Because banks shouldn't hide your money in spreads.
We expose the real cost of every transfer — the spread, the fees, the delivery time — and rank providers by what actually lands in your recipient's account. No sponsored ordering. Ever.
Hover any card to see exactly what it costs you.
vs Traditional Banks
You save up to EGP 3595
on a ILS 3,700 transfer
Wise
BEST RATEBank of America
+5% markup + $35 wire fee
Wells Fargo
+4.5% markup + $25 wire fee
Sending ILS 1,000 from Israel to Egypt should cost under 1% in fees — but Israeli banks routinely charge 4-7% through hidden FX markups. This guide compares Wise, Remitly, Revolut, and WorldRemit head-to-head so you keep more EGP in your recipient's hands.
In Egypt, recipients can access funds directly at National Bank of Egypt, the country's largest financial institution. By using WorldRemit instead of a traditional bank wire, your recipient gets approximately 760 EGP more on a $1,000 transfer — because digital providers pass the real exchange rate directly. Worth knowing about the local currency: Egypt's E£200 note depicts Al-Azhar Mosque, founded in 970 AD and considered the world's oldest university still in operation.
Our verdict: For most ILS to EGP transfers above ILS 2,000, Wise delivers the best rate to National Bank of Egypt or Banque Misr accounts with full transparency on fees.
The Israel-to-Egypt corridor is small but steady. Most senders fall into three groups: Egyptian workers in construction, hospitality, and agriculture sending wages home; small business owners paying suppliers in Cairo and Alexandria; and family members supporting relatives across the border. Israel's diverse immigrant population of 2+ million and its large diaspora connections drive significant two-way remittance flows, particularly with the former Soviet states — and that same digital infrastructure now serves the Egypt corridor with sharper pricing than Israeli banks offer.
Here's the frank truth: walking into Bank Hapoalim or Bank Leumi to wire ILS to Egypt will cost you 4-7% in combined fees and rate markup. Digital providers cut that to under 1% in most cases. If you send more than ILS 500 a month on this route, sticking with a bank is just leaving money on the table.
Two costs matter: the flat fee and the exchange rate markup. Israeli banks typically charge ILS 60-120 per outbound SWIFT transfer plus a hidden 3-5% spread on the EGP rate. Digital providers flip that model — small flat fees (ILS 5-20) and a transparent markup of 0.4-1.2% above the mid-market rate. The mid-market rate is what you see on Google or XE; if your provider quotes worse than that, the gap is the markup. Always compare the EGP you'll actually receive, not the headline "no fees" claim.
Wise wins on transparency — it shows the mid-market rate and charges a clear fee, usually saving 3-5% versus Israeli banks. Remitly competes hard on the first transfer with promotional rates and is strong for cash-pickup delivery in Egypt. Revolut works well if you already hold an ILS balance and want to convert in-app, though weekend markups apply. WorldRemit covers the corridor with reliable bank deposits and mobile wallet options. For most senders, Wise gives the best rate on amounts above ILS 2,000; Remitly often edges ahead for smaller, faster transfers with cash pickup.
Speed varies dramatically. Wise transfers from an Israeli bank account typically land in 1-2 business days. Remitly's Express option delivers within minutes for a slightly higher fee, while its Economy tier takes 3-5 days but costs less. Card-funded transfers via Revolut or WorldRemit can be near-instant but carry a 1-2% card surcharge. Use Express only when it's genuinely urgent — for routine monthly support, Economy options save real money over a year.
The two largest receiving banks in Egypt are National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr, and most digital providers can deliver directly to accounts at these banks. Beyond bank deposits, you'll find cash pickup at thousands of locations through partners like Fawry and Egypt Post, plus mobile wallet delivery to Vodafone Cash and Orange Money — increasingly popular for unbanked recipients in rural areas. Bank deposits to NBE or Banque Misr accounts are cheapest; cash pickup costs slightly more but reaches recipients without bank accounts. Egypt's Central Bank offers preferential FX rates through its 'Bring It Home' remittance campaign, rewarding families who use licensed banking channels — choosing bank deposit over cash pickup can mean a meaningfully better EGP rate.
Israel doesn't tax outbound remittances for personal support, but transfers above ILS 50,000 trigger source-of-funds reporting under anti-money-laundering rules. On the receiving side, Egypt's Central Bank runs a 'Bring It Home' initiative offering preferential FX rates for remittances routed through licensed banks — informal channels get worse rates and risk seizure. All major digital providers are licensed and route through approved Egyptian partner banks, so recipients qualify for the better rates automatically.
The EGP has been volatile since the 2024 devaluation, so timing matters more here than on stable corridors. Send mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) when FX markets are most liquid and spreads tighten. Avoid weekends — Revolut and most providers widen margins when interbank markets close. Set rate alerts on Wise or XE for your target level. For amounts above ILS 5,000, splitting across two transfers can hedge against a bad day. And always check the live mid-market rate before clicking send — a 30-second comparison can save you the equivalent of a week's groceries in Cairo.