Investing in women

In an industry traditionally dominated by men, Lisa Berger is carving out a new path for women and their entrepreneurial aspirations.

As co-founder and chairwoman of Fortuna Bank, Ohio’s first majority women-owned bank and one of only about 20 nationwide, Berger is on a mission to redefine what a bank can be—one that not only serves the financial needs of women, but also empowers them to succeed in business.

Berger’s vision for Fortuna Bank has been years in the making. Her journey to creating a bank focused on women’s financial empowerment was shaped by a combination of her own personal experiences working in banking and finance paired with her deep commitment to seeing women succeed.

“I have a very good friend who is a highly-trained lawyer,” Berger said. “She's a Stanford undergrad graduate and she called me one day and said, ‘I am getting a divorce. Can you sit down and explain to me what a mortgage is? And what does that include and what's an escrow?’ And I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, these are just such basic concepts that every woman should know!’”

But she knew that her friend was not alone. During her time owning and running a title company, Berger found too many women lacked the access to capital, mentorship and financial education needed to succeed. And those barriers were holding too many back. “There wasn’t a clear path for women,” she said.

That path became clearer with the vision of opening Fortuna Bank on December 9, 2024. The institution’s creation was itself a significant achievement, with 350 shareholders coming together to invest a total of $20.7 million—surpassing the bank’s original $20 million target. These investors – many of them women - believe in the bank's vision, as well as its ability to create change in an industry historically hostile to women.

Fortuna’s mission is built around financial literacy, networking, and mentorship, with a special focus on helping women become better business owners and consumers. These services, Berger says, are essential for giving women the tools they need to overcome the barriers that have historically hindered their success in the business world.

“As a general rule, women are not asked to be the investors in the family and they're not comfortable in that space," Berger said. "They're not comfortable making investments. They're not used to being asked to invest and they don't know how to critically look at an investor deck and make decisions like that on their own.”

But Berger hopes to change all that. As Fortuna Bank begins to settle into its new home at 871 Goodale Blvd. in Grandview Heights, Ohio, Berger’s sense of purpose remains steadfast. She knows she’s not just building a bank; she’s building a movement. In the years to come, Fortuna Bank will undoubtedly inspire more women to believe in their potential, to break barriers, and to build legacies of their own.

Learn more about Lisa Berger, Fortuna Bank and its mission at the Women, Wealth and Wellness virtual conference on July 17, 2025.

Amber Epling-Skinner, OSCPA, Vice President of External Affairs