As part of the US’ pursuit of offshore tax evaders, the Swiss operations of three Israeli banks have now come under the microscope, Reuters reports.

The banks are Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi le-Israel BM and Mizrahi-Tefahot, the news service reports, citing people briefed on the matter.

Reports emerged in February this year that the tax evasion probe, which has already led to several Swiss bankers being charged, had widened to include Israeli and Asian banks. The banks named at the time in media were Bank Leumi and China Merchants Bank.

According to the Reuters report, a spokesperson for Bank Leumi in Tel Aviv, emailed a statement saying: "the request was for general statistical data. It appears that this data was to serve as a basis for a comprehensive arrangement between the Swiss and American Authorities. Obviously, Bank Leumi Switzerland is cooperating fully with the Authorities, in accordance with Swiss Law and under legal advisement."

In a letter dated 31 August, Deputy Attorney General James Cole reportedly gave the three Israeli banks and seven Swiss banks until 23 September to provide “broad statistical information” on their Swiss dealings with US clients. The data requested echoes that provided by UBS in 2009 as part of the deal to avoid civil charges, according to the report.

“With these investigations of Israeli banks it is important for Americans in Israel or otherwise abroad who may be banking only with their non-US passports and not reporting their non-US to become compliant,” said Jay Rubinstein, a tax partner at Withers.

“Although the 2011 formal voluntary disclosure program has expired on 9 September, it is still possible to do a voluntary disclosure with the IRS to obtain assurances of no criminal prosecution although the penalties that will apply will be less certain, and it is also possible to become compliant in other ways,” he added.