TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Two top mortgage bankers have left Bank of Hawaii in recent weeks. Bankoh’s losses
and gainsSenior Vice President for residential loan origination Tom Zimmerman resigned Nov. 5, then took vacation until his last official day on the payroll Nov. 19; he had been with the bank since February 1995.
Nov. 19 was also the last day his boss, Senior Vice President for mortgage banking Gayle Ishima, went to the office. Her employment with the bank ends Nov. 30, by her choice, citing a "parting of the ways with the bank" after seven years.
Both she and Zimmerman say their decisions were individual, and not connected. And both are upbeat about temporarily stepping out of the 9 to 5.
"I certainly feel fortunate to be able to do so," Zimmerman said. As for what he'll do next, "I haven't made any decision."
"This is the first time I've actually had time off around the holidays," Ishima said. "Holidays are the worst" in terms of end-of-year closings.
"It's going to be nice."
Her son, a high-school sophomore, already appreciates her availability to play chauffeur, and she is looking forward to her college freshman daughter's holiday homecoming.
Ishima plans to spend time "doing the stuff at home you can never do," such as cleaning out drawers, and expects to turn her attention toward lining up her next financial services job at the start of the new year.
Meanwhile, back at the Bankoh ranch, Executive Vice President Lori McCarney has assumed "an expanded role to oversee its Mortgage Banking and Consumer Credit divisions," according to a bank statement. McCarney's continuing responsibilities include marketing, communications and Internet channel management.
The bank has also hired former Fannie Mae mortgage banking consultant Jonathan Hepp as senior vice president for the Mortgage Banking Division, where he will be responsible for day-to-day activities, and report to McCarney.
She, a member of the bank's managing committee, will report to Bankoh Retail Group Vice Chairman Dave Thomas.
Clues to the parting of the ways with the bank referenced by Ishima might be evidenced in Bankoh's Retail Strategic Plan which took effect Oct. 1. In a statement, the bank expected it would double the record number of mortgage loans it originated in a single year, which topped $1 billion.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com