Article 1The purpose of this Act is to provide for procedures for expiry of claims on deposits, etc., procedures for payment of damage recovery benefits, and other matters for the payment, etc. of damage recovery benefits to persons who suffer damage from criminal conduct, including fraud committed by means of transfer to a deposit account, etc., thereby contributing to the prompt recovery, etc. from property damage of persons who suffer damage from that criminal conduct.

Article 2(1)The term "financial institution" as used in this Act means the following:

(2)The term "deposit account, etc." as used in this Act means a deposit account or savings account (including a deposit account or savings account after a financial institution has cancelled the contract related to the accounts and taken measures to manage funds in the account separately in the form of deposits, etc. because the account has been used for criminal conduct).

(3)The term "criminal conduct by means of transfer" as used in this Act means criminal conduct constituting a crime of causing damage to another person's property, including fraud, which is committed by having money transferred to a deposit account, etc. from the person who has suffered the damage, as a means of obtaining property.

(4)The term "deposit account, etc. used for crime" as used in this Act means the following deposit accounts, etc.:

(5)The term "damage recovery benefits" as used in this Act means money to be paid by a financial institution using money worth an amount equivalent to the amount of a claim on deposits or savings (hereinafter referred to as "deposits, etc.") that has expired pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, with the amount being calculated pursuant to the provisions of Chapter IV on the basis of the value of the property lost due to criminal conduct by means of transfer.

Article 3(1)If a financial institution suspects that a deposit account, etc. held therewith is a deposit account, etc. used for crime in light of circumstances including the fact that the investigating authorities, etc. have provided information concerning the unauthorized use of the deposit account, etc., the financial institution is to take appropriate measures, including suspension of transactions involved in the deposit account, etc.

(2)In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, if the financial institution suspects that a deposit account, etc. held with another financial institution has been used for the purpose of moving funds in the deposit account, etc. referred to in that paragraph in light of circumstances including the status of transactions involved in the deposit account, etc., the financial institution is to provide that other financial institution with necessary information.

Article 4(1)If a financial institution finds probable cause to suspect that a deposit account, etc. held therewith is a deposit account, etc. used for crime in light of circumstances including the following grounds, it must promptly take measures, including as suspension of transactions involved in the deposit account, etc., if no relevant measures have been taken yet, and submit a request asking the Deposit Insurance Corporation to give public notice concerning the commencement of the procedure for expiry of a claim on deposits, etc. held in the deposit account, etc., with documents specified by order of the competent ministry attached, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry:

(2)The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply if the case falls under either of the following items:

(3)If a financial institution finds probable cause to suspect that a deposit account, etc. held with another financial institution has been used for the purpose of moving funds in the deposit account, etc. referred to in paragraph (1) in light of circumstances including the status of transactions involved in the deposit account, etc., the financial institution is to give notice to that other financial institution of the matters specified by order of the competent ministry concerning the deposit account, etc. referred to in that paragraph.

Article 5(1)The Deposit Insurance Corporation must give public notice of the following information without delay, upon the request pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, based on the content of the document pertaining to the request or documents specified by order of the competent ministry prescribed in that paragraph:

(2)The period set forth in item (v) of the preceding paragraph must be not less than 60 days from the day following the day on which the public notice pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph has been given.

(3)If the Deposit Insurance Corporation finds any deficiency in formalities in the document pertaining to a request pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article or documents specified by order of the competent ministry prescribed in that paragraph, it may request the financial institution to correct the deficiency, specifying a reasonable period of time.

(4)If a financial institution receives a report of damage from criminal conduct by means of transfer involving a subject deposit account, etc. within the period set forth in paragraph (1), item (v), it is to take appropriate measures to ensure that it is convenient for the person who makes the report to apply for payment of damage recovery benefits.

(5)Beyond what is provided for in paragraphs (1) to (3), necessary matters concerning public notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) are prescribed by order of the competent ministry.

Article 6(1)If a financial institution receives a notification of exercise of rights, etc. within the period set forth in paragraph (1), item (v) of the preceding Article, it must give notice to the Deposit Insurance Corporation to that effect.

(2)If it becomes clear within the period set forth in paragraph (1), item (v) of the preceding Article that the subject deposit account, etc. is not a deposit account, etc. used for crime, the financial institution must give notice to the Deposit Insurance Corporation to that effect.

(3)If the Deposit Insurance Corporation receives the notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, it must give public notice of the termination of the procedure for expiry of the claim on deposits, etc.

Article 7If, with regard to a subject claim on deposits, etc., no notification of exercise of rights, etc. is made within the period set forth in Article 5, paragraph (1), item (v) and no notice is given pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, the subject claim on deposits, etc. expires.In this case, the Deposit Insurance Corporation must give public notice to that effect.

Article 26In order to achieve the purpose referred to in paragraph (1), the Deposit Insurance Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "corporation") conducts the following operations beyond the operations prescribed in Article 34 of the Deposit Insurance Act (Act No. 34 of 1971):

Article 27Public notice pursuant to the provisions of this Act must be given by posting the relevant information on the Internet for public inspection.

Article 28The corporation must separate the accounting for the operations pursuant to the provisions of Article 26 (hereinafter referred to as the "damage recovery benefits payment operations") from the accounting for other operations and manage it in a special account.

Article 29(1)If the corporation finds it necessary in order to conduct damage recovery benefits payment operations, it may borrow funds (including refinancing) from a financial institution or any other person with the authorization of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance.

(2)The outstanding amount of borrowings pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must not exceed the amount specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 30(1)The corporation may collect an amount of fees set by the corporation in accordance with a resolution reached by the Policy Board (meaning the Policy Board prescribed in Article 14 of the Deposit Insurance Act) in consideration of the expenses required for the administration of damage recovery benefits payment operations, from a financial institution that makes a request pursuant to the provisions of Article 4, paragraph (1) or Article 10, paragraph (1).

(2)If the corporation intends to set or revise the amount of fees prescribed in the preceding paragraph, it must obtain authorization from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance.

Article 31If the corporation conducts its operations pursuant to this Act, the provisions of the Deposit Insurance Act are applied in addition to the provisions of this Act. In this case: the term "matters" in Article 15, item (v) of that Act is deemed to be replaced with "matters (excluding those relating to the corporation's operations pursuant to the provisions of the Act on Payment of Damage Recovery Benefits from Funds in Deposit Accounts Used for Crime (Act No. 133 of 2007; hereinafter referred to as the "Damage Recovery Benefits Payment Act")"; in Article 37, paragraph (1) of that Act, the phrase "operations set forth in the following items" is deemed to be replaced with "operations set forth in the following items (in the case of conducting operations pursuant to the provisions of the Damage Recovery Benefits Payment Act, those operations)", and the phrase "persons specified respectively in those items" is deemed to be replaced with "persons specified respectively in those items (in the case of conducting operations pursuant to the provisions of the Damage Recovery Benefits Payment Act, the financial institution prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the that Act)"; the term "specified holding company, etc." in Article 37, paragraph (2) of the Deposit Insurance Act is deemed to be replaced with "specified holding company, etc. (in the case of conducting operations pursuant to the provisions of the Damage Recovery Benefits Payment Act, the financial institution prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (1) of that Act)"; the term "this Act" in Article 44, Article 45, paragraph (2), and Article 46, paragraph (1) of the Deposit Insurance Act is deemed to be replaced with "this Act or the Damage Recovery Benefits Payment Act"; the phrase "operations (excluding the operations set forth in Article 40-2, item (ii))" in Article 51, paragraph (2) of the Deposit Insurance Act is deemed to be replaced with "operations (excluding those set forth in Article 40-2, item (ii) and the damage recovery benefits payment operations prescribed in Article 28 of the Damage Recovery Benefits Payment Act)"; the term "this Act" in Article 152, item (i) of the Deposit Insurance Act is deemed to be replaced with "this Act or the Damage Recovery Benefits Payment Act"; and the phrase "operations prescribed in Article 34" in item (iii) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "operations prescribed in Article 34 and the operations pursuant to the provisions of the Damage Recovery Benefits Payment Act."

Article 32A financial institution may request necessary cooperation from relevant administrative organs for the implementation of the procedures prescribed in this Act.

Article 33A financial institution must manage money to be used for payment of damage recovery benefits separately from its own property or other property.

Article 34A request pursuant to the provisions of Article 4, paragraph (1) (including the submission of documents specified by order of the competent ministry referred to in that paragraph), notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 5, paragraph (1), item (vii), notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2), request pursuant to the provisions of Article 10, paragraph (1) (including the submission of documents specified by order of the competent ministry referred to in that paragraph), notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of that Article, notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 11, paragraph (1), item (vii), notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 16, paragraph (3), request pursuant to the provisions of Article 18, paragraph (1), and notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 25, paragraph (3) may be made or given by submitting electronic or magnetic records (meaning records specified by order of the competent ministry as those used in computerized information processing which are created in electronic form, magnetic form, or any other form that cannot be perceived by the human senses) or using electronic or magnetic means (meaning a method of using information and communication technology, including an electronic data processing system, which is specified by order of the competent ministry).

Article 35(1)If an administrative agency finds it necessary in order to ensure the smooth implementation of this Act, it may require a financial institution (including a financial institution agent (meaning a bank agent prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (15) of the Banking Act (Act No. 59 of 1981), a long-term credit bank agent prescribed in Article 16-5, paragraph (3) of the Long-term Credit Bank Act (Act No. 187 of 1952), a shinkin bank agent prescribed in Article 85-2, paragraph (3) of the Shinkin Bank Act (Act No. 238 of 1951), a credit cooperative agent prescribed in Article 6-3, paragraph (3) of the Act on Financial Businesses by Cooperative (Act No. 183 of 1949), a labor bank agent prescribed in Article 89-3, paragraph (3) of the Labor Bank Act (Act No. 227 of 1953), a specified credit business agent prescribed in Article 92-2, paragraph (3) of the Agricultural Cooperatives Act (Act No. 132 of 1947), a specified credit business agent prescribed in Article 121-2, paragraph (3) of the Fishery Cooperatives Act (Act No. 242 of 1948), a Norinchukin Bank agent prescribed in Article 95-2, paragraph (3) of the Norinchukin Bank Act (Act No. 93 of 2001), and the other party to a contract pertaining to an agency or intermediary prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (4) of the Shoko Chukin Bank, Ltd. Act (Act No. 74 of 2007); hereinafter the same applies in this Article and the following Article)) or a bank holding company, etc. (meaning a bank holding company prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (13) of the Banking Act or a long-term credit bank holding company prescribed in Article 16-4, paragraph (1) of the Long-term Credit Bank Act; hereinafter the same applies in this Article and the following Article) to submit reports or materials concerning the status of its business or property.

(2)If an administrative agency finds it particularly necessary in order to ensure the smooth implementation of this Act, it may, to the necessary extent, require a subsidiary company of a financial institution or bank holding company, etc. (hereinafter referred to as a "financial institution, etc." in this Article and the following Article) ("subsidiary company" means: the subsidiary company prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (8) of the Banking Act if the relevant financial institution, etc. is a bank prescribed in paragraph (1) of that Article or a bank holding company prescribed in paragraph (13) of that Article; the subsidiary company prescribed in Article 13-2, paragraph (2) of the Long-term Credit Bank Act if the relevant financial institution, etc. is a long-term credit bank prescribed in Article 2 of that Act or a long-term credit bank holding company prescribed in Article 16-4, paragraph (1) of that Act; the subsidiary company prescribed in Article 32, paragraph (6) of the Shinkin Bank Act if the relevant financial institution, etc. is a shinkin bank or federation of shinkin banks; the subsidiary company prescribed in Article 4, paragraph (1) of the Act on Financial Businesses by Cooperative if the relevant financial institution, etc. is a credit cooperative or federation of credit cooperatives; the subsidiary company prescribed in Article 32, paragraph (5) of the Labor Bank Act if the relevant financial institution, etc. is a labor bank or federation of labor banks; the subsidiary company prescribed in Article 11-2, paragraph (2) if the relevant financial institution, etc. is an agricultural cooperative or federation of agricultural cooperatives; the subsidiary company prescribed in Article 11-6, paragraph (2) of the Fishery Cooperatives Act if the relevant financial institution, etc. is a fisheries cooperative or federation of fisheries cooperatives, or a fishery processing cooperative or federation of fishery processing cooperatives; the subsidiary company prescribed in Article 24, paragraph (4) of the Norinchukin Bank Act if the relevant financial institution, etc. is the Norinchukin Bank; or the subsidiary company prescribed in Article 23, paragraph (2) of the Shoko Chukin Bank, Ltd. Act if the relevant financial institution, etc. is Shoko Chukin Bank, Ltd. (including companies that are deemed to be subsidiary companies); the same applies in the following paragraph and the following Article) or a person who has undertaken business entrusted by the financial institution, etc. (excluding financial institution agents; the same applies in the following paragraph and paragraphs (2) and (5) of the following Article) to submit reports or materials that would serve as reference information concerning the status of the business or property of the financial institution, etc.

(3)A subsidiary company of a financial institution, etc. or person who has undertaken business entrusted by a financial institution, etc. may refuse to submit reports or materials pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph if the subsidiary company or person has reasonable grounds for refusing to do so.

Article 36(1)If an administrative agency finds it necessary in order to ensure the smooth implementation of this Act, it may have its officials enter facilities including business offices and offices of a financial institution, etc. (including financial institution agents), ask questions concerning the status of the business and property of the financial institution. etc., or inspect its items including books and documents.

(2)If an administrative agency finds it particularly necessary when conducting the entry, questioning or inspection pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it may, to the necessary extent, have its officials enter facilities of a subsidiary company of the relevant financial institution, etc. or person who has undertaken business entrusted by the relevant financial institution, etc., ask questions concerning matters, or inspect items including books and documents as necessary for the questioning or inspection of the relevant financial institution, etc.

(3)In the cases referred to in the preceding two paragraphs, the officials must carry their identification cards and present them when requested by persons concerned.

(4)The authority pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) must not be construed as being granted for criminal investigation purposes.

(5)The provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the questioning and inspection, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2), of a subsidiary company of a financial institution, etc. or person who has undertaken business entrusted by a financial institution, etc. .

(6)If an administrative agency finds it necessary, it may have the corporation conduct the entry, questioning or inspection pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) (limited to those to be conducted to investigate the appropriate implementation of the procedures pursuant to the provisions of Chapters III and IV).In this case, the corporation is to have its staff conduct the entry, questioning or inspection.

(7)The provisions of paragraphs (3) through (5) apply mutatis mutandis to the entry, questioning or inspection pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 37(1)In order to ensure the smooth implementation of this Act, the government is to endeavor to raise awareness through publicity activities, etc. and gain understanding among the public with regard to the purpose of this Act, which is to contribute to the prompt recovery, etc. of property damage of persons who have suffered damage from criminal conduct by means of transfer, and with regard to matters concerning the procedure for payment of damage recovery benefits, and other matters in this Act.

(2)The corporation is to publish information concerning expired claims on deposits, etc. and the status of implementation of this Act, including the implementation of payment of damage recovery benefits, at least once every year.

Article 38Beyond what is provided for in this Act, matters necessary for the implementation of this Act are prescribed by order of the competent ministry.

Article 39Administrative agencies under this Act are the persons specified in each of the following items according to the categories set forth respectively in those items:

Article 40The order of the competent ministry under this Act includes Cabinet Office Order, Ministry of Finance Order, Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Order of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; provided, however, that the order of the competent ministry prescribed in Article 20, paragraph (1) includes only Cabinet Office Order and Ministry of Finance Order.

Article 41(1)The Prime Minister delegates the authority under this Act to the Commissioner of the Financial Services Agency.

(2)Affairs under the authority of administrative agencies prescribed in this Act (excluding affairs placed under the authority of prefectural governors pursuant to the provisions of this Act) may be partially assigned to prefectural governors, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.

(3)Beyond what is provided for in the preceding two paragraphs, necessary matters concerning the exercise of authority by administrative agencies pursuant to the provisions of this Act are prescribed by Cabinet Order.

Article 42Affairs to be handled by prefectures pursuant to the provisions of this Act are item (i) statutory entrusted functions prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (9), item (i) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947).

Article 43(1)A person who does not submit a report or material pursuant to the provisions of Article 35, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) or submits a false report or material is subject to imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine of not more than three million yen.

(2)The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply to a person who does not give an answer or gives a false answer to questioning by the relevant administrative agency's officials or the corporation's staff pursuant to the provisions of Article 36, paragraph (1), paragraph (2) or paragraph (6), or has refused, obstructed or evaded an inspection pursuant to these provisions.

Article 44A person who falls under any of the following items is subject to a fine of not more than 500,000 yen:

Article 45(1)If the representative or administrator of a corporation (including an organization without legal personality for which a representative or administrator is appointed; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph), or the agent, employee or any other worker of a corporation or an individual has commits a violation set forth in the following items in connection with the business of the corporation or individual, beyond the offender being subject to punishment, the corporation is subject to the fine specified in the relevant item and the individual is subject to the fine referred to in the relevant Article:

(2)When the provisions of the preceding paragraph apply to an organization without legal personality, its representative or administrator represents the organization in connection with its procedural acts, and the provisions of laws concerning criminal procedure of cases in which a corporation is the accused or a suspect apply mutatis mutandis.