In short: Suits as a backup for basic payments, but not as a new immigrant's main bank. A Russian pension cannot be received through it.
Terms for non-residents
- Non-residents
- Limited
- Remote account opening
- No
- Visa / Mastercard
- Check with the bank
- Russian-language support
- No / not stated
- Structure
- a division of the state company Israel Postal Company, not a universal bank
- New name
- Doar Finance (formerly Postal Bank, Bank HaDoar); the old website address redirects to postalfinance.co.il
- Lending
- absent or limited
- Large cash deposits
- checked under anti-money-laundering rules
- Pensions from Russia
- practically do not arrive through Israeli banks
- Owner
- Israel Postal Company (state company)
- Founded
- 1951
Pros
- An accessible alternative for basic payments
- Owned by the state postal company
- Online account on the official website
Cons and limits
- No lending, and a limited network and functionality
- A Russian pension cannot be received through the bank: transfers practically do not arrive
- No mobile app, according to available data
- Large cash deposits are checked under anti-money-laundering rules
## About the bank
The Postal Bank of Israel (Bank HaDoar) has operated since 1951 as a division of the state company Israel Postal Company. The bank's old website now redirects to postalfinance.co.il, where the service is called Doar Finance. It is not a universal bank: lending is absent or limited, and the network and range of services are more modest than at Leumi or Hapoalim.
The bank's assets are not published separately. The online account works on the official website, and there is no mobile app, according to available data.
## Account for non-residents and Russians
There are no special terms for non-residents or new immigrants on public pages. As at other banks, you will need a status document and proof of address, and the opening procedure is given at a post office branch. State ownership does not cancel anti-money-laundering rules: the bank checks the origin of large cash deposits. In 2026 a court ordered the postal bank to accept NIS 200,000 in cash from a customer with a disability, but the bank itself had refused precisely because of these rules, so prepare documents on the origin of the money.
The postal bank is sometimes associated with receiving pensions from Russia, but this does not work now: since 2022 Israeli banks have practically not accepted transfers from Russia, and about 40,000 pensioners do not receive Russian pensions (August 2026). In early 2025 the scheme through Gazprombank also stopped working.
## Cards and payments
Card products and fees are not named on public pages. Mir and SBP are unavailable. For payments between people in the country, separate apps are used, such as Bit and PayBox.
## Fees and limits
Fees are published on the Doar Finance website and at branches. The Bank of Israel fee reform starts in October 2026.
The main limits: no loans, a narrow network, no app, and Russian pensions do not arrive.
## How Doar Finance differs from an ordinary bank
Doar Finance is a division of the state postal company, not a universal bank. In practice this means three things. First, lending is absent or limited, so a mortgage and consumer loans must be arranged at another bank. Second, functionality is more modest: there is an online account on the website, but no mobile app, according to available data. Third, anti-money-laundering rules apply as at ordinary banks, and large cash deposits are checked.
If you need an account for salary, tax payments and everyday spending, start with a top-five bank and treat a postal account as a backup. Note that from October 2026 the Bank of Israel introduces uniform fee rules, and service charges at different banks will gradually converge.
## Who it suits
- Those who need a simple backup account for payments.
- Clients who do not plan to take loans.
A new immigrant is better off choosing a universal bank as the main bank: Leumi, Discount or Mizrahi-Tefahot.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same Postal Bank of Israel?
Yes. The website of the old Postal Bank (Bank HaDoar) redirects to postalfinance.co.il, where the bank is called Doar Finance. It is a division of the state company Israel Postal Company.
Can I receive a Russian pension at the postal bank?
No. Since 2022 Israeli banks have not accepted transfers from Russia in the normal way, and the scheme through Gazprombank stopped in early 2025.
Does the bank give loans?
The postal bank has no lending or only limited lending, so choose a universal bank for a mortgage or loans.
What about large cash deposits?
Banks check the origin of large cash deposits under anti-money-laundering rules. In 2026 a court ordered the postal bank to accept NIS 200,000 in cash from a customer, but the bank itself had refused because of these rules. Prepare supporting documents.
Is there a Mir card or SBP?
No. Israeli banks do not work with Russian banks because of sanctions.