First Women Bank

Northern Illinois Community Initiatives to provide access to $1 million in small business loans to support women, minority entrepreneurs over the next four years

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Small business, Partnership, Nicor Gas, Friends, First Women Bank, First Women, COVID-19, Woman, History, Investment, Community business, Bank, NICI, Family, Drug

NAPERVILLE, Ill., March 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Northern Illinois Community Initiatives (NICI), a foundation created by Nicor Gas, is announcing a new economic development program called Northern Illinois Community Ventures (NICV). It has been established to help small business startups and businesses owned by women and minority entrepreneurs access the capital and technical support they need to grow and thrive.

Key Points: 
  • It has been established to help small business startups and businesses owned by women and minority entrepreneurs access the capital and technical support they need to grow and thrive.
  • A4CB will conduct outreach to business owners and encourage those who qualify to apply for a loan.
  • Northern Illinois Community Ventures builds upon NICI's mission to attract investment, mobilize partners, and connect vital resources to underserved communities in Nicor Gas' service areas.
  • "For many of them, a small business loan could mean the difference between going to the next level or going out of business."

Allyson Felix Joins First Women’s Bank to Help Close the Gender Lending Gap and Elevate Women Business Owners

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 1, 2022
DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), Women, Finance, Banking, Small Business, Professional Services, Consumer, Business, Growth, Small Business Administration, History, Organization, NBC, Female, Bank, FDIC, Olympic, Olympic Games, Equal housing lender, FWB, First, Track, First Women Bank, Mentorship, Woman, World championship, Cryptocurrency, Management, Olympian

As a small business owner, I know how vital financing is to the growth and success of a business, said Allyson Felix.

Key Points: 
  • As a small business owner, I know how vital financing is to the growth and success of a business, said Allyson Felix.
  • In her role as Strategic Advisor to First Womens Bank, Allyson will help support and inspire women business owners, continue to advocate for womens equality and amplify both the need and the opportunities to close gender gaps and create a more inclusive economy.
  • We are so proud to welcome Allyson to First Womens Bank, said Marianne Markowitz, President and CEO.
  • Saysh is co-founded by Allyson Felix, the most decorated Track and field Olympian; and Wes Felix, her brother and business partner.

ATTN ALABAMA ENTREPRENEURS: Wendy's New Franchise Recruitment Initiative "Own Your Opportunity," Comes to Birmingham

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Wendy's, Multimedia, Disclosure, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, City National Bank, Technology, Facebook, Restaurant, Bank, Instagram, Company, Huntington Bancshares, Twitter, The Wendy's Company, Child, Adoption, The Wonder Kid, Ownership, First Women Bank, Fast food

WHAT: The Wendy's Company has rolled out a new franchise recruitment initiative,Own Your Opportunity, that creates pathways for entrepreneurs in Alabama who want to grow with the Wendy's System through franchising.

Key Points: 
  • WHAT: The Wendy's Company has rolled out a new franchise recruitment initiative,Own Your Opportunity, that creates pathways for entrepreneurs in Alabama who want to grow with the Wendy's System through franchising.
  • The initiative creates expanded restaurant ownership opportunities for all and advances the Company's goal of increasing restaurant ownership among underrepresented populations.
  • Dave built his business on the premise, "Quality Is Our Recipe", which remains the guidepost of the Wendy's system.
  • **This is not an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise.

Wendy's Announces New Franchise Recruitment Initiative, "Own Your Opportunity"

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 28, 2022
Wendy's, Ownership, Color, Partnership, The Wendy's Company, Twitter, International, Introduction, WEN, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Company, City National Bank, Facebook, Huntington Bancshares, Child, First Women Bank, Woman, Bank, Multimedia, Mission partner, View, Instagram, Goal, The Wonder Kid, Adoption, Restaurant, Management, Fast food, Wendy

In 2021, Wendy's announced new goals to advance the Company's corporate responsibility platform, Good Done Right.

Key Points: 
  • In 2021, Wendy's announced new goals to advance the Company's corporate responsibility platform, Good Done Right.
  • Included was a goal to increase the representation of underrepresented populations among Company leadership and management, as well as the diversity of Wendy's franchisees.
  • To jumpstart Own Your Opportunity, Wendy's has:
    Created more competitive liquidity and net worth requirements for all new franchise applicants.
  • Introduced new innovative restaurant formats, which can help enable ownership in the Wendy's System with a lower initial financial commitment.

ICSB Recognizes First Women's Bank, the first only women-founded, women-owned and women-led commercial bank in the nation with a strategic focus on serving women economy

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 27, 2021
Woman, First Women Bank, Department of Management Studies IIT Madras, MSME-Champions, Entrepreneurship, Board, Business, CEO, Communication, Small business, Tennis, First Women, ICSB, United Nations, Ecosystem, Bank, Department, Drug, Management

The Bank will, initially, serve the national lending and deposit market from a single flagship location in Chicago.

Key Points: 
  • The Bank will, initially, serve the national lending and deposit market from a single flagship location in Chicago.
  • Joining the First Women's Bank founders as a strategic investor was tennis legend, Billie Jean King.
  • In attendance were Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, actress Sophia Bush, and entrepreneur Nia Batts, who both serve as strategic advisors.
  • "I am excited to be an investor and founding board member of First Women's Bank," Dr. Winslow Sargeant stated.

First Women's Bank Celebrates Grand Opening

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Equal housing lender, Treasury, Aon, Partnership, Partner (business rank), WGA, Comcast, Golden Joystick Awards, First Women Bank, Small business, Intention, Social change, Multimedia, Mission partner, Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, FDIC, Ownership, Gender, Advanced case management, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, CEO, International, City, Woman, Growth, First Women, Glass, Golf, Finance, Ribbon, View, CFO, Organization, Investment, Bank, Industry, Management, Drug

CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- First Women's Bank (the Bank) celebrates its Grand Opening with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at its flagship location in Chicago.

Key Points: 
  • CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- First Women's Bank (the Bank) celebrates its Grand Opening with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at its flagship location in Chicago.
  • "Small business owners support their families, their employees and their communitieswe've formed First Women's Bank to support them," said Marianne Markowitz, President and CEO, First Women's Bank.
  • First Women's Bank is a first-of-its-kind, purpose driven bank with a mission to grow the economy and advance the role of women within it.
  • First Women's Bank is more than a bank.

READOUT: SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman meets with Leaders in Women-Owned Small Business Community

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Vaccination, Central business district, Federation, Harrod–Domar model, HBCU, Small business, Hearing, Human, Leadership, Innovation, GAFC, Ascent, Education, First Women Bank, Assistant, OK, GLOBE, Topical steroid withdrawal, Chief executive officer, Federal, Small Business Administration, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, White blood cell, SBA, Organization, Bank, Management, Pharmaceutical industry

Washington, Aug. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Monday, August 9, U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman and Assistant Administrator Natalie Madeira Cofield joined investors in women-owned small businesses for a webinar on engagement and improving access to assistance for women entrepreneurs.

Key Points: 
  • Washington, Aug. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Monday, August 9, U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman and Assistant Administrator Natalie Madeira Cofield joined investors in women-owned small businesses for a webinar on engagement and improving access to assistance for women entrepreneurs.
  • During the virtual gathering, leaders of the women-owned small business investment community discussed updates on SBA's programs and initiatives supporting investment and innovation for women entrepreneurs.
  • In 2020, only 2.3 percent of funding went to women-led startups and women comprise a mere 12 percent of the decision makers at venture capital firms, said Administrator Guzman.
  • SBA's National Small Business Week Virtual Summit, September 13-15, 2021: National Small Business Week Virtual Summit Registration (onlinexperiences.com)
    Subscribe to the SBA's e-newsletter: www.sba.gov/updates
    Visit vaccines.gov and healthcare.gov for healthcare and vaccination resources.