Fortuna Bank has officially opened its doors in Ohio, marking a significant milestone as the state’s first majority women-owned bank. It is one of only around 20 such banks operating across the United States.
The bank’s opening came on December 9, when co-founder and Chairwoman Lisa Berger ceremoniously unlocked the doors and opened the first account. Fortuna’s CEO, Ilaria Rawlins, reflected on the moment, saying, “It was definitely a surreal moment – we’ve been working on this for three years at this point. Anyone can walk in and open an account.”
Located at 871 Goodale Blvd. in Grandview Heights, Fortuna is situated at the west end of Southern Station. While the official grand opening is scheduled for January 30, the bank is already operational. In fact, the team is expanding, with its eighth employee set to join in January.
Rawlins shared that Fortuna’s mission goes beyond traditional banking. “There are so many ideas in our heads. Being a bank with a mission is important to us,” she explained. One of their primary goals is to provide financial literacy, networking, and mentorship initiatives that will benefit women, both as consumers and as entrepreneurs.
The bank received its final approval to open on December 6 from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), just weeks after receiving clearance from the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. As a result, Fortuna can now officially drop the “in organization” label it had been using publicly.
To date, nine investors have opened accounts, and while no customers have yet walked in off the street, the bank is taking a careful approach. Rawlins explained, “We’re starting with a ‘crawl, walk, run’ strategy to ensure that everything, from our mobile banking to back-end systems, is working perfectly.”
With a solid foundation, Fortuna is also focusing on building its presence in the community. Aiming to empower women financially, the bank has already raised $20.7 million from 350 shareholders, surpassing its initial $20 million target set by regulators.
Although the bank’s permanent sign hasn’t arrived yet—its current “coming soon” door placard is still in place—the team at Fortuna is excited about what lies ahead. “It’s really exciting,” said Rawlins. “We can’t wait to start making a difference.”
