Hope Bancorp Finalizes Acquisition of SMBC MANUBANK's Commercial Banking Unit

The acquisition delivers an established commercial banking franchise, experienced bankers, and existing client relationships to Bank of Hope. The bank anticipates that this deal will diversify its deposit base and enhance its commercial banking capabilities, particularly in serving the Korean and Japanese business communities.

SMBC MANUBANK is a subsidiary of SMBC Americas Holdings and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

Kevin S. Kim, chairman, president, and CEO of Hope Bancorp, remarked that the deal marks a significant milestone for Bank of Hope's development. He expressed confidence that integrating MANUBANK’s experienced team and client relationships with their broader banking platform will enhance their commercial capabilities.

In addition to the acquisition, a previously announced partnership agreement between Bank of Hope and SMBC is now in effect. This agreement aims to connect Bank of Hope with SMBC customers in the U.S. who require banking services, creating new opportunities for commercial banking relationships.

Bank of Hope will offer financial services to middle-market and retail customers of SMBC based in Japan, addressing their U.S. banking needs. This presents a chance to engage with multinational companies operating between Japan and the United States, capitalizing on SMBC’s international network.

The partnership also bolsters Bank of Hope's existing international services, which include foreign exchange, trade finance, and a representative office in Seoul, South Korea.

Kim highlighted that this collaboration provides a significant avenue to link businesses across different markets, stating that combining SMBC’s global network with Bank of Hope’s banking expertise offers a strong proposal to clients.

Bank of Hope continues to develop a wider regional banking platform aimed at serving multicultural businesses and consumers. As of June 30, 2026, Hope Bancorp reported total assets amounting to $18.99 billion.

The bank offers a wide range of services, including commercial and corporate banking, commercial real estate lending, SBA lending, residential mortgages, consumer lending, treasury management, foreign exchange, derivatives, and international trade finance.

With the addition of the MANUBANK locations, Bank of Hope’s physical network now encompasses 45 full-service branches across California, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Texas, Illinois, Alabama, and Georgia, plus the seven newly acquired California branches. It also operates 28 branches in Hawaii under the Territorial Savings brand.

These new California branches enhance Bank of Hope’s footprint in its core market, and the new commercial relationships provide avenues for growth beyond traditional branch-driven methods. The partnership with SMBC is expected to further facilitate connections with businesses that have cross-border banking needs.

The strategic benefits of the acquisition go beyond simply increasing the number of offices. It enhances the bank's capacity by adding more commercial bankers, deposits, and middle-market clients while also reinforcing its ties with one of Japan’s leading banking groups.

Both Bank of Hope and MANUBANK teams have cooperated on customer transitions, with plans to leverage the strengths and relationships from both entities as the integration progresses. With the acquisition finalized and the SMBC collaboration active, Bank of Hope aims to maximize its expanded commercial banking presence in Los Angeles and pursue additional middle-market opportunities, particularly among companies connected to the U.S. and Asia.