TL346.584 As a general rule, it's cheaper to convert money in Israel than in your home country. However, it is advisable to bring enough foreign currency to last for the first 24-72 hours of a trip to avoid being penniless after banking hours or on a hol- iday, though ATMs in Israel are open 24 hours and accept most major American credit cards. Travelers living in the US can get foreign currency from the comfort of their home; International Currency Express will deliver foreign currency for over 120 countries or traveler's checks overnight or second- day at competitive exchange rates. Watch out for commission rates and check newspapers for the standard rate of exchange. In Israel, post offices usually have the best rates and charge no commis- sion. Banks generally also have good rates. A good rule of thumb is to go to only banks that have at most a 5% margin between their buy and sell prices. Bank Ha- Poalim charges no commission for up to $100, while most other banks charge about 2%. Since you lose money with each transaction, convert in large sums . Banks are generally open Su, Tu, and Th 8:30am-12:30pm and 4-5:30pm, M and W 8:30am-12:30pm, F and holidays 8:30am- noon.