About Us: Bank Leumi

Our Origins & Mission

Bank Leumi (Hebrew: בנק לאומי, lit. “National Bank”) traces its roots to the early 20th century. It was founded in London in 1902 as the Anglo-Palestine Company, under the auspices of the Jewish Colonial Trust, to support the economic development of the then-Ottoman/Palestinian territory in alignment with the Zionist vision. Jewish Virtual Library+3leumi.co.il+3archives.openjerusalem.org+3

The bank’s first branch opened in Jaffa in 1903. leumi.co.il+1 Over the following years it expanded to Jerusalem, Hebron, Beirut and Tel Aviv. archives.openjerusalem.org+1

When the State of Israel was established in 1948, Bank Leumi was entrusted with issuing the new state’s first banknotes and served temporarily in a central banking-like role for the nascent state. leumiuk.com+3Jewish Virtual Library+3leumi.co.il+3 From 1948 until 1954, before the formal establishment of the Bank of Israel, Leumi performed many central-bank functions. leumiuk.com+2Jewish Virtual Library+2 After 1954, when Israel’s central bank was formalized, Bank Leumi transitioned fully into a commercial banking model. companieshistory.com+3Jewish Virtual Library+3leumiuk.com+3

Over the decades, Leumi has expanded its role beyond traditional banking to become a leading full-service financial institution in Israel and abroad, contributing to many sectors including infrastructure, technology, commerce, industry, real estate, agriculture and research. companieshistory.com+3leumi.co.il+3Dun’s 100 אתר+3

What We Do

Bank Leumi operates as a universal bank, offering a broad suite of financial services to individuals, businesses, and institutional clients. World Economic Forum+2Forbes+2

Key business lines include:

• Retail & Consumer Banking – deposit accounts, personal loans, mortgages, credit cards, everyday banking services Bloomberg+3Forbes+3leumi.co.il+3

• Commercial & Corporate Banking – lending, trade finance, working capital, cash management, services to small, medium and large enterprises Forbes+2Bloomberg+2

• Private Banking & Wealth Management – tailored services for high-net-worth clients Forbes+1

• Capital Markets & Investment Services – securities, trading, advisory, asset management, and investment banking solutions Bloomberg+1

• Digital & Open Banking – Leumi has embraced digital innovation. Its “FinTeka” platform, exposing open APIs, is designed to support fintech partnerships and accelerate digital product development. GFT+2AllCloud+2

To serve diverse communities, Leumi also operates Arab Israel Bank (Ai Bank), which historically catered to Arab citizens in the north and in the “Triangle” region. In 1971, Bank Leumi acquired Ai Bank, and in recent years its branches were integrated under the Leumi umbrella. Wikipedia+2companieshistory.com+2

Our Values & Social Commitment

At the heart of Bank Leumi’s identity is a sense of mission and social responsibility. The bank sees itself as part of the “social-ethical backbone” of Israel, and invests in community through:

• Strategic partnerships and long-term social initiatives

• Employee volunteering and social procurement

• Donations and support to civic projects

• Mobilisation around issues of social importance leumi.co.il+1

Leumi emphasizes ethical conduct, governance, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) practices, and has published policies relating to credit, environmental stewardship, anti–money laundering, etc. GFT+3leumi.co.il+3leumi.co.il+3

Presence & Reach

• Israel: Leumi maintains a strong national presence with over 250 branches across Israel. AllCloud

• Internationally: It has (or had) subsidiary operations and representative offices abroad, including in the United Kingdom, United States, Luxembourg, and other markets. companieshistory.com+4Wikipedia+4leumi.co.il+4

• UK arm: Bank Leumi UK provides full banking services in London and is known as one of the leading foreign-owned banks there, combining traditional service values with modern banking capabilities. iabuk.com

• Financial size: Leumi is among Israel’s largest banks by assets, with a market share exceeding 30% in some metrics. World Economic Forum+2Bloomberg+2

Leadership & Governance

Leumi’s leadership has evolved over time. Past chief executives have spearheaded digital transformation, cost-efficiency drives, and strategic repositioning of the bank. For example, under former CEO Rakefet Russak-Aminoach (appointed in 2012), Leumi pursued a sweeping transformation involving branch consolidation, digitalization, streamlining operations, and risk-management improvements. AllCloud+3Wikipedia+3companieshistory.com+3

The bank is publicly listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) under the ticker LUMI. FT Markets+1 Its ownership is a mix of public shareholders and institutional investors. leumi.co.il+3Dun’s 100 אתר+3companieshistory.com+3

Recent Performance & Outlook

In recent years, Leumi has seen robust financial performance, reflecting both growing lending activity and operational discipline. For example, in 2024 the bank reported a 40% increase in net profit to about 9.8 billion shekels ($2.7 bn), driven by loan growth and improved credit metrics. Reuters That said, forecasts for 2025 project more stable (flat) profits, as interest rate pressures and competitive dynamics tighten. Reuters

Leumi is also responding to public scrutiny over banking sector profits in times of economic inflation by offering relief in mortgage and consumer loan rates. Financial Times

Our Aspirations

As Bank Leumi moves forward, its goals include:

• Strengthening its digital, open-banking ecosystem

• Deepening relationships with fintechs and innovators

• Enhancing customer experience and agility

• Expanding responsibly within Israel and abroad

• Maintaining balanced growth, prudent risk practices, and social value creation

At its core, Leumi continues to carry the legacy of its founding ideals: to support economic development, innovation, and national growth — while evolving for the future.