Bank Hapoalim opens NIS 1.2 million scholarship fund

Bank Hapoalim on Tuesday opened applications for the seventh annual Poalim to Success scholarship fund, offering a total of NIS 1.2 million in awards to 120 students across Israel. Each recipient will receive a NIS 10,000 stipend, along with career-development training and a community-service component.

The fund, run by the bank’s Social Banking Division in partnership with the Education for Excellence association, aims to narrow social gaps and foster financial independence. According to the bank, in its first six cycles the programme awarded NIS 6.1 million to 610 students at 47 accredited institutions. Those recipients volunteered more than 12,000 hours mentoring younger peers at Excellence centres in 15 municipalities.

Recipients of this year’s scholarships will take part in workshops on networking, financial management, and artificial intelligence, as well as special sessions with senior industry and civic leaders. They must also complete 140 hours of volunteer service, guiding high-potential youths in peripheral regions through personal empowerment and financial literacy initiatives.

Dr. Shula Rekenati, chairwoman of Education for Excellence, said the partnership would this year “place special emphasis on students displaced from their homes and expand activities to additional areas affected by the ongoing security situation. The success of young people is the success of Israeli society as a whole.”

Naama Halevi‑Par, head of the bank’s Social Banking Division, added that the fund “brings practical employment tools to students and youth from conflict‑impacted areas, while creating a broader impact by supporting excellence‑centre parents and communities. We are grateful to Education for Excellence for their tireless dedication to Israel’s children.”