Bank of Israel publishes 2026 work plan and sets NIS 1.33 billion administrative budget

The Bank of Israel published the main points of its 2026 work plan and its budget for administrative activity, aimed at advancing the Bank’s strategic targets while responding to evolving risks and challenges in the Israeli and global economies. The plan spans the Bank’s statutory responsibilities, including monetary policy, foreign exchange reserves management and market functioning, banking supervision, payment and settlement oversight, currency issuance and cash-system regulation, operation of the Credit Data Register, and management of the Citizens of Israel Fund’s assets. The overall 2026 administrative budget totals NIS 1,333.3 million, up 2.5 percent from 2025, while the budget excluding currency issuance, the Citizens of Israel Fund and the Credit Data System totals NIS 1,108.4 million, up 3.5 percent. Key shifts include investment spending (excluding the credit data system) of NIS 100.3 million, up NIS 21.7 million (27.7 percent), and a reserve budget of NIS 39.2 million, up NIS 6.2 million (18.9 percent), intended to preserve flexibility given external uncertainty. The Citizens of Israel Fund Management Department budget rises to NIS 10.6 million (up 16.3 percent), while the Credit Data System budget falls to NIS 89.5 million (down 4.2 percent) and includes planning for a “Credit Register for Businesses” project described as complex and particularly costly. Permitted commitments for coming years are set at NIS 762.0 million, 7.5 percent below the 2025 budget. The Bank of Israel’s Supervisory Council approved the administrative budget and submitted it to the Knesset Finance Committee, as required under the Bank of Israel Law.