Hanmi Financial Corp. shares fell more than 15 percent Thursday as the bank holding company reported a smaller fourth quarter loss but gave a somber outlook for the coming year.

The Los Angeles holding company for Hanmi Bank reported a net loss of $3.8 million, (-8 cents per share), compared with a net loss of $100 million, (-$2.15) a year earlier when the company had a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $103 million.

As non-performing loans and charge-offs increased, the provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter nearly doubled to $25.5 million from the third quarter. Net interest income, before the provision for credit losses, fell 14 percent to $30.5 million.

“The economic downturn has adversely affected many of our customers, both small businesses and larger commercial borrowers,” Chief Executive Jay S. Yoo said in a statement. “We believe that two of our biggest challenges of 2009 will be comparable to challenges we faced in 2008 , namely, credit quality and liquidity.

Hanmi shares closed down 15.5 percent to $1.63 on the Nasdaq.