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Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Amir Yaron: “The mobilization of reserve forces as part of Operation “Roaring Lion,” along with the damage to property and personal injury, has placed a significant financial burden on specific segments of the population. The Bank of Israel is acting to support the proper functioning of the financial and banking system and to ensure that the economy can resume normal activity as soon as the operation concludes.  As part of these efforts, the Bank of Israel, in collaboration with the banking system, has formulated a program that allows for the deferral of loan payments for populations that have been particularly affected. These include reserve soldiers called to duty under the operation, households evacuated from their homes, and small and micro businesses whose operations have been disrupted.  The Bank of Israel continues to monitor developments across all areas under its responsibility and will take further action as needed.”

Supervisor of Banks Daniel Hahiashvili:  “This is the third time in the past two-and-a-half years that the banking system has adopted a relief framework to assist customers affected by security-related events. The framework we developed and that the banks have adopted provides a rapid and immediate response to the liquidity challenges faced by households and small businesses impacted by the situation. The Banking Supervision Department will continue to closely monitor developments and their economic implications and will act as necessary to expand or extend the framework.”

In view of Operation “Roaring Lion” and its impact on the economy, and following the shutdown of large areas across the country in accordance with Home Front Command directives, the Banking Supervision Department at the Bank of Israel has established a support framework for populations directly affected by the fighting as of February 28, 2026. The goal is to provide immediate cash-flow relief and help maintain the proper functioning of the economy, alongside additional measures being taken to ease the situation.  The framework sets out minimum conditions for loan deferrals, and each bank may expand these terms for the benefit of its customers upon request.

Participation in the framework will be available between March 16, 2026, and April 16, 2026, and the program may be extended or expanded depending on security developments and emerging needs. Banks wishing to implement the framework earlier or to allow customers to submit requests ahead of time may do so, and will inform their customers accordingly. Customers may submit requests to join the framework until April 16, 2026.

Population groups eligible for relief and applicable measures

  1. Households whose homes were damaged or who were evacuated as a result of Operation “Roaring Lion,” or households that suffered physical harm:
  • Deferral of mortgage payments for up to three months, with no limit on the amount, and without interest or fees.
  • Deferral of consumer loan repayments totaling up to NIS 100,000 for three months, without interest or fees.
  1. Small and micro businesses[1] that were physically or financially affected by the operation (based on criteria detailed below):

 

  • Deferral of business loan repayments totaling up to NIS 2 million for two months, without interest or fees.
  • In addition, for businesses owned by reserve soldiers, a two-month exemption from interest charges on overdrafts in business accounts (up to NIS 30,000 in overdraft). This benefit will be granted automatically to business owners identified by the bank as active reservists or those who have notified the bank of their service, and who had a negative balance in their business account as of March 1, 2026 (the day before the framework’s publication).
  • Businesses that do not meet the defined criteria may defer loan repayments totaling up to NIS 2 million for two months, subject to the contractual interest rate.

For more information and assistance:

  • Banking Supervision Department Consumer Enquiries and Inspections Unit: 02-655-2680 or *9086.
  • Supervisor of Credit Data Sharing, Bank of Israel: *6194.
  • Information on banking matters on the Bank of Israel website.

 

 

 

 

Appendix – Identifying Customers as Being Eligible

 

  1. Evacuated households or households that suffered physical harm as a result of Operation “Roaring Lion”:
  • Confirmation from the local authority or another authorized official body attesting to evacuation from the home.
  • Confirmation from an authorized body of hospitalization due to injuries sustained during the operation.
  1. Business owners whose premises were physically damaged as a result of Operation “Roaring Lion”:
  • Confirmation from the local authority or another authorized official body attesting to evacuation from the business premises.
  1. Businesses that are not operating during Operation “Roaring Lion”:
  • A declaration from a certified public accountant or tax advisor, or a notarized affidavit signed by the business’s legal representative, confirming that the business was inactive during part or all of the regular business days affected by Operation “Roaring Lion,” which began on February 28, 2026.

Identification of reserve soldiers who own businesses:

Identification of reservist business owners will be based on a payment or credit recorded in the customer’s account between February 1, 2026, and March 1, 2026, related to reserve service.
If the customer served in the reserves during this period but did not receive such a payment or credit, or if the bank has no way to identify the customer as a reservist, the customer must present documentation to the bank confirming their reserve service in order to receive the benefit.
For customers called up for the first time, identification will be based on a payment or credit received during March 2026.

 

 

[1] Small and micro businesses are defined as those with an annual turnover of up to NIS 25 million.