What a fascinating story of feminism!

I had no idea Women's Banks like this existed. I loved learning about the quest towards the Women's Bank of Denver and meeting all the women who worked together to make this happen.

Learning about how women from all across demographics came together to do something for all women is especially inspiring to read at a time when women's rights are in flux again.

One downside is that it ends a little abruptly. I enjoyed the 'what happened' to everyone else but a little more on the daily workings would have been fun to read.

.I am on the line about this book. I must have misunderstood the book's synopsis because I thought that this was going to be about the first-ever women's bank—it is not. There were so few banks that actually followed the letter of the law at that time period that you can see why something like this was groundbreaking, life-changing, and filled a great need for women.

I can't believe how far women have come, and reading this book has helped me understand just what women just a few years younger than I was at the time went through to get where we are today.

This book was quite interesting if you don't mind that it has extremely dry writing and too many primary, secondary, and tertiary characters. I know it was necessary, but I felt like I needed a spreadsheet to keep track of everyone.

It was a bit of a chore to keep up with everything, and it may have been more enjoyable if I had a degree in finance!

*ARC supplied by the publisher Little A Publishing, the author, and NetGalley.

"Give Her Credit" is exactly the kind of book we need right now. It is informative and relevant. It reminds the reader of how far we have come as a society and how the fight isn't over for equality. Williams does a wonderful job of making this a personal story and showing how each person involved with the fight for the bank had their own story to tell. My only criticism is that to give the characters more detail and depth she often relied on describing physical traits such as a "dark-haired beauty" or "sparkling brown eyes". This type of physical description is often what women are fighting against, especially in the work place. Men are not often characterized by their physical appearance but instead by their achievements and it should be as such for women. I would love to see this on the syllabus for every high school and college.

Give Her Credit: The Untold Story of a Women's Bank That Empowered a Generation tells a true story of remarkable women that changed the financial game. These women did not play by the rules. Instead, they changed them and made history.

Feminism began sweeping the nation in the 1970s. But not in every sector. Banking and finance was still the boy's club. Women needed a male co-signer. Income was completely ignored or considered unreliable. Loan applications would include invasive questions about birth control. It wasn't until 1978 that women were given access to lines of credit without a man "vouching" for her. The Women's Bank in Denver, Colorado, would operate like other banks with one caveat: women would be treated fairly and given the same financing/business opportunities usually reserved for men.

In just under 200 pages, we are introduced to a slew of characters. Most are the founders and members involved in the opening of Women's Bank. Others are women who struggled to become entrepreneurs but was granted a loan and given financial advice at the Women's Bank. And the stories I took a liking to most were of the women who made a career in banking, starting from a messenger girl to coin wrapper girl to businesswomen on Wall Street. While I appreciated the many examples, it was still too much jammed into so few pages.

These women came together to build the most successful female-run bank in the nation. Give Her Credit tells their story—the challenges and the achievements. From the rounded countertops design to control of the stock. It is inspiring, revolutionary and will give female readers a jolt of pride. On the same coin, this nonfiction book is a blaring reminder that history can, and often does, repeat itself. Hence, here we are in 2024 fighting for women's rights and equal pay. Deliberate timing on the author's or publisher's part? Hmmm...

Bookhearts, I recommend reading this appropriately titled new book when it releases in the new year. Give Her Credit where credit is due!

Happy Early Pub Day, Grace L. Williams! Give Her Credit will be available Tuesday, January 1, 2025.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

This story about a unique bank during a time of revolution for women's rights was informative and compelling. It is hard to believe that, roughly 50 years ago, women were unable to do things such as banking or obtaining credit without a man. This story tells of a bank that paved the way to change that in the western region of the United States, a region that remained behind the times where equitable treatment for women was concerned. Despite the nay-sayers and negativity, the group pursued it's vision and excelled beyond the expectations. It's been a long road for women in this country, and it's stories like these that show and remind us from whence we came. We will never go back.

Great look at a pivotal time in women’s and the USA’s history! I was excited to learn more about this time and the book absolutely delivered.

An interesting micro history about a group of women who combatted the male dominated banking practices of the 1970’s. Some hidden figures vibes here and readers of that book might also like this one.

thank you to netgalley and to little a for providing me with early access to this book! i will say it was incredibly well-researched and well-written. the prose was easy to read and to follow, despite the lingo and the numbers. there's no doubt that this is an inspiring story. however, i wasn't particularly engaged. i found it hard to continue reading because i wasn't involved in the story. sometimes i felt isolated as a reader. sometimes i found the book hard to follow because the chapters were short and switched perspectives often. there were too many characters to keep up with for my taste. but just because it wasn't for me doesn't make it a bad book, as seen by the other reviews! i hope it finds its niche and a group of readers who will come to love it <3

This book was difficult to rate because it reads as nonfiction, but is listed as fiction. As a nonfiction book, it would be quite compelling. But, as a novel, it is unsuccessful. The writing is all tell, no show. There are long, dry passages detailing historical events. There are even bulleted lists outlining details that, again, would be pertinent and informative if it were a nonfiction book about the banking industry, but as a fiction novel, seem fully out of place. Even the individual women's chapters read more like like biographies rather than stories. Overall, I did not enjoy this book, but that is because my expectations were for an exciting fiction novel with plot and emotion, and instead I got a very detailed history of what was an interesting time in the banking industry.

Well, I appreciate what the author wants to achieve here, and I cannot pinpoint anything essentially wrong with this book.
I simply didn't like it that much.
There were times I was intrigued. Others I was just bored.
There were times I felt invested in the protagonist's motivations. Others I was feeling irrelevant.

(Thank you to Little A for providing an eARC of the book to review.)

It was fascinating to read about the history of this group of women banding together to create banks that catered to women. They created a place for women to apply for loans, open savings accounts, and provide financial education or advice. This was the first book I read that covered this topic and it was well-written. I enjoyed reading about the process these women went through to get their bank to be nationally chartered.

At times, it was confusing with chapters going from being about one of the main women in the group to another; it was also hard to keep track of all the people being mentioned, too.

Give Her Credit is a relatively short, but comprehensive, accounting of the development of a women's bank in 1970s Denver. In the '70s women still could not access credit, loans, or a mortgage without the signature of a man, and in addition, were very limited in reaching higher levels of the banking industry if that was their career.

This book outlines how a group of women in Denver, and some male allies, set out to correct this by developing a community bank run by women that would address women's banking and business needs and provide other services that traditional banks were not willing to provide to women yet. I liked how this book had biographies of each woman involved in the development of the bank, and I appreciate that the author also covered how racism intersected with sexism in how women were discriminated against in the banking world. The conflicts the women engaged in with each other were interesting to think about as well because they obviously all cared very deeply about this project and wanted to make it the best it could be and to succeed. I always am interested to learn about how groups or organizations end up resolving these conflicts and what happens to those who disagree.

This is a really interesting topic to cover because while I think many people do know at this point that women were not able to access credit cards, loans, etc. until relatively recently, I also think that it's something easily forgotten because we take this completely for granted now. It's scary to think about in a time when women's rights are backsliding. It's important to be reminded that we absolutely cannot assume that our autonomy will always be there (which is becoming very apparent now).

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in feminist history. Although this bank wasn't explicitly feminist, it was run by women who rejected traditional gender roles and were interested in giving women control over their own lives.

Many thanks to Little A and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This review is my honest opinion.

"Give Her Credit" was a really interesting read about the founding of a Woman's Bank in the 1970s. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and learning more about the women driving the bank's founding.

*Give Her Credit* by Grace L. Williams is a riveting and inspirational account of a group of formidable women who transformed the male-dominated world of business, banking, and finance in the 1970s. This true story captures the essence of a groundbreaking moment in history when women refused to play by the existing rules and instead forged a new path, making history in the process.

Set against the backdrop of a burgeoning feminist movement, *Give Her Credit* shines a spotlight on the incredible journey of the Women’s Bank in Denver, Colorado. Led by visionary bank officer B. LaRae Orullian and entrepreneur Carol Green, along with a team of trailblazing women such as Judi Foster, Edna Mosley, Mary Roebling, Betty Freedman, and Gail Schoettler, these pioneers overcame immense challenges to establish the most successful female-run bank in the nation.

Williams' storytelling is both compelling and empowering, as she chronicles the uphill battles and remarkable achievements of these enterprising women. Their unwavering determination and commitment to social justice not only revolutionized the banking industry but also provided opportunities for marginalized citizens across the country. This book is a testament to their indomitable spirit and a long-overdue tribute to their contributions.

*Give Her Credit* is an essential read for anyone interested in history, feminism, and the relentless pursuit of equality. It is a powerful reminder of the impact that a determined group of individuals can have on society. Williams' detailed narrative and engaging prose make this a standout work that will inspire and educate readers. A truly remarkable story that deserves to be celebrated.

incredibly well-researched history on one of the first women's banks and also detailing the many leaps in equality that the women in this book accomplished so that women like me can now exist on our own terms - single, independent, child-free - and still manage finances ourselves and become homeowners or business owners, without patriarchal involvement.

Give Her Credit is a compelling and long-overdue tribute to the remarkable women who defied the norms of the male-dominated world of banking and finance in 1970s America. This galvanizing true story sheds light on the pioneering efforts of a group of women in Denver who not only challenged the status quo but also revolutionized the industry with the establishment of the Women’s Bank.

In an era when women faced systemic barriers in obtaining credit and advancing in finance careers, the Women’s Bank, founded in 1978 in Denver, Colorado, stood as a beacon of change and empowerment. Led by visionary entrepreneur Carol Green and bank officer B. LaRae Orullian, alongside a cadre of determined colleagues including investment whiz Judi Foster, civil rights advocate Edna Mosley, financial executive Mary Roebling, socialite Betty Freedman, and social justice advocate Gail Schoettler, these women forged a path that reshaped banking history.

Author [Author's Name] skillfully navigates the challenges faced by these trailblazers, highlighting their courage, resilience, and unwavering determination to succeed in a male-dominated industry. The narrative unfolds with a blend of historical context and personal anecdotes, painting a vivid picture of the uphill battles these women fought to establish and sustain the Women’s Bank. From navigating regulatory hurdles to overcoming entrenched sexism and skepticism, their journey is both inspiring and illuminating.

What makes Give Her Credit particularly impactful is its exploration of the broader implications of their achievements. By creating the most successful female-run bank in the nation, these women not only paved the way for future generations of women in finance but also championed opportunities for marginalized communities across the country. Their story serves as a testament to the transformative power of women’s leadership and collective action in dismantling barriers and fostering inclusivity.

The book is meticulously researched, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the social, economic, and political landscape of the 1970s that shaped these women’s careers and aspirations. Through insightful storytelling and archival details, [Author's Name] captures the essence of a pivotal moment in feminist history, where bold initiatives and strategic alliances catalyzed significant change in banking practices and societal attitudes.

Give Her Credit is not just a biography of extraordinary women; it is a celebration of resilience, solidarity, and the enduring legacy of those who dared to challenge the norm. It serves as a timely reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the importance of recognizing and amplifying the contributions of women in traditionally male-dominated fields.