Israel Discount Bank Logo PNG
Financial transactions include opening accounts, managing savings and loans, and making daily payments. Banking services help individuals and businesses manage funds and plan expenses. The Israel Discount Bank logo represents a bank that offers financial services, including accounts, lending, and asset management.
Leon Recanati, Yosef Albo, and Moshe Karasso founded Israel Discount Bank in Tel Aviv on April 5, 1935. Initially, the bank was called Palestine Discount Bank Ltd. It grew during the economic boom fueled by capital from the Fifth Aliyah. Despite the late-1930s crises, the bank strengthened its position. It provided loans on favorable terms and supported the Yishuv’s social initiatives.
In 1949, the bank opened a representative office in New York. In the 1950s, branches were established in Europe. By the early 1960s, Discount Bank ranked second among Israeli banks. It founded the investment company Discount Investments and became the country’s first bank to issue Diners Club credit cards.
In 1964, the bank received the Kaplan Prize for introducing computer technologies. In the 1970s, the bank expanded further. During this period, the bank installed Israel’s first ATM, the Discountomat. In 1981, the bank launched Telebank, the world’s first bank call center. Two years later, after the bank share crisis, the Israeli government took over management.
In 2000, IDB Bank’s headquarters were moved to the Grace Building in New York. From 2004 to 2010, the bank was privatized. The Bronfman-Sharan Group and Deutsche Bank acquired shares.
In 2023, the main office was relocated to a new campus in Rishon LeZion. Today, Discount Bank is publicly listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The group includes Mercantile Discount Bank, ICC, Discount Capital, Tafnit Discount Asset Management, and the digital services PayBox and Greenlend. IDB Bank operates the bank’s international network in the United States and serves more than 1 million clients.
Meaning and History
What is Israel Discount Bank?
One of the largest banks in Israel, headquartered in Tel Aviv, was founded by Leon Recanati as Palestine Discount Bank. It manages assets exceeding 376 billion shekels and operates 112 branches nationwide, including in small towns. It offers retail and corporate services, mortgages, investment consulting, brokerage, and trust operations through an online platform. Growth has been supported by acquisitions, including Mercantile Bank, divisions of the Ottoman Bank, Barclays Bank, and Hollandische Bank-Unie.
before 2006
The name Discount links a banking term to one of the founders’ family histories. The Italian word “disconto” refers to discounting bills of exchange. In this transaction, the holder receives money before the payment is due, while the bank deducts interest or a fee. “Discount” in the institution’s name refers to this banking practice rather than a reduction in a retail price.
A cousin of Leon Recanati owned an Italian bank called Disconto. Recanati, Yosef Albo, and Moshe Carasso brought the familiar name to Palestine when they founded a commercial bank in Tel Aviv in 1935. Its original name, Palestine Discount Bank, reflected the British Mandate period. The institution later became Israel Discount Bank. Local banks often named themselves after their customers’ origins or professions. The foreign word “Discount” distinguished the new bank from those institutions. In everyday use and in its modern Hebrew identity, the full name was shortened to “Discount.”
The early logo was green. On the left, “בנק דיסקונט” read from right to left as “Discount Bank.” The two words used heavy sans-serif lettering dominated by rectangular forms, clipped corners, thick horizontal bars, and straight vertical strokes. The name formed a long horizontal line. A small gap separated it from the symbol on the right.
The symbol consisted of two adjacent angular shapes pointing to the right. The right-hand shape was formed by two parallelogram-shaped bands angled at 45° and meeting at a right angle. The left-hand shape pointed in the same direction, but its inner edge curved vertically. The heavy diagonal bands matched the weight of the lettering. Green unified the name and angular shapes.
2006 – 2018
Before the 2006 update, Discount’s angular emblem appeared on bank buildings and commemorative issues. Designer Eli Gross worked on the visual treatment of the building at 160 Herzl Street in Tel Aviv, designed by Yaakov Rechter. He created an architectural setting for the bank’s logo. Gross continued collaborating with Rechter on the neighboring Discount building at 156 Herzl Street. In both projects, Gross designed treatments that complemented the existing emblem.
In 1985, the double-angle symbol appeared on a medal marking the bank’s 50th anniversary. Artist Eliezer Weishoff placed it alongside the bank’s name in Hebrew and English. The dates 1935 and 1985 marked its 50 years in business. Moshe Hecht executed the engraving. On the metal surface, the emblem appeared separately from its familiar horizontal lettering.
On February 14, 2006, Discount introduced a logo featuring a smile. The update accompanied the bank’s transition from state to private ownership and its efforts to strengthen relationships with retail customers. Marketing head Shosh Kimhi led the work with Yehoshua/TBWA. At the presentation, CEO Giora Ofer unveiled green, rounded lettering with a curved line beneath the name. The logo was accompanied by “לוקחים אותך אישית,” conveying a personal approach to customers.
The word “bank” was removed from the Hebrew name, leaving “דיסקונט,” or “Discount,” read from right to left. The lettering used Fb Kulya, designed by Nadav Ezra and available through the Fontbit library. The large sans-serif letters retained a heavy weight and minimal spacing. Uniform strokes combined straight sections with flowing curves in the lower portions and rounded corners.
A green arc with rounded ends replaced the two angular shapes beneath the name. Its center dipped, its ends rose, and it grew thicker toward the middle. The smile conveyed friendliness and supported the promise of personal service. Rounded letterforms connected the name to the new symbol.
2006 – today
Israel Discount Bank’s English-language logo retained the smile treatment and had been in use since 2006. The full name appeared on three centered lines: “ISRAEL” on top, “DISCOUNT” in the middle, and “BANK” below. The middle line was longer than the other two, giving the compact block a wider center. The sans-serif capitals had heavy strokes, rounded sections, and tight spacing.
An arc with raised, rounded ends sat beneath “BANK.” Its light green matched the lettering. In the Hebrew version, the name appeared horizontally in dark green. Despite the different text arrangements, the smile united the two versions.
On December 21, 2021, Discount introduced another brand refresh, developed by Shake Design. The work began with conversations with branch visitors and customers using remote banking services. Participants explained why they preferred Discount, citing personal service, friendly staff, and a willingness to help. The update focused on winning customers back. The phrase “דיסקונט רוצים אתכם יותר” expressed the bank’s eagerness to build relationships with them. Marketing head Savyon Bar-Saver represented Discount in presenting the refresh. The green name and smile remained.
EWISE was commissioned to develop the bank’s tone of voice. With Hila Be’eri’s involvement, the team produced a 60-slide guide, sample wording, and a brief infographic outlining the rules. The materials were intended for employees writing customer letters, messages, and other banking communications. The guidelines extended the promise of personal service into everyday customer interactions.
