Hope Bancorp, Inc. (“Hope Bancorp” on a parent-only basis, and the “Company,” “we” or “our” on a consolidated basis with the Bank)Bank of Hope) is a bank holding company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The Company was incorporated in Delaware in the year 2000. Previously known as BBCN Bancorp Inc., the Company changed its name to Hope Bancorp at the time of the merger with Wilshire Bancorp Inc. (“Wilshire”) on July 29, 2016. We offer commercial and retail banking loan and deposit products through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Bank of Hope (formerly BBCN Bank), a California state-chartered bank (the “Bank” or “Bank of Hope”). The Bank of Hope primarily focuses its business in ethnic communities in California, New Jersey and New York City, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Seattle and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas. Our headquarters are located at 3200 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1400, Los Angeles, California 90010, and our telephone number at that address is (213) 639-1700.

Hope Bancorp exists primarily for the purpose of holding the stock of the Bank and other subsidiaries it may acquire or establish. Bank of Hope’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), up to applicable limits.

We file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which include annual reports on Form10-K,Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy and information statements in connection with our stockholdersstockholders’ meetings. The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20549. The SEC maintains a website that contains the reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the website is www.sec.gov. Our website address is www.bankofhope.com. Electronic copies of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and other information and reports we file with the SEC and amendments to those reports, are available free of charge by visiting the Investor Relations section of our website. These reports are generally posted as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with the SEC. None of the information on or hyperlinked from the Company’s website is incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our principal business activities are conducted through the Bank and primarily consist of earning interest on loans and investment securities that are primarily funded by customer deposits and other borrowings. Operating revenues consist of the difference between interest received and interest paid, gains and losses on the sale of financial assets, and fees earned for financial services provided to our customers. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, such as general economic conditions, new legislation and the policies of various governmental and regulatory authorities. Although our business may vary with local and national economic conditions, such variations are not generally seasonal in nature.

Through our current network of 63 branches and eight11 loan production offices, we offer core business banking products for small and medium-sized businesses and individuals. We accept deposits and originate a variety of loans, including commercial business loans, commercial real estate loans, trade finance loans, Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans, auto loans, single-family mortgages, warehouse lines of credit, personal loans, and credit cards. We offer cash management services to our business customers, which include remote deposit capture, lock box, and ACH origination services. We offer comprehensive investment and wealth management services to high-net-worth clients. We also offer a mobile banking application for smartphonessmart devices that extends access to banking services, such as mobile deposits and bill payment, for our customers at all times. In an effort to better meet our customers’ needs, our mini-market branches generally offer hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most of our branches offer 24-hour automated teller machines (“ATMs”). We also offer debit card services with a rewards program to all customers. In addition, most of our branches offer foreign exchanges services, safe deposit boxes, and other customary bank services. Our website at www.bankofhope.com offers internet banking services and applications in both English and Korean.

We provide commercial loans to businesses for various purposes such as for working capital, purchasing inventory, debt refinancing, business acquisitions, and other business related financing needs. Commercial loans are typically classified as (1) short-term loans (or lines of credit) or (2) long-term loans (or term loans to businesses). Short-term loans are often used to finance current assets such as inventory and accounts receivable and typically have terms of one year with interest paid monthly on the outstanding balance andwith the principal balance due at maturity. Long-term loans typically have terms of five to seven years with principal and interest paid monthly. The credit worthiness of our borrowers is determined before a loan is originated and is periodically reviewed to ascertain whether credit quality changes have occurred. Commercial business loans are typically collateralized by the borrower’s business assets and/or real estate. We seek to establish deposit relationships with all of our commercial business loan customers.

We extend loans partially guaranteed by the SBA. We primarily extend SBA loans known as SBA 7(a) loans and SBA 504 loans. SBA 7(a) loans are typically extended for working capital needs, purchase of inventory, purchase of machinery and equipment, debt refinance, business acquisitions, start-up financing, or to purchase or construct owner-occupied commercial property. SBA 7(a) loans are typically term loans with maturities up to 10 years for loans not secured by real estate and up to 25 years for real estate secured loans. SBA loans are fully amortizing with monthly payments of principal and interest. SBA 7(a) loans are typically floating rate loans that are secured by business assets and/or real estate. Depending on the loan amount, each loan is typically guaranteed 75% to 85% by the SBA, with a maximum gross loan amount to any one small business borrower of $5.0 million and a maximum SBA guaranteed amount of $3.75 million.

We are generally able to sell the guaranteed portion of the SBA 7(a) loans in the secondary market at a premium, while earning servicing fee income on the sold portion over the remaining life of the loan. In addition to the interest yield earned on the unguaranteed portion of the SBA 7(a) loans that are not sold, we hope tocan recognize income from gains on sales and from loan servicing on the SBA 7(a) loans that are sold. Although we have historically sold the guaranteed portion of SBA 7(a) loans that we originated, we recently made the decision to retain these loans due to the decline in premiums offered in the secondary market. Therefore, for the time being, we will be retaining these loans and earn interest income on the guaranteed portion of SBA loans as well the unguaranteed portions.

SBA 504 loans are typically extended for the purpose of purchasing owner-occupied commercial real estate or long-term capital equipment. SBA 504 loans are typically extended for up to 20 years or the life of the asset being financed. SBA 504 loans are financed as a participation loan between the Bank and the SBA through a Certified Development Company (“CDC”). Generally, the loans are structured to give the Bank a 50% first deed of trust (“TD”), the CDC a 40% second TD, and the remaining 10% is funded by the borrower. Interest rates for first TD Bank loans are subject to normal bank commercial rates and terms, and the second TD CDC loans are fixed for the life of the loans based on certain indices.

Our consumer loans consist of single-family mortgages, home equity, auto loans, home equity, single-family mortgages, and signaturepersonal loans, with a majority of our consumer loan portfolio currently consisting of single-family mortgages secured by a first deed of trust on single family residences under a variety of loan products including fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages with either 30-year or 15-year terms. Adjustable rate mortgage loans are also offered with flexible initial and periodic adjustments ranging from five to seven years.

The main objective of our investment strategy is to provide a source of on-balance sheet liquidity while providing a means to manage our interest rate risk, and to generate an adequate level of interest income without taking undue risks. Subject to various restrictions, our investment policy permits investment in various types of securities, certificates of deposit (“CDs”), and federal funds sold. Our investment portfolio has consisted of government sponsored agency bonds, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), trust preferred securities, corporate securities, municipal securities, and mutual funds. For a detailed breakdown of our investment portfolio, see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Financial Condition – Investment Security Portfolio.”

Our securities are classified for accounting purposes as available for sale. We do not maintain held-to-maturityheld to maturity or trading investment portfolios. Securities purchased to meet investment-related objectives, such as liquidity management or interest rate risk and which may be sold as necessary to implement management strategies, are designated as available for sale at the time of purchase.

We attract both short-term and long-term deposits from the general public by offering a wide range of deposit products and services. Through our branch network, we provide our banking customers with personal and business checking accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, time deposit accounts, individual retirement accounts, 24-hour ATMs, internet banking and bill-pay, remote deposit capture, lock boxes, and ACH origination services. In addition to our retail and business deposits, we obtain both secured and unsecured wholesale deposits including public deposits such as State of California Treasurer’s time deposits, brokered money market and time deposits, and deposits gathered from outside of the Bank’s normal market area through deposit listing services.

FDIC-insured deposits are our primary source of funds. As part of our asset-liability management, we analyze our retail and wholesale deposit maturities and interest rates to monitor and manage our cost of funds, to the extent feasible in the context of changing market conditions, as well as to promote stability in our supply of funds. For additional information on deposits, see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Financial Condition – Deposits.”

When we have more funds than required for our reserve requirements or short-term liquidity needs, we may sell federal funds to other financial institutions. Conversely, when we have less funds than required, we may borrow funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (the “FHLB”), the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (“the Federal Reserve Bank”), or our correspondent banking relationships. In addition, we may borrow from the FHLB on a longer term basis to provide funding for certain loan or investment securities strategies, as well as asset-liability management strategies.

The FHLB functions in a reserve credit capacity for qualifying financial institutions. As a member, we are required to own capital stock in the FHLB and may apply for advances from the FHLB on an unsecured basis or by utilizing qualifying loans and certain securities as collateral. The FHLB offers a full range of borrowing programs on its advances, with terms ranging from one day to thirty years, at competitive market rates. A prepayment penalty is usually imposed for early repayment of these advances. Information concerning FHLB advances and other borrowings is included in Note 89 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

We may also borrow from the Federal Reserve Bank. The maximum amount that we may borrow from the Federal Reserve Bank’s discount window is up to 95% of the outstanding principal balance of the qualifying loans and the fair value of the securities that we pledge.

We currently have 63 banking offices in areas having high concentrations of Korean Americans,Korean-Americans, of which 35 are located in the Los Angeles, Orange County, Oakland and Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County) areas of California, 10 are located in the New York City metropolitan area and New Jersey, six are in the Chicago metropolitan area, four are in the Seattle metropolitan area, four are in Texas, two are in Virginia, one is in Alabama, and one is in Georgia. We also have eight11 loan production offices located in Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, Denver, Portland, Fremont, Newport Beach, and Laguna Niguel.Southern California and a representative office in Seoul, South Korea. The banking and financial services industry generally, and in our market areas specifically, is highly competitive. The increasingly competitive environment is a result primarily of strong competition among the banks servicing the Korean-American community, changes in regulation,regulations, changes in technology and product delivery systems, and 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. See “Supervision and Regulation.”

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.

Our profitability, like that of most financial institutions, depends, among other things, on interest rate differentials. In general, the difference between the interest expense on interest bearing liabilities, such as deposits, borrowings, and borrowings,debt, and the interest income on our interest earning assets, such as loans we extend to our customers and securities held in our investment portfolio, as well as the level of noninterest bearing deposits, have a significant impact on our profitability. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, such as the economy, inflation, unemployment, consumer spending, and political changes and events. The impact that future changes in domestic and foreign economic and political conditions might have on our performance cannot be predicted.

Our business is also influenced by the monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government and the policies of regulatory agencies, particularly the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”). The FRB implements national monetary policies (with objectives such as curbing inflation or preventing recession) through its open-market operations in U.S. government securities, by adjusting the required level of reserves for depository institutions subject to its reserve requirements, and by varying the targeted federal funds and discount rates applicable to borrowings by depository institutions. The actions of the FRB in these areas influence the growth of bank loans, investments, and deposits and also affect interest rates earned on interest earning assets and paid on interest bearing liabilities. The nature and impact on Hope Bancorp, and the Bank, of future changes in monetary and fiscal policies cannot be predicted.

From time to time, legislation and regulations are enacted or adopted which have the effect of increasing the cost of doing business, limiting, or expanding permissible activities, or affecting the competitive balance between banks and other financial services providers. Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the operations and taxation of banks, bank holding companies, financial holding companies, and other financial institutions and financial services providers are frequently made in the U.S. Congress, in state legislatures, and by various regulatory agencies. These proposals may result in changes in banking statutes and regulations and our operating environment in substantial and unpredictable ways. If enacted, such legislation could increase the cost of doing business, limit permissible activities, or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings associations, credit unions, and other financial institutions. We cannot predict whether any of this potential legislation will be enacted, and if enacted, the effect that it, or any implementing regulations, would have on our financial condition or results of operations. See “Supervision and Regulation.”

The Company is registered withHope Bancorp and the Bank are subject to examination by the FRB as a bank holding companyextensive regulation and is also subject to certain provisions of the California Financial Code as applicable to bank holding companies. As a California state-chartered bank whose accounts are insured by the FDIC, the Bank is subject to regulation, supervision under state and regular examination by the California Department of Business Oversight (the “DBO”) and the FDIC. Such supervision and regulationfederal banking laws. This regulatory framework covers substantially all of the business activities of Hope Bancorp and the Bank, including, among others,Bank. In the exercise of their supervisory and examination authority, the bank regulatory agencies have recently emphasized capital standards, general investment authority, deposit takingplanning and borrowing authority, mergers, establishment of branch offices,stress testing, liquidity management, enterprise risk management, corporate governance, anti-money laundering compliance, information technology adequacy, cybersecurity preparedness, vendor management, and permitted subsidiary investmentsfair lending and activities. In addition, while the Bank is not a member of the FRB, the Bank is subject to certain regulations of the FRB.other consumer compliance obligations. The federal and state regulatory systems are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, customers, the FDIC deposit insurance fund (the “DIF”) and the banking system as a whole, rather than for the protection of shareholders or other investors.

BankHope Bancorp is a registered bank holding companies and their subsidiaries arecompany. As a bank holding company, is subject to significant regulation, supervision and restrictionsregular examination by federal and state laws and regulatory agencies, which may affect the costFRB under the Bank Holding Company Act. Hope Bancorp is also required to file periodic reports of doing business, and may limit permissible activities and expansion or impactits operations with the competitive balance between banksFRB and other non-bank financial services providers.

Require bankBank holding companies are required to meet or exceed increasedmaintain certain levels of capital (See “Capital Adequacy Requirements”);

RequireThe FRB may require a bank holding company to terminate an activity or terminate control of or liquidate or divest certain subsidiaries, affiliates or investments if the FRB believes the activity or the control of the subsidiary or affiliate constitutes a significant risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of any bank subsidiary;subsidiary. Under certain circumstances, the FRB could, for example, prohibit Hope Bancorp from paying dividends or repurchasing is common stock on the basis that doing would be an unsafe or unsound banking practice.

Require the prior approval of senior executive officer or director changes and prohibit golden parachute payments, including changeThe activities in control agreements, or new employment agreements with such payment terms, which are contingent upon termination, if an institution has been deemed to be in “troubled condition”;

The Company is also a bank holding company within the meaning of Section 3700 of the California Financial Code. Therefore, the Bank and any of its subsidiaries are subject to examination by, and may be required to file reports with, the DBO. DBO approvals are also required for certain mergers and acquisitions.

AsThe Bank is a California commercialstate-chartered bank whose depositsdeposit accounts are insured by the FDIC, up to applicable limits. As such, the Bank is subject to regulation, supervision and regular examination by the DBOCalifornia Department of Business Oversight (the “DBO”) and by the FDIC, asFDIC. In addition, while the Bank’s primary federal regulator, and must additionally comply withBank is not a member of the FRB, the Bank is subject to certain applicable regulations of the FRB. Specific federal

Federal and state laws and regulations that are applicable to banks regulate, among other things, the scope of their business, their investments, their reserves against deposits, the timing of the availability of deposited funds, theirlending activities, relating to dividends, investments, loans, the nature and amount of and collateral for certain loans, servicing and foreclosing on loans, borrowings, capital requirements, certain check-clearing activities, dividends, branching, and mergers and acquisitions. California banks are also subject to statutes and regulations including FRB Regulation O and Federal Reserve Act Sections 23A and 23B and Regulation W, which restrict or limit loans or extensions of credit to “insiders”, including officers, directors, and principal shareholders, and loans or extension of credit by banks to affiliates or purchases of assets from affiliates, including parent bank holding companies, except pursuant to certain exceptions and only on terms and conditions at least as favorable to those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated parties. The Dodd-Frank Act expanded definitions and restrictions on transactions with affiliates and insiders under Sections 23A and 23B and also lending limits for derivative transactions, repurchase agreements and securities lending and borrowing transactions.

The federal banking agencies also may require banks and California regulatory structure givesbank holding companies subject to enforcement actions to maintain capital ratios in excess of the minimum ratios otherwise generally required to be deemed well capitalized for bank regulatory agencies extensive discretionpurposes, in connectionwhich case institutions may no longer be deemed to be well capitalized and may therefore be subject to certain restrictions such as on taking brokered deposits.

Accordingly, charge-offs on commercial and commercial real estate loans may be larger on a per loan basis than those incurred with our residential or consumer loan portfolios. In addition, these loans expose a lender to greater credit risk than loans secured by residential real estate. The payment experience on commercial real estate loans that are secured by income producing properties are typically dependent on the successful operation of the related real estate project and thus, may subject us to adverse conditions in the real estate market or to the general economy. The collateral securing these loans typically cannot be liquidated as easily as residential real estate. If we foreclose on these loans, our holding period for the collateral typically is longer than residential properties because there are fewer potential purchasers of the collateral.

Unexpected deterioration in the credit quality of our commercial or commercial real estate loan portfolios would require us to increase our provision for loan losses, which would reduce our profitability and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, with respect to commercial real estate loans, federal and state banking regulators are examining commercial real estate lending activity with heightened scrutiny and may require banks with higher levels of commercial real estate loans to implement more stringent underwriting, internal controls, risk management policies and portfolio stress testing, as well as possibly higher levels of allowances for losses and capital levels as a result of commercial real estate lending growth and exposures. Because a significant portion of our loan portfolio is comprised of commercial real estate loans, the banking regulators may require us to maintain higher levels of capital than we would otherwise be expected to maintain, which could limit our ability to leverage our capital and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

If our allowance estimates are inadequate, we may incur losses, our financial condition may be materially and adversely affected and we may be required to try and raise additional capital to enhance our capital position. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the adequacy of our allowance. These agencies may require us to establish additional allowances based on their judgment of the information available at the time of their examinations. No assurance can be given that we will not sustain loan losses in excess of present or future levels of the allowance for loan losses or that regulatory agencies will not require us to increase our allowance thereby impacting our profitability.

Information pertaining to us and our clients is maintained, and transactions are executed, on the networks and systems of us, our clients and certain of our third party partners, such as our online banking or reporting systems. The secure maintenance and transmission of confidential information, as well as execution of transactions over these systems, are essential to protect us and our clients against fraud and security breaches and to maintain our clients’ confidence. Breaches of information security also may occur, and in infrequent cases have occurred, through intentional or unintentional acts by those having access to our systems or our clients’ or counterparties’ confidential information, including employees. In addition, increases in criminal activity, levels and sophistication, advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries, vulnerabilities in third-party technologies (including browsers and operating systems) or other developments could result in a compromise or breach of the technology, processes and controls that we use to prevent fraudulent transactions and to protect data about us, our clients and underlying transactions, as well as the technology used by our clients to access our systems. Although we have developed, and continue to invest in, systems and processes that are designed to detect and prevent security breaches and cyber-attacks and periodically test our security, our inability to anticipate, or failure to adequately mitigate, breaches of security could result in: losses to us or our clients; our loss of business and/or clients; damage to our reputation; the incurrence of additional expenses; disruption to our business; our inability to grow our online services or other businesses; additional regulatory scrutiny or penalties; or our exposure to civil litigation and possible financial liability - any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

More generally, publicized information concerning security and cyber-related problems could inhibit the use or growth of electronic or web-based applications or solutions as a means of conducting commercial transactions. Such publicity may also cause damage to our reputation as a financial institution. As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

There can be no assurance that such statutes and regulations, any changes thereto or to their interpretation will not adversely affect our business. In particular, these statutes and regulations, and any changes thereto, could subject us to additional costs (including legal and compliance costs), limit the types of financial services and products we may offer and/or increase the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. In addition to governmental supervision and regulation, we are subject to changes in other federal and state laws, including changes in tax laws, which could materially affect us and the banking industry generally. We are subject to the rules, and regulations of, and examination by the FRB, the FDIC and the DBO, and examination by the CFPB. In addition, we are subject to the rules and regulation of the Nasdaq Stock Market and the SEC and are subject to enforcement actions and other punitive actions by these agencies. If we fail to comply with federal and state regulations, the regulators may limit our activities or growth, impose fines on us or in the case of our bank regulators, ultimately require our bank to cease its operations. Bank regulations can hinder our ability to compete with financial services companies that are not regulated in the same manner or are less regulated. Federal and state bank regulatory agencies regulate many aspects of our operations. These areas include:

In addition, bank regulatory authorities have the authority to bring enforcement actions against banks and bank holding companies, including the Bank and Hope Bancorp, for unsafe or unsound practices in the conduct of their businesses or for violations of any law, rule or regulation, any condition imposed in writing by the appropriate bank regulatory agency or any written agreement with the authority. Enforcement actions against us could include a federal conservatorship or receivership for the bank, the issuance of additional orders that could be judicially enforced, the imposition of civil monetary penalties, the issuance of directives to enter into a strategic transaction, whether by merger or otherwise, with a third party, the termination of insurance of deposits, the issuance of removal and prohibition orders against institution-affiliated parties, and the enforcement of such actions through injunctions or restraining orders. In addition, as we have grown beyond $10 billion in assets, we are subject to enhanced CFPB examination as well as required to perform more comprehensive stress-testing on our business and operations.

We generally sellhistorically sold the guaranteed portion of our SBA 7(a) loans in the secondary market, but during the end of 2018, we made the decision to retain most of the SBA 7(a) loans that we originate due to the low premiums being offered in the secondary market. These sales of SBA 7(a) loans have historically resulted in both premium income for us at the time of sale, and created a stream of future servicing income. We may not be able to continue originating these loans or return to selling them in the secondary market. Furthermore, even if we are able to continue originating and return to selling SBA 7(a) loans in the secondary market, we might not continue to realize premiums upon the sale of the guaranteed portion of these loans. When we sell the guaranteed portion of our SBA 7(a) loans, we incur credit risk on the non-guaranteed portion of the loans, and if a customer defaults on the non-guaranteed portion of a loan, we share any loss and recovery related to the loan pro-rata with the SBA. If the SBA establishes that a loss on an SBA guaranteed loan is attributable to significant technical deficiencies in the manner in which the loan was originated, funded or serviced by us, the SBA may seek recovery of the principal loss related to the deficiency from us, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

The issuance of additional common stock, debt, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or that represent the right to receive common stock, or the exercise of such securities, could be substantially dilutive to holders of our common stock. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive or other rights that would entitle them to purchase their pro rata share of any offering of shares of any class or series and, therefore, such sales or offerings could result in dilution of the ownership interests of our stockholders.

Our principal executive offices are located at 3200 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, California 90010. As of December 31, 2017,2018, we operated full-service branches at 56 leased and seven owned facilities, and we operated loan production offices at eight11 leased facilities. Expiration dates of our leases range from 20182019 to 2030. We believe our present facilities are suitable and adequate for our current operating needs.

Our principal business activities are conducted through the Bank and primarily consist of earning interest on loans and investment securities that are primarily funded by customer deposits and other borrowings. Operating revenues consist of the difference between interest received and interest paid, gains and losses on the sale of financial assets, and fees earned for financial services provided to our customers who typicallycustomers. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, such as general economic conditions, new legislation and the policies of various governmental and regulatory authorities. Although our business may vary with local and national economic conditions, such variations are not generally seasonal in nature.

Through our current network of 63 branches and 11 loan production offices, we offer core business banking products for small toand medium-sized businesses in our market areas.and individuals. We accept deposits and originate a variety of loans, including commercial business loans, commercial real estate loans, trade finance loans, Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans, auto loans, single-family mortgages, warehouse lines of credit, personal loans, and credit cards. We offer cash management services to our business customers, which include remote deposit capture, lock box, and ACH origination services. We offer comprehensive investment and wealth management services to high-net-worth clients. We also offer a mobile banking application for smart devices that extends access to banking services, such as mobile deposits and bill payment, for our customers at all times. In an effort to better meet our customers’ needs, our mini-market branches generally offer hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most of our branches offer 24-hour automated teller machines (“ATMs”). We also offer debit card services to all customers. In addition, most of our branches offer foreign exchanges services, safe deposit boxes, and other customary bank services. Our website at www.bankofhope.com offers internet banking services and applications in both English and Korean.

We extend loans partially guaranteed by the SBA. We primarily extend SBA loans known as SBA 7(a) loans and consumerSBA 504 loans. SBA 7(a) loans are typically extended for working capital needs, purchase of inventory, purchase of machinery and equipment, debt refinance, business acquisitions, start-up financing, or to purchase or construct owner-occupied commercial property. SBA 7(a) loans are typically term loans with maturities up to 10 years for loans not secured by real estate and up to 25 years for real estate secured loans. SBA loans are fully amortizing with monthly payments of principal and interest. SBA 7(a) loans are typically floating rate loans that are secured by business assets and/or real estate. Depending on the loan amount, each loan is typically guaranteed 75% to 85% by the SBA, with a maximum gross loan amount to any one small business borrower of $5.0 million and a maximum SBA guaranteed amount of $3.75 million.

Our resultsconsumer loans consist of single-family mortgages, home equity, auto loans, and personal loans, with a majority of our consumer loan portfolio currently consisting of single-family mortgages secured by a first deed of trust on single family residences under a variety of loan products including fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages with either 30-year or 15-year terms. Adjustable rate mortgage loans are affectedalso offered with flexible initial and periodic adjustments ranging from five to seven years.

We attract both short-term and long-term deposits from the general public by economicoffering a wide range of deposit products and services. Through our branch network, we provide our banking customers with personal and business checking accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, time deposit accounts, individual retirement accounts, 24-hour ATMs, internet banking and bill-pay, remote deposit capture, lock boxes, and ACH origination services. In addition to our retail and business deposits, we obtain both secured and unsecured wholesale deposits including public deposits such as State of California Treasurer’s time deposits, brokered money market and time deposits, and deposits gathered from outside of the Bank’s normal market area through deposit listing services.

FDIC-insured deposits are our primary source of funds. As part of our asset-liability management, we analyze our retail and wholesale deposit maturities and interest rates to monitor and manage our cost of funds, to the extent feasible in the context of changing market conditions, as well as to promote stability in our marketssupply of funds. For additional information on deposits, see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Financial Condition – Deposits.”

When we have more funds than required for our reserve requirements or short-term liquidity needs, we may sell federal funds to other financial institutions. Conversely, when we have less funds than required, we may borrow funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (the “FHLB”), the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (“the Federal Reserve Bank”), or our correspondent banking relationships. In addition, we may borrow from the FHLB on a lesser degreelonger term basis to provide funding for certain loan or investment securities strategies, as well as asset-liability management strategies.

The FHLB functions in a reserve credit capacity for qualifying financial institutions. As a member, we are required to own capital stock in the FHLB and may apply for advances from the FHLB on an unsecured basis or by utilizing qualifying loans and certain securities as collateral. The FHLB offers a full range of borrowing programs on its advances, with terms ranging from one day to thirty years, at competitive market rates. A prepayment penalty is usually imposed for early repayment of these advances. Information concerning FHLB advances and other borrowings is included in Note 9 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

We currently have 63 banking offices in areas having high concentrations of Korean-Americans, of which 35 are located in the Los Angeles, Orange County, Oakland and Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County) areas of California, 10 are located in the New York City metropolitan area and New Jersey, six are in the Chicago metropolitan area, four are in the Seattle metropolitan area, four are in Texas, two are in Virginia, one is in Alabama, and one is in Georgia. We also have 11 loan production offices located in Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, Denver, Portland, Fremont, and Southern California and a representative office in Seoul, South Korea. A decline in economicThe banking and business conditionsfinancial services industry generally, and in our market areas orspecifically, is highly competitive. The increasingly competitive environment is a result primarily of strong competition among the banks servicing the Korean-American community, changes in South Korearegulations, changes in technology and product delivery systems, and 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. See “Supervision and Regulation.”

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 material adverse impact on the qualitybroader range of our loan portfolio or the demand for our productsfinancial services than we do.

Our principal business involves earningprofitability, like that of most financial institutions, depends, among other things, on interest on loans and investment securities that are funded by customer deposits and other borrowings. Our operating income and net income are derived primarily fromrate differentials. In general, the difference between interest income received from interest earning assets andthe interest expense paid on interest bearing liabilities, such as deposits, borrowings, and to a lesser extent, from fees received in connection with servicing loandebt, and deposit accounts and income from the sale of SBA loans. Our major expenses are the interest income on our interest earning assets, such as loans we payextend to our customers and securities held in our investment portfolio, as well as the level of noninterest bearing deposits, have a significant impact on deposits and borrowings, provisions for loan losses and general operating expenses, which primarily consist of salaries and employee benefits, occupancy costs, and other operating expenses.our profitability. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, such as changes in the national economy, and in the related monetary policies of the FRB, inflation, unemployment, consumer spending, and political changes and events. We cannot predict theThe impact that these factors and future changes in domestic and foreign economic and political conditions might have on our performance cannot be predicted.

On January 23, 2017, we announced the signing of a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the “U & I Merger Agreement”) with U & I Financial Corporation (“U & I”) pursuant to which U & I would have merged with and into Hope Bancorp with Hope Bancorp as the surviving corporation. As part of the merger, UniBank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of U & I, would have merged with and into the Bank. Subsequently on September 15, 2017, we announced the termination of the proposed merger with U & I as regulatory approval had not been obtained. The Mutual Termination Agreement provides, among other things, that each party will bear its own costs and expenses in connection with the terminated transaction, without penalties or termination fees. In connection with the termination, the parties have provided mutual releases to one another relating to the merger transaction.

On July 29, 2016, we completed the merger with Wilshire Bancorp, Inc (“Wilshire”). Through the merger, we acquired Wilshire’s thirty-five full-service branch offices, twenty-two of which were located in California, eight in New York and New Jersey, three in Texas, and one of each in Georgia and Alabama. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Wilshire shareholders had the right to receive 0.7034 of a share of our common stock in exchange for each share of Wilshire common stock they own in a 100% stock-for-stock transaction.

The following is a summary of the more subjective and complex accounting estimates and principles affecting the financial condition and results reported in our financial statements. In each area, we have identified the variables we believe to be the most important in the estimation process. We use the best information available to us to make the estimations necessary to value the related assets and liabilities in each of these areas.

Accounting for the allowance for loan losses involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which has a material impact on the carrying value of net loans. The judgments and assumptions used by management are based on historical data and management’s analysis of other qualitative factors, including the current economic environment as described under “Financial Condition—Allowance for Loan Losses” below.

In accordance with ASC 310-30, PCI loans were aggregated into pools based on individually evaluated common risk characteristics and expected cash flows were estimated on a pool basis. Each pool is accounted for as a single asset with a single interest rate, cumulative loss rate and cash flow expectation. A loan will be removed from a pool of loans at its carrying value only if the loan is sold or foreclosed, assets are received in satisfaction of the loan or the loan is written off.

The cash flows expected to be received over the life of the pools were estimated by management with the assistance of a third party valuation specialist. These cash flows were utilized in calculating the carrying values of the pools and underlying loans, book yields, effective interest income and impairment, if any, based on actual and projected events. Default rates, loss severity and prepayment speeds assumptions are periodically reassessed and updated within the accounting model to update the expectation of future cash flows. The excess of the cash expected to be collected over the pool’s carrying value is considered to be the accretable yield and is recognized as interest income over the estimated life of the loan pool using the effective interest yield method. The accretable yield will change due to changes in the timing and amounts of expected cash flows. Changes in the accretable yield are disclosed quarterly.

The excess of the contractual balances due over the cash flows expected to be collected is considered to be nonaccretable difference. The nonaccretable difference represents our estimate of the credit losses expected to occur and was considered in determining the fair value of the loans as of their acquisition date. Subsequent to their acquisition date, any increases in expected cash flows over those expected at the acquisition date in excess of fair value are adjusted through the accretable difference on a prospective basis. Any subsequent decreases in expected cash flows over those expected at their acquisition date are recognized by recording a provision for loan losses.

PCI loans that met the criteria for nonaccrual of interest prior to the acquisition are considered performing upon acquisition, regardless of whether the customer is contractually delinquent, if we can reasonably estimate the timing and amount of the expected cash flows on such loans and if we expect to collect the new carrying value of the loans in full. As such, we no longer consider the loan to be nonaccrual or nonperforming and accrue interest on these loans, including the impact of any accretable discount. We have determined that we can reasonably estimate future cash flows on any such acquired loans that are past due 90 days or more and on which we are accruing interest and we expect to fully collect the carrying value of the loans.

Goodwill may also be tested for impairment on an interim basis if circumstances change or an event occurs between annual tests that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying amount. Significant judgment is applied when goodwill is assessed for impairment. This judgment includes developing cash flow projections, selecting appropriate discount rates, identifying relevant market comparables, incorporating general economic and market conditions and selecting an appropriate control premium. The selection and weighting of the various fair value techniques may result in a higher or lower fair value. Judgment is applied in determining the weighting that is most representative of fair value.

The provision for income taxes is based on income reported for financial statement purposes, and differs from the amount of taxes currently payable, since certain income and expense items are reported for financial statement purposes in different periods than those for tax reporting purposes. Taxes are discussed in more detail in Note 1011 to our Consolidated Financial Statements presented elsewhere in this Report. Accrued taxes represent the net estimated amount due or to be received from taxing authorities. In estimating accrued taxes, we assess the relative merits and risks of the appropriate tax treatment of transactions taking into account statutory, judicial, and regulatory guidance in the context of our tax position. We account for income taxes using the asset and liability approach, the objective of which is to establish deferred tax assets and liabilities for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such amounts are realized or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management evaluates both positive and negative evidence, including the existence of any cumulative losses in the current year and the prior two years, the amount of taxes paid in available carry-back years, the forecasts of future income and taxable income, applicable tax planning strategies, and assessments of current and future economic and business conditions. This analysis is updated quarterly and adjusted as necessary.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”). Among other changes, the Tax Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. We have calculated our best estimatereasonably estimated the effects of the impact of theTax Act in our year endand recorded a provisional amount increasing income tax provisionexpense by $25.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 in accordance with our understandingSEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”). This amount is comprised of the re-measurement of federal net deferred tax assets and impairment of the low-income housing investment, resulting from the permanent reduction in the U.S. statutory corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%. As required by SAB 118, we continued to reassess and refine the effects of the Tax Act and guidance available and ason its deferred tax amounts during 2018. As a result, havewe recorded $25.42 million as additionalan income tax expense inof $442 thousand during the fourth quarteryear ended December 31, 2018. As of 2017,December 31, 2018, we have completed the period in whichaccounting for the legislation was enacted.income tax effects of the Tax Act. See Note 1011 to the consolidated financial statements for further details.

Our most significant source of income is net interest income, which is the difference between our interest income and our interest expense. Generally, interest income is generated from the loans we extend to our customers and from investments, and interest expense is generated from interest bearing deposits our customers have with us and from borrowings that we may have, such as FHLB advances, federal funds purchased, convertible notes, and subordinated debentures. Our ability to generate profitable levels of net interest income is largely dependent on our ability to manage the levels of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, and the rates received or paid on them, as well as our ability to maintain sound asset quality and appropriate levels of capital and liquidity. As mentioned above, interest income and interest expense may fluctuate based on factors beyond our control, such as economic or political conditions.

We attempt to minimize the effect of interest rate fluctuations on net interest margin by monitoring our interest sensitive assets and our interest sensitive liabilities. Net interest income can be affected by a change in the composition of assets and liabilities, such as replacing higher yielding loans with a like amount of lower yielding investment securities. Changes in the level of nonaccrual loans and changes in volume and interest rates can also affect net interest income. Volume changes are caused by differences in the level of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities. Interest rate changes result from differences in yields earned on assets and rates paid on liabilities.

The other source of our income is noninterest income, including service charges and fees on deposit accounts, loan servicing fees, fees from trade finance activities, net gains on sale of loans that were held for sale and investment securities available for sale, and other income and fees. Our noninterest income can be reduced by charges for other than temporary impairment on investment securities.

In addition to interest expense, our income is impacted by provisions for loan losses and noninterest expense, primarily salaries and benefits and occupancy expense. The following table presents our condensed consolidated statements of income and the increases year over year.