Name: Jean Kondo

Age: 32

Position: Public relations director, American Savings Bank

First job: Cashier at Long's Drugs

Hobbies: Artist, movies

Going beyond bankers' hours

Jean Kondo leads the public relations program at American Savings Bank as the large thrift extends hours and opens on Saturdays at some of its branches.

"We've extended hours until 6 p.m. for 12 branches and are open on Saturdays at four branches," Kondo said. "We want to do this for more branches."

Kondo has been in public relations for six years. She previously had her own company, Jean Kondo Communications, for three years and also worked for McNeil Wilson Communications and Professional Communications.

She is a board member of the Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce and Winners At Work, a nonprofit organization helping mentally and physically challenged persons obtain employment.

Kondo earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications from the University of Hawaii.

American Savings Bank has 47 branches in Hawaii, 850 employees and more than $3.6 billion in assets.

---

By Jerry Tune, Star-Bulletin