HANMI FINANCIAL CORP

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant☑

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant☐

Check the appropriate box:

HANMI FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

Not Applicable

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Notice of

Annual Meeting

and Proxy

Statement

A MESSAGE TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS

Dear Fellow Stockholders,

Thank you for your continued investment in Hanmi Financial Corporation. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the management team, we are pleased to invite you to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be held virtually on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 10:30 a.m., Pacific Time.

Consistent Performance Through Strong Execution

Hanmi Bank continues to grow by staying true to a relationship-based banking model that puts our customers first. That consistency has helped us establish ourselves as a trusted financial partner to customers across nine states from coast to coast in the U.S. This deeply ingrained tenet continued to shape our performance in 2025 as we advanced our strategy amid changing market conditions.

2025 was another year of evolving macroeconomic conditions that, at times, created varying degrees of uncertainty. Yet our teams remained focused on the factors within our control and on helping our customers navigate the dynamic environment and its impact on their lives and their businesses. As a result, we delivered another year of strong performance for our stakeholders. We executed well on our strategic priorities, strengthened our balance sheet, and advanced key initiatives that position Hanmi for continued growth.

2025 Performance Highlights

Our performance in 2025 reflected steady progress across our core financial and strategic priorities. For the year, we generated a total stockholder return of 19.6%, while the KBW Nasdaq Regional Bank Index and the S&P Small Cap 600 Commercial Bank Index returned 3.3% and 4.6%, respectively. Key highlights for the full year include:

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Net income of $76.1 million, or $2.51 per diluted share, representing a 22% increase from the prior year.

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Solid loan growth of 5%, or $312 million, driven by strong production across Commercial & Industrial (C&I), Residential, and Small Business Administration (SBA) lending.

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Net interest margin expansion of 37 basis points, reflecting our effective management of funding costs and higher average loan balances.

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Deposit growth of 3.8%, supported by a stable mix of noninterest-bearing deposits, which was approximately 30% of total deposits at year end.

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Excellent asset quality, supported by disciplined underwriting, proactive portfolio management, and strong credit administration.

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Total capital returned to stockholders of $42 million, including $33 million in dividends and $9 million in share repurchases.

Following a year of strong earnings growth and disciplined execution, in January 2026, we increased our quarterly dividend by 4% to $0.28 per share. In addition, we announced the expansion of our existing share repurchase authorization by 1.5 million shares to approximately 2.3 million shares of common stock in the aggregate. These actions reflect the Board’s confidence in Hanmi’s financial strength, outlook and commitment to enhancing stockholder returns.

Advancing Our Strategic Growth Initiatives

In 2025, we made meaningful progress in diversifying our loan portfolio, strengthening existing customer relationships, and expanding our reach into new multi-ethnic communities. Loan production increased 36% for the year, driven by investments we made in our banking teams and our focus on high-quality opportunities.

C&I lending continued to be a strategic priority, with our C&I portfolio expanding 25% year over year. At the same time, we again reduced our commercial real estate exposure as a percentage of total loans, reinforcing our commitment to balanced and disciplined growth.

We further expanded our reach with the opening of our first full-service branch in Georgia. Located in Duluth, less than 30 miles outside of Atlanta, this new branch is well positioned to serve the growing number of multi-ethnic businesses in the area. Georgia remains a key hub for foreign business investment and expansion. In recent years, Korean companies announced over $10 billion in new investments and the creation of more than 12,600 jobs across the state, according to the Office of the Governor. Our Duluth team has enjoyed a strong start in attracting new customers, providing support for local businesses and individuals, and contributing to the economic vitality of this region.

Our Corporate Korea (USKC) initiative translated into measurable growth in both relationships and deposits, reinforcing its strategic importance to the Hanmi franchise. Throughout the year, we added new relationships and expanded existing ones across key industries, including manufacturing, automotive supply, and clean energy. At year end, USKC deposits exceeded $1 billion, reflecting the strength of these relationships and the value of our specialized capabilities. Our Representative Office in Seoul, which marked its first full year of operation, played a meaningful role in allowing us to expand outreach to Korean companies seeking to establish or grow their U.S. presence.

Our Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Our success is made possible by the dedication and expertise of our team members. In 2025, we made additional investments in talent across our organization, particularly within the C&I and SBA banking teams, to support growth and enhance service for our customers. We also continued to invest in technology initiatives to enhance the customer experience, improve efficiency, and support the bank's long-term growth. We remain committed to investing in capabilities that make banking easier, safer, and more efficient for both customers and our teams, while supporting scalable growth across the Hanmi franchise.

Extending Hanmi’s enduring impact in the communities we serve, we have significantly increased both the number of loans made and total investment committed from the prior year. We originated 460 small business and community development loans in 2025 totaling $347 million, an increase of more than 32%. This included $173 million dedicated to affordable housing, community development, and economic growth, a 44% increase over the prior year. In addition, our team members volunteered more than 2,000 hours in community service for the third consecutive year, and Hanmi contributed more than $460,000 in donations, including Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) contributions. In 2025, we also supported our communities with 133 mortgage loans totaling $77 million for low to moderate income households.

Looking Ahead

As we move into 2026, we are focused on fueling this momentum into continued progress across growth, profitability, and stockholder returns. We will continue to pursue disciplined loan and deposit growth, maintain strong asset quality, manage expenses prudently, and support our customers as they pursue their financial dreams. Our relationship-based model, strong capital position, and experienced team will carry us forward into our next chapter of growth.

We look forward to welcoming you to our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Details of the business to be conducted and how to participate are provided in this proxy statement and the accompanying materials. Your vote is important to us. We encourage you to read more about Hanmi’s corporate governance practices and vote promptly to ensure your shares are represented at the meeting.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. We are honored to serve you and look forward to another year of growth and progress together.

HANMI FINANCIAL CORPORATION

900 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1250

Los Angeles, California 90017

(213) 382-2200

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF

STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 27, 2026

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF HANMI FINANCIAL CORPORATION:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Hanmi Financial Corporation (“Hanmi,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) will be held virtually, via live webcast, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 10:30 a.m., Pacific Time, for the following purposes:

To elect eleven (11) directors to serve for terms expiring at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified;

To provide a non-binding advisory vote to approve the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (“Say-on-Pay” vote);

To approve the Hanmi Financial Corporation 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”);

To ratify the appointment of Crowe LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026; and

To consider any other business properly brought before the meeting.

Please note that this year’s meeting will be virtual. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. A live webcast of the Annual Meeting will be available. Registration is required online atwww.proxydocs.com/HAFC. Whether or not you plan to attend virtually, your vote is important and we encourage you to vote promptly by mail, telephone or via the Internet. If you attend the Annual Meeting virtually, you may vote online during the Annual Meeting.

By Order of Our Board of Directors,

John J. Ahn

Chairman of the Board

Los Angeles, California

April 15, 2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 27, 2026: This Proxy Statement and the 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available electronically atwww.hanmi.com by clicking on “Investor Relations” and then “Proxy Materials.”

VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual-only meeting format, via live webcast that will provide stockholders of record and beneficial owners as of the close of business on April 1, 2026, the record date, with the ability to participate in the Annual Meeting, vote their shares electronically at the Annual Meeting via the virtual-only meeting platform, and submit questions.

BENEFITS OF A VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING

The virtual-only meeting format will give stockholders the opportunity to exercise the same rights as if they had attended an in-person meeting while enhancing stockholder access and encouraging participation and communication with our Board of Directors and management.

A virtual-only meeting format facilitates stockholder attendance and participation by enabling all stockholders to participate fully and equally, and without cost, using an Internet-connected device from any location around the world. In addition, the virtual-only meeting format increases our ability to engage with all stockholders, regardless of size, resources or physical location.

ATTENDANCE AT THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING

Only stockholders of record and beneficial owners of shares of our common stock as of the close of business on April 1, 2026, the record date, may attend and participate in the Annual Meeting, including voting and asking questions during the virtual Annual Meeting. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting physically in person.

In order to attend the Annual Meeting, you must register atwww.proxydocs.com/HAFC. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including a unique link that will allow you to access the Annual Meeting and to vote and submit questions during the Annual Meeting.

As part of the registration process, you must enter the control number located on your proxy card, voting instruction form, or Notice of Internet Availability. If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, you will also need to provide the registered name on your account and the name of your broker, bank or other nominee as part of the registration process.

On May 27, 2026, the day of the Annual Meeting, stockholders may begin to log in to the live webcast 15 minutes prior to the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m., Pacific Time.

We will have technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the Annual Meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the live webcast, including any difficulties voting or submitting questions, you may call the technical support number that will be posted in your instructional email.

QUESTIONS AT THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING

Our virtual Annual Meeting will allow stockholders to submit questions before the live webcast, to be addressed during a designated question and answer period at the Annual Meeting. We will answer as many stockholder-submitted questions as time permits, and any questions that we are unable to address during the Annual Meeting will be answered following the meeting, with the exception of any questions that are irrelevant to the purpose of the Annual Meeting or our business, or that contain inappropriate or derogatory references. If we receive substantially similar questions, we will group such questions together and provide a single response to avoid repetition.

PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON.

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