As olim (new immigrants) and others know, getting money into Israel isn’t easy. All the Israeli banks check that the money is clean and not tainted by crime, terrorism, or tax evasion. The onus is on the bank customer to prove that the money is clean. The Haifa District Court has now made things even […]
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Whether the Western governments like it or not, Operation Swords of Iron will only end when the Israeli evacuees from the North and South feel safe to return to their homes. There are about 250,000 such evacuees. How can peace realistically be achieved? What’s needed is a Hamas bypass operation. Let their leaders wither underground. […]
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The High Holy Days, traditionally a time of deep reflection, repentance, and renewal, take on even greater significance in a post-October 7 world. The devastating atrocities nearly a year ago brought about an international shift in the way that the Jewish people relate to each other and the State of Israel. This year, our prayers […]
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The Bank of Israel kept its interest rate unchanged at 4.5% on Wednesday. The bank cited a number of factors in its decision, including geopolitical uncertainty, which the bank said has increased in recent months, and fiscal uncertainty. These uncertainties are reflected, among other indicators, in the large gap between yields on Israel’s government bonds […]
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According to a 2022 national phone survey in Cote d’Ivoire, 78% of digital credit borrowers had repaid a loan late at some point, primarily due to a lack of planning and forgetfulness. This level of non-repayment was higher than what we observed in Kenya (47%) and Tanzania (56%) in 2017, and it merited further research […]
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Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, the third largest bank in Israel, posted a net profit of NIS 1.45 billion for the second quarter, 3.4% more than in the corresponding quarter of 2023. Mizrahi Tefahot is the second bank to report an increase in profit year-on-year, after Bank Hapoalim. Discount Bank and Bank Leumi both reported declines. Mizrahi […]
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Why did central bank regulators from Colombia and Brazil travel a combined 12,556 miles (20,207 kilometers) to Kigali, Rwanda? The answer lies in a shared mission: to learn and exchange insights on gender-disaggregated data. Spearheaded by CGAP and the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR), this meeting stemmed from an ongoing collaboration to unlock Rwanda’s gender […]
Continue ReadingBig Three ratings company Fitch’s drop of Israel’s credit rating from A+ to A late Monday was seen by some as a natural result of the Israel-Hamas war and prompted criticism of the government’s handling of the economic impact of the war from others in the political echelon and civil society. The rating is […]
Continue ReadingThe capital market company Fitch Ratings announced that Israel’s credit rating dropped from A+ to A with a negative forecast, N12 reported on Tuesday overnight. In April, The Jerusalem Post reported that the company had left Israel’s credit rating at A+. Furthermore, the company said Israel was removed from Rating Watch Negative while changing […]
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Technology may be the face of innovation, but it is the law that weaves the fabric of progress. That is why regulators play such an important role in addressing innovation. Since innovation is key to advancements in financial inclusion, CGAP has been exploring the intersection between regulation, innovation, and financial inclusion through research focused on […]
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