Banking in Israel

I am an extremely patient and calm person.  Out here, there are things which baffle me and can get my blood boiling.

When Scott first arrived in August, his company helped get certain things like a checking account set up.  In the US you can have an account with a bank of your choice and make a transaction at any branch.   Here in Israel, you are only allowed to do business at the branch which you opened your account.   If we need to do a wire transfer, we will need to drive 30 minutes away.  In order to add me to Scott's account, we need to drive 30 minutes away.  We can not walk 5 minutes away and add me to the account at the Tel Aviv branch.  So, we decide to change branches.   We go to one Tel Aviv branch and not one person knows what to do.  This goes on for 30 minutes.  They send us to another Tel Aviv branch.   They know what to do.  They ask Scott for his checking account balance.  Scott says "here is my account number for you to look up."  She says, I can not look up account balances in the computer.  You have to go to the ATM and get the balance.  Then come back here and show it to me."  Seriously?  He too was amazed and asked for clarification.  So he does as told and shows her the balance. She says it will take a month for your branch to be transferred here.  He says Ok, now how do I add my wife to the account.  She says go to the original branch you opened the account.  They will do it there.  Or if you want, wait til the transfer is complete and come back.  It will take a month to add your wife. 

I thought this was ridiculous and decided we should change banks.   Which made me even more annoyed.  I found out banking in Israel is all about status.  In order for a bank to accept you as a client, they need to know how much money you make.  You have an interview with the manager.  They decide whether they want to accept you as a client.  Seriously?  Why would we want to do that.

In the U.S. I was dependent on my debit card.  I never carried cash.  Now I go to the ATM once a week.  Not only do I have carry a bunch of coins around but the ATM is a 5 minute walk in the opposite direction.  You know me, I am all about convenience. 

I decided to look on the bright side of things.  There is no paper trail on where I am spending money!  I wonder if Scott has come to this realisation.