The Allure of Women

When Gibraltar entered the Naples market in 2006, it implemented the lecture series here. The first Wise Women event in Naples, in November, focused on creating, caring for, safeguarding and passing down family heirlooms. The second event, which showcased fashion trends and makeup tips, was held in February in conjunction with Saks Fifth Avenue and Chanel. Although that event's theme was "a bit less substantial in content, it still provided our guests with an opportunity to network," says Deborah Koch, the bank's senior vice president and marketing director at Gibraltar.

Gibraltar is one of several banks that are recognizing the growing market potential among women and finding ways to court these prospective new customers.

According to Koch, the Wise Women series was started because bank officials noticed trends showing more women taking an active roll in their personal, business and family finances, probably due to an increase in professional and career women and a corresponding rise in financial equality within the family.

As the number of business women increases, so does the number of women who own small businesses.

According to a report released in March by Synergistics Research Corp., a market research firm that focuses primarily on the banking industry, one out of three women owners of small businesses expect to obtain some type of new business-related financial account or service in the next year.