UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________

Form 8-K
_____________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): February 28, 2018  

HANMI FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

(213) 382-2200
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). Emerging growth company [   ]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [   ]

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

          (d) Election of Directors

          On February 28, 2018, Hanmi Financial Corporation (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hanmi Bank (the “Bank”), announced that the Boards of Directors of the Company and Bank had appointed Mr. Scott R. Diehl to the Board of Directors of Company and Bank (the “Boards”), effective February 28, 2018.

          Mr. Diehl is a 34 year veteran of the banking and financial industry, having spent his entire career at Wells Fargo Capital Finance and its predecessor corporation, Foothill Capital Corporation. Mr. Diehl brings extensive experience across a broad range of risk and lending activities. Prior to his retirement in July 2017, Mr. Diehl was a Group Head overseeing the Factoring, Receivable Securitization and Supply Chain Finance lending units. Prior to this role, he was the Head of the Industries Group and oversaw the Lender Finance, Technology Finance, Healthcare Finance and Supply Chain Finance business units. Mr. Diehl also served in various other leadership positions related to asset based lending and commercial finance for Wells Fargo Capital Finance and Foothill Capital Corporation. Mr. Diehl earned his B.A. in History from Brown University.

          Upon his appointment to the Board, Mr. Diehl became entitled to the Company’s customary non-employee director compensation. Mr. Diehl was appointed to the Risk, Compliance and Planning Committee of the Company Board, as well as the Loan and Credit Policy Committee and Asset Liability Committee of the Bank.

          There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Diehl and any other persons pursuant to which he was selected as a director. There are no family relationships between Mr. Diehl and any director, executive officer or any person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer. No information is required to be disclosed with respect to Mr. Diehl pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

          A copy of the Company’s press release announcing Mr. Diehl’s appointment is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and incorporated herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.