[AUSTIN, Texas = TexasN] Woori America Bank (President Tae-Hoon Lee) has officially opened its newest branch in North Austin, marking the bank’s first location in the region and strengthening its footprint in one of the fastest-growing economic corridors in the United States. The expansion comes as Korean corporates, semiconductor suppliers, and small businesses rapidly scale operations across Central Texas.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony and luncheon were held on Feb. 19, bringing together more than 60 regional leaders and business representatives. Attendees included Hyungjin Ryu, Head of Woori Bank’s Global Group; Tae-Hoon Lee, CEO of Woori America Bank; The Austin Korean American Association of Greater Austin President Grace Lee; Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce President Mark Duval; Cedar Park City Councilmember Eric Boyce; and Dave Porter, CEO of the Williamson County Economic Development Partnership, along with executives from Korean and local companies.
“A strong start in the right place”
Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce President Mark Duval praised the bank’s arrival, calling it “an excellent opportunity for the Korean community and Korean-owned companies” and adding that “with the full support of people across the region, Woori America Bank is positioned for success in Central Texas.”
The new branch sits near rapidly expanding Korean residential neighborhoods and within close reach of Samsung’s $40 billion Taylor semiconductor campus and its supplier ecosystem—now one of the largest Korean business clusters in the United States.
A compact but highly capable branch staffed by global financial veterans
Although the Austin location is modest in size, the bank emphasized that it is staffed with a concentrated team of high-level financial professionals, including:
A branch manager with 15+ years of banking experience
Customer service specialists trained in Hong Kong, Korea and the U.S.
A loan officer with 14 years at Standard Chartered Bank Korea
A next-generation banker educated in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin
“This is a high-performance boutique branch built to deliver personalized, community-focused financial solutions,” bank officials said.
Austin becomes Woori’s 27th U.S. branch — a strategic milestone
Established in 1899, Woori Bank entered the U.S. in 1984 and has since grown its national network to 26 branches.
The Austin branch is now the 27th location, expanding the bank’s presence across major Korean American and Asian business corridors nationwide.
Hyungjin Ryu, Head of the Global Group at Woori Bank, described Austin as a “natural expansion target,” noting: “Texas is where the semiconductor supply chain is shifting, Korean corporate investment is accelerating, and the Korean American population is expanding simultaneously. Austin will grow into a key financial hub for Woori America Bank.”
Business lending, multilingual banking, and community partnerships to anchor Austin strategy
Woori America Bank plans to position the Austin branch as a core financial partner for Korean enterprises, local small and mid-sized businesses, and regional professionals. Key focus areas include:
Expansion of commercial & industrial lending
Strengthening SBA and commercial real estate loan programs
Multilingual, community-based retail banking services
Financial education partnerships with local nonprofits and chambers
Growth of digital and remote banking, including online account onboarding
The bank reported that new customer acquisition and deposit inflows have exceeded expectations since the branch’s soft launch, adding that the Austin location is on track to surpass $100 million in deposits in the short term.
“A financial neighbor and long-term community partner”
CEO Tae-Hoon Lee emphasized that Woori America Bank aims to play a broader community role beyond offering basic banking services.“We intend to be more than a financial institution,” Lee said. “Our mission is to grow with this region—as a trusted partner for families, small businesses, and the wider Austin community.”
With Korean business investment expanding across Central Texas, a booming tech and manufacturing ecosystem, and one of the fastest-growing metropolitan populations in the country, Woori America Bank expects its Austin branch to become a cornerstone of its long-term U.S. growth strategy.
Catherine Wahrmund amiangs0210@gmail.com
