Day-one decisions
Pick your bank and health fund.
The two choices you make in week one and live with for years. Filtered for FATCA, English service, and where you actually live.
Your bank ranking
★Bank Discount
10 yrs zero fees for olimMost popular among Anglo olim. Mercantile is a Discount subsidiary with extra olim support.
Bank Hapoalim
5 yrs reduced feesBiggest network. Strong app. FATCA paperwork is heavier here.
Bank Leumi
5 yrs reduced fees, Leumi Digital freePepper (digital-only sub-brand) is fee-free but no in-branch service.
One Zero
Subscription model, no oleh discountApp-only. Slick UX. Won't open accounts for many US persons. Not ideal as your only bank.
Mizrahi-Tefahot
Mortgage-friendly oleh packageBest if you're buying property in year 1–3. Less Anglo-friendly day-to-day.
Your kupat cholim ranking
★Maccabi מכבי
Maccabi Sheli (~₪50/mo)Strong specialist network in TLV/JLM, fast appointments
Clalit כללית
Mushlam Platinum (~₪90/mo)Biggest network — everywhere, including periphery
Meuhedet מאוחדת
Adif (~₪50/mo)Strong in JLM and religious neighborhoods
Leumit לאומית
Silver/Gold (~₪40/mo)Smallest. Cheapest supplemental. Limited specialist access in TLV
Banks side by side
| Bank | Score | English app | FATCA | Branches | Oleh perk | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★Bank Discount | 15 | 10 yrs zero fees for olim | Most popular among Anglo olim. Mercantile is a Discount subsidiary with extra olim support. | |||
| Bank Hapoalim | 13 | 5 yrs reduced fees | Biggest network. Strong app. FATCA paperwork is heavier here. | |||
| Bank Leumi | 13 | 5 yrs reduced fees, Leumi Digital free | Pepper (digital-only sub-brand) is fee-free but no in-branch service. | |||
| One Zero | 11 | Subscription model, no oleh discount | App-only. Slick UX. Won't open accounts for many US persons. Not ideal as your only bank. | |||
| Mizrahi-Tefahot | 10 | Mortgage-friendly oleh package | Best if you're buying property in year 1–3. Less Anglo-friendly day-to-day. |
Health funds side by side
| Fund | Score | English | Anglo | App | Supplemental | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★Maccabi מכבי | 14 | Maccabi Sheli (~₪50/mo) | Strong specialist network in TLV/JLM, fast appointments | |||
| Clalit כללית | 8 | Mushlam Platinum (~₪90/mo) | Biggest network — everywhere, including periphery | |||
| Meuhedet מאוחדת | 8 | Adif (~₪50/mo) | Strong in JLM and religious neighborhoods | |||
| Leumit לאומית | 5 | Silver/Gold (~₪40/mo) | Smallest. Cheapest supplemental. Limited specialist access in TLV |
Free for olim: first 6 months of kupat cholim are covered by Misrad HaKlita. You can switch funds once a year (Jan / Mar / May / Jul / Sep / Nov).