The Bank of Israel, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Manpower Directorate and two nonprofits have launched a nationwide consumer and financial guidance programme to help soldiers who are struggling financially, the military announced on Friday. The initiative aims to support about 4,500 soldiers over the next three years, offering personalised budgeting help, debt management assistance and access to digital financial tools.
Targeted, personalised support for vulnerable servicemembers
The programme was marked by an event hosted by the Bank of Israel on Wednesday, which was attended by senior officials including the central bank governor and senior IDF commanders, the military said. Since a soft launch in March 2026, roughly 600 soldiers have already taken part.
Each participant receives tailored guidance according to their financial circumstances. Services include:
- help to build a realistic household budget;
- assistance managing income, expenses and outstanding debt;
- support to identify and access entitlements and appropriate financial instruments;
- ongoing access to dedicated digital platforms for continued assistance.
The programme combines in-person counselling with technological tools designed to offer continuous and accessible help, the military said. It aims to reduce immediate financial strain and to strengthen long-term financial resilience among soldiers who do not receive adequate family support.
Partnerships and delivery
After a formal selection process, two nonprofit organisations were chosen to operate the programme in collaboration with private partners. The Pitchon Lev nonprofit will work with RiseUp, and the HaTashtit nonprofit will operate in partnership with Citizen Impact, the IDF said. The selection followed submission and professional review of proposals.
The Bank of Israel will contribute professional guidance on content and evaluation, aligning the programme with international financial education principles and monitoring effectiveness, the central bank said at the launch.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Planned reach (three years) | 4,500 soldiers |
| Participants since March 2026 | ~600 soldiers |
Programme officials said the model pairs personal counselling with digital platforms so that soldiers receive both immediate, human-centred help and tools that can be used independently. The blend is intended to make support scalable while remaining tailored to individual needs.
Implications for education and social policy
Financial education initiatives that combine counselling and technology are increasingly common in donor and government programmes worldwide. For young adults in uniform who are often managing independent finances for the first time, structured guidance can help prevent the accumulation of unsustainable debt and reduce reliance on emergency support.
For military education planners and social policy teams, the programme offers an opportunity to measure outcomes: whether participating soldiers reduce arrears, improve budgeting skills, and maintain longer-term financial stability. The Bank of Israel’s role in evaluating impact should produce evidence that can inform wider financial literacy efforts for other vulnerable groups.
While the initiative is specific to Israel’s armed forces, its emphasis on personalised guidance, measurable targets and digital follow-up offers lessons for education and youth support programmes in other contexts: combine dedicated human support with accessible tech platforms and build monitoring into delivery from the start to assess effectiveness.
