Honoring Lakeside Bank’s Legacy of Support

CASL is deeply grateful for the steadfast support of Lakeside Bank, a valued partner since our founding and a proud CASL Changemaker. From the very beginning, the late Ray Spaeth, Past President of Lakeside Bank, played an instrumental role in shaping CASL’s early growth and success.

In recognition of his extraordinary commitment, Ray received CASL’s Golden Lion Award in 2011. Our late Co-Founder and Past President Bernie Wong once reflected:

“Ray Spaeth had an unyielding commitment to the work and sustainability of CASL. He became involved from the very start, in 1979, offering us a desk and chair when we visited Lakeside Bank! His years of service as a board volunteer, and the support he leveraged from Lakeside Bank, are key factors in CASL’s ability to connect Chinatown families and individuals of all ages with the vital support they need to flourish—physically, economically, mentally, and socially.”

As the longest continually operating bank in Chinatown, serving the community since 1982, Lakeside Bank has long stood beside CASL as an institutional anchor. Their mission extends beyond financial services; Lakeside Bank invests deeply in the neighborhoods they serve through enduring, hands-on partnership.

Among Lakeside’s many champions of the Chinatown community is Stan Bochnowski, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, who has been with the bank since 1985. His leadership and deep understanding of Chinatown’s history and businesses have strengthened countless community organizations, including CASL.

Another lasting connection is through Susanna Fong, Lakeside Bank’s Chinatown Vice President and Market Manager. In a story that beautifully reflects the spirit of collaboration between CASL and Lakeside, Susanna first came to CASL in 1980 as a young job seeker. Bernie Wong referred her to Lakeside Bank, where she began her career at the King Drive branch before eventually moving to the Chinatown location. Today, Susanna continues to serve the community with the same dedication that first connected her to CASL more than four decades ago.

Over the years, Lakeside Bank has helped transform and develop Chinatown alongside CASL, supporting the growth of homes, businesses, and families alike. From providing consumer and commercial banking services to participating in the development of Chinatown Square, Lakeside’s involvement has helped lay the foundation for the neighborhood’s continued prosperity.

CASL’s journey from a small, local organization to a nationally recognized leader in social services has been shaped by partners like Lakeside Bank—whose belief in community investment and long-term partnership mirrors our own.

Together, CASL and Lakeside Bank remain committed to ensuring that Chinatown continues to thrive as a vibrant, inclusive, and connected community for generations to come.