{
  "id": 12199652,
  "title": "Sendai Bank gifts babies their weight at birth in money upon opening a new bank account",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/sendai-bank-gifts-babies-their-weight-at-birth-in-money-upon-opening",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-05T17:30:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SoraNews24",
    "slug": "soranews24",
    "url": "https://soranews24.com/2026/10/06/sendai-bank-gifts-babies-their-weight-at-birth-in-money-upon-opening-a-new-bank-account/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a unique initiative, Sendai Bank is offering to deposit an amount of money into newborn babies' bank accounts equal to their weight in grams at birth. This initiative starts on October 1, and it will be in effect for babies born in Miyagi Prefecture. The larger the baby, the bigger the monetary gift. For instance, a baby weighing 3,250 grams (approximately 7.17 pounds) will receive 3,250 yen (around US$20.59) in their bank account upon opening the first account in their name.\n\nThe idea for this program was conceived by an employee of the bank, and it aims to encourage families to continue using the bank's services as their child grows older. This monetary gift can also be utilized to help cover potential damages to parents' devices caused by the child in their early years.\n\nTo be eligible for this program, the child must be six years old or younger, have received a \"Sukusuku\" (\"healthy growing\") Box, and have a minimum deposit of 30,000 yen into the new bank account at the time of its creation. The \"Sukusuku\" Box is a project implemented in Miyagi Prefecture to provide childcare assistance and helpful items to new parents.\n\nTo ensure accuracy, Sendai Bank will verify the baby's weight at the time of birth using the official Maternal and Child Health Handbook, a guidebook distributed by local municipalities that tracks a baby's growth during pregnancy and postpartum by healthcare professionals. Parents cannot manipulate the numbers to make it appear that their baby was born heavier than it actually was, as the bank will confirm the weight through official records.",
  "summary": "Having a big baby may be decidedly not fun for the mother, the baby’s first bank account will positively rejoice! Beginning on October 1, babies in Miyagi Prefecture can receive celebratory money for being born–and the bigger the baby, the more the money. Sendai Bank will deposit the equivalent number of yen as the child’s […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Sendai Bank deposits newborns' weight in grams as monetary gift",
    "Initiative starts October 1 for Miyagi Prefecture births",
    "Larger babies receive more money, encourages long-term banking"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}