Chief Executive, President
Hope Bancorp Inc.
Kevin Kim has shaped Hope Bancorp Inc. into a preeminent Korean American
banking institution through a series of strategic mergers. He first spearheaded the combination of Center Bank and Nara Bank to create BBCN Bank, then led BBCN’s merger with Wilshire Bancorp to form Bank of Hope. In April 2025, Bank of Hope completed its merger with Territorial Bancorp of Honolulu, creating the largest regional bank serving multicultural customers across the continental U.S. and the Hawaiian Islands — with total assets reaching $18.53 billion as of year-end 2025. Hope Bancorp subsequently agreed to acquire the commercial banking unit of SMBC Manubank, adding approximately $2.5 billion in loans and $2.7 billion in deposits across eight Southern California branches. Kim holds a J.D. from Loyola Law School and an MBA from UCLA Anderson.
YEARS ON LA500: 11 Years on the LA500
