Yman Vien, a Chinese woman from Vietnam, and her family came to this country in 1978 by way of Malaysia as refugees fleeing the communist regime in Vietnam. Ms. Vien earned a business degree in administration from Loyola University while working full time for Jewish Vocational Services, helping Vietnamese refugees find employment in Chicago.

After graduating from Loyola, she went to work for Madison Bank & Trust and two other community banks before joining American Metro as Executive Vice President in 1998. While working full time as a banker, Ms. Vien completed a graduate banking program at the University of Wisconsin. She took over as President and CEO of American Metro in March 2000 and within a year led the bank to post its first profit since being founded in 1997. She was appointed Chairman of the Board in 2001.

Ms. Vien is also one of the original founders of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association. She has been actively involved in the organization since its inception and was Executive Director from 1994-1998. She was elected as the Outstanding Young Woman of America in 1994, was in the top “100 Women Making a Difference” in Today’s Chicago Woman in 1996, and was a recipient of the Athena award in 2000.

In giving back to the community, Ms. Vien is mindful of all those who helped her along the way. She is very proud of her work with the community, which she sees as the return on this country’s investment in her and her family.