Banking in Israel

Not all branches of Israeli banks allow non-citizens to open accounts. Below is a list of banks that serve non-citizens. In addition to checking the list, it is a good idea to talk to the international coordinator at your university before opening a bank account; they will likely be able to help you choose the most convenient bank and branch.

Israel’s three most popular banks are Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi and Israel Discount Bank. Smaller banks include Bank Benleumi and Bank Mizrahi-Tefahot. There are not many practical differences among the various banks, so it is important to consider geography and accessibility. Make sure to note the hours at your local branch since they can vary between branches and may be different from what’s common in your home country. 

Not having an Israeli ID number makes it more difficult to use both phone and digital banking services. Discount Bank gives account holders a non-citizen ID number for use in the bank and on their app. At other banks, you may need to return to the branch where you opened your account to make transactions or access other services (except for ATM services). 

Your banking experience will be considerably easier if you can find a personal banker who speaks English. This may not be possible, especially in cities such as Haifa and Be’er Sheva where there are fewer English speakers. 

For many nationalities, to open a local Israeli bank account you will need to provide:

• Your passport
• A second photo ID from your home country, such as a driver’s license
• An Israeli student card
• A certificate of enrolment in an Israeli university
• Your Israeli visa
• A tax ID number from your home country
• Your local phone number in Israel 

Note: This list can vary based on your country of origin; U.S. citizens, in particular, will need to fill out additional forms. 

Once you have opened an account, the bank will send you a debit card. The charges on the card are automatically deducted from your account at the end of the month. 

Despite having the card, it is also a good idea to order cheques when you open your account, as many Israeli landlords prefer payment in cheque form.

Jerusalem

International students and postdoctoral fellows at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have had success with the following banks:

• Bank Hapoalim (near the Mount Scopus campus)
  • • •  French Hill Branch, 21 Haganah St.
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30
      • Tel: *2407

• Post Office (French Hill)
  • • •  Aba Berdichev St.
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:00–20:00; Mon., Wed.: 8:00–13:30; Fri.: 8:00–12:00
      • Tel.: 03-503-0651

• Discount Bank (Jerusalem Center)
  • • •  Clal Center, Jaffa Rd. 5
      • Sun.: 8:30–13:00; Mon.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30; Tue.: 8:30–13:00; Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30; Thu.: 8:30–14:00
      • Tel.: 076-8052947 or *6111

• Bank Leumi (near Edmond Safra Campus at Givat Ram)
  • • • Beit HaKerem Branch, 106 Herzl St.
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:00
      • Tel.: 03-954-5522

Some other Jerusalem banks that accept non-citizen customers include:

• Bank Hapoalim
  • • • Technology Park Branch (599), Technology Park St., Malha Mall, Building 2-3
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30
      • Tel.: *2407

• Discount Bank
  • • • Rehavia Branch (66), Keren Hayesod St. 5
      • Sun.: 8:30–13:00; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:00; Tue., Thu.: 8:30–14:00; Holidays: 8:30–12:00
      • Tel.: 076-8052947 or *6111

and 

• • • • Jerusalem Center (159), Yaffo St. 103
      • Sun.: 8:30–13:00; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00 or 16:00–18:00; Tue., Thu.: 8:30–14:00; Holidays: 8:30–12:00
      • Tel.: 076-8053017 or *6111

• Bank Benleumi
  • • •  Jerusalem Main Branch (012), 10 Hillel St.
      • Sun. to Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 16:00–18:30
      • Tel.: 02-6756888

• Mizrahi Tefahot
  • • •  Jerusalem Business Center (403), 9 Heleni Hamalka St.
      • Sun. to Thu.: 9:00–14:00; Mon., Wed.: 16:00–18:00
      • Tel.: 076-8040030 or *8860

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv University recommends the following two branches of Bank Hapoalim, which are close to campus:

• Ramat Aviv Gimmel
  • • • Abba Akhime’ir Street 33, Ramat Aviv
      • Sun., Tue.: 9:00–14:00; Mon., Wed., Thu.: 9:00–13:30 and 16:00–18:30
      • Tel.: 03-653-2407
      • Contact: Galina Dubrinski

• Avivim
  • • • Brodetski Street 43
      • Sun., Tue.: 9:00–14:00; Mon., Wed., Thu.: 9:00–13:30, 16:00–18:30
      • Tel.: 03-653-2407
      • Contact: Rachel Galy

Another highly recommended bank is:

• Bank Discount
  • • • Neve Avivim (118), Yehuda Hanasi St. 34
      • Sun.: 8:30–13:00; Mon.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30; Tue.: 8:30–13:00; Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30; Thu.:8:30–14:00
      • Tel.: 076-8053548 or *6111

Some other Tel Aviv area banks that accept non-citizen customers are:

• Bank Hapoalim
  • • • The North Branch (602), 205 Dizengoff St.
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30
      • Tel.: *2407

and

• • • • Ramat Gan Branch (613), 32 Bialik St., Ramat Gan
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30
      • Tel.: *2407

• Bank Leumi
  • • • Tel Aviv Branch (803), 71 Ibn Gabriol St.
      • Sun.: 8:30–13:30; Mon.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:00; Tue.: 8:30–13:30; Wed: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:00
      • Tel.: 076-8680366

• Bank Discount
  • • • Mapu (130), Ben Yehuda 29
      • Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu.: 8:30–14:45; Fri.: 8:30–12:30; Holidays: 8:30–12:00
      • Tel.: 076-8056001 or *6111

and

• • • • Rothschild Boulevard (100), Rothschild Boulevard St. 76
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–14:00; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–14:00, 15:30–17:00; Holidays: 8:30–12:00
      • Tel.: 076-8053740 or *6111

and

• • • • Kikar Hayahalom (123), Ayalon Building, Aba Hilel Silver St. 12, Ramat Gan
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–14:00; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–14:00, 15:30–17:00; Holidays: 8:30–12:00
      • Tel.: 076-8053678 or *6111

Haifa

The University of Haifa and the Technion recommend Bank Leumi:

• Bank Leumi
  • • • Merkaz HaCarmel, 123 Hanasi Boulevard
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed. 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:00
      • Tel.: 03-954-5522

and 

• • • • Horev, 14 Horev St.
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:00
      • Tel.: 03-954-5522

Some other Haifa banks that accept non-citizen customers are:

• Bank Hapoalim
  • • • Haifa (700) Branch (700), 18 Haneviim St.
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30
      • Tel.: *2407

• Bank Discount
  • • • Merkaz Hacarmel (76), Hanasi Boulevard St. 124
      • Sun.: 8:30–13:00; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:00; Tue., Thu.: 8:30–14:00; Holidays: 8:30–12:00
      • Tel.: 076-8052350 or *6111

• Mizrahi-Tefahot
  • • • Haifa Business Center (564), 11 Pal-Yam St.
      • Sun. to Thu.: 8:30–14:30
      • Tel.: 076-8040441 or *8860

Other international postdocs recommend:

• Bank Leumi
  • • • Neve Sha’anan, 36 Gilboa Street
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:00
      • Tel.: 03-954-5522

Rehovot

The Weizmann Institute of Science recommends the following branch of Bank Hapoalim:

• Bank Hapoalim
  • • • Rehovot Branch, 179 Herzl Street
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30
      • Tel: *2407

Be’er Sheva

Be’er Sheva area banks that accept non-citizen customers are:

• Bank Hapoalim
  • • • Hanesiim Branch (668), 17 Yitzhak Reger Blvd.
      • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:30
      • Tel.: *2407

• Mizrahi-Tefahot
  • • • Kk”l Beer Sheva (544), 130 Keren Kayemet St.
      • Sun. to Thu.: 9:00–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 16:00–18:00; Fri.: 8:30–12:00 (Cashier only)
      • Tel.: 076-8041441 or *8860

Givat Shmuel (near Bar-Ilan University)

Bar-Ilan University recommends the Bar-Ilan Branch of Mizrahi Tefahot Bank. It is located next to Gate 2 on campus. Hours are:

• • • • Sun., Tue., Thu.: 8:30–14:00; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:30, 15:30–17:00; Fri.: 8:30–12:00
      • Tel.: *8860

Another bank located near Bar-Ilan is:

• Bank Discount
  • • • Derech Ben Gurion (58), Derech Ben Gurion St. 13, Bnei Brak
      • Sun.: 8:30–13:00; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:00; Tue., Thu.: 8:30–14:00; Holidays: 8:30–12:00
      • Tel.: 076-8051410 or *6111

Herzliya

Banks that accept non-citizen customers in Herzliya are:

• Discount Bank
  • • • Herzliya Pituah (146), Kdoshei Ha’shoa 63
      • Sun.: 8:30–13:00; Mon., Wed.: 8:30–13:00, 16:00–18:00; Tue., Thu.: 8:30–14:00; Holidays: 8:30–12:00
      • Tel.: 076-8051750 or *6111

• Bank Benleumi
  • • • Herzliya Pituach (051), 35 Maskit St., Herzliya
      • Sun. to Thu.: 8:30–13:30; Mon., Wed.: 16:00–18:30
      • Tel.: 09-9609200