Bank Leumi: how new immigrants and non-residents open an account

## About the bank

Bank Leumi le-Israel is one of the oldest banks in the country, founded in 1902. It is a public company whose shares trade on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. At 30 June 2026 the bank's assets were NIS 947.3 billion, about USD 318 billion at the Bank of Israel rate of 2.978 shekels per dollar. That is first place among Israeli banks: Hapoalim has assets of NIS 809 billion and Mizrahi-Tefahot NIS 581 billion.

In the second quarter of 2026 net profit was about NIS 2.8 billion. The cost-income ratio was 24.7%, the best result in the country's banking system. The group also owns the digital bank Pepper.

## Account for non-residents and Russians

The bank's website states directly that it is intended for Israeli residents. For recent arrivals there is a separate Olim mini-site with benefits for new immigrants, WhatsApp support and service in several languages. The main bank page is available in Russian.

A Russian citizen with legal status (teudat oleh, a visa or a residence permit) can open an account on general terms. There are three practical limits:

• In-person visit. A full account opening usually requires presence in Israel and documents checked by a staff member. There is no remote option for a regular account.
• Tax residency. In early 2026 Leumi, Hapoalim, Mizrahi-Tefahot and Discount sent tax residency requests to immigrants, mostly those who arrived after 2022. Leumi accepted a declaration on its website, a copy of an ID and a municipal tax payment receipt.
• Transfers from Russia. Israeli banks practically do not work with Russian banks, and direct transfers from Russia are severely restricted.

Non-residents, meaning foreigners and Israelis living abroad, are served by Leumi Private Banking. Its centers operate in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Haifa and Jerusalem. Thresholds and terms are not published on the website and are given in a personal meeting.

## Cards and payments

The bank's website does not disclose card names and fees, so we do not list specific cards. In Israel cards are issued by banks together with the payment companies Isracard, Cal and Max.

Mir and SBP do not work with the bank: Israeli banks ended cooperation with most Russian financial institutions after 2022. Plan to pay with Visa and Mastercard cards, issued by Israeli banks or foreign issuers. UnionPay status is not declared by the bank.

## Fees and limits

The bank publishes its fees on its website. From October 2026 the Bank of Israel fee reform begins: the maximum fee for an immediate-debit card is capped at NIS 7 a month, and the basic account management fee at up to NIS 10 a month for 100 transactions. The new model takes full effect in July 2027, and banks may move to it earlier.

If you want to switch banks, Leumi's website offers transferring an account from another bank online, securely and free of charge.

## Who it suits

• New immigrants who need a Russian-language website and a separate page for olim.
• Those who want the country's largest bank with a group digital bank in reserve.
• Non-residents with sufficient capital, through Private Banking after a personal consultation.

If a Russian-language website and an international unit matter most, compare with Discount; if you need international centers in four cities, look at Mizrahi-Tefahot.