The real value is making touch payment your main at the convenience stores and restaurants you use and using up without waste — the high reward at eligible stores and SBI Securities linkage on top are just a bonus

Strategy by theme Published：2026-05-30 Updated：2026-06-21 16 min read

How V Point works — Mitsui Sumitomo Card × SBI Securities × what changed after the former-T merger

V Point is a common point launched in 2024 when the former T Point (TSUTAYA/CCC) and the former V Point (Mitsui Sumitomo Card) merged. The merger brought together the Mitsui Sumitomo Card's strength — high rewards via touch payment at eligible convenience stores and restaurants — with the broad reach of former T partner stores such as TSUTAYA and Welcia drug stores. Both the earning side and the spending side gained more options, but without understanding which context you are using, it is easy to miss opportunities.

This article covers V Point from the angles of how to earn (sorting out the entry points), accelerating with touch payment, SBI Securities and the SBI economic zone, the V Point App, how to spend (top-up / payment / Welcia shopping), post-merger migration checks, and expiry prevention. The Mitsui Sumitomo NL Card itself is covered in the NL Card article; the Welcia strategy in detail is at the Welcia article; how touch payment works is explained in the touch payment article. This article focuses specifically on V Point as a unit — how to earn and spend it. 1 point = 1 yen equivalent.

Where V Point comes from — three pillars and former-T partner stores

V Point can be earned through three main pillars: ① Mitsui Sumitomo Card spending, ② credit-card fund accumulation at SBI Securities, ③ former-T partner stores and V Point affiliated stores. Which pillar you make primary shapes how you design your daily payments.

Entry point	How it earns	Best for
Mitsui Sumitomo Card (touch payment at eligible stores)	High reward at eligible convenience stores and restaurants — conditions apply	People who use convenience stores and eat out frequently
Mitsui Sumitomo Card (regular spending)	Earns broadly even outside eligible stores (lower rate)	People who want this card as their main everyday card
SBI Securities card accumulation	Points awarded proportional to investment trust contributions	People who invest or plan to invest via SBI Securities
Former-T partner stores / V Point affiliated stores	Points at TSUTAYA, Welcia, and other partner stores	Former T members; people who shop at Welcia regularly

※ Rates, eligible stores, and conditions can change. Always check the Mitsui Sumitomo Card official site and each partner store for the latest. The "0.5%+" rate on regular spending has been stable for a long time, but verify exact figures on the official site.

The key principle: do not force spending at stores you do not normally use just to earn more points. Build a setup where V Point accumulates naturally through what you already do — card payments and investment contributions.

The three pillars can be combined, but it is best to first pick the one entry point that best fits your daily routine as your main axis. If you use convenience stores and eat out often, lead with touch payments; if you invest, use card-based fund accumulation; if you frequent Welcia, go through former-T partner stores. Set your axis, and pick up the rest only as a bonus. Even if you earn through several entry points, everything is awarded into a single V point, so there is no worry about your earnings being scattered — that is the upside of the merger. Rather than changing your life for high rewards, design around the entry point where you naturally earn the most in your usual routine.

Touch payment is the main driver of V Point acceleration — eligible stores and conditions explained

The defining feature of the Mitsui Sumitomo Card is the high reward when using touch payment (Visa Contactless or Mastercard® Contactless) at eligible stores including convenience stores and restaurant chains. From an earning perspective, this is not "high rewards whenever you tap anywhere" — the high-reward condition only applies at specifically designated eligible stores, and only when you pay by touch.

Check the eligible-store list: Look up the "eligible store list" on the Mitsui Sumitomo Card official site to confirm whether the convenience stores or restaurants you actually go to are included. Stores outside the list earn at the regular rate.
Confirm the touch payment method: iD mobile payment, regular card insertion, or magnetic stripe swipe may not qualify. You need to pay with Visa Contactless or Mastercard® Contactless specifically.
Monthly reward cap applies: The high reward typically has a monthly cap on the number of points. After hitting the cap, earnings revert to the regular rate.
Conditions differ by card tier: The NL Card, Gold Card NL, Platinum Preferred, and other tiers have different reward rates and caps. See the NL Card article for details.

For a full explanation of how touch payment works, see the touch payment article. For V Point purposes, the three things to keep in mind are: "is it an eligible store?", "am I paying by touch?", and "have I hit the monthly cap?".

SBI Securities and the SBI economic zone — investing earns V Point too

One of V Point's distinctive features is the Mitsui Sumitomo Card × SBI Securities connection: earning points through investment. When you use a Mitsui Sumitomo Card for credit-card fund accumulation (automatic investment trust contributions) at SBI Securities, you receive V Point proportional to the contribution amount.

SBI linkage	Relationship with V Point	Key cautions
Credit-card fund accumulation (investment trust)	V Point awarded on contribution amount	Investments carry principal-loss risk; award rate varies by card tier
Buying investment trusts with V Point	1 point = 1 yen equivalent toward fund purchases	Eligible funds — check official site
Using other SBI economic-zone services	Linkage with Sumishin SBI Net Bank, SBI Shinsei Bank, etc.	Check conditions for each service

The award rate for card accumulation varies by card type. Rates, eligible funds, and contribution caps are subject to revision. Always check the SBI Securities and Mitsui Sumitomo Card official sites for current conditions. Increasing your investment amount just to earn more points is getting the priorities backwards — invest within your own risk tolerance and financial goals, and treat the point benefit as a side effect.

The V Point App — top up your points and spend them like a Visa prepaid card

The V Point App lets you load your accumulated V Point as a Visa prepaid balance and spend it anywhere Visa is accepted — both in-store and online. Beyond the old-style "show your T card at the register" approach, using the app as a Visa prepaid card is what sets it apart.

Top up and pay: Load V Point into the app and pay at any Visa-accepting location. 1 point = 1 yen equivalent.
Migrating from the former T Point App: Former T Point App users need to complete the migration to the V Point App. Check your balance and linked-service status in the app.
Difference from the Mitsui Sumitomo Card Vpass App: The Vpass App is mainly for card management and billing review. The V Point App is a separate app that functions as the "spending wallet" for your points.
App-exclusive campaigns: The V Point App occasionally runs exclusive bonuses and campaigns. Check the official app for the latest.

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"Earn with your card, spend through the app" is the basic flow. Use your Mitsui Sumitomo Card for everyday spending to accumulate V Point, then top up the V Point App and use it wherever you like. At 1 point = 1 yen, the math is simple and any Visa-accepting location becomes an exit for your points. Rather than being restricted to former T partner stores, running it as a "spend-anywhere prepaid card" is the app's main advantage.

How to spend V Point — top-up, bill offset, Welcia shopping, investing, exchange

V Point has a wide variety of spending exits. The key is deciding in advance which exit you can reliably use up your points through without waste.

Spending method	Characteristics	Best for
Card bill offset (cashback)	1 point = 1 yen off your card balance	People who want a simple, cash-equivalent return
V Point App top-up → Visa payment	1 point = 1 yen anywhere Visa is accepted	People who want maximum flexibility in where they spend
Welcia shopping (20th of each month)	Points can be used at Welcia and Hack Drugstore with boosted value (conditions apply — verify)	Welcia regulars. See the Welcia article
Invest at SBI Securities (point investment)	1 point = 1 yen equivalent toward investment trust purchases	People combining investing and point utilization
Exchange for other points or gift cards	Exchange to partner points or gifts (check exchange rates)	People who concentrate points in another loyalty program

The Welcia shopping strategy (using points at Welcia on the 20th of each month) is popular, but the conditions, multiplier, and eligible products are subject to change. See the Welcia article for step-by-step details. For a broader comparison of point spending methods, see the point spending guide.

You will stay on track if you separate exits into a basic one you can reliably use at 1 point = 1 yen, and one whose value may rise depending on conditions. The former is statement credit or the V Point app (Visa prepaid), where you can use up even small remainders without waste. The latter is a conditional use like Welcia activation, which you only need to pursue when it fits your life. Deciding on one reliable exit first prevents the most wasteful pattern of all — never settling on a use and letting points sit until they expire. For exits whose multiplier or eligibility changes easily, check the latest officially right before you act.

Post-merger migration checklist — what former-T users need to verify

The 2024 former-T / former-V merger was a major structural change. If you were a T Point user before the merger, running through the following checks will help you avoid losing points or missing linkages.

Confirm your balance was migrated: Check via the app or web whether your former T Point balance has been converted to V Point. If not, a manual procedure may be required.
Re-verify linked services: Confirm whether services you had linked under T (e.g. TSUTAYA) are still connected and accumulating V Point correctly. Some services changed their earning behavior after the merger.
Switch from the T Point card to the V Point App: The swipe-to-show T Point card has been integrated into the V Point App. You will need to migrate to the app and start using the barcode there instead.
Check whether migration bonus points have expired: If you received bonus points as part of the merger transition or had limited-time T Point balances, verify whether they are still valid.
Verify former-V linked services: SMBC group service linkages generally continue, but some conditions have changed. Check each service's official information.

Do not leave anything about the migration unclear; it is safest to check the V Point app help or official support early. People who only used the former-T show-the-card type especially may find they cannot earn or use points without migrating to the app, so after the merger, first finish logging into the app and checking your balance. Check early — together with the expiry dates — whether any migration bonus granted at the time, or former-T era limited-time points, are still left, and you can prevent expiry you never noticed.

Preventing point expiry — managing limited-time points

V Point has two types: regular points and limited-time points. Limited-time points are typically awarded through campaigns and welcome bonuses and can have short expiry windows.

Regular point expiry: Usually valid for a set period from the last earning or spending activity. Using points generally resets the expiry clock (confirm on the official site).
Use limited-time points first: Regularly check the Vpass App or V Point App for your limited-time balance and expiry dates, and spend the most time-sensitive points first.
Avoid letting small balances expire: Topping up the V Point App and using it for Visa payments makes it easy to spend down even small amounts. For bill offsets, confirm the minimum redemption amount.
Burn limited-time points through the Welcia strategy: Using limited-time points for your monthly Welcia shopping on the 20th is a commonly used method (see the Welcia article).
Set push notifications: Enable push notifications in the Vpass App or V Point App to avoid missing expiry deadlines.

For general point expiry prevention strategies, see the expiry prevention article.

Mini glossary — key V Point terms

Here are the terms behind the basic V Point flow of "earn with your card, spend through the app." Reward rates, eligible stores, and award rates are subject to change — always check the Mitsui Sumitomo Card, SBI Securities, and each partner store's official site, as well as ポイナビ, for the latest (1 point = 1 yen equivalent).

Term	Meaning	Key caution
V Point (former T + former V merger)	Common point launched by the 2024 merger	Earning and spending unified into one
Touch payment (eligible stores · cap)	High reward when paying by touch at eligible stores	Confirm method, cap, and eligible stores
Credit-card accumulation (SBI Securities)	Points awarded on investment trust contributions by card	Investing carries risk — do not overextend
V Point App (Visa prepaid)	The "spending wallet" for accumulated points	A separate app from the Vpass App
Welcia strategy	Using points at Welcia stores with enhanced value	Conditions and multiplier — confirm before use
Regular / limited-time points	Points with longer / shorter expiry windows	Use limited-time points first

Terms and current conditions change. See also the NL Card article · the touch payment article · the Welcia article · the expiry prevention article.

Frequently asked questions

Is V Point the same as the old T Point or old V Point?

In 2024, the former T Point (Culture Convenience Club / TSUTAYA) and the former V Point (Mitsui Sumitomo Card) merged to become the current "V Point." This brought together the wide partner-store coverage of former T Point and the high touch-payment rewards of the Mitsui Sumitomo Card into a single point. Former T Point users should check that their balance has been migrated and that they have switched to the V Point App.

What is the most efficient way to earn V Point?

If the convenience stores and restaurants you regularly visit are on the Mitsui Sumitomo Card eligible-store list, making touch payment your default is the most efficient approach. If you invest at SBI Securities, using a Mitsui Sumitomo Card for your fund accumulation also earns points. The core principle is not to start going to stores you do not normally use just for the higher reward — build a setup where earning happens naturally within your existing habits. Rates and conditions change, so check the official site for current figures.

Can I use V Point without the V Point App?

Yes — exits like card bill offset (cashback) and SBI Securities point investing do not require the app. However, using V Point as a "spend anywhere Visa prepaid card" does require the V Point App. The former T Point card (swipe-to-show type) at partner stores has also been integrated into the app. Whether you need the app depends on how you want to spend your points.

Is the Welcia point strategy still available with V Point?

The Welcia and Hack Drugstore strategy — using V Point (rooted in the former T system) — is ongoing, but conditions, multipliers, and eligible products are subject to change. The event typically falls on the 20th of each month, but check the Welcia official site for current terms. Step-by-step details are in the Welcia article.

Where can I check my limited-time points?

Log in to the Vpass App or V Point App to see both your regular and limited-time point balances along with their expiry dates. Limited-time points often have short windows, so enable push notifications and make a habit of checking periodically. Folding them into your monthly Welcia shopping on the 20th is a reliable way to use them before they expire.

What is the risk of earning V Point through SBI Securities card accumulation?

Earning V Point through credit-card fund accumulation at SBI Securities is appealing, but investment trusts are not guaranteed — your balance can go below what you contributed. Do not increase your contribution amount just because points come with it. Only invest within your means and with a clear understanding of the risk involved. Award rates and eligible funds are subject to revision; check the SBI Securities official site for current information.

Can I earn V Point without a Mitsui Sumitomo Card?

Yes. The high touch-payment rewards through the Mitsui Sumitomo Card are a major draw, but there are other earning paths: ① shopping or presenting your card at V Point affiliated stores and former T partner stores (TSUTAYA, Welcia, etc.), ② using the V Point App (Visa prepaid), ③ in some cases, converting points earned on point sites into V Point (availability and rates vary — check ポイナビ and official sites). Looking at points activity overall, you can also accumulate rewards through point-site shopping and campaigns, then consolidate them into V Point via exchange (availability and rates change over time). That said, to get the most out of V Point's strongest earning modes — high touch-payment rewards at convenience stores and restaurants, and SBI Securities card accumulation — having a Mitsui Sumitomo Card makes a significant difference. Start by assessing your daily routine (stores you visit, whether you invest) and decide whether the card's benefits outweigh the cost. For a card-specific breakdown, see the NL Card article.

How should I split V Point across Rakuten, d Point, and other loyalty programs?

The core approach is to pick one economic zone that best fits your daily life and earns the most usable rewards, then let V Point fill the roles where its strengths shine. V Point's strengths come down to three things: ① high touch-payment rewards at eligible convenience stores and restaurants, ② investment linkage with SBI Securities, ③ the Welcia strategy at Welcia stores. If these fit your lifestyle, V Point is worth treating as a primary program. If your main spending is on Rakuten Ichiba or within the NTT Docomo ecosystem, make those your primary and treat V Point as a supplement (dedicated to convenience-store payments, investing, and the Welcia strategy). Splitting points across too many programs makes each harder to accumulate and easier to let expire — pick one primary program, build it up deeply, and decide in advance where you will spend (bill offset, Visa prepaid, Welcia strategy, point investing). For a broader comparison of economic zones, see the economic zone comparison article; for managing multiple point programs, see the multi-program management article.

Is it fine to keep both the V Point app and the old T-Point app?

The old T-Point app is meant to be migrated to the V Point app. After migrating, everything is unified into the new V Point app, so rather than continuing to use the old app, confirm that your balance and linkages are correctly reflected in the new one. If you are not sure which app your balance appears in, checking the migration steps and reflection status in each official help is the surest. Unifying into one app also makes managing the expiry of limited-time points easier.

Can I convert accumulated V points into cash?

Cashing out by transferring directly to a bank account is basically not possible, but using statement credit (cash back) lets you apply points to your card balance at 1 point = 1 yen, which effectively reduces your spending — a use close to cash. You can also charge them into the V Point app and pay as Visa prepaid, using them up just like cash. Statement credit may have a minimum redemption amount, so check the conditions officially before using it.

Compare Mitsui Sumitomo Card offers that earn V Point → Read the Welcia strategy article

This article was written from publicly available information on each point site as of 2026-06-21. Cashback rates, campaign terms, and redemption rules can change without notice — always check each site's official page for the latest. This site uses each point site's referral program, but going through a referral link never changes the rate you receive.