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Bank of Jerusalem

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Bank of Jerusalem, Ltd.
Native name
בנק ירושלים
Company typePublic company (TASE: JBNK)
IndustryBanking
financial services
Founded1963; 61 years ago (1963)
FounderCharles Clore, Isaac Wolfson
Headquarters
Jerusalem
Number of locations
24 (2015)
ServicesCredit cards, consumer banking, corporate banking, finance and insurance, investment banking, mortgage loans, private banking, private equity, savings, Securities, asset management, wealth management
RevenueIncrease ₪820 Million (2022)
Increase ₪163 Million (2022)
Total assetsIncrease ₪14.2 billion (2015)
Total equityIncrease ₪965 million (13 March 2024)
Number of employees
638 (2022)
Capital ratio10.5%
Websitewww.bankjerusalem.co.il

Bank of Jerusalem, Ltd (Hebrew: בנק ירושלים) is Israel's seventh-largest bank, with total assets of 9,301 million shekels.[1] Bank of Jerusalem is headquartered in Jerusalem and has 25 branches around the country.

The bank is controlled by Export Investment Corp., Ltd., a public company controlled by the Shoval family.

Bank of Jerusalem Holon branch

History

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Establishment of the bank

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The idea of establishing a bank in Jerusalem that would focus on financing economic activity in Jerusalem first arose in the late 1950s, initiated by a number of Jerusalem businessmen. Concurrently, the Jerusalem Workers' Loan and Savings Fund also sought to become a bank. Initially, the Bank of Israel opposed the establishment of new banks at that time, but in 1963, it agreed to the establishment of a mortgage bank in Jerusalem.[2][3][4]

The bank was founded in 1963 as a mortgage bank to support housing development in Jerusalem by Mordechai Meir, Charles Clore, Isaac Wolfson and the Municipality of Jerusalem. In December 1963, the bank was granted a license under the name "Bank Yerushalayim for Development and Mortgages Ltd." The Mayor of Jerusalem, Mordechai Ish-Shalom, was appointed as the bank's president.[5][6][7][8][9]

"Bank Jerusalem" was the second bank to operate under that name. In 1928, members of the old Haredi community, including Moshe Porush, established "Bank Jerusalem Ltd." This bank was sold and merged with the Poalei Agudat Israel Bank in 1938.[10][11][12]

Acquisition by the Shoval family

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The initial shareholders of the bank were: Wolfson-Klor Corporation, government housing and development company, Export Investment Company (owned by the Meir brothers), Jerusalem Loan and Savings Bank, the Municipality of Jerusalem, and the Workers' Union.[13] Isaac Wolfson was appointed chairman of the board, with Charles Klor and Moshe Meir serving as his deputies.[14][15][16]

The bank primarily engaged in financing residential construction in Jerusalem and played a role in establishing Kiryat Wolfson and the Ramat Sharet neighborhood.

Over the years the Meir brothers acquired a majority of the bank's shares. After acquiring full ownership of the Wolfson-Klor Meir Corporation, which held the majority of shares in the bank, and also owning an export company that held shares in the bank, the Meir brothers acquired most of the bank's shares. In 1989, the brothers decided to separate their business interests, and Moshe Meir took control of the bank.[17] Moshe Meir appointed Zalman Shoval, who was married to his daughter, as chairman of the bank. Shoval also served as a Knesset member at the time, which raised criticism of conflict of interest.[18] After Moshe Meir's death in 1993, the bank came under the control of Zalman and Kna Shoval.[19]

1990s

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In 1992 the bank had an initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. In August 1998, Bank of Jerusalem received a commercial banking license from the Bank of Israel, replacing the financial-institution license that it had held until then. By obtaining this license, Bank of Jerusalem completed its transformation into a commercial bank that specializes in real estate, the capital market, and international banking.[1]

In 1997 the bank received a financial institution license from the Bank of Israel under the Banking Law. Under the license, the bank was allowed to engage in all activities permitted to a banking corporation licensed as a "bank," except for check payments on demand.[20] In 1998, it received a commercial bank license as part of the bank's efforts to enter the commercial credit, loans, and savings sector for the private sector. With this license, the bank completed its transformation into a commercial bank.[21]

21st century

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In 2002 the bank began issuing credit cards to its customers in partnership with Credit Cards Israel.[22]

In 2010 the bank's board of directors decided on a business strategy focusing on controlled growth, with an emphasis on specialized commercial activity in mortgages and continued development of consumer credit, while maintaining a low-risk profile reflected in the business activity mix, alongside customer and revenue source diversity and operations.[23] About 20 million shekels were invested in upgrading computer systems and cyber protection, a call center and digital archive were established, a customer relationship management system was implemented, the bank's website was upgraded, and ATMs with the ability to withdraw cash, deposit cash, and deposit checks were installed in all bank branches.[24]

In 2011 following social protests, the bank decided to change its interest rate policy on bank deposits that had been in effect until that time. while banks in the country offered their customers 20% of the Bank of Israel's interest and keep 80% of it, Jerusalem Bank offered customers 80% of the interest and retained 20% of it. The bank referred to this change as a transition from the minimum method to the maximum method. Starting in the second half of 2013, the bank reduced this policy and offered its customers only half of the Bank of Israel's interest.[25]

Since 2010 the bank has been focusing on developing its retail banking activities, offering current accounts and savings accounts to consumers.

In 2013 the bank acquired General Finance-Assuta Investment Management Company. This significantly increased its activity in the local capital market. However, it sold this activity to Meitav Dash after four years.[26][27]

In 2017 the bank launched a service for a prepaid debit card, primarily targeting employees without a bank account who receive their monthly salary in cash, allowing them to receive their salary on a credit card.[28]

In 2018 the bank attempted to acquire Municipal Bank (then owned by the Belgian-French banking and finance group Dexia), but its acquisition proposal was rejected in favor of a competing offer from Discount Bank.[29]

Criticism

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Involvement in Israeli settlements

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See also: List of companies operating in West Bank settlements

On 12 February 2020 the United Nations published a database of companies doing business related in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied Golan Heights.[30] Bank of Jerusalem was listed on the database on account of its activities in Israeli settlements in these occupied territories,[31] which are considered illegal under international law.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Dun's 100 Israel's Largest Enterprises – Commercial Banks – by Total Assets", Dun & Bradstreet Israel, January 2010, archived from the original on 27 September 2011, retrieved 27 May 2010
  2. ^ "⁨י פיכויים שקולים להקמת בנק ירושלמי } ⁩ — ⁨⁨הארץ⁩ 28 ספטמבר 1960⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  3. ^ "⁨נדחה פירוק קופת המילווה של העובדים.בירושלים ⁩ — ⁨⁨למרחב⁩ 16 אפריל 1959⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  4. ^ "⁨יו־ ישלים זקוקה לבנק משלה ⁩ — ⁨⁨מעריב⁩ 3 ינואר 1962⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  5. ^ "⁨בנק ירושלים בערבו! מוגבל ⁩ — ⁨⁨הארץ⁩ 9 מרץ 1938⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  6. ^ "⁨בנק ישראל – על הקמת,בנק ירושלים' ⁩ — ⁨⁨למרחב⁩ 11 נובמבר 1963⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  7. ^ "⁨,," בנק ירושלים למשכנתאות יוקם בהון של 10 מיליון ל'י ⁩ — ⁨⁨דבר⁩ 31 אוקטובר 1963⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  8. ^ "⁨המרכז החקלאי תובע הגדלת ייצור החלב ⁩ — ⁨⁨דבר⁩ 20 דצמבר 1963⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  9. ^ "⁨מ. איש־שלום – נשיא ,בנק ירושלים' ⁩ | ⁨הבקר⁩ | 20 דצמבר 1963 | אוסף העיתונות | הספרייה הלאומית". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  10. ^ "⁨ירושלים ⁩ — ⁨⁨דבר⁩ 7 פברואר 1928⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  11. ^ "⁨בנקכללילמםחר י.ל. פויכטוואנגדבע"מ ⁩ — ⁨⁨הארץ⁩ 20 אפריל 1939⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  12. ^ www.nli.org.il https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/?olive_path=/olive/apa/nli_heb/SharedView.Article.aspx&olive_query=href=HBKR/1938/02/22&id=Ar00402. Retrieved 14 March 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ "⁨אושרה ההשקעה בבנק ירושלים ⁩ — ⁨⁨למרחב⁩ 20 אפריל 1964⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  14. ^ "⁨בעלות בנק ירושלים ־ ברובה בידיים פרטיות ⁩ — ⁨⁨על המשמר⁩ 20 אפריל 1964⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  15. ^ "⁨,ההםתדרות־גרורד. של וולפםון?/.. ⁩ — ⁨⁨קול העם⁩ 6 אפריל 1964⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  16. ^ "⁨אייזיק וולפםון בראש ,בנק ירושלים" ⁩ — ⁨⁨קול העם⁩ 5 אפריל 1964⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  17. ^ "⁨האחים משה ומרדכי מאיר פירקו השותפות בעקבות סיכסוכים עיסקיים ⁩ — ⁨⁨מעריב⁩ 7 נובמבר 1989⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  18. ^ "⁨ח"כ שובל מקבל 4500 חלו לחודש מבנק ירושלים ⁩ — ⁨⁨מעריב⁩ 15 ינואר 1990⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  19. ^ שלו, מאת שי (23 February 2000). "בנק י-ם הפריש 4 מיליון שקל לטובת זלמן שובל ורעייתו". Globes. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  20. ^ "בנק ירושלים – קיבל רשיון "מוסד כספי"". Globes. 30 September 1997. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  21. ^ רביב, מאת אורנה (30 August 1998). "בנק ירושלים קיבל רישיון לבנקאות מסחרית". Globes. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  22. ^ צוקר, דפנה (12 August 2002). "בנק ירושלים מרחיב פעילות: ינפיק כרטיסי ויזה CAL". Globes. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  23. ^ הירשאוגה, אור; אפללו, אתי (7 December 2010). "בנק ירושלים משנה אסטרטגיה עסקית". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  24. ^ הטוני, יוסי (30 March 2011). "טלדור תשדרג את תשתיות ה-IT בבנק ירושלים ותקים CRM בפרויקט ענק בהיקף 20 מיליון שקלים –". אנשים ומחשבים – פורטל חדשות היי-טק, מיחשוב, טלקום, טכנולוגיות (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  25. ^ פאר, עירן (4 January 2012). "בנק ירושלים ישלם קבוע ריבית ב-80% מריבית בנק ישראל". Globes. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  26. ^ אבישר, עירית; שטיין, רון (16 October 2017). "בנק ירושלים מוכר את תיק הברוקראז' למיטב דש ב-21 מ' ש'". Globes. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  27. ^ "בנק ירושלים רוכש את פעילות הברוקראז' של כלל פיננסים ב-270 מיליון שקל". TheMarker. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  28. ^ "בנק ירושלים משיק כרטיס אשראי נטען". TheMarker. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  29. ^ "דקסיה דחתה את הצעת הרכישה של בנק ירושלים – וחתמה עם דיסקונט". TheMarker. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Database of all business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank (A/HRC/43/71)". UN OCHA. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  31. ^ "UN rights office issues report on business activities related to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  32. ^ "S/RES/2334(2016)". United Nations Security Council. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
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