LISA BERTAGNA: MANAGING DIRECTOR, FIFTH THIRD PRIVATE BANK

Lisa Bertagna began her banking career while still a college student, not realizing how much she’d end up loving the industry. Today, with more than 30 years of experience in financial services, she leads Fifth Third Private Bank in Chicago, overseeing a team that serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and businesses. “In Chicago, the banking industry is large, but throughout my career, I have had the privilege of getting to know a lot of people across different banks,” explains Bertagna. “They have all helped to shape who I am today.”

Her deep network and long-standing relationships across the financial sector have been instrumental in her success. Bertagna’s leadership journey includes building a full Fifth Third Private Bank team on the North Shore and now spearheading the Private Bank’s strategic growth across the city. As a private bank within a bank, Bertagna and her Fifth Third team can leverage the resources of a top financial institution to deliver a premium level of client service.

“I really love working with my team and our clients, who are very inspiring,” she says. “Many, many years ago, I had a manager tell me that I cared too much about people. That was a notable point of reflection in my career. I do care about people and the wealth management business allows advisors to really get to know our clients, find out what is important to them and to their families and then we take what we have learned to help them meet their family goals.”

She says that’s the biggest misconception about her industry—that bankers don’t care about people. “Our advisors truly care about our clients. Making sure we are doing everything we can to support them is what drives us to deliver our very best.”

To learn more, visit privatebankadvisors.53.com.