The founders of women-owned Fortuna Bank aim to help local business owners grow and thrive.
Lisa Berger and Ilaria Rawlins had experienced plenty of success in their careers, but a novel idea to start a women-owned bank was an opportunity they couldn’t turn down.
Berger and Rawlins met in 2006, when Berger—at the time a real estate lawyer—bought AmeriTitle Downtown and needed a banker. Her business partners had helped launch First Bexley Bank and recommended Rawlins, their colleague.
About 10 years later, Berger sold the business and remained onboard, but sought something to fulfill her creative side. “I wanted my next thing to be meaningful to me, not just a way to make money,” she says.
A business partner suggested opening a minority bank, and Berger was intrigued. “I love a challenge. I love being able to do things people say I can’t or shouldn’t do,” she says. With partners Jeff Meyer and Rawlins and their startup experience, she says, “It just made it that much more enticing and seemingly achievable.”
The idea of a women-owned bank resonated with Rawlins, a career banker who worked at First Financial Bank for seven years after it acquired First Bexley. “I have forever been in an industry that’s heavily dominated by men. I know that there’s tremendous opportunity in this space,” she says.
“Women-owned businesses are growing at two times the national average, yet women business owners are denied three times more often than their male counterparts for a commercial loan.”
Rawlins pitched her former First Financial boss, Tony Stollings, who saw potential in the mission and his former colleague. “She’s smart. She knows retail banking inside and out and she’s learning quickly the other parts of banking,” he says. “She recognizes what she doesn’t know and works hard at gaining additional experience and knowledge.”
He quickly came to realize Berger, too, was a significant asset to the leadership team, and he agreed to sign on as the fourth founder. “It didn’t take me long to recognize Lisa as an entrepreneur—very smart, very driven. I’ve rarely seen a person that goes after something more than she does,” Stollings says.
It took three and a half years for Fortuna, named after the Roman goddess of fortune, to go from ideation to full FDIC approval, which it received in December. The founders began a capital raise after receiving conditional approval from the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions in August 2023.
Fortuna attracted 350 shareholders and raised $20.76 million, topping the $20 million required by regulators. The founders set the minimum investment at $10,000 to allow more people to participate. About 75 percent of its investors are women. Two corporate partners, OhioHealth and Park National Bank, also joined the effort.
The community support, including from other local banks, has been overwhelming, Rawlins says. As of late March, Fortuna—whose primary focus is commercial customers—had about 150 clients, $36 million in total assets, $16 million in deposits and $3 million in loans. Their five-year goal is to reach $250 million in assets, which would align with other local de novo banks.
Berger and Rawlins emphasize that while Fortuna is women-owned and its philanthropic mission focuses on women, everyone is welcome to bank there. “We’re really invested with our customers. We really want to hold their hands and help them grow,” Berger says.
More About Lisa Berger and Ilaria Rawlins
Berger’s involvement: President, AmeriTitle Downtown; founder and board chair, Fortuna Bank
Berger’s greatest wish for 2025: “I hope for tremendous growth and support for the bank, and I also truly hope that we don’t run into any huge road bumps. That’s always the fear with a startup. You don’t know what’s around the next corner.”
Rawlins’ involvement: Founder, president and CEO, Fortuna Bank
Rawlins’ greatest wish for 2025: “The successful growth of Fortuna is first and foremost, but I think what has to come with that is every employee in this office loving what they’re doing and loving the impact that they’re making.”
Julanne Hohbach is the editor of Columbus CEO.
This story is from the Inspiring Women feature in the May 2025 issue of Columbus CEO. It has been updated to correct typographical errors in the bank’s shareholder and client counts. Subscribe at subscribe.columbusceo.com.
