Sec Form 4 Filing - TAYLOR JOHN @ HOPE BANCORP INC - 2018-09-01

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person TAYLOR JOHN 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol HOPE BANCORP INC [ HOPE] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 3200 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 1400 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 09/01/2018 (Street) LOS ANGELES, CA90010 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 28,136 I The Taylor Living Trust Common Stock 512 ( 1 ) I The Taylor Living Trust Common Stock (Restricted) 1,068 ( 2 ) I The Taylor Living Trust Common Stock 09/01/2018 M 4,500 A $ 0 13,500 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Restricted Stock Units ( 3 ) 09/01/2018 M 4,500 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) Common Stock 4,500 $ 0 0 D Non-qualified stock option (right to buy) $ 17.18 ( 5 ) 09/01/2026 Common Stock 20,000 20,000 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other TAYLOR JOHN 3200 WILSHIRE BLVD. SUITE 1400 LOS ANGELES, CA90010 X Signatures /s/by Claire Hur as AIF for John Taylor 09/05/2018 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Received in exchange for 728 shares of Wilshire Bancorp, Inc. common stock at the exchange ratio of 0.7034 per share as provided by the Merger Agreement between Wilshire Bancorp, Inc. and BBCN Bancorp, Inc. (now Hope Bancorp, Inc.). ( 2 )Received in exchange for 2,235 shares of Wilshire Bancorp, Inc. common stock (Restricted Stock) in connection with the Merger. 1,068 represents Restricted Stock still outstanding including any accrued dividend to date. These shares will vest according to previously disclosed vesting schedules. ( 3 )Restricted stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis. ( 4 )Total 13,500 restricted stock units were granted on September 1, 2016 pursuant to the BBCN Bancorp, Inc. 2016 Incentive Compensation Plan. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of HOPE Bancorp, Inc. common stock. 1/3 of the award vested immediately on the grant date, with the remaining 2/3 vesting in 2 equal annual installments thereafter. ( 5 )These options were granted on September 1, 2016 pursuant to the BBCN Bancorp, Inc. 2016 Incentive Compensation Plan. 1/3 of the options vested immediately on the grant date, with the remaining 2/3 vesting in two equal annual installments thereafter.

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