Press Release

Cross River donates $50,000 to the scholarship fund of Bar Ilan University

Cross River

October 14, 2024

3 min read

Cross River, a leading fintech company in the global arena, awards scholarships of 10,000 NIS per year to five outstanding computer science students at Bar Ilan University in the name of the late Sophie Hodia Tracht.

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - Cross River Bank (“Cross River”), one of the leading banks in the global fintech sector, donated $50,000 to Israel's Bar Ilan University. The money will be earmarked for scholarships in the name of the late Sophie Hodaya Trakht, which will support outstanding students in computer science. This program, created in memory of the daughter of a Cross River employee who suddenly and tragically passed away at a young age, supports students studying computer sciences at renowned institutions around Israel.

The scholarships will be awarded to five outstanding students who have completed at least one year of studies in computer science, combining technology and Jewish studies . Each student will receive an annual scholarship of NIS 10,000 (approximately $2,900) until the completion of the degree. This amount constitutes a significant contribution to cover tuition costs at the University. The winners will be selected based on professional recommendations from the Bar-Ilan’s Department of Computer Science faculty.

Cross River, one of the world's leading fintech banks for financial services, combines banking expertise, advanced technological innovation and a variety of innovative digital products. The company is headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey, United States.

In Israel, the company operates a development center in Jerusalem and employs over 170 employees focusing mainly on software development. Cross River plays a central role in promoting and developing the financial-technological ecosystem in Jerusalem. The company works to create quality jobs and expand its capabilities and operations in the capital of Israel. This policy stems from a deep Zionist concept and a firm belief in the qualities and potential of Israeli human capital.

Bar Ilan University President Prof. Arie Zaban: “Bar-Ilan University’s Department of Computer Science is a world leading department making a global impact in the fields of artificial intelligence, data science, cryptography, robotics, computer science theory, and natural language processing. We are extremely grateful to Cross River for recognizing our outstanding students and our commitment to training the next generation of experts in these fields as a tribute to the late Sophie Hodia Tracht."

Uriel Goldberg, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at Cross River, Israel: "We at Cross River are happy to award scholarships in memory of the late Sophie Hodaya Trakht to outstanding students at Bar Ilan University. We see the academic institutions as a clear example of the realization of an educational vision and values that aligns well with the vision of Cross River. Our ambition is to contribute to strengthening the community in Jerusalem and Israel as a whole. By supporting education and professional training, we can help promote the integration of talented young people from all sectors of Israeli society at the forefront of technology and innovation."

Cross River is a leading technology infrastructure provider, offering a variety of financial solutions and merging the speed and innovation of a technology company with its established expertise as a bank. Headquartered in New Jersey and regulated by the FDIC, Cross River's core infrastructure enables the most central players in the fintech world to provide services to millions of businesses and consumers worldwide.