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Bank of Hawaii Corporation
Bank of Hawaii is a regional bank that takes deposits, makes loans, and manages money for people, businesses, and governments across Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.
Bank of Hawaii is the big local bank for a place that is thousands of miles from the mainland United States. It takes in people's savings, lends money for homes and businesses, and manages investments and trusts. It serves ordinary families, local companies, and governments across Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and other Pacific islands.
The core of the business is simple and old-fashioned. The bank pays you a little interest on your deposits, then lends that money out at a higher rate as mortgages, business loans, and other credit. The gap between what it pays savers and what it earns from borrowers is the main engine. It also earns fees from trust services, investment management, and other financial products. What makes Bank of Hawaii unusual is its home turf. It is the oldest and one of the largest banks in Hawaii, with roots going back to 1897. Its main competitor on the islands is First Hawaiian, another local bank, though national players like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America also compete. Being local helps: the bank knows its customers and the island economy in a way mainland giants do not.
The business is steady but tied to island fortunes. Hawaii's economy leans heavily on tourism and the military, so downturns in travel can ripple through loan demand and credit quality. The bank has long paid a solid dividend and bought back shares, returning cash to shareholders rather than chasing fast growth. It is a conservative, community-rooted lender rather than a swashbuckling one.
Saved answer · last researched 15 Nov 2026