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Hope Bancorp (Bank of Hope) competitors
and the alternatives

Last updated Oct 19, 2026 · 8 peers · 46 sources cited

Who are Hope Bancorp (Bank of Hope)'s competitors, and what are the alternatives?

Hope Bancorp's 2025 10-K, filed February 25, 2026, says it competes for loans, deposits and customers with commercial banks, thrifts, securities and brokerage companies, mortgage and insurance companies, marketplace finance platforms, money market funds, credit unions and other non-banks, many of them larger and more widely recognized. Hope grew from a Korean-American bank into a multi-ethnic one with 74 branches at year-end 2025: 29 in Hawaii, 24 in California, nine in New York and New Jersey and the rest in Washington, Illinois, Texas, Alabama and Georgia. Its most direct rivals describe the same market. Hanmi's 10-K says its direct competitors are community banks focused on Korean-American, Asian-American and immigrant-owned businesses, and PCB Bancorp cites strong competition among banks serving the Korean-American community. In Los Angeles the larger Asian-American banks are Cathay, with 64 branches, and East West, with $84.8 billion of assets. Since the Territorial deal Hope competes in Hawaii with First Hawaiian and Bank of Hawaii, while First Hawaiian is moving the other way into California through TriCo. Hope is an SBA Preferred Lender nationwide, which puts it against Live Oak's AI-originated small loans, and its 10-K names marketplace finance platforms, the market LendingClub came from before becoming Happen Bank in June 2026. Through its SMBC partnership Hope now also courts Japanese companies doing business in the US.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Data as of Oct 19, 2026 · Bank of Hope profile updated Oct 13, 2026 · computed tables recalculate from the 140 bank profiles on this site · Markdown

In its own words

What does Bank of Hope say about its competition?

"As of December 31, 2025, we had 74 branches in the United States, predominantly in multi-ethnic communities. Of these, 29 were located in Hawaii, 24 were located in California, nine were located in New York and New Jersey; four were in Washington; three were in Illinois; three were in Texas; one was in Alabama, and one was in Georgia. We also had nine loan production offices located in California, New York, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, as well as a representative office in Seoul, South Korea." (Item 1, "Market Area and Competition", 2025 Form 10-K, filed February 25, 2026.)[1]

"The banking and financial services industry generally, and in our market areas specifically, is highly competitive. The competitive environment is primarily a result of strong competition among community, regional and national banks; changes in regulations; changes in technology and product delivery systems, as well as consolidation among financial services companies. In addition, federal legislation may have the effect of further increasing the pace of consolidation within the financial services industry."[1]

"We compete for loans, deposits, and customers with other commercial banks, savings and loan associations, securities and brokerage companies, mortgage companies, insurance companies, marketplace finance platforms, money market funds, credit unions, and other non-bank financial service providers. Many of these competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets, are more widely recognized, have broader geographic scope, and offer a broader range of financial services than we do."[1]

From the business overview of the same 10-K: "From our roots as a Korean-American focused bank, we have grown to be one of the largest independent commercial banks headquartered in California and serve a multi-ethnic population of customers around the United States." And from the AI risk factor: "The Company may develop or incorporate AI technology in certain business processes, services, or products in the future."[1]

By business line

Who competes with Bank of Hope in each of its businesses?

Business lineCompetitorTypeWhy it competes
Korean-American and Asian-American bankingHanmi FinancialBankHanmi's 2025 10-K says its primary market is the Korean-American and multi-ethnic communities across nine states and that its direct competitors are community banks focused on Korean-American, Asian-American and immigrant-owned businesses; it ran 32 full-service branches and five loan production offices at year-end 2025.[2]
Korean-American and Asian-American bankingPCB Bancorp (PCB Bank)BankLos Angeles-based PCB's 2025 10-K cites 'strong competition among the banks servicing the Korean-American community' and sets deposit rates partly on those offered by other Korean-American focused banks; it runs nine branches in Los Angeles and Orange Counties plus branches in New York, New Jersey, Texas and Georgia.[3]
Korean-American and Asian-American bankingCathay General BancorpBankCathay keeps its headquarters in Los Angeles' Chinatown, Hope on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles; Cathay ran 64 branches with about $24 billion of assets at year-end 2025, against Hope's 24 California branches.[10][4][1]
Korean-American and Asian-American bankingEast West BancorpBankEast West, the largest independent commercial bank headquartered in Southern California by assets (December 31, 2025), had $84.8 billion of assets at June 30, 2026 and runs cross-border US-Hong Kong payments; Hope offers foreign currency exchange and international trade financing to a multi-ethnic client base from Los Angeles.[11][5][12][1]
Commercial banking in Los AngelesBanc of CaliforniaBankThe largest independent bank headquartered in Los Angeles, where Hope added eight branches, $2.5 billion of loans and $2.7 billion of deposits with SMBC MANUBANK's commercial unit on October 1, 2026.[13][14][9]
Commercial banking in Los AngelesCity National Bank (RBC)BankLos Angeles-based City National had $100.10 billion of assets and $69.48 billion of loans and leases at July 31, 2026, a commercial lender several times Hope's $18.99 billion of assets.[15][16]
Commercial banking in Los AngelesCVB FinancialBankCitizens Business Bank lends 35.4% of its book in Los Angeles County to small and medium-sized businesses and their owners, and became a 78-center bank after buying Heritage Commerce in 2026.[17][18]
Hawaii bankingFirst HawaiianBankHope has 29 Hawaii branches since buying Honolulu's Territorial Bancorp; First Hawaiian, its main Hawaii rival on this site's record along with Bank of Hawaii, is also moving into Hope's California market with its roughly $2 billion purchase of TriCo and its 68 branches (announced July 2026).[1][19][6]
Hawaii bankingBank of HawaiiBankA Hawaii bank with 1,729 of its 1,877 staff in Hawaii and 350,000+ digital banking enrollees at year-end 2025, competing for the Hawaii deposits Hope gained with Territorial.[20][21][19]
SBA and small-business lendingLive Oak BankBankLive Oak Express makes SBA 7(a) loans under $350,000 on Casca's AI origination software; Hope holds SBA Preferred Lender status nationwide and offers SBA EZ loans up to $500,000 decided on its credit scoring program.[7][1]
SBA and small-business lendingHappen Bank (formerly LendingClub)FintechHope's 10-K names marketplace finance platforms among its competitors; LendingClub, which grew as a marketplace lender, became Happen Bank in June 2026 and reported $3.1 billion of originations and $10.8 billion of deposits in Q2 2026.[1][8][22]
SBA and small-business lendingBluevineFintechA small-business bank account and lending fintech with about 175,000 active customers (June 30, 2026), the kind of non-bank provider Hope's 10-K lists; Hope serves small and medium-sized multi-ethnic business owners.[23][1]
AI offerings compared

How do the AI and digital offerings of Bank of Hope's competitors compare?

Bank of Hope first, then each competitor. Use-case counts, index scores and latest moves are computed from our profiles of each company; "No profile" means this site has no page on it yet.

CompanyAI or digital offeringOn the record (our profiles)Latest dated AI move
Hope Bancorp (Bank of Hope) (this page)Not disclosedIndex 2.1 (#114); 8 use cases, 6 in productionSMBC MANUBANK commercial banking unit acquisition completed (Oct 1, 2026)[9][24]
Hanmi FinancialNot disclosedNo profileNot disclosed
PCB Bancorp (PCB Bank)Not disclosedNo profileNot disclosed
Cathay General BancorpNot disclosedIndex 2.6 (#110); 10 use cases, 9 in productionQ2 2026 10-Q: still no AI reference (Aug 7, 2026)[25]
East West BancorpCFO-described everyday AI use; in-house US-Hong Kong payments rail[26][12]Index 49.2 (#59); 10 use cases, 8 in productionBarclays conference: CFO describes everyday AI use (Sep 14, 2026)[26]
Banc of CaliforniaMore than 80% of developers use AI daily (April 2026)[27]Index 34.7 (#82); 14 use cases, 10 in productionQ2 2026 10-Q lists AI among competing technologies (Aug 7, 2026)[28]
City National Bank (RBC)Parent RBC targets $700 million to $1 billion of enterprise value from AI by 2027[29]Index 65 (#43); 10 use cases, 5 in productionChad Lloyd to lead RBC U.S. Mortgage from City National (Sep 10, 2026)[30]
CVB FinancialAI flagging of unusual transaction patterns under an AI Governance Council[31]Index 16.8 (#99); 8 use cases, 8 in productionQ2 2026 10-Q: computer software expense up 39.14% (Aug 7, 2026)[32]
First HawaiianZest AI credit-card underwriting: automated decisions from 4% to 55% (vendor-reported)[33]Index 47.2 (#62); 16 use cases, 12 in productionTriCo Integration Management Office established (Aug 14, 2026)[34]
Bank of HawaiiMicrosoft Copilot for all employees; generative-AI pilots in branches and the contact center[21]Index 37.8 (#77); 15 use cases, 11 in productionSecond-quarter 2026 10-Q: AI risk factor only (Jul 28, 2026)[35]
Live Oak BankCasca AI loan origination, targeting 7 to 10 days from application to funding[36]Index 53.1 (#54); 10 use cases, 6 in productionGlia names Live Oak a Catalyst Awards Pacesetter (Oct 8, 2026)[37]
Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub)Penny AI member-service agent; more than 90% of issued loans automated[38][22]7 use cases, 6 in productionQ2 2026: Penny AI agent and servicing tools reported (Jul 27, 2026)[22][38]
BluevineAI chatbot containing about 80% of inbound inquiries[39]7 use cases, 5 in productionLean Team Economy Report (Oct 7, 2026)[40]
Alternatives

Who should look beyond Bank of Hope, and where?

If you areLook atWhy
Business owners who want a bank that already uses AI in its operationsCVB Financial or East WestHope's board policy limits AI use until vetted, and no AI use is disclosed. CVB Financial says it uses AI to flag unusual transaction patterns under a governance council, and East West's CFO describes everyday AI use across the bank.[41][31][26]
Hawaii customers who want a larger local digital bankBank of Hawaii or First HawaiianHope's 29 Hawaii branches came with Territorial in 2025. Bank of Hawaii reports 350,000+ digital enrollees and 6.4 million monthly logins, and First Hawaiian launched a new app with an in-app chatbot in July 2025.[1][21][42]
Small businesses that want a small SBA loan through a mostly digital processLive Oak Bank (Live Oak Express)Hope offers SBA 7(a), 504 and SBA EZ loans as a nationwide Preferred Lender through branches and loan production offices. Live Oak Express targets loans under $350,000 with AI origination and seven to ten days from application to funding.[1][7][36]
Consumers who want an app-only account with an AI assistantChimeHope is a branch-based commercial bank whose internet banking runs in English and Korean. Chime avoids branches, had 10.4 million active members at June 30, 2026, and offers some members Jade, an in-app AI financial partner.[1][43][44][45]
Borrowers who want a personal loan decided automaticallyHappen Bank (formerly LendingClub)Hope offers personal and home equity loans through its branches. Happen Bank reports that more than 90% of issued loans are automated and that its AI agent Penny resolves 30% more calls than the system it replaced.[1][22][38]
The Korean-American banking market

How does Bank of Hope compare with the other Korean-American banks?

Branch networks as each bank reports them in its 2025 10-K. Hanmi and PCB do not have pages on this site; both describe a market of banks competing for Korean-American and immigrant-owned businesses.

BankBranches (December 31, 2025)WhereHow it describes competition
Bank of Hope74 branches; nine loan production offices; a Seoul representative officeHawaii, California, New York and New Jersey, Washington, Illinois, Texas, Alabama, GeorgiaCommunity, regional and national banks, marketplace finance platforms, credit unions and other non-banks[1]
Hanmi Bank32 full-service branches; five loan production officesCalifornia, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Georgia, WashingtonDirect competitors are community banks focused on Korean-American, Asian-American and immigrant-owned businesses[2]
PCB Bank15 full-service branchesLos Angeles and Orange Counties, New York, New Jersey, Texas, GeorgiaStrong competition among the banks servicing the Korean-American community[3]
Scale against Western rivals

How big is Bank of Hope next to its rivals?

Assets and branches as each bank reports them, with the date.

BankAssetsBranchesAs of
Bank of Hope$18.99 billion45 Bank of Hope and 28 Territorial branches, plus eight from SMBC MANUBANK from October 2026June 30, 2026[16][9][14]
Cathay GeneralAbout $24 billion64December 31, 2025[4]
East West$84.8 billionNot stated in the cited recordJune 30, 2026[5]
City National (RBC)$100.10 billion71July 31, 2026; June 2026[15][46]
First Hawaiian (with TriCo)$34 billion combined113 combinedAnnounced July 2026[6]
Common questions

Who are Bank of Hope's biggest competitors?

Among Korean-American banks, Hanmi and PCB, whose 10-Ks describe competition among banks serving the Korean-American community. Among larger Los Angeles banks, Cathay, East West, Banc of California and City National. In Hawaii, First Hawaiian and Bank of Hawaii. Hope's 10-K also names marketplace finance platforms, credit unions and brokers.[2][3][4][5][6][1]

Is Hanmi a competitor of Bank of Hope?

Yes, most directly. Hanmi's 2025 10-K says its primary market is the Korean-American and multi-ethnic communities across nine states and that its direct competitors are community banks focused on Korean-American, Asian-American and immigrant-owned businesses. Hanmi runs 32 branches; Hope runs 74, in many of the same states.[2][1]

Who competes with Bank of Hope in Hawaii?

First Hawaiian and Bank of Hawaii. Hope entered Hawaii by buying Honolulu's Territorial Bancorp for $78.6 million in April 2025 and had 29 Hawaii branches at year-end. Bank of Hawaii has 1,729 staff in Hawaii and 350,000+ digital enrollees; First Hawaiian reports Zest AI underwriting and is buying California's TriCo.[19][1][20][21][33][6]

What are alternatives to Bank of Hope for SBA loans?

Live Oak Bank, which makes SBA 7(a) loans under $350,000 through its AI-originated Live Oak Express, and Hanmi, another SBA lender serving immigrant-owned businesses. Hope is an SBA Preferred Lender nationwide and offers SBA 7(a), 504 and SBA EZ loans up to $500,000 on a credit scoring program.[7][2][1]

Is LendingClub a competitor of Bank of Hope?

By category, yes: Hope's 10-K names marketplace finance platforms among its competitors, and LendingClub grew as one before becoming Happen Bank in June 2026. Happen reported $3.1 billion of originations and $10.8 billion of deposits in Q2 2026, with more than 90% of issued loans automated. Neither names the other.[1][8][22]

Is Cathay a competitor of Bank of Hope?

Yes, in Los Angeles and in multi-ethnic business banking more widely. Both are headquartered in Los Angeles; Cathay ran 64 branches with about $24 billion of assets at year-end 2025, against Hope's 74 branches and $18.99 billion. Neither has put an AI product on the record: Cathay scores 2.6 on this site's index and Hope 2.1.[10][4][1][16]

Is First Hawaiian moving into Bank of Hope's markets?

In both directions. Hope entered Hawaii by buying Territorial in April 2025 and now runs 29 branches there; First Hawaiian announced in July 2026 that it would buy California's TriCo Bancshares for about $2 billion in stock, adding 68 branches and $8.4 billion of deposits and creating a $34 billion bank with 113 branches.[19][1][6]

What did the SMBC MANUBANK deal add to Bank of Hope?

Completed on October 1, 2026, it added eight Los Angeles-area branches, $2.5 billion of loans and $2.7 billion of deposits, and a collaboration agreement that gives Hope a channel to SMBC's Japan-based middle-market and retail customers needing US banking.[14][9]

Peers on this site
Cathay Bank AI strategy →How Cathay General Bancorp compares with its peers →East West AI strategy →How East West Bancorp compares with its peers →Citizens Business Bank AI strategy →How CVB Financial Corp. compares with its peers →Banc of California AI strategy →How Banc of California compares with its peers →First Hawaiian AI strategy →How First Hawaiian, Inc. compares with its peers →Bank of Hawaii AI strategy →How Bank of Hawaii Corporation compares with its peers →City National AI strategy →How City National Bank (RBC) compares with its peers →Mechanics Bank AI strategy →How Mechanics Bancorp compares with its peers →
Competitor pages on this site
Cathay Bank AI strategy →Competitors of that bank →East West AI strategy →Competitors of that bank →Banc of California AI strategy →Competitors of that bank →City National AI strategy →Competitors of that bank →Citizens Business Bank AI strategy →Competitors of that bank →First Hawaiian AI strategy →Competitors of that bank →Bank of Hawaii AI strategy →Competitors of that bank →Live Oak Bank AI strategy →Competitors of that bank →Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub) AI strategy →Bluevine Inc. AI strategy →
Deeper on Bank of Hope
Bank of Hope AI strategy: the full profile →How Hope Bancorp (Bank of Hope) compares with its peers on AI →Bank of Hope AI profile →Bank of Hope vs peers on AI →Cathay General AI profile →First Hawaiian AI profile →LendingClub AI profile →AI disclosure index: the largest US banks ranked →Which banks lead in AI, topic by topic →
Sources
  1. Hope Bancorp, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
    Hope Bancorp (SEC filings) · Feb 25, 2026
  2. Hanmi Financial Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
    Hanmi Financial (SEC filings) · Feb 27, 2026
  3. PCB Bancorp Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
    PCB Bancorp (SEC filings) · Mar 16, 2026
  4. 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report
    Cathay General Bancorp · Jul 1, 2026
  5. East West Bancorp Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026
    East West Bancorp (SEC filings) · Aug 7, 2026
  6. First Hawaiian strikes $2B deal to return to U.S. mainland
    American Banker · Jul 13, 2026
  7. Huntington, Live Oak to invest in, deploy gen AI-based lending
    American Banker · Aug 19, 2025
  8. LendingClub Officially Becomes Happen Bank, Marking a New Chapter for the Digital-First Bank
    Happen, Inc. via PR Newswire · Jun 22, 2026
  9. Bank of Hope Completes Acquisition of the Commercial Banking Unit of SMBC MANUBANK
    Hope Bancorp (Business Wire via FT) · Oct 1, 2026
  10. Cathay General Bancorp Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
    Cathay General Bancorp (SEC filings) · Mar 2, 2026
  11. East West Bancorp Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
    East West Bancorp (SEC filings) · Feb 27, 2026
  12. Banking & Finance Quarterly: Enduring Headwinds (Los Angeles Business Journal interview, reprinted by East West Bank)
    East West Bank · Mar 2, 2026
  13. Banc of California Named One of America's Greatest Workplaces by Newsweek
    Banc of California · Jun 30, 2026
  14. LA bank to buy US commercial banking unit from Japan's SMBC
    American Banker · Apr 1, 2026
  15. City National Bank At-A-Glance Q3 2026
    City National Bank · Sep 22, 2026
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    Hope Bancorp (Business Wire via Yahoo Finance) · Sep 2, 2026
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    CVB Financial Corp. (SEC filings) · Feb 27, 2026
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    Citizens Business Bank · Oct 14, 2026
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    American Banker · Apr 2, 2025
  20. Bank of Hawaii Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
    Bank of Hawaii Corporation (SEC filings) · Feb 24, 2026
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  22. Happen, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results
    Happen, Inc. via PR Newswire · Jul 27, 2026
  23. Valley National Bancorp to Acquire Bluevine Inc., Accelerating its Digital Small Business Growth Strategy and Meaningfully Enhancing its Core Funding Capabilities
    Bluevine · Sep 28, 2026
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    Investing.com · Sep 14, 2026
  27. Banc of California (BANC) Q1 2026 Transcript
    Yahoo Finance (Motley Fool transcript) · Apr 23, 2026
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    SEC EDGAR · Aug 7, 2026
  29. RBC 2025 Annual Report ($700 million to $1 billion incremental enterprise value from AI by 2027)
    RBC · Dec 2, 2025
  30. Chad Lloyd Joins City National Bank to Lead RBC U.S. Mortgage
    City National Bank via PR Newswire · Sep 10, 2026
  31. CVB Financial Corp. Definitive Proxy Statement (DEF 14A) for the 2026 annual meeting
    CVB Financial Corp. (SEC filings) · Apr 7, 2026
  32. CVB Financial Corp. Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2026
    CVB Financial Corp. (SEC filings) · Aug 7, 2026
  33. First Hawaiian Bank says "yes" to AI-automated underwriting (customer success story)
    Zest AI (vendor case study) · Jun 5, 2025
  34. Form 425: email from Robert Harrison to First Hawaiian Bank employees on TriCo integration
    First Hawaiian, Inc. (SEC filings) · Aug 14, 2026
  35. Bank of Hawaii Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026
    Bank of Hawaii Corporation (SEC filings) · Jul 28, 2026
  36. How AI is quickly overhauling one segment of SBA lending
    American Banker · Apr 28, 2026
  37. 4 Banks and Credit Unions Recognized for AI Innovation
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  38. Happen’s Digital Banking Push Helps Deposits Jump 18%
    PYMNTS · Jul 27, 2026
  39. Accelerating Valley's National Digital Banking Franchise: Acquisition of Bluevine Inc. (investor presentation)
    Valley National Bancorp · Sep 28, 2026
  40. Bluevine Study Finds More Than Half of SMBs Use AI to Handle Workload of at Least One Employee
    Bluevine via PR Newswire · Oct 7, 2026
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    Hope Bancorp (SEC filings) · Apr 10, 2026
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    First Hawaiian Bank · Jul 17, 2025
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    Chime via SEC EDGAR · Mar 6, 2026
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    Chime · Aug 5, 2026
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    Chime · Sep 23, 2026
  46. RBC's City National Bank promotes David Cameron to COO
    FinTech Futures · Jun 16, 2026

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