Bank Of Israel

A rare 1960 Israeli one-agorot experimental coin was auctioned for 27,500 USD. Featuring a unique design error from a Birmingham mint, only ten copies are known to exist.

Local forex trading shows minor movements as the dollar trades at 3.110 shekels and the euro at 3.488 shekels. Markets react to Wall Street drops and plunging U.S. yields.

This week's economic roundup covers Zara's branch closures and shipping fee hikes, KSP's price war against the new LEGO store, tax proposals to abolish the 200-shekel banknote, a major quarry acquisition by Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, and a bank compliance dispute involving rental property accounts.

A new investigative book by Matthew Cole alleges that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advised Jared Kushner to deposit secret UAE funds into the Bank of Israel. Kushner vehemently denies the claims.

Mortgage arrears in Israel rose to 4.23 billion shekels in September after three months of decline, according to Bank of Israel data. Total mortgage volume reached 8.66 billion shekels despite holiday slowdowns.

Israeli banks tightened credit spreads for construction, real estate, and large businesses in Q3 2026 amid falling demand, according to a Bank of Israel survey.

Tel Aviv trading opened following the Bank of Israel's decision to hold interest rates at 3.25%, amid global market downturns, surging oil prices, and rising bond yields.

The Bank of Israel split its growth forecast for the first time, distinguishing between overall output driven by giants like Nvidia and domestic economic activity.

The Bank of Israel has kept its interest rate steady at 3.25%, balancing low inflation of 1.6% against geopolitical risks, currency depreciation, and ongoing market uncertainties.

The Bank of Israel reported a 0.3% increase in the September composite economic index, reflecting stable third-quarter growth driven by consumption and exports.

Ahead of the elections, 23 civil society organizations urged party leaders to commit to increasing public civilian spending to bridge a massive funding gap with OECD nations.

Global gold prices fall as oil rises on Middle East tensions, while Bank of Israel data shows rising inflation expectations despite a recent CPI drop, posing a rate dilemma.

Starting November 1, 2026, Bank of Israel rules require bit users to verify their identity to keep balances up to 50,000 ₪, or face automatic transfers to bank accounts for amounts over 5,000 ₪.

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange indices closed higher as trading volumes hit billions. Investors await the Bank of Israel interest rate decision, expected to hold at 3.25%.

Global markets experienced mixed trading as Wall Street chip stocks rebounded while Asian exchanges dropped. Meanwhile, Meitav's chief economist warned of widening sector gaps reminiscent of the dot-com era.

Bank of Israel is expected to keep interest rates steady amid Knesset elections and fiscal uncertainty, according to a Psagot Investment House review.

Tax Authority Director Shay Aharonovich warned that upcoming state budgets will require severe measures, suggesting the elimination of cash and the 200 NIS banknote to combat the black economy and generate tens of billions in revenues.

Bank Hapoalim economists do not foresee interest rate cuts in the coming year despite low inflation, citing shekel depreciation, upcoming political elections, and potential tax hikes.

Global markets grapple with sharp tech losses, soaring oil prices, and elevated bond yields. While Israeli inflation eased, US consumer prices surprised upward, prompting major banks to advise caution on AI-driven tech stocks.

Bank Leumi CEO Hanan Friedman defended checking account interest policies on X, citing liquidity constraints, while data shows minimal payouts and active class-action lawsuits.

The Bank of Israel reports mortgage volumes reached 8.66 billion NIS last month despite the Tishrei holidays, reflecting a strong housing credit market.

Bank of Israel data shows prime-rate mortgages surged to 23% of total housing loans in September, reaching 2 billion NIS amid falling interest rates.

61 senior Israeli economists warn that upcoming European sanctions over settlement expansion and E1 construction threaten severe, irreversible damage to the economy and trade relations.

An in-depth analysis of Israeli retirement savings explores target accumulation benchmarks by age, the power of compound interest, and the significant impact of management fees on future pensions.

Israel faces potential annual economic losses of 250 billion shekels by 2050 if ultra-Orthodox employment and integration patterns do not change, straining state budgets.

Israel's Knesset Finance Committee approved a regulatory fix enabling credit card companies to issue tradable CoCo bonds, cutting funding costs and boosting loan competition.

Israel's Antitrust Commissioner Michal Cohen slammed major banks at the Investment Houses Association conference, citing a 20 billion shekel gap in household deposit yields. The move has sparked a regulatory clash with the Bank of Israel.

September's CPI is expected to drop by 0.2%–0.3%, yet annual inflation will likely rise to 1.8%. Consequently, market analysts project the Bank of Israel will hold interest rates steady at 3.25%.

Bank of Israel data shows Israeli savers deposited 14 billion shekels in low-yield short-term accounts in September, largely ignoring higher-paying financial funds.

Mortgage volumes in Israel reached 10.9 billion shekels in August driven by a surge in refinancing amid falling interest rates. First International Bank offers the lowest average rates.

Psagot Investment House expects the Bank of Israel to hold interest rates steady at its next meeting, awaiting post-election fiscal clarity despite moderating wage growth and rising consumer spending.

Weekly digital wallet usage in Israel surged to 47% in 2025 as cash usage dropped to 48%. The Bank of Israel warns that declining cash infrastructure could limit accessibility and raise costs.

Markets await US and Israeli September inflation data as the dollar trades above 3.06 shekels. Economists note falling inflation expectations alongside rising bond yields and political uncertainty.

Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron and top Israeli banking executives are attending the IMF annual conference in Bangkok to showcase the economy's resilience, navigate potential European banking sanctions, and address looming global inflation risks.

The Bank of Israel interest rate dropped to 3.25%, lowering prime-linked mortgages and reducing monthly payments. Experts note that aggressive bank negotiations yield greater savings than waiting for future rate cuts.

Bank of Israel's rate cut to 3.25% shapes money market fund yields, averaging 0.26% in September. An analysis compares fund performance, management fees, and tax advantages versus bank deposits.

The Bank of Israel has finalized new crypto banking guidelines effective May 2027, abolishing the automatic 100,000 shekel threshold for source-of-funds checks and shifting to a risk-based approach.

Credit card clearing tariffs and terminal fees for Israeli businesses rose this week, sparking tensions between financial firms and transaction infrastructure provider Sheba over rising operational costs.

Bank of Israel foreign exchange reserves dropped by $4.64 billion to $237 billion in September 2026, driven by global market revaluation and government transactions.

The Bank of Israel announced that partial and mobile banking branches will offer full services starting in January 2027, while temporary pop-up restrictions will be lifted to enhance accessibility.

British fintech giant Revolut is accelerating its entry into Israel by hiring for core banking roles like credit and compliance, aiming to challenge the local banking sector.

Gabi Fishman, acting head of the Information and Statistics Department at the Bank of Israel, is stepping down after 40 years of service, shaping major economic policies.

Bank of Israel data shows Israeli consumer credit surged by 3.6% in the second quarter of 2026, reaching 260 billion shekels as borrowing accelerated across banks, credit cards, and institutional lenders.

An Israeli court approved a multi-billion shekel class-action lawsuit against major banks for failing to pay interest on 500 billion shekels in current accounts, sparking intense economic debate.

Bank of Israel data for 2026 shows mortgage volumes rising by 10%, driven largely by a sharp jump in average loan sizes rather than an increase in new borrowers.

The Bank of Israel's current account fee reform launches tomorrow, capping debit card fees at 7 NIS and eliminating outdated bank charges. A broader overhaul arriving in July 2027 will introduce flat monthly pricing.

Bank of Israel interest rates fell to 3.25%, lowering monthly mortgage payments. However, strict equity and net income requirements continue to challenge homebuyers in the market.

New Bank of Israel mortgage regulations effective October 1 will tighten PTI calculations for all-purpose loans, sparking industry warnings of pushed non-bank borrowing.

Dr. Ilan Gildin of Karni Family Office analyzes global market impacts following the Trump-Xi summit, warning that the truce is merely tactical while currency and bond pressures persist.

Israel's mortgage lending surges toward 120 billion shekels annually as borrowers rush to beat strict new Bank of Israel PTI caps and limits on parental loan backing.