Cathay Bank

Chinese Americans in Los Angeles faced discrimination by financial institutions and businesses that often denied them loans and other banking services. Founded by prominent businessmen in the L.A. Chinatown community in the 1960s, Cathay Bank is the oldest American bank founded by Chinese Americans and the first to specifically address the needs of the growing Chinese American population. The bank's commitment to equality is reflected in its motto: An Open Door for All. Cathay Bank opened in 1966 and has since expanded with branches throughout the U.S. and the world.

Cathay Bank's headquarters in L.A. Chinatown was designed by Eugene Kinn Choy. A graduate of USC’s School of Architecture, Choy became the second Chinese American to join the American Institute of Architects. Other buildings of Choy’s in Chinatown include the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) at 925 North Broadway and the Jin Hing Jewelry Store at 412 Bamboo Lane. Cathay Bank is a hallmark of Modern design combined with Asian eclectic style features. Choy’s use of the International Style of Modern architecture is augmented by the four Chinese characters running vertically down the front facade of the building, while the roof evokes the classical wood roofing of Chinese structures. Choy specifically incorporated these details to honor the request of Cathay’s founders, who wanted the bank’s design to reflect their cultural heritage.