Yungman Lee, 63 years old, is a Community Banker with decades of significant public service accomplishments as an Attorney, Bank Regulator, and Public Health Advocate.

Born in Shenzhen, China in 1952, Yungman’s family emigrated first to Hong Kong in 1957, and then to the United States when he was 16 years old. The middle child of three boys, Yungman graduated from James Monroe High School in the Bronx, where his family settled upon arriving in New York. His father was a cook in a Chinese restaurant on Central Avenue in Yonkers. His mother died soon after moving to America.

Moving to Manhattan in the early 1970’s to attend Columbia University, Yungman was active in the anti-war movement, and in civil rights marches taking place on campus, and throughout New York City. Yungman then started working in Chinatown at a Community Food Co-op, and at the Chinatown Health Clinic. What was initially envisioned as a 1-year Clinic position before graduate school became a 3-year Program Director staff position. From a storefront walk-in clinic to a model of providing primary medical care, the Chinatown Health Clinic remains a vital part of Lower Manhattan’s civic infrastructure, now named the Charles Wang Community Health Center. Yungman remained active with this institution, serving as Chairman of its Board of Directors.

Starting in 1978, Yungman attended NYU Law School, graduating in the class of 1981. Yungman then spent three years working at Shearman & Sterling before leaving to establish a Chinatown community law practice with two colleagues. This general practice law firm, Lee Lee & Ling, was open from 1985 to 1991.

In 1991, Yungman Lee was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo to be First Deputy Superintendent of the New York State Banking Department, a position he held until December 1994. His tenure with the Banking Department focused on protecting consumers and taxpayer dollars during industry restructuring following the nationwide Savings & Loan crisis, and in the collapse of commercial real estate mortgages.

In 1995, after serving in the Banking Department, Yungman accepted a position as President and Chief Executive Officer of United Orient Bank, a troubled community bank in need of turnaround. Yungman spent seven years at United Orient Bank, which remains a family owned community bank to this day.

Yungman returned to the practice of law in 2002, working at Herrick Feinstein until 2006. From 2006 to 2008, Yungman served as General Counsel of the Sun Sun Group, a local privately owned development company. In 2008, Yungman became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Bank, the position he holds today. Another financial institution then in need of a turnaround, Global Bank works primarily with small businesses, and is now a stable $140 million community stalwart. Global Bank has lent over $100 million to individuals and businesses in the New York City community over the last five years.

Yungman Lee has been a Board Member of the New York State Bankers Association, two-time past Chairman of the Chinese American Bankers Association, a Trustee of HIP Insurance Company, and a Trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Yungman and his former wife have two adult children.