Parker Shi and Rakesh Nambiar reveal the community ties influencing EWB ’ s digital journey , the power of consistency , and its dedication to the underserved
All around the globe , billions of people use and access their bank accounts daily without even a second thought . From checking bank balances and transferring money to depositing funds into savings accounts and applying for loans , it ’ s never been easier to take charge of your money – for large swathes of the world ’ s population , anyway . The recent shift to digital banking platforms alongside the creation of fully digital neobanks has only served to enhance accessibility further .
But what about those people living on the fringes of society , whose access is limited to both physical and digital banking ? Well , it ’ s in these spaces that financial institution East West Bank has firmly situated itself .
Founded in 1973 , East West Bank ( EWB ) opened as the first federally chartered savings institution to base its operations on serving the financial needs of the Chinese American community in Los Angeles .
In the years since , EWB has grown along with this market and expanded to become a mainstream commercial bank with over 120 locations across the US and China – cementing it as “ the financial bridge between the East and West .”
Over the intervening decades , the bank has pivoted to expand its remit to include other underserved communities , such as international students in the US and the Filipino diaspora , while also establishing a digital
Parker Shi , Executive Vice President , Chief Operating Officer , East West Bank
200 July 2022