If you wish to open a bank account in Israel you don’t have to be an Israeli resident or citizen. In Israel, most people use a Tehudat Zehut number. That is ID number in English. It is similar to a Social Security Number in the US or National Insurance number in the UK.
According to Zik.co.il there are 3 conditions you have to meet in order to be eligible to open a bank account:
- Israel must not be your main country of residence.
- If the foreign resident has a business it must not be related to Israel.
- The individual has no Israeli partners or any other Israeli connections.
That means you have to be a genuine resident of any country, and preferably a citizen too. For example, a Netherlands resident with a Dutch passport. However, a resident with a Visa can apply as well. The main concern is you do not have ties to Israel, as otherwise these require you to use different channels for the application.
How to open a bank account in Israel: Do you have to apply in person?
As of 2024, the short answer is yes. You do have to apply in person. Likewise, you cannot use any branch. There are specific branches designated for opening such an account. For example Leumi Bank – Branch number 803, located at 71 Even Gvirol Street is a branch you can use to open an account with Leumi Bank.
Bank of Jerusalem have several branches which can assist you with that. According to the bank, these are located in their branches at Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Netanya, Jerusalem (Romema) and Nazareth.
Hapoalim Bank can assist you with that as well. Their branch for foreign individuals is branch #535 located at 104 HaYarkon Street in Tel Aviv.
Which banks should I go with?
We suggest to go with Leumi Bank and/or Hapoalim Bank. These two banks have the best interface for online banking and they are bigger than Bank of Jerusalem. However, there is nothing wrong with smaller banks. Feel free to try them all and decide for yourself.