In 1978, eight women stepped into a man’s world—and built a bank of their own.
Just four years earlier, women in the U.S. couldn’t get a credit card or open a bank account without a man’s co-signature. Financial independence wasn’t a right; it required permission.
So, in Denver, Colorado, eight courageous women set out to change that.
Carol Green, Judi Wagner, LaRae Orullian, Gail Schoettler, Wendy Davis, Joy Burns, Beverly Martinez, and Edna Mosely each invested $1,000 of their own money. Their goal? To launch the first bank founded by women, for women.
A place where women could open accounts, apply for loans, and be treated as equals—not exceptions.
On July 14, 1978, the Women’s Bank opened its doors.
The line to enter stretched down the block.
By the end of that first day, over $1 million had been deposited.
It was more than a bank—it was a revolution in heels and briefcases.
These women didn’t wait for permission.
They didn’t politely request change.
They built something new—and better.
Now, millions of women around the world are free to manage their money, grow their businesses, and build wealth on their own terms.
Because in 1978, eight women decided equality couldn’t wait.