While the dollar is falling against the shekel and the American mortgage banks are looking for an infusion of fresh air, Israel’s banks are continuing to bring in handsome profits.

According to a Channel 2 TV News report, bank profits for last year as follows;

** Israel Discount – NIS 1.265 billion,

** Hapoalim Bank – down from last year, some 20% due to failed investments, some in America, earning NIS 2.67 billion.               

** Bank Leumi – beating out Hapoalim this year with a profit of NIS 3.35 billion.

The salaries of top bank officials are also impressive, such as Discount’s Shlomo Zohar, earning NIS 17.65 million annually and Balia Maor of Leumi, NIS 9 million.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)