Empowering Women, One Business At a Time
The strongest way to show our impact is through the stories of our clients. These stories celebrate entrepreneurs who launched with confidence, scaled with strategy, and transformed ideas into thriving enterprises. With First Women’s Bank as a partner, they’ve accelerated growth and expanded horizons, proving that when women rise, communities thrive.
Soul & Smoke's Journey to Expansion
A Chicago-based, women-owned restaurant founded by Heather Bublick and her husband, D’Andre Carter, who serves as the executive chef. More than just incredible BBQ and soul food, Soul & Smoke is a celebration of family, culture, and a shared love for flavorful meals.
When it came time to finance their expansion, after being turned away from multiple banks, they found the support they needed through First Women’s Bank. The team at First Women’s Bank helped guide them toward the financing that would allow them to complete the renovation of their Evanston location. Today, with locations in Evanston, Avondale, and the West Loop, Soul & Smoke has become a beloved part of the Chicago community.
Nicole Cater's Path to Franchise Ownership
Nicole Cater had always dreamed of owning a coffee shop. The dream lingered until she discovered the franchising opportunity with BIGGBY COFFEE. Then, just as her dream was within reach, disaster struck. Midway through franchise training, her lender denied her loan. As a single income earner, financing was her biggest hurdle, and now it seemed impossible. That is when Nicole remembered hearing about First Women’s Bank.
The team at First Women’s Bank became true partners in her journey. They guided Nicole through underwriting and introduced her to the William Blair Capital Collective Grant Program, which provides critical funding to women-owned businesses. Nicole applied and was awarded the grant, giving her an additional boost of capital at a time when every dollar mattered. This combination of financing and grant support transformed fear into confidence. With First Women’s Bank and William Blair behind her, Nicole purchased equipment, launched marketing, and completed her café build-out.
A Business Model for Economic Opportunity
Allison Randal has always believed in the power of economic opportunity. When she discovered the chance to open PVolve franchises, it was not just about fitness; it was about building businesses that empower people and foster financial mobility.
Financing, however, was a challenge. When her business partner couldn’t secure a loan on her own, the path forward seemed uncertain. That is when PVolve introduced her to First Women’s Bank, a bank with a history of lending to PVolve franchisees.
The team at First Women’s Bank understood Allison’s vision. They structured financing for both locations and helped her balance debt and equity across two businesses. This support allowed Allison to move from self-funding to leveraging loans, with a long-term goal of transitioning to employee ownership within 5–10 years.
How Capital Brought Dr. Eide's Dream to Life
Dr. Kimberly Eide didn’t take the traditional path to medicine - or to business ownership. After earning a business degree and working in pharmaceutical sales, she felt a deeper calling: medicine. Inspired by her mother’s battle with breast cancer, she returned to school at night while raising a family, determined to care for others the way her mom had inspired her to. She was drawn to private practice - particularly aesthetics and wellness - where she could blend compassionate care with a sustainable business model.
In building her Kirkwood, Atlanta clinic, Restore Wellness and MedSpa, she faced major challenges: denied loans from traditional banks, construction cost overruns, and the weight of launching a business from the ground up. Eventually, she was introduced to First Women’s Bank and through our support, she secured an SBA loan to fund construction, payroll, and equipment, finally bringing her vision to life.
