In short: Suits those who want a bank from the top five and are ready to confirm terms in person: the group publishes no Russian-language pages and no terms for non-residents.
Terms for non-residents
- Non-residents
- Check with the bank
- Remote account opening
- Check with the bank
- Visa / Mastercard
- Check with the bank
- Russian-language support
- No / not stated
- Assets
- NIS 293.955 billion at 30 June 2026 (about USD 98.7 billion at 2.978)
- Net profit
- NIS 583 million in the second quarter of 2026
- Loan growth
- 20.1% over the year
- Dividend
- about NIS 558 million, roughly 96% of second-quarter 2026 profit
- Group brands
- Massad (51%), Otsar HaHayal, Pagi (Poalei Agudat Israel), U-Bank
- Owner
- FIBI Holdings Ltd. (public holding company)
- Founded
- 1972
Pros
- Fifth-largest bank in Israel by assets at 30 June 2026
- Loan portfolio grew 20.1% over the year
- The group combines several brands for different client segments
- Dividend of about 96% of second-quarter 2026 profit
Cons and limits
- Terms for non-residents and new immigrants are not described on public pages
- Website and app languages are not stated, and Russian-language support is not declared
- Group brands target narrow segments: teachers and the Orthodox community
## About the bank
First International Bank of Israel (FIBI) took shape in 1972 through the merger of several banks. It is controlled by the public holding company FIBI Holdings Ltd. At 30 June 2026 its assets were NIS 293.955 billion, about USD 98.7 billion at 2.978 shekels per dollar. That is fifth place after Leumi, Hapoalim, Mizrahi-Tefahot and Discount.
In the second quarter of 2026 net profit was NIS 583 million and the loan portfolio grew 20.1% over the year. The dividend was about NIS 558 million, roughly 96% of quarterly profit.
## Group brands
FIBI is a group, not a single bank. The old pages described these brands as independent banks, but they are structures within FIBI:
| Brand | What it is | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Massad | Subsidiary bank; FIBI owns 51% together with the teachers' union | Education workers |
| Otsar HaHayal | FIBI brand for private clients; FIBI bought 68% in 2006 for NIS 702 million | Private clients |
| Pagi (Poalei Agudat Israel) | FIBI brand | Orthodox community; Hebrew website with an English switch |
| U-Bank | Private banking brand within FIBI | Private banking clients |
For a general Russian-speaking audience neither Massad nor Pagi is a fit: the first was created for teachers, the second for Orthodox clients.
## Account for non-residents and Russians
The group has no dedicated sections for non-residents or new immigrants in public sources. For that reason we do not state thresholds, document lists or remote-opening options: they are confirmed at a branch or with a manager.
General requirements for Russians are the same as at other major banks: legal status in Israel, a visit in person and a source-of-funds check. In early 2026 tax residency requests were sent by Leumi, Hapoalim, Mizrahi-Tefahot and Discount.
## Cards and payments
The group issues cards by brand. Two products of the Pagi brand are known: the P-Extra credit card and the Beyond digital wallet card for payments abroad. Fees are not listed on public pages.
Mir and SBP are not supported, since Israeli banks do not work with most Russian financial institutions.
## Fees and limits
Fees are published on the bank's website. The Bank of Israel fee reform applies to all banks from October 2026.
## Who it suits
- Those who deliberately choose a top-five bank and are ready to get the terms in person.
- Clients who belong to a brand's target group: teachers (Massad) or the Orthodox community (Pagi).
A newcomer who needs Russian will find it easier to start with Discount or Leumi.
Frequently asked questions
Are Massad, Otsar HaHayal, Pagi and U-Bank separate banks?
They are brands and subsidiaries of FIBI. FIBI owns 51% of Massad together with the teachers' union, and Massad serves education workers. Pagi (Poalei Agudat Israel) targets the Orthodox community, and U-Bank is the group's private banking brand.
What happened to the old Massad, Pagi and U-Bank pages?
The site used to have separate pages for these brands. They are now merged into this overview, and the old addresses redirect here.
Does FIBI offer Russian-language support?
Russian-language support is not declared in the group's official materials, and the website and app languages are not stated. If Russian is essential, compare Discount and Leumi.
Where does FIBI rank by size?
Fifth, with assets of NIS 293.955 billion at 30 June 2026. Ahead of it are Leumi, Hapoalim, Mizrahi-Tefahot and Discount.
Can I use Mir cards with FIBI?
No. Israeli banks do not work with Russian banks because of sanctions, so Mir cards and the Russian Faster Payments System (SBP) are unavailable.