# Israel — payment codes and schemes

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IL
> extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

## Summary

- **Bit** dominates with 90% market share (3.5M customers)
- **PayBox** holds 10% with 1.4M customers
- **38% digital wallet transactions** in 2024 (up from 26%)
- **No unified national QR standard** - proprietary systems
- **Fees introduced** January 2025 for high-volume users

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Bank of Israel (BOI)
- **Website:** https://www.boi.org.il/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, banking supervision

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Payment App |
|------|-----------|------|-------------|
| 1 | Bank Hapoalim | Private | Bit |
| 2 | Bank Leumi | Private | Pepper Pay |
| 3 | Israel Discount Bank | Private | PayBox |
| 4 | Mizrahi Tefahot | Private | Bank app |
| 5 | First International | Private | Bank app |

### Market Structure
- **Hapoalim:** Largest bank, operates Bit
- **Discount Bank:** Operates PayBox
- **Duopoly:** Bit and PayBox dominate P2P
- **Digital wallets:** 38% of 2024 transactions

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| Bit | Bank Hapoalim | P2P/P2M | Dominant |
| PayBox | Discount Bank | P2P/P2M | Active |
| Shva | Banking consortium | Card clearing | Active |
| Masav | BOI | ACH | Active |

### Bit Statistics
- **90% market share** in app payment transfers
- **3.5 million customers**
- **NIS 700 million losses** since launch
- Expanded to all bank customers

### PayBox Statistics
- **10% market share**
- **1.4 million customers**
- **NIS 250 million losses** since launch
- QR codes and payment links

---

## QR code standards

### Current State
- **No unified national QR standard**
- **Proprietary systems:** Bit, PayBox
- **QR codes used:** For P2M payments
- **Payment links:** Alternative method

### Bit QR Features
- Merchant payments via QR
- P2P transfers
- Digital wallet (approved 2024)
- All Israeli banks supported

### PayBox QR Features
- Business payments via QR
- Payment links
- Group collections
- Digital credit card (2022)

### Payment Methods Comparison

| Feature | Bit | PayBox |
|---------|-----|--------|
| QR Codes | Yes | Yes |
| Payment Links | Yes | Yes |
| P2P | Yes | Yes |
| P2M | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Card | Planned | Yes (2022) |
| NFC/Tap | Via card | Yes |

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Market Share |
|-----|----------|-------|--------------|
| Bit | Hapoalim | Yes | 90% |
| PayBox | Discount | Yes | 10% |
| Pepper | Leumi | Limited | Growing |
| Apple Pay | Apple | No | Active |
| Google Pay | Google | No | Active |

### Bit App Features
- P2P transfers (instant)
- Merchant QR payments
- Split bills
- Request money
- All bank connectivity

### PayBox App Features
- P2P transfers
- QR code payments
- Group collections
- Digital credit card
- Tap payments (NFC)

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Bit QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IL/bit-qr) | Proprietary | App-specific | 90% share | [`bit`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bit) |
| [PayBox QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IL/paybox-qr) | Proprietary | App-specific | 10% share | [`paybox`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/paybox) |
| [Shva](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IL/shva) | Card clearing | National | Universal | — |

## Sources

- [Wikipedia - Bit Payment App](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit_(payment_application))
- [Wikipedia - PayBox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PayBox)
- [Globes - Payment App Fees 2025](https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-payment-apps-bit-and-paybox-to-charge-fees-from-january-1001483104)
- [Globes - Hapoalim Bit Charges](https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-hapoalim-reveals-bit-app-charges-from-january-1001494038)
- [i-AML - Bit Digital Wallet Approval](https://i-aml.com/news/the-bank-of-israel-approves-the-payment-app-bit-turning-into-a-digital-wallet/)
- [Route38 - Israeli Business Payments](https://blog.route38.co.il/2024/09/03/accepting-payment-for-your-israeli-business/)
- [Stripe - Payments in Israel](https://stripe.com/resources/more/payments-in-israel)
- [JPost - Digital Wallets Israel](https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/article-839755)
- [Knesset - Digital Wallets Report](https://m.knesset.gov.il/EN/activity/mmm/DigitalWalletsandPaymentMethods.pdf)
- [PayCEC - Google Pay Israel](https://www.paycec.com/us-en/faq/is-google-pay-available-in-israel)

## Full country report

[IL-israel.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IL)