Rakuten Bank review

Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Rakuten Bank lends directly in Japan, offering personal loans and a revolving credit line on variable rates. It suits borrowers who want their personal loan and home loan from the same direct lender. Borrowing runs ¥100,000 to ¥8,000,000, and rates sit at the low end of 1.9% to 14.5%.

Key facts

Best for
Japanese borrowers who want personal loans and a home loan from the same direct lender.
APR
1.9% to 14.5% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan amount
¥100,000 to ¥8,000,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Credit check
Hard (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rate type
Variable (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Lender type
Direct lender (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan types
Credit-line, Personal (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Rakuten Bank, Ltd. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Japan (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
2001 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Credit line
Official website
rakuten-bank.co.jp

Mortgages

Fixed period
35 years (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Maximum loan to value
90% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Product fee
¥330,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Purpose
Purchase, Remortgage (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Lender type
Direct lender (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Rakuten Bank, Ltd. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Japan (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
2001 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
WikidataX

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Lends direct, and credit line and personal covers a personal loan and a credit line under the same roof.
  • Registered with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau as a deposit-taking institution in Japan, licence 第609号.
  • Support runs on phone and help centre, giving a phone line and a help centre.
  • Its home loan pairs a fixed period of 35 with a maximum loan to value of 90%.

Cons

  • hard means a full credit check, and an application can leave a mark on the credit file.
  • Pricing is variable, so the cost of a loan can move after you take it.
  • The home loan adds a product fee of ¥330,000.
Rakuten Bank

Ready to try Rakuten Bank?

Scored 9.3 / 10 by BorrowCue.

See alternatives

Who it suits

  • Borrowers in Japan who want a personal loan and a home loan from the same direct lender.
  • People who want a revolving credit line alongside a personal loan, since credit line covers a credit line.
  • Applicants comfortable with a full credit check, because hard applies.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Monzo Flex, quoted at 10% to 23%, for readers who would rather settle on a rate that does not move.
  • Cashspace, quoted at PHP 12 to PHP 36, whose entry rate sits above 1.9% to 14.5% here.
  • Cashspace ES, listed at 0%, for readers who want a flat rate rather than a variable one.

Safety and regulation

Rakuten Bank is a direct lender, so the agreement runs between the bank and the borrower with no broker in between. It holds deposit-taking institution registration with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau in Japan under 第609号. You are dealing with a supervised bank, not a comparison site or marketplace.

How Rakuten Bank compares

Where Rakuten Bank is available

Available
Japan
Licence in Japan
Kanto Local Finance Bureau (deposit-taking institution registration) (第609号), checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What rate would I pay on a Rakuten Bank personal loan?+

Pricing is set per borrower, and the published range is 1.9% to 14.5%. Loans are priced on variable terms, so the rate can move while you hold the loan. Ask for your own quote before you commit to an amount.

How much can I borrow?+

The borrowing range is ¥100,000 to ¥8,000,000. The product covers credit line and personal, so you can take a personal loan for a set amount or draw against a credit line. credit line covers that revolving option.

Does Rakuten Bank run a credit check?+

It does. hard applies, meaning a full credit check is carried out before money is released. An application can therefore leave a record on your credit file, even if the loan does not go ahead.

Is Rakuten Bank regulated?+

Yes. It is registered with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau as a deposit-taking institution in Japan, registration 第609号. As a direct lender (direct lender) you deal with the bank itself rather than a broker.

How do I get help with my account?+

Support runs on phone and help centre, so you have a phone line and a help centre to work with. Because the lender is direct, there is no third party between you and the bank's own team when a question comes up.

Does Rakuten Bank offer a mortgage?+

It does. The home loan covers purchase and remortgage, so it can fund a purchase or a remortgage. 90% is the maximum loan to value, 35 is the fixed period, and ¥330,000 is the product fee.

Who is the lender behind Rakuten Bank?+

The borrowing entity is Rakuten Bank, Ltd., headquartered in Japan and founded in 2001. As a direct lender it sets its own pricing, which is why the published range is 1.9% to 14.5% rather than a panel of offers.

Should I compare Rakuten Bank with a fixed rate lender?+

It depends how much rate movement would bother you. This lender prices at variable terms, while Monzo Flex quotes 10% to 23% and Cashspace ES lists 0%. Weigh a stable rate against a lower entry rate.

Sources

  • rakuten-bank.co.jp/home-loan/flat35 checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Fixed period, Maximum loan to value, Product fee, Purpose

    “Repayment period: 15 years or more, up to 35 years; Flat35 is a whole-term fixed-rate mortgage”

  • rakuten-bank.co.jp/loan checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Loan amount, APR, Credit check, Features, Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity, Lender type, Loan types, Rate type, Support channels, Licences

    “© 2001 Rakuten Bank, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.”

Compiled from 2 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Term, Arrangement fee, Funding time, Representative example.

Rakuten Bank

Rakuten Bank

Japanese borrowers who want personal loans and a home loan from the same direct lender.

9.3/10See alternatives

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