USD business account in Israel
An Israeli company can hold US dollars in a foreign currency account at an Israeli bank, in USD account details with a US routing number from a provider that accepts Israeli companies, or through a US company of its own. Israel has repealed its foreign currency controls and companies may also hold bank accounts abroad in shekels or foreign currency, so the choice turns on how your customers pay, cost and whose name the account is in. This guide covers the options, the rules, documents and the position of stablecoins.
- The Bank of Israel states that foreign currency control was gradually repealed and that no control restrictions exist today.
- Israeli individuals and companies are permitted to manage bank accounts abroad in either shekels or foreign currency, according to the US government's Country Commercial Guide.
- The shekel floats freely; the Bank of Israel publishes a representative exchange rate each business day but reserves the right to intervene in foreign currency trading.
- Airwallex lists Israel as a supported business registration location, while Wise lists Israel for holding money in personal accounts only, not business accounts.
- Israeli law limits cash payments between businesses to NIS 6,000, so business payments run through bank transfers.
- Bank of Israel Directive 411 states that banks should not refuse payment services merely because a transaction is connected to virtual currencies, where the provider is licensed and the bank takes a risk-based approach.
USD business accounts in Israel: the short answer
A company in Israel has three main ways to hold and receive US dollars: a foreign currency account at an Israeli bank, USD account details from a provider that accepts Israeli companies, or an account held by a US company the owners set up. Israel has more choice than most countries outside the United States, because its foreign currency controls have been repealed and some international providers accept Israeli registrations.
An Israeli bank account is identified by an IBAN, the International Bank Account Number, a standard format that identifies an account across borders. Buyers abroad pay it by SWIFT, the international network banks use to send cross-border payments, identified by an 8 or 11 character bank code. What it does not have is a US routing number, the 9 digit code that identifies a bank in the United States. Without one, a US customer cannot pay by ACH, the low-cost US domestic bank transfer system most US companies use for supplier payments, or by Fedwire, the Federal Reserve's same-day system for large dollar payments.
For Israeli software, cybersecurity and medical device companies with US customers, that gap is the main reason to look beyond the Israeli bank. This guide covers the rules, the Israeli bank route, foreign providers' eligibility from their own pages, the US company route, documents, stablecoins and how a Helm account fits.
Israel's currency rules: a floating shekel and no controls
The Bank of Israel states that foreign currency control was gradually repealed in a liberalization process and that no control restrictions exist today. Its exchange rate policy is based on unrestrained fluctuation of the shekel against other currencies, and the Bank reserves the right to intervene in foreign currency trading when necessary.
| Area | What applies in Israel | What it means for a USD account |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | The shekel floats; the Bank of Israel can intervene when necessary | Dollar balances gain or lose value against shekel costs, so timing of conversion matters |
| Representative rate | Published by the Bank of Israel each foreign currency business day, based on the market rate; no obligatory status under law | A reference to check a bank's quote, not a guaranteed rate |
| Foreign currency control | Gradually repealed; no control restrictions today | No exchange control forms to receive, hold or pay dollars |
| Accounts abroad | Individuals and companies may manage bank accounts abroad in shekels or foreign currency | A USD account outside Israel is permitted |
| Cash payments | Limited to NIS 6,000 between businesses and NIS 15,000 between private individuals | Business payments run through bank transfers |
| Reporting | A report on the nature of certain transactions with nonresidents is still required so capital flows can be analyzed | Keep records of payments with foreign counterparties |
Sources: Bank of Israel, Exchange Rates; International Trade Administration, Israel Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing (last published 24 April 2026). As published on 29 October 2026.
Because the shekel floats, an Israeli company with dollar revenue and shekel salaries carries currency risk. A USD account lets it hold dollars and convert when it chooses, rather than having every receipt converted on arrival. Compare the bank's quoted rate with the Bank of Israel's representative rate for the day to see the margin you pay.
Option 1: a foreign currency account at an Israeli bank
Israel has a modern banking system with five major domestic commercial banks and five foreign banks with commercial activities, according to the US Country Commercial Guide. Most US banks maintain correspondent relationships with Israel's leading banks, and Bank Leumi has a US subsidiary, Leumi USA, with offices in New York, Chicago, California and Florida. A correspondent bank is a bank that holds an account for another bank and settles payments in its currency.
Israeli banks run foreign trade and foreign currency units for business clients. Discount Bank, for example, publishes the following service rules for its foreign trade unit.
| Point | Discount Bank foreign trade unit, as published |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday to Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Sunday and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; holiday eves 8:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. |
| Execution | Orders are executed on the business day the bank approves them |
| Late orders | Orders received within two hours before the unit closes, or on non-business days, are processed on the next business day, subject to approval |
| Scope | Support for import and export transactions through to execution |
| Contacts | Foreign trade experts listed by branch group |
Source: Discount Bank, Business, Foreign trade and foreign currency, as published on 29 October 2026. The page does not publish fees; ask the bank for its current tariff.
A USD payment to an Israeli bank travels by SWIFT, often through the bank's US correspondent. Intermediary banks in the chain can deduct their own fees. OUR, SHA and BEN are SWIFT charge codes: OUR means the sender pays all fees, SHA means fees are shared so intermediaries can deduct theirs from the amount, and BEN means the receiver pays them all. For large invoices, agree OUR terms in the contract, and give customers the details of the dollar account, not the shekel account.
How Israeli trade is paid
Payment terms affect which account the money should land in. The US Country Commercial Guide describes the following practices in Israel.
| Method | What the Country Commercial Guide states |
|---|---|
| Letter of credit | The most common method of payment |
| Cash against documents | The preferred mechanism for many Israeli importers |
| Collection without a letter of credit | Not unusual |
| Advance payment or bank guarantee | Some exporters collect an advance or an irrevocable bank guarantee on part of the sale |
| Credit terms | Typically end of month plus 30 to 60 days; payment after 90, sometimes 120, days is not unusual |
Source: International Trade Administration, Israel Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing (last published 24 April 2026). As published on 29 October 2026.
A letter of credit is a bank's promise to pay the seller once the shipping documents match the terms. Cash against documents means the buyer's bank releases the shipping documents only when the buyer pays. Both settle between banks, so an Israeli bank account is the natural home for them. US software and service customers, by contrast, usually pay vendors by ACH, which is where US account details help.
Option 2: providers that give US account details
Some Israeli companies want US account details, a routing and account number, so US customers can pay by ACH or Fedwire as they would pay a domestic supplier. Eligibility is set by each provider, and Israel is covered by more providers than its neighbors.
| Provider | What its own pages state for Israel | What it means for an Israeli company |
|---|---|---|
| Airwallex | Israel is on its list of supported business registration locations, served by a single-country Airwallex entity | Israeli-registered companies can apply, subject to Airwallex's other criteria |
| Wise | Israel is on its list of countries where money can be held, for personal accounts only, not business accounts | An Israeli business cannot hold balances with Wise at present |
| Mercury | Accepts only companies formed and registered in the United States or a US territory; Israel is not on its prohibited countries list | Available only through a US company owned from Israel |
Sources: Airwallex, eligible countries and territories; Wise, where can I open a Wise balance; Mercury, eligibility. As published on 29 October 2026. Eligibility lists change; check each provider's page before applying.
Before you apply, check three points. First, whether the US details are in your company's own name or belong to a pooled account in the provider's name, because the customer's accounts payable team and your auditors will compare the name on the account with the name on the invoice. Second, which rails the details accept: ACH only, or also Fedwire and SWIFT. Third, what currency conversion costs when dollars are needed in shekels. For the customer's side of the difference between the rails, see our guide to SWIFT, ACH and Fedwire.
Option 3: a US company with its own account
Some Israeli founders form a US company, usually a Delaware corporation or a limited liability company (LLC), and open a US account in its name. Mercury, for example, requires the company to be formed and registered in the United States or a US territory, and states that founders do not need to be US citizens or residents.
The US company needs an Employer Identification Number (EIN), the US federal tax number for a business. The IRS instructions for Form SS-4 state that applicants with no principal place of business in the United States may call 267-941-1099, from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, and that only international applicants can receive an EIN by telephone.
The cost is a second company: state filings, a registered agent, separate accounts and US tax returns, plus the Israeli subsidiary's own accounts. Money paid to the US company belongs to the US company, so the group needs an agreement for how the Israeli company is paid for its work. Take Israeli and US tax advice before choosing this route.
The options compared and documents
The table compares types of account, not providers, and is not a ranking. Many Israeli companies use two: an Israeli bank for shekel payroll, rent, taxes and local suppliers, and a USD account for receipts from customers abroad and payments to suppliers abroad.
| Israeli bank foreign currency account | Provider with US details | Account of a US company | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account holder | Israeli company | Israeli company, if the provider accepts Israeli registrations | US company |
| Account details | Israeli IBAN and SWIFT code | US routing and account number | US routing and account number |
| How a US customer pays | International wire (SWIFT) | ACH or wire, depending on the provider | ACH or wire |
| Main costs | Bank tariff, intermediary fees, conversion margin against the representative rate | Provider pricing | Second company, US filings, account fees |
| Fits best | Letters of credit, cash against documents, buyers paying by SWIFT | Companies with US customers who pay by ACH | Groups with US investors or US operations |
Source: Helm Editorial Team, drawing on the bank and provider pages cited in this guide, as published on 29 October 2026.
Documents follow each institution's own list. Airwallex, for example, states that a business must be fully incorporated, active and in good standing where it is registered; that it collects personal details and verification documents for the authorized person and for other individuals who own or control the business; and that it cannot serve businesses on a sanctions list, shell banks or bearer share entities. A bearer share is a share owned by whoever holds the certificate, so the owner is not recorded.
Prepare the certificate of incorporation, the articles of association, a list of shareholders and directors, an ownership chart down to every person holding 25% or more, identity documents for signatories and owners, and a short description of the business with its expected monthly volumes in each currency. Contracts or invoices with main customers help show where the dollars come from.
USDC and USDT in Israel
Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to hold a steady value against a currency such as the US dollar. USDC and USDT are the two most widely used dollar stablecoins. A June 2026 review by the Tel Aviv law firm Zioni Pillersdorf Phillip sets out where Israel stands.
| Question | What the review states |
|---|---|
| Is there a stablecoin law? | Stablecoin legislation is being drafted by the Capital Market, Insurance and Savings Authority |
| Can foreign crypto firms be licensed? | A proposed Amendment 17 to the Supervision of Financial Services law could allow tailored licenses for foreign corporations already supervised abroad, on an ad hoc basis |
| Must banks serve crypto-related clients? | Under Directive 411, Section 87A, banks should not refuse payment services merely because a transaction is connected to virtual currencies, where the provider is licensed and the bank takes a risk-based approach |
| Is that how it works in practice? | Businesses and individuals still report difficulty depositing crypto-derived funds; a further amendment is in preparation |
| Is there a shekel stablecoin? | The review describes BILS as a regulated shekel-denominated digital token backed 1:1 |
| What about a digital shekel? | A Bank of Israel recommendation on whether to issue one is expected toward the end of the year |
Source: Zioni Pillersdorf Phillip Advocates, Blockchain and Crypto-Assets 2026, Israel: Trends and Developments, Chambers and Partners (last updated 11 June 2026). As published on 29 October 2026.
For an Israeli company, the practical reading is that stablecoins are not banned, but moving their proceeds into an Israeli bank can meet questions. Keep records of where each stablecoin receipt came from and take legal and tax advice before accepting them for invoices.
Where a Helm USD account fits
Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. Helm's US dollar account services are provided by Bridge Building, Inc. (NMLS ID 2450917), a licensed money transmitter, with customer funds held at Lead Bank.
Helm provides USD account details in the company's own name, with a US routing and account number that receives ACH, Fedwire and SWIFT, alongside EUR details (IBAN, SEPA and SWIFT) and GBP details (sort code, Faster Payments and SWIFT). SEPA is the euro bank transfer system across Europe and Faster Payments is the UK's near-instant transfer system.
For an Israeli company, it sits beside the Israeli bank account, not instead of it:
- Software and service exporters can give US customers domestic US payment details, so the customer pays by ACH or Fedwire as it would pay a US vendor, and hold dollars until conversion suits them.
- Importers and manufacturers can send international payments to suppliers by SWIFT or by local rails in the supplier's currency where available, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before sending, and convert between balances.
- Stablecoins: Helm accounts can receive, send and convert USDC and USDT to USD, so stablecoin receipts arrive in the company's own dollar account with a record of each conversion.
- Trade finance: supplier finance, receivables finance and working capital, arranged case by case.
Each account has a named account manager, and review questions are answered in writing within one business day. Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
Can an Israeli company open a USD account?
Yes. Israeli banks hold foreign currency for business clients, and Israeli companies may also manage bank accounts abroad in shekels or foreign currency, according to the US Country Commercial Guide. Foreign currency control has been repealed.
Does Israel have foreign exchange controls?
No. The Bank of Israel states that foreign currency control was gradually repealed and that no control restrictions exist today. A report on the nature of certain transactions with nonresidents is still required for statistics.
Is the shekel pegged to the dollar?
No. The Bank of Israel's exchange rate policy is based on unrestrained fluctuation of the shekel, and the Bank reserves the right to intervene when necessary. It publishes a representative rate each business day.
Does an Israeli bank account have a US routing number?
No. An Israeli bank account is identified by an IBAN and SWIFT code and is paid from abroad by SWIFT. To let US customers pay by ACH, a company needs USD account details with a US routing number.
Can an Israeli company use Airwallex?
Yes, subject to its criteria. Airwallex lists Israel as a supported business registration location, served by a single-country Airwallex entity, and states that being on the list does not guarantee approval.
Can an Israeli business use Wise?
Wise lists Israel among the countries where money can be held for personal accounts only, not business accounts. An Israeli business therefore cannot hold balances with Wise at present.
Are stablecoins legal in Israel?
They are not banned. Stablecoin legislation is being drafted by the Capital Market, Insurance and Savings Authority, and Directive 411 tells banks not to refuse payment services merely because a transaction is connected to virtual currencies, although businesses still report difficulty depositing crypto-derived funds.
How much cash can an Israeli business pay?
Israeli law limits cash payments between businesses to NIS 6,000 and between private individuals to NIS 15,000, according to the US Country Commercial Guide.
Can an Israeli founder get a US EIN?
Yes, for a US company. The IRS instructions for Form SS-4 let international applicants call 267-941-1099 and state that only international applicants can receive an EIN by telephone.
References
- Bank of Israel: Exchange Rates
- International Trade Administration: Israel Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing
- Discount Bank: Foreign trade and foreign currency
- Chambers and Partners: Blockchain and Crypto-Assets 2026, Israel, Trends and Developments (Zioni Pillersdorf Phillip)
- Airwallex: Eligible countries and territories
- Wise: Where can I open a Wise balance?
- Mercury: Eligibility
- Internal Revenue Service: Instructions for Form SS-4
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.