First-gen banking
Banks for first-gen households
These are researched profiles for a job — newcomer account, diaspora community bank, or corridor subsidiary — not a ranked list of best banks.
Browse bank profiles
Start with a country facet if you already know U.S. vs Canada, or open a profile directly. First wave prioritizes Asian diaspora banks and newcomer programs.
Bank profile
ProfileEast West Bank
United States
The largest Asian American–owned bank by scale, built as a U.S.–Asia bridge for Chinese American communities and cross-border commercial clients.
Bank profile
ProfileHanmi Bank
United States
The first Korean American bank in the U.S., still oriented to immigrant and multi-ethnic small-business communities in Koreatown and other Asian American MSAs.
Bank profile
ProfileBank of Hope
United States
The largest Korean American bank by franchise scale — a super-regional built from Koreatown predecessors and expanded into a multistate multicultural bank.
Bank profile
ProfileICICI Bank Canada
Canada
A Schedule II Canadian bank with an India-parent brand — strongest when your arrival or ongoing money life still runs through India.
Bank profile
ProfileScotiabank
Canada
A Big Six bank with a packaged StartRight newcomer program — often the practical first Canadian account when you need national branch reach.
Browse by country
Country pages group the same profiles with local criteria. We expand slowly for quality control.
United States
3 profilesStart with the job: new arrival deposit account, immigrant-owned small business, Korean or Chinese American relationship banking, or U.S.–Asia trade and wires. These profiles are researched starting points, not rankings.
Canada
2 profilesCanada’s map mixes Big Six newcomer packages with diaspora subsidiaries that speak India-corridor life. Pick by arrival status, language, and whether you need India wires or a full Canadian credit file.
All planners · Send corridors · Immigrant small-business financing guide
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