Banco Popular Takes English Name To Lure Customers

SANTA ANA (AP) — Banco Popular is changing its name in Southern California to lure more non-Hispanic customers.

Bank Senior Vice President Manuel Chinea says the bank realized its Spanish-language name was an obstacle when it bought a Whittier-based bank in 2004 and lost non-Hispanic customers.

The bank's new name in Southern California will be Popular Community Bank.

Chinea told the Orange County Register that a similar rebranding effort in Illinois helped the bank attract larger accounts from both Hispanic and non-Hispanic customers.

Banco Popular was founded in Puerto Rico in 1893. The bank has 24 branches in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.

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