Los Angeles-based Bank of Hope was founded 36 years ago as a small-business lender catering to the city’s large but underserved Korean-American immigrant population. Today, this member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) is the only super-regional Korean-American bank in the United States, with approximately $13.9 billion in assets, 64 full-service branches, eight loan production offices, and a multiethnic population of customers across 11 states. Despite its growth, the bank maintains its identity as a community lender closely connected to its immigrant roots, says Janette Mah, Bank of Hope’s Executive Vice President and Chief Mortgage Banking Officer, and a member of the MPF Advisory Council. “We are large enough to offer diverse products and services, but small enough to know our customers by their first and last names and to welcome them that way,” she explains.

MPF in Focus recently spoke with Mah about how the MPF Program supports Bank of Hope’s goals, and about her recognition as one of HousingWire magazine’s 2017 Women of Influence.

What does Bank of Hope do to serve Korean-American and other immigrant communities?

While the bank has grown into a diversified financial institution, we believe it’s important to maintain strong ties with our communities, because this is where we came from and where we have the greatest competitive advantages. Bank of Hope has grown alongside its core customer base, fostering growth within these communities that have been (and will continue to be) the foundation of our success. In addition to the loans and investments we make, Bank of Hope also supports its communities through corporate philanthropy and partnerships with nonprofit organizations that focus on business development, education, housing, and employment. The more our communities prosper, the more we stand to benefit.

Why did Bank of Hope begin participating in the MPF Program, and how has the program contributed to the bank’s mission?

In 2015, we had the opportunity to participate in the MPF Program as one of the first PFIs at the FHLBank San Francisco. As a minority deposit institution, the opportunity to offer long-term, fixed-rate loans at competitive rates was very attractive.

Part of our mission is to be the premier bank for the target consumers in the communities we serve nationwide. The MPF Program has helped us expand our offerings to provide long-term, fixed-rate products at competitive rates to more of our customers. We’ve also found much value in the ease of conducting business with the MPF Program. Our MPF Program contacts are just a phone call away, and our FHLBank San Francisco partners are always accessible to help us with questions on anything from guidelines to investor reporting. Being able to speak to a person—versus an auto-generated email reply—is priceless.

You were named one of HousingWire magazine’s 2017 Women of Influence. What has this recognition meant to you, and what advice can you give to other women looking to make their mark in community banking and mortgage finance?

I am extremely honored and humbled. This recognition acknowledges my individual contributions, but more importantly, it is an acknowledgment that a minority female is finding success in a male-dominated industry. This validation will hopefully inspire others to pursue their career ambitions. My advice to them is to be prepared to leverage unexpected opportunities: First, establish clear career goals. Second, create a very specific plan to achieve your goals. Third, work harder than your boss expects. If you do these things, you will be well prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.