Category: Finance

In 2023, more Israelis left the country for extended periods and did not return, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported the last week of September. Most of those who left were men, predominantly single, and between the ages of 25 and 44. Those who have already left or are planning to do so might […]

OpenAI’s new financing round is expected to come in the form of convertible notes, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter, who said its $150 billion valuation will be contingent on whether the ChatGPT-maker can upend its corporate structure and remove a profit cap for investors. The details of the conditions of the […]

Customer-centricity requires thoughtful research and planning to understand people’s wants, needs, and realities when it comes to their financial lives and beyond. Sistema.bio in India uses a customer-centric approach to offer rural women biodigesters at affordable prices using carbon credits.   Meeting women’s financial needs and specific challenges is especially important Customer-centricity is particularly crucial […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]