Banking

Bank of Israel Governor Karnit Flug visited Baka al-Garbiya and launched the Bank of Israel's new website in Arabic. The site in Arabic is parallel to the site in Hebrew, and contains a lot of information about the Israeli economy, activity and policy of the Bank, statistical information, reviews and economic analysis, information regarding currencies and bills in Israel and more.

The Antitrust Authority officially disqualified the merger between Union Bank and Mizrahi Tefahot Bank. Acting General Director of the Israel Antitrust Authority, Uri Schwartz, announced his opposition to the merger between Bank Mizrahi-Tefahot and Union Bank. The Authority explained that the move would have harmed competition on private customers in the banking system, a competition that is also limited in the situation before the merger

The dollar fell 0.9% and its representative rate was set at NIS 3.610, while the US currency lost 3% in value, while the representative euro fell 0.7% to NIS 4.222

Shari Arison is on her way out fron Israel. The announcement of the separation from Bank Hapoalim comes after Arison sold the controlling interest (47%) in the real estate and infrastructure company, Shikun U'Binui, to American businessman Nati Sayidoff for NIS 1.1 billion. Arison put on its shelf the additional holdings in Israel - Salt Industries, which it acquired from the Dankner family. She strives to stay with her maintenance in the American shipping company Carnival Cruise, controlled by her brother Mickey Arison

Dexia Israel Bank, which operated in recent months without a core controlling interest, becomes part of Israel Discount Bank. The two banks signed a deal according to which Discount will purchase 100% of the shares of Dexia for NIS 670 million in cash, almost identical to the shareholders' equity of the bank

Prime Minister Netanyahoo and Finance Minister Kahlon announced that they had chosen Professor Amir Yaron as Governor of the Bank of Israel. He was preceded by three candidates: Prof. Ben Zion Zilberfarb, Prof. Efraim Sadka and Prof. Mario Blecher. Netanyahu and Kahlon are interested in approving the cabinet appointment on Sunday, when the appointment will also be required for the approval of the senior appointments committee (the Goldberg Committee)

EL AL's low-cost airline brand, UP officially completes its operations, and a new pricing model for European destinations has come into effect. The cards are divided into three types: easy, classic and flexible. Prices will be according to the card level. The Lite card will include hand luggage, hand bag, snack and drink. The classic card will include a hand luggage, a handbag, a light meal, the option of choosing a standard seat and sending a suitcase to the belly of the plane. In addition, this card can be changed or canceled at an additional charge

The International Bank has signed a cooperation agreement for the issuance of credit cards with Leumi Card and will offer the cards under all of the Group's brands: the International Bank, Otsar Hahayal, Massad, Ubank and Pagi, in addition to the existing credit cards of Isracard and CAL. Upon completion of the transaction, the Bank will comply with the requirements of the law, and no additional credit company will be required, since it already works with CAL and Isracard, and will actually work with all existing credit companies in the market

The Supervisor of Banks demanded that Bank Hapoalim compensate customers who suferred by a malfunction that was found in the Bank's ATMs. In December 2018, the media reported a nationwide malfunction in Bank Hapoalim's automated teller machine, in which it was claimed that customers who tried to withdraw cash were charged for the withdrawal attempt and the withdrawal fee, despite the failure of the device and the customers did not actually receive the money. As a result of this information, the Banking Supervision Department began an examination of the Bank's handling of the said...

Gross domestic product increased by 4.8% in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the second estimate published by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Sunday. This increase is more moderate than the previous estimate for the first quarter published last month, which reported an increase of 5.2%. Although the Central Bureau of Statistics has revised its growth rate in the first quarter downwards, this is still an impressive figure, reflecting an increase in the economy's growth rate, by 3.8% in the fourth quarter and 3.8% in the third quarter of 2018