Head of Consumer Lending, SBA, & Mortgage Banking
East West Bank
Ken Choi is Head of Consumer Lending, SBA, and Mortgage Banking at East West Bank.
In this role, he leads East West Bank’s consumer lending business including SBA lending and residential mortgage banking with responsibility for strategy, growth, and execution across these businesses.
Ken brings more than 22 years of experience in the financial services industry with leadership experience spanning consumer, small business, and mortgage lending. Prior to joining East West Bank in 2010, he was with KPMG LLP where he advised clients on Financial Risk Management.
Beyond his work in banking, Ken is actively involved in the Los Angeles community. He serves on the Advisory Commission of the Ahmanson Foundation and on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Police Reserve Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles.
Ken holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Boston College.
For many small business owners, their most valuable financial asset may not be their business, but their home. Yet residential mortgage loan products remain an underutilized source of liquidity and working capital for entrepreneurs who need flexible and affordable access to funds. This session explores how banks and credit unions can better serve small business owners by leveraging residential mortgage loans as a capital access strategy. It will illuminate the differences between single family residential loans and HELOCs and when each is the right tool along with the qualification methods that make these products accessible to business owners whose income structures do not fit traditional underwriting models. The discussion will address how residential mortgage loan products compare favorably to conventional small business loan offerings regarding rate, flexibility, and terms and how institutions that connect their mortgage and small business banking teams create a competitive advantage that deepens relationships and drives loyalty.