US Metro Bank (President & CEO Dong Il Kim) has selected 10 small retail businesses in the Los Angeles area to receive a total of $50,000 in grants to boost the local economy.
On June 5, US Metro Bank held a loan education seminar for customers at its Wilshire branch in LA while announcing the “Grow Together” program, through which 10 small retail businesses in the LA area were each awarded $5,000.

The bank partnered with mainstream financial media outlet Fiserv to provide these grants. The event was attended by approximately 40 prominent business leaders from Southern California, including Jung-bong Sung, the president-elect of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles (KACCLA), who gathered to celebrate and support the “Grow Together” program’s mission.

President Kim stated, “Since its founding in 2006, US Metro Bank has grown steadily as a member of the Korean community, with assets now exceeding $1.4 billion over the past 19 years. We hope this support will serve as a stepping stone for the growth of small businesses and the development of the local community.” Neil Wilcox, Executive Vice President of Fiserv, added, “Small businesses are vital to the community, driving creativity and economic opportunities. We are proud to collaborate with US Metro Bank to support small retailers.”

The program aims to foster the growth of small businesses and contribute to community development, according to the bank. Eligible businesses were those located in Los Angeles County, Orange County, or Snohomish, King, and Pierce Counties in Washington State, with 10 or fewer employees and at least two years of operation.
The 10 businesses awarded the $5,000 grants are:

▲ Jang Mo Jip (Garden Grove)
▲ Sura Won Tofu House (Olympic Blvd.)
▲ A-Zen Optometry (Irvine)
▲ Gamjatang (Garden Grove)
▲ Golden JK Cop (Long Beach)
▲ Blessed AJ (Santa Ana)
▲ Ewha Biz (Western Ave.)
▲ Myeongdong Noodle House (Irolo St.)
▲ JH Collision Center (Olympic Blvd.)

President Kim noted, “The primary criterion for selecting businesses was their contribution to the Korean community. For instance, one restaurant has been providing significant benefits to Korean seniors and plans to expand such initiatives, which earned them high marks.” He added, “Moving forward, we plan to hold grant ceremonies for small businesses more frequently and continually expand the scale of support.”
According to the bank, there was an overwhelming response from small business owners in Southern California, with over 50 applying for the grants. A bank representative remarked, “The enthusiasm was evident, with more than 50 business owners inquiring about the grant application.”

During the loan education seminar held on the same day, one-on-one business consulting and counseling sessions were offered. Bank staff provided detailed information on small business loans to help customers make informed financing decisions. President Kim emphasized, “US Metro Bank has established a nationwide SBA network and doubled its SBA team to increase lending to small business owners. Our goal is to become one of the top 20 SBA lenders in the U.S., and we expect to reach this target as early as next year.