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Introduction The Beginnings Preston Martin F.Chow Chan Cathay Bank
East West Bank Far East National First Public Savings General Bank Trust Savings
Standard Bank Golden Security Eastern International The Continental Bank  

Los Angeles Chinese American
Banking Pioneers


Golden Security Bank (GSB) was founded by seven Chinese Americans, Peter Kwong, Sr., Abel Leung, Wayne Lee, C.H. Hsueh, Gregory Tse, Sophie Wong, and six non-Asian Americans. It opened for business in 1982 as Golden Security Thrift and Loan Association in Los Angeles Chinatown. Its initial market focus was making loans throughout the Greater Los Angeles for a variety of purposes. In 1993, the focus was changed to lending exclusively on commercial and multi-family residential real estate.

The Thrift changed its name to Golden Security Bank and has been profitable since its inception. It has grown to $140 million in assets and continues to meet the financing needs of "under served" markets throughout California. The Bank's mission is to provide exceptional customer service to small and medium sized businesses, real estate investors and communities within the Bank's culturally diverse market.

Gregory Tse immigrated to the United States and has been living in the San Gabriel Valley since 1968. He was a real estate broker and owned his own firm in Monterey Park. He served as Chairman of the Board of Golden Security for two terms and is still on the Board as a director. He and his wife Pearl helped build the new Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library and were honored with the naming of the Gregory and Pearl Tse's Room.

Sophie Wong has been a Director of Golden Security Bank since its inception 1982. She served as the Corporate Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Board. She is the Co-Founder of the National Association of Chinese Bankers in 1987 and was its Vice-President in 1989, and Board of Directors in 1987-1991.