Israel’s banks are under scrutiny, with the government moving to break up the current credit card oligopoly. But opinion is divided on whether these reforms will boost competition more generally or are just an experiment. Pinchas Landau reports.

Israel’s impressive ecosystem of hi-tech start-ups is increasingly taking on financial technology, with bold ambitions and an eye to the larger potential offered by the US, Europe and Asia. 

A year into Karnit Flug’s tenure as governor of the Bank of Israel, James King looks at the impact of her stewardship on the broader economy.

A difficult macroeconomic environment has hardly dented the performance of Israeli banks, which are pushing ahead with new plans for longer term growth by honing their strategies in sectors including hi-tech and energy.

Despite an unusual structure as the holding company for a fixed-line monopoly, B Communications issued Israel's first dual-listed bond to considerable demand.

The Banker’s Central Bank Governor of the Year awards celebrate the officials who managed to restore economic stability and even growth to their countries following a turbulent few years.

Stanley Fischer's time as Bank of Israel governor has coincided with dramatic changes in global thinking about the role of central banks. He looks back on how his work has evolved, and what still needs to be done to secure the future.

Israel has a well-regulated banking sector that came through the financial crisis in good shape, but margins are tight and its largest banks are searching for ways to improve growth and returns.

The Bank of Israel's authority to regulate the country's banking sector is something that other supervisors can only dream of, and the benefits of it holding such power were seen during the credit crisis. Writer Philip Alexander