Exhibit 99.1

Hanmi Financial Corp. Earned $55.8 Million with a Net Tax Benefit of $47.2 Million as a Result of Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance Reversal in 2Q 12

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 2012--Hanmi Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: HAFC), the holding company for Hanmi Bank (the “Bank”), today reported second quarter net income of $55.8 million, or $1.77 per diluted share. Net income included pretax net income of $8.6 million, a 16% increase from $7.4 million in the first quarter of 2012, and a net tax benefit of $47.2 million resulting from a deferred tax asset (“DTA”) valuation allowance reversal. With multiple consecutive quarters of profitability and continued credit improvement, Hanmi was able to substantially reverse the valuation allowance recorded against its DTA, generating an income tax benefit of $53.1 million in the second quarter, offset by a current tax provision of $5.9 million. The reversal resulted in an increase in tangible book value to $11.02 per share at June 30, 2012, an increase of $1.74 per share, or 18.8%, compared to March 31, 2012. It is expected that an additional DTA valuation allowance reversal will occur in the next two quarters approximating an additional $10.1 million, for a total recognized DTA of approximately $63.2 million by year end. Year-to-date, net income in 2012 totaled $63.1 million, or $2.00 per diluted share. All per share results are adjusted to reflect the 1-for-8 reverse stock split, which became effective on December 19, 2011.

“Hanmi’s return to profitability in the past seven quarters is a direct result of the successful execution of our strategic turnaround plan and led to the reversal of the valuation allowance against our DTA. Our confidence in the sustainability of our future profitability is reflected in the decision,” said Jay S. Yoo, President and Chief Executive Officer. “More importantly, the ongoing improvement in asset quality, expanding net interest margin, improving operating efficiencies and contributions for our SBA loan originations and sales were the real highlights of the second quarter.”

Financial Highlights (at or for the period ended June 30, 2012)

• Hanmi posted its seventh consecutive quarter of profitability.
• The reversal of the DTA valuation allowance contributed $53.1 million, or approximately $1.69 per diluted share, to second quarter net income.
• Net interest margin (“NIM”) was 3.84% in the second quarter of 2012, up from 3.69% in the first quarter of 2012 and 3.65% in the second quarter of 2011, reflecting a 29 basis point improvement in cost of funds from the second quarter of 2011. Effective management of the deposit mix contributed to this improvement in the second quarter of 2012. NIM in the first six months of 2012 improved to 3.77% from 3.66% in the first six months of 2011.
• Hanmi originated $54.0 million of SBA 504 and 7(a) loans and $113.3 million of other commercial loans for the second quarter of 2012. Year to date, SBA loan originations totaled $90.2 million and other commercial loan originations totaled $180.2 million. In addition, $67.4 million of one year adjustable rate single family residential mortgage loans were purchased in the first quarter of 2012.
• Asset quality improved substantially, during the second quarter of 2012, with fewer non-performing assets (“NPAs”), lower levels of delinquent loans, and lower net charge-offs.
  • The ratio of classified assets to the allowance for loan losses (“ALLL”) plus the Bank’s tier 1 capital dropped to 32.20% at June 30, 2012 from 54.00% at March 31, 2012 and 101.28% at June 30, 2011. Classified assets at June 30, 2012 were $143.7 million compared to $230.7 million and $388.7 million at March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively.
  • NPAs declined to $46.2 million, or 1.62% of total assets, at June 30, 2012, from $51.5 million, or 1.86% of total assets, at March 31, 2012, and were down significantly from $145.8 million, or 5.38% of total assets, at June 30, 2011. During the second quarter, $44.3 million in note sales contributed to the reduction in NPAs, but generated a loss on sale of $5.3 million. Year-to-date, note sales totaled $73.0 million and generated a loss on sale of $7.7 million.
  • Delinquent loans, which are 30 to 89 days past due and still accruing, totaled $4.7 million, or 0.24% of gross loans at June 30, 2012, down from $10.5 million, or 0.53% of gross loans at March 31, 2012, and down significantly from $15.6 million, or 0.76% of gross loans, at June 30, 2011.
  • Total net charge-offs during the second quarter of 2012 were $13.4 million, up slightly from $11.3 million in the first quarter of 2012, and down from $16.5 million in the second quarter of 2011.
  • Classified loan inflows totaled $7.5 million for the second quarter of 2012, down significantly from $31.6 million during the first quarter of 2012. Outflows of classified loans totaled $94.3 million during the second quarter of 2012, as compared to $84.5 million in the first quarter of 2012.
• Operating efficiency improved to 61.07% during the second quarter of 2012 from 66.56% in the first quarter of 2012 and from 72.67% during the second quarter of 2011.
• The Bank’s tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio at June 30, 2012 was 14.34%, up from 12.71% at March 31, 2012.
• At the holding company level, the tangible common equity ratio was 12.20% and the tangible book value was $11.02 per share at June 30, 2012.

Capital Management

“The reversal of the DTA valuation allowance had a substantial impact on our tangible common equity ratios and boosted book value per share by $1.69,” said Lonny Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “The improvement in our ratio of classified assets to the ALLL plus the Bank’s tier 1 capital to 32.20% is a critical accomplishment and below the 40% regulatory target for this ratio. We believe we have made substantial progress to improve the financial position of the Bank on the three most important regulatory requirements: strong capital levels, quality core earnings, and improving credit metrics. We are hopeful our regulators will agree with this assessment. All of our capital levels remain well above those required by regulatory standards.” The following table shows the Company’s and Bank’s capital ratios:

Results of Operations

Net interest income, before the provision for credit losses, totaled $25.2 million for the second quarter of 2012, up 2.6% from $24.5 million in the first quarter of 2012 and down 1.2% from $25.5 million in the second quarter of 2011. Interest and dividend income was down 1.1% from the first quarter of 2012 and down 8.1% from the second quarter of 2011, while interest expense fell 16.8% and 32.9% compared to the first quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2011, respectively. In the first six months of 2012, net interest income, before the provision for credit losses, totaled $49.7 million, down 3.6% from $51.6 million in the first six months of 2011.

Average yield on loans was 5.47% for the second quarter and 5.52% for the first six months in 2012. The yield on the investment securities portfolio, which accounted for 15.8% of average earning assets, improved during the second quarter of 2012 to 2.25% from 2.12% for the first quarter of 2012, but down from 2.54% during the second quarter of 2011.

“We booked a $1.4 million gain on the sale of $69.2 million in security investments in the second quarter to recognize some of the premium values on these assets. While loan demand is starting to improve, we will continue to hold and manage a sizeable securities position for the foreseeable future,” said Robinson, “Our goal is to deploy this excess liquidity in high quality loan originations when they are available in the market place.”

With the mix of deposits continuing to improve, the cost of interest-bearing liabilities continues to decline. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities was down 18 basis points to 1.12% in the second quarter of 2012, when compared to the first quarter of 2012, and down 29 basis points from the second quarter of 2011. For the first six months of 2012, the cost of interest bearing liabilities declined 24 basis points to 1.21%.

Hanmi’s net interest margin improved 15 basis points to 3.84% in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the first quarter of 2012, and grew 19 basis points from the second quarter of 2011. Lower cost of deposits at 0.69% in the second quarter of 2012, compared to 0.85% for the first quarter of 2012 contributed to this improvement.

The provision for credit losses was $4.0 million in the second quarter compared to $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2012 and none a year ago. Note sales of $44.3 million contributed to total charge offs of $8.4 million and an additional loss on sale of these loans of $5.3 million in the second quarter of 2012. The total net charge offs for the second quarter of 2012 was $13.4 million, as compared with $11.3 million net charge offs in the first quarter of 2012 and $16.5 million net charge offs in the second quarter of 2011. The allowance for loan losses remains healthy at $71.9 million, or 3.69% of total loans.

Net interest income, after the provision for credit losses, totaled $21.2 million in the second quarter of 2012, compared to $22.5 million in the first quarter of 2012 and $25.5 million in the second quarter of 2011. In the first six months of 2012, net interest income after the provision for credit losses, totaled $43.7 million compared to $51.6 million in the first six months of 2011.

Non-interest income in the second quarter of 2012 was $7.2 million, compared to $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2012 and $6.0 million in the second quarter of 2011. In the first six months of 2012, non-interest income totaled $10.8 million compared to $11.5 million in the first six months of 2011.

“We generated $5.5 million gain on sales of SBA loans, $5.3 million net loss on sales of other loans, and $1.4 million net gain on sales of investment securities in the second quarter of 2012, as opposed to net losses on note sales of $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2012,” said Robinson.

Non-interest expense in the second quarter of 2012 was $19.8 million, compared to $18.7 million in the first quarter of 2012 and $22.9 million in the second quarter of 2011. Salaries and employee benefits increased by $339,000, mainly due to a $202,000 severance payment made in connection with a workforce reduction and a $200,000 additional bonus provision, partially offset by an increase in loan origination cost capitalization. Professional fees increased by $340,000, mainly due to the legal expense increase from an elevated level of problem note sales during the quarter. Advertising and promotion expenses increased by $408,000, mainly due to the 30^th anniversary celebration campaign and the business development efforts for loan production. Other operating expenses decreased by $229,000, mainly due to the $202,000 decrease from the fair value of stock warrant adjustment. For the first six months of 2012, non-interest expense totaled $38.5 million, down from $43.9 million in the first six months of 2011. In the year ago quarter and first half, operating costs were boosted by a $2.2 million expense for unconsummated capital offerings.

Hanmi recorded an income tax benefit of $47.2 million for the second quarter of 2012, largely due to the income tax benefit that resulted from the reversal of the $53.1 million valuation allowance on its DTA. The valuation allowance was established in 2009 resulting from the then-current future earnings prospects and the Bank’s potential inability to realize its DTA in the future. With seven consecutive quarters of profitability, significantly improved asset quality, strengthening capital and improving economic conditions, management has concluded that those assets are more likely than not to be recovered and thus maintaining a valuation allowance for DTA was no longer necessary. In addition to the reversal of the valuation allowance, the Bank recorded a provision for income taxes for the second quarter of 2012 in the amount of $5.9 million. The Bank expects to release an additional DTA valuation allowance reserve of $10.1 million in the third and fourth quarter of 2012. The total DTA benefit recognized will approximate $63.2 million for the year.

Balance Sheet

Total assets were $2.85 billion at June 30, 2012, an increase of 2.7% from $2.77 billion at March 31, 2012, and 5.0% from $2.71 billion at June 30, 2011.

Gross loans, excluding loans held for sale, totaled $1.95 billion at June 30, 2012, down from $1.98 billion at March 31, 2012, and $2.07 billion at June 30, 2011. Loans held for sale declined substantially to $5.1 million from $56.0 million at March 31, 2012 and $44.1 million at June 30, 2011. Average gross loans, net of deferred loan fees, were $2.00 billion for the second quarter of 2012, compared to $1.99 billion in the first quarter of 2012 and $2.14 billion for the second quarter of 2011.

Liquidity remained high with the total average investment portfolio at $417.2 million during the second quarter of 2012, down from $426.4 million during the first quarter of 2012 and from $497.1 million during the second quarter of 2011. Cash and cash equivalents increased to $304.4 million at June 30, 2012, up from $160.2 million at March 31, 2012 and $198.9 million at June 30, 2011.

Average deposits for the second quarter of 2012 were down slightly at $2.31 billion compared to $2.43 billion for the second quarter of 2011. The overall mix of funding continued to improve with time deposits, particularly high-cost promotional accounts, declining and transaction account balances increasing. Core deposits, which are total deposits less time deposits equal to or greater than $100,000, accounted for 71.3% of total deposits, at June 30, 2012, up from 59.8% at June 30, 2011. Demand deposit accounts increased 17.8% to $679.1 million at June 30, 2012 compared to $600.8 million at June 30, 2011. Demand deposit accounts accounted for 28.5% of total deposits at June 30, 2012, up from 25.2% at June 30, 2011. Time deposits equal to or greater than $100,000 were down $194.8 million in the past twelve months, and there were no brokered deposits at June 30, 2012. Total deposits were $2.39 billion at June 30, 2012 compared to $2.40 billion at June 30, 2011.

At June 30, 2012, total stockholders’ equity was $348.5 million, or $11.07 per share. Hanmi had 31.5 million shares outstanding at June 30, 2012, compared to 18.9 million shares outstanding at June 30, 2011, adjusting for stock splits. Tangible common stockholders’ equity was $347.0 million at June 30, 2012, or 12.20% of tangible assets, compared to $196.5 million, or 7.26% of tangible assets at June 30, 2011. Tangible book value per share was $11.02 at June 30, 2012, compared to $9.28 at March 31, 2012, an increase of 18.8%, reflecting the reversal of the DTA valuation allowance in the second quarter of 2012.

Asset Quality

Non-performing loans (“NPL”), excluding loans held for sale, declined to $45.1 million at June 30, 2012, down 10.1% from $50.2 million at March 31, 2012, and down 68.8% from $144.5 million at June 30, 2011. NPLs that were restructured (“TDRs”) and are current on payments, totaled $15.1 million, or 33.4% of NPLs, at June 30, 2012, compared to $14.5 million, or 28.8% of the NPLs, at March 31, 2012, and $52.7 million, or 36.5% of the NPLs at June 30, 2011. In addition, $3.5 million of NPLs were recorded at the lower of cost or fair value as they were classified as held for sale, at June 30, 2012. Out of the NPLs, $9.4 million are guaranteed by the SBA and the State of California. The following table shows NPLs, excluding loans held for sale, by loan category:

“In the second quarter we sold $44.3 million in notes, bringing the total note sales up to $73.0 million for the year,” said J.H. Son, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. “Our strategy of selling loans before they move into foreclosure continues to serve us well and has allowed us to more efficiently reduce non-performing assets over the past few years. Of the $44.3 million of problem loans sold in the quarter, $16.5 million were non-accrual loans. Reflecting the continued improvement in asset quality, classified loans were $142.7 million, or 7.32% of total gross loans, at June 30, 2012, down from $387.4 million, or 18.73% of total gross loans, at June 30, 2011. We are very pleased with our team’s efforts and accomplishments in this area.”

Delinquent loans that are less than 90 days past due and still accruing interest decreased to $4.7 million at June 30, 2012, or 0.24% of gross loans, from $10.5 million, or 0.53% of gross loans, at March 31, 2012. At June 30, 2012, the allowance for loan losses was $71.9 million, or 3.69% of gross loans. At June 30, 2012, Hanmi’s allowance for loan losses was 159.3% of non-performing loans, compared to 161.4% at March 31, 2012. For the second quarter of 2012, net charge-offs were $13.4 million, compared to $11.3 million in the first quarter of 2012 and $16.5 million in the second quarter of 2011.

Conference Call Information

Management will host a conference call today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. ET) to discuss these results. This call will also be broadcast live via the internet. Investment professionals and all current and prospective stockholders are invited to access the live call on July 19 by dialing (480) 629-9645 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time, using access code HANMI. To listen to the call online, either live or archived, visit the Investor Relations page of Hanmi’s website at www.hanmi.com. Shortly after the call concludes, the replay will also be available at (303) 590-3030, using access code 4550848.

On July 25, 2012, Hanmi will host its Annual Shareholders Meeting at 10:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City. Shareholders, customers and employees are welcome to attend.

About Hanmi Financial Corporation

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Hanmi Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanmi Financial Corporation, provides services to the multi-ethnic communities of California, with 27 full-service offices in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Diego counties, and a loan production office in Washington State. Hanmi Bank specializes in commercial, SBA and trade finance lending, and is a recognized community leader. Hanmi Bank’s mission is to provide a full range of quality products and premier services to its customers and to maximize stockholder value. Additional information is available at www.hanmi.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward –looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements about anticipated future operating and financial performance, financial position and liquidity, business strategies, regulatory and competitive outlook, investment and expenditure plans, capital and financing needs and availability, plans and objectives of management for future operations, developments regarding our capital plans and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation and statements of assumption underlying any of the foregoing. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. These factors include the following: failure to maintain adequate levels of capital and liquidity to support our operations; the effect of regulatory orders we have entered into and potential future supervisory action against us or Hanmi Bank; general economic and business conditions internationally, nationally and in those areas in which we operate; volatility and deterioration in the credit and equity markets; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; availability of capital from private and government sources; demographic changes; competition for loans and deposits and failure to attract or retain loans and deposits; fluctuations in interest rates and a decline in the level of our interest rate spread; risks of natural disasters related to our real estate portfolio; risks associated with Small Business Administration loans; failure to attract or retain key employees; changes in governmental regulation, including, but not limited to, any increase in FDIC insurance premiums; ability to receive regulatory approval for Hanmi Bank to declare dividends to Hanmi Financial; ability to recapture DTA; adequacy of our allowance for loan losses; credit quality and the effect of credit quality on our provision for credit losses and allowance for loan losses; changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers and the ability of our borrowers to perform under the terms of their loans and other terms of credit agreements; our ability to control expenses; and changes in securities markets. In addition, we set forth certain risks in our reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including, in Item 1A of our Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2011, our quarterly reports on Form 10Q, and in current and periodic reports that we will file with the SEC hereafter, which could cause actual results to differ from those projected. We undertake no obligation to update such forward-looking statements except as required by law.