In short: Suits those who are comfortable in Hebrew or English and want a small bank with mortgages and private banking. A newcomer who needs Russian will find it easier to start with the large banks.
Terms for non-residents
- Non-residents
- Limited
- Remote account opening
- No
- Visa / Mastercard
- Check with the bank
- Russian-language support
- No / not stated
- Assets
- NIS 23.1 billion at end-2025 (about USD 7.8 billion at 2.978)
- Size rank
- seventh bank in the Duns100 2026 ranking
- Controlling shareholder
- Export Investment Co. Ltd. (Shoval family)
- Website languages
- Hebrew, English
- Business lines
- retail, business, mortgages, private banking
- Owner
- Export Investment Co. Ltd. (Shoval family); public bank (TASE: JBNK)
- Founded
- 1963
Pros
- Seventh-largest bank, with mortgage and private banking lines
- English-language website
- Materials for property buyers on the website
Cons and limits
- No Russian on the website
- Terms for non-residents and new immigrants are not described
- The bank is much smaller than the top five
## About the bank
Bank of Jerusalem was founded in 1963 and is a public bank whose shares trade on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: JBNK). The controlling shareholder is Export Investment Co. Ltd., the Shoval family. At the end of 2025 the bank's assets were NIS 23.1 billion, about USD 7.8 billion at 2.978 shekels per dollar. In the 2026 Duns100 ranking of commercial banks it is seventh.
Keep the scale in mind: the assets of Leumi at 30 June 2026 were NIS 947 billion, and those of fifth-ranked FIBI were NIS 294 billion. The figure of NIS 9.3 billion from older reviews is out of date.
The bank operates in the retail and business segments and develops mortgages and private banking.
## Account for non-residents and Russians
The home page has no special offers for non-residents. The bank publishes materials for property buyers and for private banking, but the terms for a foreigner opening an account are not described. The website works in Hebrew and English with no Russian, so you will need one of these languages to deal with the bank.
General requirements are the same as at other Israeli banks: legal status in Israel, a visit in person and a source-of-funds check.
## Cards and payments
The bank's card products are not disclosed on public pages, so we do not name them. Cards in Israel are issued by banks together with payment companies.
Mir and SBP are unavailable. After 2022 Israeli banks stopped working with most Russian financial institutions, and you should not count on a Russian card.
## Fees and limits
Fees are published on the bank's website. The Bank of Israel fee reform starts in October 2026.
## What to check before a visit
Before visiting, confirm three things. First, language: the website is in Hebrew and English, so you will need one of them at the meeting. Second, status: bring a teudat oleh or a visa. The Bank of Israel has explained that a new immigrant's certificate can serve as ID for up to 30 days from issue, after which the bank may require an Israeli ID. Third, tax: prepare a rental contract and utility bills in case the bank asks about tax residency.
If you plan to buy a home, ask separately on what terms the bank works with non-residents: they are not described on the website.
## Who it suits
- Residents who use Hebrew or English.
- Those looking for a small bank with mortgages and private banking.
- Property buyers who will find the bank's materials useful.
A new immigrant who speaks Russian will find it easier to look at Discount, Leumi and Mizrahi-Tefahot first.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Bank of Jerusalem?
The bank's assets at end-2025 were NIS 23.1 billion, and it ranks seventh in Duns100 2026. The earlier figure of NIS 9.3 billion in older materials is out of date.
Is Russian-language support available?
No. The bank's website is in Hebrew and English, with no Russian.
Does the bank accept non-residents?
The bank publishes materials for property buyers and for private banking, but terms for non-residents are not described on public pages. Ask the bank directly.
Who owns the bank?
The controlling shareholder is Export Investment Co. Ltd. (Shoval family). The bank's shares trade on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: JBNK).
Do Mir cards and SBP work?
No. Israeli banks do not work with Russian banks because of sanctions.