On a budget and looking for free ATMs in Israel - Any top banks?
During my Israel trip, I used mainly Bank Hapoalim and Leumi ATMs. My Wise Visa worked well with a 1,000-6,000 ILS limit and absolutely zero fees per transaction. I usually withdrew once every few days, keeping enough cash for food, taxis, and smaller shops. Cards were accepted almost everywhere, so I didn’t need much cash overall. ATMs were reliable, but I avoided independents after seeing high fees. Israel’s banking system felt modern and safe for foreign card users.
ATM fees in Israel can be frustrating. FIrstly - not all the ATMS have English language option. Then My HSBC debit card was charged 2.99 GBP fee of its own - thankfully the local Discount Bank did not charge any fees for a 1,000 ILS withdrawal. Same experience with Bank Yahav - so you can use either. Some ATMs in tourist areas tried to force dynamic currency conversion into USD or GBP, which had awful rates. Limits were generally low - 2,500 to 6,200 ILS depending on the bank. Bank Hapoalim seemed the most consistent for me. If you’re on a budget, always withdraw the maximum allowed to cut down on repeated fees.
I had no problem withdrawing cash in Israel. Leumi ATMs in Jerusalem accepted my Monzo Mastercard, with a limit of 6,000 ILS per withdrawal but without any fees. Bank Hapoalim also worked with my Revolut Visa without issues. I withdrew twice during my trip for markets, taxis, and tips, while most larger expenses went on card. Compared to neighboring countries, Israel was straightforward for ATM use, and the machines were modern with English menus.
In Israel, Bank Hapoalim, Leumi, and Discount Bank ATMs are the most reliable. I used my Wise Visa at Bank Hapoalim in Tel Aviv, and the withdrawal limit was 6,000 ILS and none of them charged any fees. Discount Bank ATMs worked fine with my Revolut Mastercard. Avoid random independent ATMs that charge higher fees and offer poor exchange rates.