Japan Post Bank to Terminate "Yucho Pay" in 2026
Japan Post Bank has officially announced that it will be discontinuing the Yucho Pay service. While the service has been running since 2019, the bank has decided to wind down operations over the next year.
Previously, Uniqlo announced that it would be shutting down "UNIQLO Pay," the QR code payment feature on its official smartphone app, the "UNIQLO app," in January 2026, so this makes Japan Post Bank the second operator to terminate its payment service.
Here is everything you need to know about the termination schedule, what happens to your points, and crucial deadlines.
📅 The Big Date: December 20, 2026
The service will officially end on Sunday, December 20, 2026.
Japan Post Bank has released a specific timeline for the phase-out process. Here is the schedule you need to be aware of:
- December 20, 2026 (23:59): Termination of Payments
- You will no longer be able to use the app to make payments at stores (code display or code reading).
- Payment of utility bills/payment slips via the app will cease.
- Note: Generating a new payment code will actually stop slightly earlier, at 23:55 on this day.
- December 20, 2026 (23:59): New Registrations End
- New users cannot sign up after this time.
- Important: Setting up a payment account takes 24 hours. If you intend to sign up at the last minute (for some reason), you must complete the bank account setup well before the deadline.
- 2027 (Date TBD): App Discontinuation
- Sometime in 2027, the app itself will be shut down, meaning you will no longer be able to view your payment history.
💰 What About Yucho Pay Points?
For those accumulating points, the bank has provided some preliminary guidance, though some details are still being finalized.
- Point Program Status: The Yucho Pay point program will continue through January 2026. The exact termination date for earning points will be announced later.
- Shareholder Benefits: If you receive Yucho Pay points via shareholder benefits, the application period for the 2025 fiscal year ends December 31, 2025. The deadline to input your benefit code is January 31, 2026.
- Remaining Points: If you still have points in your account on the termination date (Dec 20, 2026), Japan Post Bank has stated they will announce how these will be handled on their special website at a later date.
Final Thoughts
While 2026 seems far away, it is good to be aware that this payment option is sunsetting. If Yucho Pay is your primary method for paying utility bills or shopping, you have plenty of time to transition to other cashless payment services (like PayPay, LINE Pay, or dBarai) or use the standard Yucho Bank debit card options.
Norbert Gehrke
