Israeli Bank Connector

Instructions

Step 1: Identify Connected Banks

Check which MCP server is available and what accounts are connected:

• israeli-bank-mcp: Direct scraper integration
• il-bank-mcp: Docker-based with persistent analysis
• If no MCP: Guide user through CSV/Excel import from bank website

Step 2: Retrieve Transactions

Fetch transaction data for the requested period:

• Default: Current month
• Supported: Up to 12 months history (bank-dependent)
• Include: Bank accounts AND credit card transactions

Step 3: Categorize and Analyze

Apply Israeli-specific categorization:

Category	Hebrew	Examples
Housing	diur	Rent, arnona, vaad bayit
Groceries	mazon	Shufersal, Rami Levy, Victory
Transportation	tahaburah	Rav-Kav, fuel, Gett
Utilities	shartuim	Electric Company, Mekorot, Bezeq
Healthcare	briut	Kupat Cholim, pharmacy
Education	chinuch	Gan, school, courses
Entertainment	bilui	Restaurants, cinema, streaming
Insurance	bituach	Health, car, home insurance
Savings	chisachon	Pension, keren hishtalmut

Step 4: Present Insights

Provide:

1. Monthly spending summary by category
2. Top 10 merchants by spending
3. Month-over-month trends
4. Recurring charges identified
5. Unusual transactions flagged

Step 5: Export for Tax (if requested)

Format transactions for Israeli tax purposes:

• Separate business vs personal expenses
• Flag VAT-deductible purchases
• Export in format compatible with Israeli accounting software

Examples

Example 1: Monthly Spending Summary

User says: "Show me my spending breakdown for January"
Result: Categorized breakdown with NIS amounts per category, top merchants, and comparison to December.

Example 2: Subscription Audit

User says: "What recurring payments am I making?"
Result: List of detected recurring charges with amounts, frequency, and suggestion for potential savings.

Example 3: Tax Expense Export

User says: "Export my business expenses for my accountant"
Result: Filtered and categorized business transactions with VAT amounts, ready for import into accounting software.

Bundled Resources

Scripts

• scripts/categorize_transactions.py — Categorizes Israeli bank transactions by spending category using Israeli-specific merchant pattern matching (Shufersal, Rami Levy, Rav-Kav, etc.). Accepts transaction JSON and outputs categorized spending summaries. Run: python scripts/categorize_transactions.py --help

References

• references/spending-categories.md — Israeli spending category definitions with Hebrew terms and common merchant examples for each category (housing/diur, groceries/mazon, transportation/tahaburah, utilities/shartuim, etc.). Consult when customizing categorization rules or explaining categories to users.
• references/supported-banks.md — List of supported Israeli banks (Hapoalim, Leumi, Discount, Mizrahi-Tefahot, FIBI) and credit card companies (Visa Cal, Max, Isracard) with bank codes and MCP server compatibility notes. Consult when setting up bank connections or troubleshooting missing accounts.

Troubleshooting

Error: "2FA required"

Cause: Israeli banks require two-factor authentication
Solution: Complete 2FA through your bank's app/SMS when prompted by the MCP server. This is a one-time setup per session.

Error: "Scraper timeout"

Cause: Bank website slow or blocking automated access
Solution: Retry after a few minutes. If persistent, check israeli-bank-scrapers GitHub issues for known bank-specific issues.

Error: "Missing credit card transactions"

Cause: Credit card company is separate from bank in Israel
Solution: Add credit card company (Visa Cal, Max, Isracard) as a separate connection in the MCP server configuration.