This section documents proceedings that are not civil lawsuits: investigations by enforcement authorities, agreements with regulators, decisions of the Israel Competition Authority and complaints to supervisory bodies. Each item is based on a public document linked on the page.
United States, 2019: deferred prosecution agreement and a $195 million payment
On 12 March 2019 the Tax Division of the US Department of Justice announced that Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank Ltd., its subsidiary United Mizrahi Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. and Mizrahi Tefahot Trust Company Ltd. had entered into a deferred prosecution agreement filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California. According to the announcement, the bank admitted that from 2002 to 2012 its employees helped US taxpayers hide income and assets from the IRS, including through nominee entities, pseudonyms and holding account mail in Israel and Switzerland, in violation of the bank’s Qualified Intermediary Agreement with the IRS. The bank agreed to pay $195 million: $53 million in restitution, $24 million in disgorgement and a $118 million fine. Prosecution for conspiracy was deferred for an initial period of two years.
- US Department of Justice announcement, 12 March 2019 (via Mondo Visione)
- The bank’s immediate report to the Israel Securities Authority, 12 March 2019 (PDF)
Israel, 2018–2019: the Competition Commissioner’s objection to the Igud merger
On 30 May 2018 the acting Competition Commissioner announced his objection to the merger of Bank Igud into Mizrahi Tefahot. The banks appealed to the Competition Tribunal (case 745-07-18, Judge Oded Shaham) and the appeals were granted in 2019. The merger was completed; the customer complaints it generated are documented in From the reports.
Israel, 2024–2026: pending collection proceedings by the bank and Mizrahi Tefahot Leasing against a customer
A group of proceedings in which the bank and its subsidiary Mizrahi Tefahot Leasing Ltd. act against the same customer, in the course of which complaints were filed with the police and with the Israel Bar Association’s Ethics Committee. The details below are taken from the filings and transcripts in the files. Every claim is attributed to the party that made it; a complaint or a motion is not a judicial finding.
| File | Forum | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 515509-06-24 | Enforcement and Collection Office, Haifa | Application by Mizrahi Tefahot Leasing Ltd. to realise a vehicle pledge | Hearing held 13 Jan 2026; pending |
| 506468-12-24 | Enforcement and Collection Office, Netanya | Enforcement of a bill | Pending |
| 513221-02-26 | Enforcement and Collection Office, Ramla | Fixed-sum claim by Bank Mizrahi Tefahot; opened 10 Feb 2026 | Objection filed |
| Civil case 25207-08-26 | Netanya Magistrates’ Court | The objection to the fixed-sum claim; the bank is the plaintiff | Pending |
- At the hearing of 13 January 2026 in file 515509-06-24, the creditor’s declarant testified that he is an employee of Bank Mizrahi Tefahot and that Mizrahi Tefahot Leasing is “a subsidiary”; the debt claimed at that date was NIS 179,000. He stated that the creditor “is willing to settle the debt, to give a discount and/or instalments”, and the Registrar suggested that the parties “step outside with the creditor’s representative and work it out” (transcript of 13 Jan 2026, pp. 1, 5–7).
- In a motion filed by the defendant on 17 September 2026 in case 25207-08-26 (paras. 24–33), supported by an affidavit and a transcript of a recording (Exhibit 3), it is alleged that immediately after the hearing the receiver’s counsel prevented the conversation the Registrar had suggested. The allegation has not yet been ruled on.
- According to the bank’s application in file 513221-02-26, the pre-action warning was “served” on 27 October 2025; the bank’s power of attorney to its counsel was signed on 24 January 2026 and the file was opened on 10 February 2026 (paras. 24–27 of the motion of 17 Sep 2026).
- Complaints filed by the defendant: 14 Jan 2026, online complaint to the Israel Police (ref. 70426071) for threats; 15 Jul 2026, complaint at the Netanya-Sharon station, file 312913/2026, for obtaining by fraud (s. 415 Penal Law) and forgery (s. 418), confirmation issued 26 Jul 2026; 21 Oct 2026, complaint to the District Ethics Committee (Central) of the Israel Bar Association against a lawyer of the firm representing the bank and the creditor, receipt confirmed 25 Oct 2026. No decisions yet.
- 19 Oct 2026: the hosting company Hostinger suspended an earlier site about these proceedings (mizrahi-tfahot-case.com), citing “phishing/mirroring”. 25 Oct 2026: the law firm Pearl Cohen sent, on the bank’s behalf, a cease-and-desist letter demanding the site’s removal, stating that it was sent against the background of “the various proceedings the bank is conducting” against the defendant.