How do I get paid?
Israelis are generally reliable and pay on time. However, as there are always exceptions to the rule, common precautionary measures should be taken when doing business in Israel. The most common method of payment is by Letter of Credit (L/C). Collection without a L/C is not unusual, however. Cash Against Documents (CAD) is the most preferred mechanism by many Israeli importers. Since there is no guarantee of payment, as there is in a L/C transaction, some exporters prefer to collect an advance payment or an irrevocable bank guarantee on a certain portion of the sale. This practice is appropriate and recommended when there is no past relationship and experience with the buyer. A combination of L/C and CAD issued for the same Bill of Lading is also acceptable to most local banks.
When substantial investment and engineering (as required for custom-made products) are involved, it is not unusual for exporters to demand advance payment of a certain portion of the selling price. The Bank of Israel authorizes advance payment of up to 35% or $200,000, whichever is lower. The $200,000 limitation is not applicable for the importation of equipment.
Payment schedules vary. For raw materials, components and semi-finished goods, credit is usually limited to 60 days. For equipment and machinery, extended schedules may range from six months to two years.
The local banking system provides sources of short and long-term credit and access to venture capital. Some importers have preferred to seek
U.S. Export-Import (ExIm) Bank financing. Eximbank has most of the leading Israeli banks as correspondents and may supplement private sources of export financing with medium and long-term loans.
How the Banking System Operates
Israel has a modern and sophisticated banking system. The remaining government-owned shares of the largest bank, Bank Hapoalim, were sold in 2000. The government reduced its stake in the second largest bank, Bank Leumi, to 35 percent in 2002. In 2000, Citibank was the first large international bank to set up a full branch in Israel. HSBC soon followed suit. Bank of America also has a representative office in Israel. The government does not interfere in the day-to-day management of the banks. Most types of loans and project financing traditionally available in industrialized countries are available in Israel.
Foreign-Exchange Controls
Israel abolished most of its foreign exchange controls in the 1990s. The last major restriction, on the amount Israeli institutional investors may invest overseas, was eliminated at the end of 2002.
U.S. Banks and Local Correspondent Banks
Most U.S. banks maintain correspondent relationships with Israel's three leading banks - Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim, and the Israel Discount Bank, as well as with the Mizrahi Bank and the First International Bank of Israel. Many Israeli banks have their own subsidiaries in major U.S. cities. Interested parties should contact their U.S. banker or the Israeli banks in the United States directly for more detailed information on their respective services. Major correspondent banks are Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi Le-Israel, First International Bank of Israel, Israel Discount Bank and United Mizrahi Bank.
Project Financing
The U.S. Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) and the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) offer project financing and other financial services. Eximbank provides a range of financial programs ranging from medium and long term guarantees, insurance programs, working capital guarantee to project finance. The Project Finance Division provides financing to projects that are dependent on the project cash flows for repayment. For more information see the Eximbank website at http://www.exim.gov. OPIC finances overseas projects through loans and loan guarantees that provide medium to long-term funding to ventures involving significant equity and/or management participation by U.S. businesses. OPIC also provides insurance against a broad range of political risks. Rather than relying on sovereign or sponsor guarantees, OPIC's project financing program looks for repayment from the cash flows generated by the project. For projects sponsored by U.S. small businesses or cooperatives, financing may be provided through direct loans. These loans generally range in amount from $2 million - $10 million. Loan guarantees, which typically are used for larger projects, range in size from $10 million - $75 million, but in certain instances can be as high as $200 million. For information, consult the OPIC website at http://www.opic.gov.
General Financing Availability
U.S. companies will find that Israel does not suffer from any lack of capital or trade financing. There are no unusual rules or regulations concerning export financing, apart from the foreign currency regulations noted above. Loans at market interest rates are available from commercial banks to finance the manufacture of exports including the import of raw materials and components for export products. Loans vary depending upon the raw material requirements, cost of conversion and collection timeframe.
U.S. exporters may find export financing and insurance available through commercial sources; City/State-sponsored export financing and loan guarantee programs; the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Eximbank), which can provide U.S. exporters with export credit insurance, pre-export financing and working capital guarantees; and other sources. Eximbank can also provide established Israeli buyers with fixed-rate financing for their purchases from U.S. exporters. Eximbank’s Environmental Export Insurance Policy provides enhanced short-term insurance for medium and long-term loans and guarantees for environmental exports, projects and services. Israel does not receive PL-480 or similar U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program commodity grants. USDA’s GSM-102 funds and supplier credit guarantees are available but not sufficiently attractive to most parties. Information on these programs can be found at http://www.fas.usda.gov.
Bilateral Funding Organizations
There are four bilateral U.S.-Israel Government funded organizations, which provide financing for joint R&D and research projects.
U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD)
BIRD supports joint industrial R&D projects designed to develop, manufacture, sell and support an innovative product. In December 2008, the foundation approved investments in twelve new projects, with a combined budget of roughly $28 million between U.S. and Israeli companies. A pair of companies, one from each country, must conduct the project. BIRD often plays a proactive role in bringing together potential U.S. and Israeli strategic partners. During its 31 years, BIRD has approved over 780 projects, investing over $260 million, which have generated an estimated $8 billion in sales. BIRD’s website is http://www.birdf.com.
U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Commission (USISTC)
The USISTC promotes collaborative science and technology activities between interested private sector entities. In 1993, the U.S. and Israeli governments agreed to contribute $30 million ($15 million each) to fund joint ventures between U.S. and Israeli firms in a number of technology specific areas, as well as to remove regulatory impediments to cooperation. For information, companies should consult the USISTC website at http://www.usistc.org/fs_index.asp.
U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF)
The BSF supports cooperative research projects of mutual interest to the United States and Israel, concerned with science and technology for peaceful purposes. The research must be conducted jointly by U.S. and Israeli researchers and may be conducted in either country. The BSF has a website at http://www.bsf.org.il.
U.S.-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD)
BARD funds, generated from a $100 million endowment, finance cooperative agricultural research between scientists of the United States and Israel on topics considered to be of mutual benefit to the agriculture of both countries. BARD also supports international workshops and provides post-doctoral fellowships. For further information, consult the BARD website at http://www.bard-isus.com.
The U.S. Commercial Service — Your Global Business Partner
With its network of offices across the United States and in more than 80 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://www.export.gov/eac.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this report is intended to be of assistance to U.S. exporters. While we make every effort to ensure its accuracy, neither the United States government nor any of its employees make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of information in this or any other United States government document. Readers are advised to independently verify any information prior to reliance thereon. The information provided in this report does not constitute legal advice.
International copyright, U.S. Department of Commerce, 2008. All rights reserved outside of the United States.