Support us >
TL;DR – Suffered from your Israeli bank as a visa holder? Answer our banking questionnaire and help drive real change for international couples in Israel!
Access to basic banking services is a fundamental part of building a life in Israel. For international couples, however, this step is often far from straightforward. Time and again, members of our community encounter barriers that make something as essential as opening and managing a bank account unnecessarily complex.
Several months ago, AIC decided to take a proactive role in addressing this issue at its root – by engaging directly with the regulator and working toward systemic change. This marks the first time an organization has taken on the challenge of banking access in Israel from the perspective of visa holders.
The problem is particularly acute for B1 visa holders in our community. On one hand, they do not have Israeli identification; on the other, many are considered tax residents under Israeli law. They live in Israel, maintain households, and are in the process of obtaining residency and, eventually, citizenship. Despite this, their status often places them in a grey area when interacting with banks.
Over the years, we have heard numerous accounts of difficult banking experiences. Community testimonies point to inconsistent and, at times, discriminatory practices – including refusals to open accounts for B1 visa holders, requests to visit distant or specific branches, limitations on available services, and even cases where individuals were asked to falsely declare foreign tax residency when this was not applicable. Overall, there appears to be a lack of clarity within the banking system regarding our community, its characteristics, and its legitimate needs.
While we have worked to resolve specific issues and have achieved some success, it has become clear that meaningful, systemic change must come from the regulator. For this reason, we approached the Bank of Israel several months ago. We presented the realities faced by our community, supported by concrete examples of the barriers encountered when opening and managing bank accounts in Israel.
After ongoing communication we are now pleased to share that we are scheduled to meet with senior officials at the Bank of Israel next week. This upcoming meeting represents a significant opportunity. It has the potential to become a turning point in how banks in Israel serve international couples.
To ensure that we present the most accurate and comprehensive picture possible, we want to hear directly from YOU. We invite you to share your banking experience in Israel – what you were told, what documentation you were asked to provide, what services you were denied, and how the process felt overall.
Israel has extensive banking regulations designed to protect customers. It is time to ensure that these protections are properly applied to the thousands of international couples building their lives here.
Please take a moment to complete our short questionnaire and share your experience. Responses may be submitted anonymously, although you are welcome to provide your name and WhatsApp number if you are open to follow-up. No personal information will be shared with the Bank of Israel or any other entity without your explicit consent at a later stage.
Click here to fill the questionnaire (answers accepted in English or Hebrew)
Your experience can help drive real change and improve the lives of thousands of international couples in Israel!
–
There is no one else. AIC is the only organization that fights for your rights, accessibility to services, and better treatment. Without your help, we won’t be able to continue this work. DONATE TODAY!
