ABSTRACT
Ethnic minority banking in southern California has a long history. Japanese immigrants established their own banking institutions in California at the turn of the twentieth century. African Americans, Latino Americans, Chinese Americans, and Korean Americans have all made their mark on the local banking scene. These ethnic banks have become a force in the Los Angeles banking industry. By the end of the century, their branches comprised 20 percent of the total for all banks. Among ethnic banks, the Chinese American sector had become the largest. As of December 1999, 23 Chinese American banks with 122 branches were headquartered in Los Angeles County, compared to eight Korean American banks with 38 branches, three African American banks with 14 branches, and four Latino American banks with ten branches (Dymski et al. 2000). 1
