JERUSALEM, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Israel's Bank Hapoalim (POLI.TA) will not pass on to customers the central bank's next increase to interest rates, it said on Sunday, citing the struggles of homeowners faced with higher mortgage payments amid a broad spike in the cost of living.
Hapoalim, one of Israel's two largest banks, said customers who have difficulty making mortgage payments will not have to pay extra and that it will leave the prime rate for them at 4.75% for now.
The move is valid for one year for existing customers that have a mortgage linked to the prime rate and meet a number of criteria, the bank said.
Hapoalim Chief Executive Dov Kotler put the number of customers who would benefit from the freeze at more than 10,000.
In November Moshe Gafni, the head of the Israeli parliament's powerful finance committee, criticised a wave of central bank increases to interest rates and proposed legislation to shield mortgages.