Imagine a free Israeli credit card with no monthly fees that still offers valuable rewards – sounds too good to be true? Meet the Max “I Need It” Card.
The Max I Need It Card (כרטיס אשראי מקס – כזה אני רוצה) is one of the few credit cards with no monthly fee – that even provides rewards, making it one of the best credit cards in Israel.
The standard credit card in Israel
With most credit cards, we’re forced to pay a monthly fee. Some of us are gutsy enough to call up the credit card company once a year and demand a reduction – and sometimes even get it. But even in those cases, if it’s free or a moderate fee, we’re stuck with a card whose benefits are not consistently usable.
Enter the Max I Need It Card
From the people who brought you the Max Free Card, you can also apply for the Max I Need It Card.
What makes this card truly stand out? There is no monthly fee and a range of benefits available – a rare find in Israel!
Max I Need It Card benefits
My favorite benefits of the Max I Need It Card include…
No monthly fee
With many cards charging 20 NIS a month, this constitutes a savings of 240 NIS.
1% foreign transaction fee
Many Israeli cards charge as high as 3%. The Max I Need It Card has one of the lowest foreign transaction fees out there at just 1%
Earn rewards
There are two options: the rewards track or the airline miles track.
Rewards track
If you choose rewards track (פינוקים / pinukim), you’ll be entitled to one reward for every 2,000 NIS you spend in one billing month, up to four rewards when you spend 8,000 NIS or more in a month.
What kinds of rewards does Max offer? See the full Max rewards catalog here.
Airline miles track – and rewards track
If you choose the airline miles track, you’ll earn Max points which can be later converted into either United Airline MileagePlus miles or El Al Matmid points.
Note that if you choose the airline miles track and spend 8,000 NIS or more in a billing month, you will receive both Max points that are convertable into United or El Al miles – and four rewards!
Switching tracks
You can switch tracks at any time on the Max website.
16.5% discount at a number of retailers
If you use the related prepaid card, you save 16.5% at a wide variety of retailers in person and online.
There are dozens of retailers from Fox and Foot Locker, to Home Center and Ace, to Shilav and Children’s Place.
Whether you’re looking for Steimatzky or Daka90, the full list of current offerings as of this writing where you can use the related prepaid card: digital card and physical card.
Note that there is a lot of fine print and exclusions, so read them carefully before trying to use the related prepaid card.
Mastercard and Visa options
They offer both flavors, but you’ll probably want to get the Mastercard because it makes you eligible for Mastercard Day.
Free Priority Pass card
Want the lounge experience but aren’t a frequent flyer and don’t have status? A Priority Pass standard membership is included. With the pass, you’ll be able to enter lounges for $32 per person per visit.
If you’re checking out credit cards, take a look at the Max Clal Pay Visa – which offers purchase protection to all users and special discounts and gifts to Clal Insurance customers.
What you need to apply
Excited to apply? Here’s what you’ll need to get started.
The two most important pre-conditions are:
- You must already have another Israeli credit card. Can you cancel your other card once you have the Max I Need It card? Yes, you can. But you have to have another Israeli credit card before you receive this one.
- Join the Facebook Group – this is a condition of obtaining the card, though it’s unclear if you have to continue membership to keep the card
Be prepared to share biographical information and banking information. The full list of terms and conditions for the Max I Need It Card can be found here.
You can apply online or by phone at 03-617-8840.
Take Control of Your Finances Today
Choosing the right credit card can make a huge difference in your financial journey. The Max I Need It Card not only eliminates unnecessary fees but also offers valuable rewards and savings, making it an excellent choice for savvy consumers looking to get more out of their spending.
If you’re ready to make smarter financial decisions, start with a card that works for you, not against you.
For personalized advice on financial strategies, mortgage options, or financial coaching tailored to life in Israel, feel free to explore more on this site or reach out directly.
Thank you for this information. How does it work in terms of the airline miles or rewards tracks? When I called the credit card company they said that there are no points that are accrued with this card (or the Clal Pay card). They said the main benefits are no annual fee and 1% foreign transaction fees.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Unfortunately, different reps at the card companies sometimes give conflicting answers, and it can definitely be confusing.
From my own account activity this year, I can confirm that points do accrue and can be converted to airline miles. I shared screenshots in my article about converting points to miles: Turn Max Credit Card Points into United Airlines Miles or El Al Matmid Points.
If you’re looking for a no-fee card with low foreign transaction charges, as the rep agreed, the Max “I Need It” and Clal Pay both deliver on that front. If rewards are a priority, you can apply and test it out yourself. Since they’re free, there’s no real downside.
I have an Israeli bank account with income every month but no israeli credit card
I have 2 uk cc and visit israel at least once a year with my wife
what cc do you recommend that has no fee or if a fee pays on at least 10,000 shekels of hotel expenses etc when in Israel
Hi, Michael! This is a great card to hold. You must have another Israeli credit card first before applying for this one though. I would recommend asking the bank where you have an account today to issue you a credit card, and then go from there. Good luck!