Gil Karni to Head US Operations of Bank Hapoalim

Bank Hapoalim announced the appointment of Gil Karni as CEO of BHI USA, the bank's operations in the United States.

Karni has nearly three decades of extensive executive, corporate and commercial banking experience with Bank Leumi, serving most recently as CEO of the bank's UK operations.  In the past decade, he also held significant executive roles in Europe.

Bank Hapoalim's main international business operations are conducted through its New York branch, and representative offices in New Jersey, Miami and Los Angeles.  BHI focuses on providing comprehensive banking services to both Israeli companies operating in the United States and to local US companies and customers, in business areas including credit, foreign trade, deposits and treasury services.

Bank Hapoalim CEO Dov Kotler said, "I am confident that Gil's vast executive and banking experience will contribute to our continued growth and success in the US.  We wish to thank Gabriel Hamani, the former head of our US operations, for his leadership during his long career with the bank."

Karni holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Hebrew University and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University.

About BHI

BHI (www.bhiusa.com), the U.S division of Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s leading financial institution, provides commercial lending solutions to middle market clients in sectors including commercial real estate, food and beverage, entertainment, apparel, healthcare and high-tech.  In addition to its New York headquarters, the bank operates U.S. Representative Offices in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey; Miami, Florida; and Los Angeles, California.