Amnon Shashua Explores Sale of Controlling Stake in One Zero Digital Bank
Amnon Shashua is exploring the sale of a controlling stake in One Zero Digital Bank at a valuation of 1.1 to 1.2 billion shekels. Potential buyers, including Meitav and Moti Ben-Moshe, have entered talks as Shashua seeks to focus on his artificial intelligence ventures.
Amnon Shashua is exploring the sale of a controlling stake in the digital lender One Zero Digital Bank, aiming for a valuation between 1.1 billion and 1.2 billion shekels. According to market sources, senior bank executives, including CEO Eyal Gafni and Chairman Shuki Oren, have held preliminary talks and presentations with potential investors over recent weeks, opening a dedicated data room for interested parties.
At least three entities have accessed the data room, including the Meitav Investment House and businessman Moti Ben-Moshe. Isracard also previously evaluated a potential acquisition before talks stalled, though discussions could resume. Additional exploratory contacts involved Rami Levy and Direct Insurance, though those did not advance, as both prospective buyers lean toward a streamlined, lean banking model. Shashua, who acquired the bank from Marius Nacht in 2020, holds approximately 60% of the shares, with the remaining equity distributed among international institutional backers and partners including Julius Baer, Tencent, SBI, Harel Insurance & Finance, Cerberus, OurCrowd, the Hebrew University, and a Silicon Valley venture fund.
In response to inquiries, Shashua stated that the reports are inaccurate, adding that discussions are centered on white-label investments and related partnerships rather than a full buyout. Market observers note a valuation gap between Shashua's asking price and the figures potential buyers are willing to table. The proposed transaction structure is expected to involve a fresh equity injection alongside a buyout of a portion of Shashua's holdings, which would reduce his stake to a minority position. Insiders indicate that Shashua, who has injected 114 million dollars into the lender since purchasing it, prefers to focus his capital and attention on his core artificial intelligence ventures. Last July, Shashua stepped down as CEO of Mobileye, the autonomous driving pioneer he co-founded with Ziv Aviram and sold to Intel for 15 billion dollars.
One Zero Digital Bank boasts proven technology and a lean banking license, allowing buyers to bypass the lengthy regulatory hurdles required to secure an independent banking charter. Prospective acquirers would still need regulatory approval from the Bank of Israel, yet the acquisition offers an immediate foothold in the domestic banking sector. Bank data indicates that One Zero captured 25% of all newly opened bank accounts in Israel during the first half of 2026, bringing its total customer base to 200,000 accounts. Executives maintain that the institution is on track to achieve profitability by 2027, though prospective buyers remain cautious, pointing to historical delays in hitting profitability targets.
Financial metrics for the first half of 2026 show the bank's equity standing at 53 million shekels, with cumulative losses reaching 1.3 billion shekels since inception. Projected losses for 2026 are expected to narrow to 130 million shekels, down from 214 million shekels in 2025. Revenues for the first half rose 33% year-over-year to 66 million shekels, while operating expenses decreased by 10% to 149 million shekels. Total assets under management stand at 7 billion shekels, with public deposits reaching 3.8 billion shekels at the close of the period.
