Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group's (TYO:8316) Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) has agreed to sell the commercial banking unit of its California arm SMBC Manubank to Bank of Hope, a US regional bank, according to a press release on Wednesday.

SMBC described Bank of Hope as "about two and a half times the size of Manubank."

The move is aimed at enhancing SMBC's capital efficiency and concentrating on corporate and investment banking and global markets businesses in the Americas, the bank said.

SMBC determined that Bank of Hope, which operates around 74 branches across the US, was the most suitable buyer to ensure the long-term continuity of Manubank's commercial banking services.

The digital banking arm Jenius Bank is not included in the sale of its California-based subsidiary and will remain with SMBC.

The transaction is not expected to affect SMBC's consolidated earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026.