Financial Services >> CEO Interviews >> April 25, 2005
BETSY Z. COHEN is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
RAIT Investment Trust, a specialty finance real estate investment trust
that provides structured financing to real estate professionals. She has
more than 30 years of experience in real estate, banking and financial
law, and real estate lending, investing and developing. Ms. Cohen also
serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:
NM:TBBK), an Internet bank that delivers financial services to its
clients through the Bancorp Bank. Prior to her current positions, Ms.
Cohen founded Jefferson Bank in 1974, where she served as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer until its sale to Hudson United Bancshares.
Jeffbanks became the largest financial institution headquartered in
Philadelphia with 31 branches in six counties. In 1999, Ms. Cohen was
ranked number 89 in Working Woman magazine's list of the TOP 500
Business Women in the US. Among her many recognitions, Ms. Cohen was
named one of the 50 Leading Female Entrepreneurs of the World in 1997
and one of the TOP 50 business women in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
in 1996. Recently, Ms. Cohen was awarded Drexel University's 2004
Business Leader of the year Award. Profile
TWST: Could we begin with a brief historical sketch of RAIT InvestmentTrust and a picture of the things you're doing at the present time?
Ms. Cohen: RAIT Investment Trust is a commercial real