"Cash Equal to Your Baby's Weight"... Japanese Bank Offers a Surprising Perk for New Parents

Sendai Bank to Pay 1 Yen for Every Gram of a Baby's Birth Weight
Benefit Available to Families Supported by Miyagi Prefecture Childcare Program

A regional bank in Japan has launched an unusual service that gives customers cash equal to a baby’s birth weight.

Photo for illustrative purposes only; unrelated to the specific content. Pexels.

According to Japanese media outlet SoraNews24 on October 6, The Sendai Bank in Miyagi Prefecture launched a promotion on October 1. When a child who meets certain requirements opens their first bank account in their own name, the bank deposits an amount of yen equal to the child’s birth weight into the account.

For example, a child who weighed 3,250 grams at birth would receive 3,250 yen (about 27,500 won) upon opening an account.

Sendai Bank logo. Sendai Bank website.

The idea originated with a proposal from a Sendai Bank employee. The bank hopes that this benefit commemorating a child’s birth will encourage families to continue banking with it for years, even after their children grow up.

Applicants must meet several requirements to receive the benefit. The offer is for children aged 6 or younger whose families received support through “Sukusukubako” (hereinafter, the “Sukusuku Box”), a child-rearing support program in Miyagi Prefecture.

A “Sukusuku Bako” childcare box received by a resident of Fukushima. The contents may vary by region. Screenshot from Threads @fukushima_sukusukubako

The Sukusuku Box is a child-rearing support program organized by Kahoku Shimpo and Miyagi Co-op and supported by Miyagi Prefecture. It provides families in the prefecture with newborns with baby boxes containing various childcare products donated by sponsoring companies, free of charge.

When an eligible family opens a new account and deposits at least 30,000 yen, an amount of yen equal to the child’s birth weight is deposited into the account as a congratulatory gift. The benefit is available only once per child.

Parents cannot enter the birth weight themselves. The bank checks the weight recorded in the Maternal and Child Health Handbook issued by the local government and determines the payment accordingly. Children who already have an account in their own name may not be eligible for the benefit.

The bank said, “Recently in Japan, financial institutions and local governments have introduced various support programs targeting families raising children as part of efforts to address the declining birthrate and attract customers. We hope this program will provide practical help to families by directly supporting them with childcare products and linking a cash benefit directly to a child’s birth weight.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.