund transfer business (Kanto Finance Bureau Director No. 00085)

 

 

About Digital Wallet Corporation

Digital Wallet is an information technology company aiming to maintain a sustainable and peaceful global society through artificial intelligence (AI) and financial technology (fintech). Operating the most popular global mobile remittance service in Japan, known as Smiles Mobile Remittance, which received the Good Design Award in 2021, the company is expanding its business globally in the United States, Canada, the EU, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries. Additionally, the company provides platform services for businesses, including real-time data analysis of major retail companies' POS systems, development and operation of point and CRM services and streaming analysis of large-scale user data to achieve marketing automation.

 

Company name

Digital Wallet Corporation

Location

3-6 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

CEO and Founder

Eiji Miyakawa

Established date

November 2014

Business

Electronic wallet service
Cloud/mobile system development
Fund transfer business operator (Kanto Finance Bureau Director No. 00044)