More banks going down the lunchtime closure route

One of those little realities of expat life in Japan is that banking is not nearly as flexible as many of us are used to back home. Depending on your job role, sneaking away during your lunch break might be the only chance you have to sort out paperwork or speak to a teller, but that is about to get trickier.

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Banks across Japan are increasingly shutting their doors for lunch, sometimes right in the middle of the day. Regional banks led the way, but now even megabanks like Mizuho and MUFG have joined in, introducing one-hour closures around 11:30am. Unfortunately, it all comes down to staff shortages, which have made it difficult for branches to stay open with full coverage.

ATMs, of course, remain available. But for anything beyond withdrawing cash, it may mean rearranging your workday or taking paid leave to deal with something as simple as a bank form. 

Have you noticed banks in your local area having to do lunchtime closures?