Bank of Israel
Bank of IsraelFlash 90

A ministerial committee has given approval to a bill aimed at helping the elderly maintain their independence by forcing banks to write their statements large fonts.

The law would require bank statements to be written in a font that would allow those with poor vision, primarily the elderly, to read their own statements. The law was proposed by MK Ilatov of Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is Our Home).

It has been dubbed “Ahuva's law,” in honor of the late Ahuva Halevi-Levine, who tried for several years to get the Bank of Israel to use a larger font. Her granddaughter, Esti Peshin, suggested the bill to Ilatov.

“We are happy that logic has won out.... There is no doubt in our minds that this bill will move forward quickly and will become law, and thus improve the welfare of the elderly, who we are obligated to honor,” Peshin said Sunday after the bill was approved.

The small fonts used in bank statements are particularly problematic due to the sensitive nature of the documents, according to proponents of the bill. Those who have trouble reading the small print would have to expose their private financial information to others in order to get help.

The bill was voted down once, but won approval on appeal, on the condition that any new law will be put into effect in coordination with the Bank of Israel. It will now face an initial vote on Wednesday.