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.

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)

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