Israel bonds have been a meaningful and memorable gift for generations. Whether you are celebrating a bar or bat mitzvah, wedding, graduation, holiday, or other milestone, gifting an Israel bond allows you to honor someone special while deepening their connection to Israel. This guide explains how to purchase Israel bonds as gifts, which bond types can be gifted, and how recipients access their holdings.
Can I Buy Israel Bonds as Gifts
Yes. Israel bonds can be purchased for someone else as a gift. During checkout, simply select Gift Purchase and enter the recipient’s information. Many purchasers choose Israel bonds for major life events because of Israel’s perfect track record of payments on time and in full, and the connection it creates with the Jewish homeland.
How to Buy Israel Bonds as Gifts
Gifting Israel bonds online is simple and follows the same basic process as purchasing for yourself, with a few additional steps.
Step 1: Log In or Create Your Online Access
Visit online.israelbonds.com and log in or create an account.
Step 2: Select Your Bond
Navigate to Buy Bonds and View Rates, choose your bond, and enter the purchase amount.
Step 3: Add the Gift Recipient
You can select from previously added recipients or choose Add New Recipient and enter their information.
Step 4: Review the Prospectus and Complete Your Purchase
Review and agree to the prospectus. Proceed to payment, confirm holder details, and submit your purchase.
Step 5: Download an Optional Gift Card
After completing your transaction, you may download a gift card under Order History to present to the recipient.
Which Bond Types Make Good Gifts
Many Israel bond types may be purchased as gifts. Commonly gifted choices include:
- Mazel Tov bond (not available online)
- eMazel Tov bond (available online only)
These bonds have lower minimum purchase amounts and are often selected for celebrations.
Most other Israel bond types can also be gifted, except:
- Shalom bond
- eShalom bond
- Jubilee Fixed Rate Financing bond
These three products cannot be registered to individual recipients.
Investors should review the specific terms of each bond type when choosing a gift.
Gifting Israel Bonds to Minors
Adults may purchase Israel bonds for minors through a custodial registration. In this structure:
- The minor is the bondholder
- An adult is listed as the custodian
- The custodian manages the bond until the minor reaches the age of majority
This is a common approach for gifts intended for children, teens, or young adults.
What Gift Recipients Receive
After a gift purchase:
- The purchaser will see a What to Expect screen and receive an email confirmation.
- The recipient will receive an official statement from Computershare within approximately two weeks. Computershare is the fiscal agent responsible for maintaining Israel bondholder records and issuing statements.
This statement confirms the registration of the bond in the recipient’s name.
How Gift Recipients Access Their Bonds
Recipients can access their Israel bond holdings by registering for an online bondholder account through Israel Bonds Direct (IBD), Computershare’s online system for managing Israel bondholder information.
To register, the recipient may use:
- Their Social Security number
- Last name or ZIP code
- Their Computershare account number. This is found in the statement they received in the mail from Computershare
Through IBD, bondholders can:
- View their holdings
- Update their bondholder account address
- Certify tax identification information
- Access tax forms and statements
- Manage other bondholder information
Important Account Distinction
When you update your information in IBD, the change is applied to the bondholder records maintained by Computershare. Computershare then informs Israel Bonds so we can update our system. Please be aware that updates made only in your Israel Bonds online investor account are not automatically shared with Computershare and may require additional documentation. To avoid delays, we recommend submitting updates to Computershare first.
Final Notes
Gifting an Israel bond is a meaningful way to celebrate milestones while placing an investment bond in the name of someone you care about. With clear online steps and structured registration options, the process is simple for purchasers and easy for recipients to access through Computershare once the bond has been issued.
Whether you are commemorating a life event or introducing a young person to the concept of long term investing, an Israel bond gift can be a thoughtful and lasting gesture.
Important: The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and is not intended as financial, tax, or investment advice. Israel Bonds does not provide investment advice. Investors should consult their own financial or tax advisors to determine what is appropriate for their individual circumstances.
