Bank of Hope

What Bank of Hope does

Bank of Hope (NASDAQ: HOPE) is a publicly traded super-regional, FDIC-insured commercial bank headquartered at 3200 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, with operating roots tracing to the 1980s Korean-American immigrant community and publicly listed on Nasdaq for over 25 years. The bank operates 90+ branches and loan centers across 12 U.S. states plus Hawaii following its 2025 merger with Territorial Savings Bank, supplemented by a Seoul representative office and a 75,000+ surcharge-free ATM footprint via Allpoint and MoneyPass. It is the largest Korean-American bank and the third-largest Asian-American bank in the United States, and ranks among the top 100 largest U.S. banks and the sixth-largest bank headquartered in California.

The bank delivers a full-stack deposit, lending, payments, and treasury product suite across personal, small-business, and commercial/corporate customer segments. Personal offerings include multiple checking tiers (Bank Simply Checking, Priority Checking, College Banking, SmarTEEN Checking), savings and money market products, certificates of deposit (Hope Preferred CD, Regular, IRA, Flex), mortgage lending across 25 states, and Visa credit cards issued through Elan Financial Services. Business offerings span HopeBusiness checking tiers (Access, Plus, Prestige, Analysis), business money market and CDs, commercial cards, IOLTA accounts for attorneys, merchant services, SBA Preferred Lender lending (7(a), 504, EWCP, Express), commercial and commercial real estate lending, construction lending, equipment leasing, corporate credit facilities, Global Treasury Management Solutions (payables, receivables, Positive Pay, liquidity management), trade services (letters of credit, documentary collections), and ICS/CDARS through IntraFi. Distribution is delivered through physical branches, online banking, iOS/Android mobile apps, telebanking (24/7 IVR), appointment-based sales, and integrated digital wallets (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay) plus Zelle for P2P payments. A specialized Korea Corporate Finance Support Center and a Convenience & Gas Banking vertical serve as niche commercial differentiators.

Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on the loan portfolio (mortgages, commercial, SBA, personal, construction, equipment leasing) net of interest paid on deposits, supplemented by non-interest fee income: monthly account service fees, wire and ATM fees, credit card interchange, loan origination fees, and trade services/FX revenue. The customer base is segmented across personal banking (primary), Korean-American and multicultural community banking (primary), small and mid-size businesses (primary, including Korean-American enterprises, convenience stores, gas stations, franchise operators), and corporate/commercial customers requiring complex financing and international trade services. Marketing emphasizes multilingual community connection, SBA leadership, and digital banking convenience.

Name

Bank of Hope

Legal name

Bank of Hope

Website

https://bankofhope.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Bank of Hope (NASDAQ: HOPE) is a publicly traded super-regional, FDIC-insured bank headquartered in Los Angeles, serving multicultural communities — especially Korean-American customers — through 90+ branches, digital banking, SBA lending, and corporate banking across 12 U.S. states plus Hawaii.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC), SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Commercial lending
• Small business banking
• Korean-American banking
• Digital banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income: Interest earned on loans (mortgages, commercial loans, SBA loans, personal loans, business loans) minus interest paid on deposits. This is the primary revenue driver for the bank.
2. Non-Interest Income - Fees: Monthly service fees on checking and savings accounts, ATM fees from non-network ATMs, wire transfer fees, insufficient funds fees, and account analysis fees on business accounts.
3. Credit Card Fees: Interchange fees and annual/card fees from personal and business credit cards issued through Elan Financial Services.
4. Loan Origination Fees: Fees charged at origination for mortgage loans, commercial loans, SBA loans, and equipment leasing.
5. Trade Services and Foreign Exchange: Revenue from letter of credit issuance, wire transfers, foreign currency exchange, and trade finance services for business customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bank of Hope is a super-regional commercial bank that accepts deposits and originates loans for individual consumers, small and mid-sized businesses, and middle-market commercial clients. It sells personal checking, savings, CDs, credit cards, mortgage loans, business checking and money market accounts, SBA loans, commercial real estate and construction loans, equipment leasing, trade services, treasury management, foreign exchange, merchant services, and wealth advisory through branches, online, and mobile channels.

Product overview

Bank of Hope is a super regional FDIC-insured bank offering a comprehensive suite of personal banking, business banking, corporate lending, and digital banking products. The personal banking suite includes checking accounts (Bank Simply Checking, Priority Checking, College Banking, SmarTEEN Checking), savings products (Bank Simply Savings, Signature Money Market, Personal Installment Savings, Kids Savings), and certificates of deposit (Hope Preferred CD, Regular CD, IRA CD, Flex CD), along with mortgage lending and credit cards. Business banking encompasses HopeBusiness checking tiers (Access, Plus, Prestige, Analysis), business money market and CDs, commercial cards (One Card, Commercial Rewards Card), and business credit cards. The lending portfolio includes SBA loans (7(a), 504, EWCP, Express), commercial lending, commercial real estate, construction, corporate lending, and equipment leasing. Treasury management services provide Global Treasury Management Solutions including payables, receivables, fraud protection, and ICS/CDARS deposits. Digital banking is delivered through Online Banking and Mobile Banking apps featuring Digital Wallet (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay), Zelle P2P payments, Credit Sense monitoring, Card Management, Mobile Check Deposit, e-Statements, and Online Bill Pay. Specialized services include IOLTA accounts for attorneys, foreign currency exchange, Korea Corporate Finance Support Center, and Convenience & Gas Banking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HopeBusiness: Business banking product line including Access Checking, Plus Checking, and Prestige Checking accounts.
• Bank Simply
• Hope Preferred
• Hope Scholarship

Products and services

• Bank Simply Checking

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 1% SBA lender nationally (7(a) and 504 programs)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Allpoint NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationAllpoint Network provides surcharge-free ATM access to Bank of Hope customers. Combined with MoneyPass, this partnership provides 75,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide, significantly expanding customer access beyond the bank's own ATM fleet.
• MoneyPass NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationMoneyPass Network provides surcharge-free ATM access to Bank of Hope customers alongside Allpoint. Combined, these networks provide 75,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide.
• Early Warning Services, LLC (Zelle)coreTechnology or IntegrationBank of Hope offers Zelle person-to-person payment service through its online and mobile banking platforms, enabling customers to send and receive money quickly and securely using email or phone number. Zelle is owned by Early Warning Services, LLC.
• Apple Inc. (Apple Pay)coreTechnology or IntegrationBank of Hope debit cards are compatible with Apple Pay digital wallet, allowing customers to make secure contactless payments using their iPhone or Apple Watch.
• Samsung Electronics (Samsung Pay)coreTechnology or IntegrationBank of Hope debit cards are compatible with Samsung Pay digital wallet, enabling customers to make secure mobile payments using Samsung devices.
• Google LLC (Google Pay)coreTechnology or IntegrationBank of Hope debit cards are compatible with Google Pay digital wallet, enabling Android users to make secure contactless payments.
• Elan Financial ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationElan Financial Services is the creditor and issuer of Bank of Hope's personal and business credit cards under Visa license. Elan also provides 24/7 card customer service, fraud protection, and purchase protection services for cardholders.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBank of Hope is an SBA Preferred Lender, enabling streamlined processing of SBA 7(a), SBA 504, SBA EWCP, and EZ/SBA Express loans. The SBA guarantees a portion of these loans, and as a Preferred Lender, the bank can approve loans without direct SBA review.
• Visa U.S.A. Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationBank of Hope debit and credit cards operate on the Visa network. Credit cards are issued under a Visa license through Elan Financial Services. The bank also participates in Visa's Zero Liability Policy for consumer protection.
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)coreOthersFDIC insures Bank of Hope deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership category. This insurance backstops the bank's deposits and is a fundamental trust mechanism for customers.
• Territorial Savings BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerritorial Savings Bank (headquartered in Hawaii) merged into Bank of Hope in 2025, expanding the bank's geographic reach to Hawaii and the US mainland, making it the largest multicultural-focused regional bank spanning both mainland US and Hawaii.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• East West Bank: East West Bank (NASDAQ: EWBC) is the largest Asian-American focused bank in the US, providing personal, business, and commercial banking with strong ties to Chinese-American and broader Asian-American communities. It is the most direct comparable to Bank of Hope in customer segment, product mix, and geographic footprint.
• Cathay General Bancorp: Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ: CATY) is a bank holding company focused on Chinese-American and broader Asian-American communities, similar in mission to Bank of Hope. Comparable in size, commercial banking focus, and niche community positioning across California and key coastal markets.
• Preferred Bank: Preferred Bank (NASDAQ: PFBC) is a Los Angeles-based commercial bank with a strong focus on serving Chinese-American and broader Asian-American middle-market and small business customers. Highly comparable to Bank of Hope in customer base, geographic concentration, and commercial banking emphasis.
• Hanmi Financial: Hanmi Financial (NASDAQ: HAFC) is a Korean-American focused bank headquartered in Los Angeles, with branches primarily in California, Texas, and key coastal markets. Hanmi is a direct competitor to Bank of Hope in the Korean-American retail and small business banking niche.
• Royal Business Bank: Royal Business Bank (NASDAQ: RBB) is a Los Angeles-based community bank serving Chinese-American and other Asian-American small and middle-market businesses. Comparable in customer segment, geographic focus, and commercial banking orientation to Bank of Hope.

Regional players

• Bank of Hawaii: Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH) is a Hawaii-headquartered regional bank serving retail, commercial, and wealth customers across Hawaii and the Pacific. Comparable to Bank of Hope post-Territorial merger given shared Hawaii market exposure and similar size as a community-focused regional bank.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Premier Bancorp: Pacific Premier Bancorp (NASDAQ: PPBI) is a larger California-based commercial bank serving small and middle-market businesses, with significant SBA lending presence. Comparable in SMB and SBA lending orientation, though with less of a multicultural niche focus.
• CVB Financial: CVB Financial (NASDAQ: CVBF) is a California-based bank holding company operating Citizens Business Bank, serving small and middle-market businesses in California's Inland Empire and broader region. Comparable in SMB banking focus and California regional presence.
• Customers Bancorp: Customers Bancorp (NYSE: CUBI) is a mid-cap bank with strong commercial and SBA lending businesses serving SMB customers. Comparable in size tier and SBA lending orientation, though serving a broader geographic and demographic footprint.

Emerging players

• Open Bank: Open Bank is a Korean-American focused commercial bank headquartered in Los Angeles, serving small and middle-market businesses with a similar niche focus to Bank of Hope. Comparable in multicultural customer base and LA market presence, though smaller in scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bankofhope

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bank of Hope