First Women’s Bank, Chicago, the proposed women-led de novo bank, appointed its chief financial officer and chief risk officer and received its permit to organize from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
The permission, granted on Jan. 15, marks an important milestone in the regulatory approval process, as it allows the bank to begin its capital raise. FWB Financial, Inc., the bank’s holding company, raised $4.5 million during its seed capital raise, and expects to begin a capital raise of $46.5 million in the following weeks.
Tod Gordon will be the CFO, and Maria Tabrizi will be the chief risk officer.
“We are delighted to add the depth and breadth of experience that Tod and Maria bring to First Women’s Bank and to our leadership team as we prepare to launch the capital raise,” said Marianne Markowitz, chief executive officer of the de novo bank.
“Tod’s extensive banking and treasury experience, along with Maria’s deep risk management, audit and bank operations expertise will accelerate our mission to grow the small business economy and advance the role of women within it,” Markowitz said.
Gordon has more than 30 years of experience in banking, financial services and payments. He is familiar with developing strategies that leverage technology, data and analytics to achieve growth and profitability through digital product service and delivery. He was most recently the senior vice president, deposit products and senior vice president and treasurer for Discover Bank, Greenwood, Del. Gordon has also had senior executive positions at JP Morgan Chase, Household International and American National Bank in commercial banking, investment banking, mortgage banking and corporate treasury.
“I’m honored to be a part of this exciting endeavor to launch the first de novo bank with a strategic focus on the large and growing women’s economy,” Gordon said. “I’m looking forward to working with this incredible team to deliver on our mission, create an exceptional customer experience and drive strong returns for our shareholders.”
Tabrizi is a financial services executive and a CPA with more than 30 years of experience in banking and public accounting. She has experience in audit, risk management, financial reporting, operations, regulatory compliance, information security and mortgage banking.
She was most recently the chief audit executive of MB Financial Bank, N.A. Tabrizi was a member of MB’s bank executive management committee, and executive sponsor of its diversity and inclusion committee.
Prior to MB, Tabrizi spent more than two decades in various management positions at Cole Taylor Bank, Chicago, most recently as group senior vice president, a member of the executive management committee and a prior chair of the risk management committee.
“Joining First Women’s Bank provides me with a truly unique opportunity to use my broad experience to help build an innovative, purpose-driven commercial bank,” Tabrizi said.
“There’s been enormous excitement about the bank and its mission to support the growth of small businesses and the women’s economy,” Tabrizi said. “I’m thrilled to be part of this entrepreneurial leadership team.”