updates and relevant information for banking system customers

Telephone call centers are available to the public at all banking corporations and credit card companies.  Due to the current situation, the banking corporations have added dedicated numbers for customers whose homes or property have been damaged, and for customers currently abroad.

The numbers of the call centers are listed here.

The banking corporations have established dedicated emergency call centers, and some of them have enabled contact via WhatsApp.

Click here for the list of call centers and emergency numbers establied for customers currently abroad.

Due to the security situation, some bank branches may be closed.  For the list of open branches, please visit your bank’s website or click on this list.

For any questions, you may contact the bank’s telephone call center.  The list of numbers for the call centers and emergency centers is here.

In addition, almost all banking transactions and contact can be conducted through the bank’s website or mobile application, and you can also get in touch with the bank through various means of communication, such as WhatsApp.  Information on the available communication channels is published on the websites of the banks and credit card companies.

The Bank of Israel is closely monitoring the state of the cash system in the economy, and is prepared to provide localized and system-wide solutions as necessary.  As of now, the ATM array is working properly, without any special problems.

If there are localized difficulties at specific locations in the country, such as infrastructure or buildings that have been damaged (electricity, access, branches, and so forth) due to the complex situation, the Bank of Israel will work together with the banking system to provide a response to these issues.

Subscribing to digital services will make it possible to obtain information online, and to make transactions through a variety of channels, such as by phone, through the bank’s website, and using its banking application, without needing to go to the branch.

You can call your bank’s call center and ask to subscribe to online banking services.  If it is possible, the bank will subscribe you to remote banking services.

Please contact your bank or credit card company and ask them to increase your credit facility.  You can do so through their call centers, at branches, or using their websites or mobile applications.

It is important to note that decisions regarding the provision of credit and assistance to businesses and households are made in accordance with the bank’s risk assessment, with each case being judged on its own merit.

If there are insufficient funds in your account to cover charges, you can transfer money into your account using the ZAHAV system, which enables the immediate transfer of funds.  If the transfer of the funds is made up to 2.5 hours before the end of the business day, checks and charges will not be refused due to insufficient funds.

If there is no possibility of making a ZAHAV transfer, please contact the bank by phone, through the bank’s call center, to prearrange the credit facility, or to ask to increase it, even temporarily.  In addition, you should contact the person holding the check (the person who will be depositing it) and ask them to hold off on depositing the check until the account balance is sufficient to honor it.

The Banking Supervision Department is closely monitoring the data on check settlements and bounced checks, and is examining the use of existing powers, with the aim of balancing the needs of customers who are experiencing difficulties due to the emergency situation and the need to protect beneficiaries and the credibility of checks.  No decision has yet been made to recommend the use of existing powers to cancel checks without cover.

If there is concern that checkbooks have been lost or stolen, please file a complaint with the police (which can be done via their website), and immediately report it to the bank, asking to cancel the checkbooks that you think may have been stolen.

We would like to clarify that the Banking Supervision Department supervises banks and credit card companies, and supervises the Postal Bank only on matters concerning the implementation of the Checks Without Cover Law.  The Postal Bank is supervised by the Ministry of Communications.

Please click here for the relevant page on the Ministry of Communications website.

Please contact your bank or credit card company in order to freeze activity in your account. Call centers of the banks and credit card companies.