Bank Leumi has been one of the pioneers of the AI revolution in Israel. I am proud that the significant efforts we are investing in AI are bearing fruit,” said Leumi’s CEO Hanan Friedman.Follow us on GooglePedestrians are reflected in the windows of a branch of Bank Leumi, Israel's second-largest lender, in Tel Aviv, Israel(photo credit: NIR ELIAS / REUTERS)ByTOBIAS HOLCMANJUNE 2, 2026 12:12Bank Leumi ranked second among banks in the Middle East for innovation, according to the Evident AI Index for Banks - MEA, released on Tuesday.“This high ranking is driven by a comprehensive AI ecosystem that includes 'Garage Ventures', an investment arm specifically targeting AI and data startups,” said Alexandra Mousavizadeh, co-founder and CEO of Evident.The bank was recognized as Israel’s top financial institution for artificial intelligence adoption, setting benchmarks in AI capabilities and implementation.“Through AI, we are building a different kind of banking, one that delivers a holistic, real-time, and personalized response to our customers’ financial needs,” said Hanan Friedman, CEO of Bank Leumi.“Furthermore, AI is enabling a true transformation of our cost structure. We are doing much more with far fewer resources, a trend that is reflected in our efficiency ratio, which consistently remains among the best globally," he added.Artificial intelligence (credit: INGIMAGE)Bank Leumi’s AI implementationThe bank explained that it has invested heavily in AI implementation over the last year, with its main project being an advanced AI Center that reports directly to the Bank’s CEO.“The Center oversees all AI activities at Leumi and is responsible for managing and developing a wide range of AI-based products for customers,” Bank Leumi explained in a statement.The bank also explained that this implementation allowed it to have “the best efficiency ratio in Israel and among the best globally.”“In its recent financial results for the first quarter of 2026, the bank reported an efficiency ratio of 29.1%,” read the statement.“Bank Leumi has been one of the pioneers of the AI revolution in Israel. I am proud that the significant efforts we are investing in AI are bearing fruit and receiving international recognition,” Friedman added.Follow us on Google