Bank Of Israel

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.

Despite high living costs, Israel's mortgage default rate dropped to 0.6% in August 2025, with overdue payments falling to ₪4.102 billion as refinancing hit record highs.

Foreign residents' portfolio value on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange hit a record $154 billion at the end of June, driven by strong net purchases, rising share prices, and the shekel's strength.

August 2026 mortgage volumes in Israel reached 10.9 billion shekels, pushing the yearly total to 79.6 billion shekels. Data reveals shifts toward the prime track and fixed unindexed rates.

Israel's housing market is adjusting to slowing sales as developers reduce construction starts to 76,000 units annually while inventory stabilizes at 84,300 unsold apartments.

The Bank of Israel's composite index rose by 0.4% in August, pushing economic activity above its long-term growth trend, driven by higher imports and tax revenues.

A new Taub Center study reveals that actual mortgage financing costs in Israel surged 52% in 2023, outstripping official inflation data that relies on theoretical rent calculations.

Tal Harel Mattityahu has been appointed Deputy Supervisor of Banks and Head of the Banking Consumer Division at the Bank of Israel, bringing 24 years of experience.

Local FX markets show calm ahead of Rosh Hashanah as the dollar trades near 3.02 ₪. Global markets await the ECB rate decision and US inflation data.

Or Poria, Chairman of Poria Financials, analyzes the latest markets, noting U.S. tech strength, the Bank of Israel's rate cut boosting Israeli stocks, and shekel stability supported by trade surpluses.

Discount Bank reviews global and Israeli economic trends, noting the Bank of Israel rate cut to 3.25%, ongoing US inflation debates, and robust high-tech export growth in June 2026.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange reported a 5.5% surge in the TA-90 index following the Bank of Israel's interest rate cut to 3.25%. Real estate stocks led the gains, while Bank Hapoalim raised 1.8 billion NIS in corporate debt.

Israel's Ministry of Finance reported a 3.2% GDP growth and a historic 78% surge in foreign investment to $26 billion. Inflation dropped to 1.5% while unemployment remained exceptionally low at 3.3%.

The Bank of Israel will allow digital deposits of post-dated checks up to 100,000 NIS via mobile apps starting September 2026. The move aims to phase out physical branch visits and lower transaction fees.

The shekel remains stable with the US dollar trading above 3.01 shekels during thin holiday trading. Bank Hapoalim economists project global rate hikes and expect the Bank of Israel to pause its rate cuts.

Chief Economist Dr. Ilan Gildin analyzes the resilience of the Israeli shekel amid interest rate cuts, highlighting institutional hedging flows and identifying key opportunities in dollar-revenue equities.