Coming2Israel.com - Israeli Currency, Getting / Exchanging Cash,

Using a Credit Card

Israeli Currency:

The current Israeli Currency is the New Israeli Shekel - ILS.  You can check exchange rates on websites like XE.com (e): www.xe.com.  At the time of writing this, one shekel is worth about US$ 0.35.

Israeli Paper Money.

The paper bills are a colorful currency and are available in 20.00, 50.00, 100.00 and 200.00 shekel denominations.   They are very easy to tell them apart as the value is printed on the bill in a large font, and once you know the colors of the bills, that will also help you distinguish them. There is a new 200.00 NIS bill that looks a little bit like Euro currency.  In the meantime both the new version and the older version, picture at the top of the page, are in use. The new 200.00 NIS bill --->

Israeli Coin Money.

Israeli coin currency is available in 10.00, 5.00, 2.00, 1.00, 0.50, 0.10 shekel denominations. It is also easy to see the difference between the coins as they are marked and size and/ or color distinguishes them.  The only potential problem may come from the 10.00 shekel coin and the 0.10 shekel coin.  You should note that one of them is worth ten shekels and the other is worth only a tenth of a shekel.  Both coins have the number 10 on them.  The 10 shekel coins are bigger and have a two-tone color pattern to them. the outer ring is in silver and the inner circle is a bronze-gold color.  The 10 shekel coin is also bigger and noticeably heavier than the 0.10 shekel coin, which are only in the gold color.  Pay attention and don’t let anyone short-change you or tell you otherwise.  There are no smaller coins than the 0.10 coin.  So, if your bill comes out to 35.13 shekels, you will either need to pay 35.10 shekels, or 35.20 shekels, depending on the mood of the person ringing up your purchase.  Likewise, if your change due back to you from the transaction is 35.13 shekels, you will more than likely get back 35.10 shekels.

Exchanging Foreign Currency To Israeli Shekels.

If you are coming to Israel and need to change foreign currency to Israeli shekels, you can do it at the airport, your hotel or various change places throughout the country.  We recommend not to change at the airport as there rates tend to be not as good as other places.  If you need an amount for a taxi to your destination within Israel, just exchange the amount as close to the amount in shekels that you need.  Most hotels will offer an exchange service for their guests, but they may have a daily, or per room limit and they may not exchange all types of foreign currency.  Exchange counters will usually let you exchange currency without limit and will more than likely accept most, if not all, foreign currencies for exchange.  Foreign exchange counters are located throughout the country, but there will be more of them in the larger cities.  They are easy to find, as their sign-age is usually written in English - “Change” or “Exchange” - in big neon letters. The exchange counters usually do not charge any extra commission for the transaction, as their fee is already built into the rate that they are quoting.  As always, ask first.

ATM’s and Cash Points.

ATM’s are located throughout the country and are offered by the major banks if Israel and private stand-alone machines.  There should be a button that allows you to change the language to English.  Most foreign cards will work in most machines, but not all cards in all machines.  If you know that you need to withdraw some money from you card, we highly recommend that you don’t wait until the last minute to get your cash.  Give yourself enough time to find the machine, and then, also, enough time to find a machine that accepts your card or PIN (some machines only accept a PIN that is four digits).  Some super-markets will give you cash-back from your account if you make a purchase with them.  And not all hotels will offer you cash withdrawals against your credit card.  So, again, if you need to withdraw cash from your credit card, make sure you leave yourself enough time to source a location to get the cash.   And, of course check the service fees that you will be charged for completing the transaction.

Paying By Credit Card.

Except for outdoor markets, and maybe not all shops or stalls, some taxi cabs, and maybe a few other smaller corner stores, you can pay for just about anything with a credit card in Israel.  Master card, Diners Club, Visa or American Express.  Just about all shops, super-markets, grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, petrol stations, train stations etc. will accept payment by credit card.  We haven’t tried yet, but you could probably pay for a pack of gum with a credit card.  We have paid for a cup of coffee with our credit cards, though, so the gum isn’t actually that much more of a long shot.  Of course, like everywhere else in the world, some vendors may not accept American Express.  You can always ask before you choose the items that you wish to buy.  You should, when paying with a credit card, get the a copy of your receipt.  It will be in Hebrew, and a little bit confusing to understand, but you can always ask someone to help you decipher what it is printed on it.

Lastly, Be Careful And Pay Attention!:

Look, we’d love to tell you that everyone that you will engage in a money transaction with while you are visiting Israel will be completely honest and forthcoming - not to say that most are not - because most are.  But, like in any country throughout the world, that is playing host to visitors from other countries, there are a few that, as they say, see foreigners as “easy marks”.  So, your best defense is to pay attention and know as much as you can when making any financial transactions.  We can’t be with you to hold your hand each time that you have to pay for something in Israel but, we have given you as much information as we can to help you be prepared, Just remember, as with everything we do in this life, in the end, it is up to you.  As we have already stated, ninety-nine percent of the time, you will be dealing with kind, honest and warm Israeli people, and you should have nothing to worry about.  But, again, that one percent is there.  And we all know what is said about the rotten apple spoiling the bunch.  We, at Coming2Israel.com really want all visitors to have a great, happy and wonderful time while they are visiting our country.  So, please, for the last time, take care and pay attention.

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