From A Woman’s Berlin by Despina Stratigakos
The first women’s bank opened in 1910 in the Wilmersdorf district of Berlin, as a co-op credit union managed by and for women.
The founders initially envisioned its clientele as single independent women. Its appeal proved much broader, however, and membership grew to include women of all civil and social classes.
Unfortunately it collapsed during war, in part because of pressure from establishment. The rightwing press accused it of dismantling the German family by giving women economic independence as clients didnt need their father’s or husband’s consent to open an account. It was also unconventional because it took jewellry and furniture as collateral, which was often the only wealth that women had. (pp 12-15)
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