Retirement Announcement: Steven S. Koh will retire as Honorary Chairman and Board member of Hope Bancorp and Bank of Hope effective December 31, 2025. His retirement marks the end of a significant 40-year tenure in banking, including his role in establishing the first Korean American regional bank in the U.S.
Acknowledgment of Service: Kevin S. Kim, Chairman and CEO, expressed gratitude for Koh's dedication and leadership, highlighting his contributions to both Hope Bancorp and its predecessor, Wilshire Bancorp.
Steven S. Koh's Contributions
Career Overview: Koh, 80, has been a pivotal figure in the banking sector since 1986, serving as a director and later as Chairman of Wilshire Bank and Wilshire Bancorp. He played a crucial role in the merger that formed Hope Bancorp in 2016.
Community Involvement: Beyond banking, Koh is recognized for his active participation in community affairs, including leadership roles in the Overseas Korean Traders Association and philanthropic efforts within the Korean American community.
Hope Bancorp's Financial Standing
Company Overview: As of June 30, 2025, Hope Bancorp holds total assets of $18.55 billion. The acquisition of Territorial Savings in April 2025 has positioned it as the largest regional bank serving multicultural customers across the U.S. and Hawaii.
Branch Network: The Bank operates 46 branches across several states, including California and New York, and 29 branches in Hawaii, providing a wide range of financial services including commercial and consumer loans, treasury management, and international trade financing.
Forward-Looking Statements
Risk Factors: The company has issued forward-looking statements regarding its future performance, acknowledging potential risks such as integration challenges from acquisitions, economic conditions, interest rate volatility, and regulatory changes. These factors could significantly impact actual results compared to expectations.
HOPE
$11.47+Infinity%1D
Analyst Views on HOPE
About HOPE
Hope Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company of Bank of Hope (the Bank). The Bank provides a full suite of commercial, corporate and consumer loans, deposit and fee-based products and services, including commercial and commercial real estate lending, small business administration (SBA) lending, residential mortgage and other consumer lending, treasury management services, foreign currency exchange solutions, interest rate derivative products, and international trade financing, among others. The Bank operates approximately 46 full-service branches in California, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, and Georgia under the Bank of Hope banner, and over 29 branches in Hawaii under the Territorial Savings banner. The Bank also operates SBA loan production offices, commercial loan production offices, and residential mortgage loan production offices throughout the United States, and a representative office in Seoul, South Korea.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
