First Hawaiian, American
win lending awards

The Small Business Administration
honors the two isle banks

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Star-Bulletin staff

First Hawaiian Bank and American Savings Bank have been named Lender of the Year in their respective categories by the Hawaii Small Business Administration.

The awards program, which is in its fourth year, honors institutions that make 7(a) guaranteed loans to small businesses to help them start up, expand and diversify. A 7(a) guaranteed loan, which is the SBA's primary lending program, is the most flexible since the loans can be used to finance a wide variety of business purposes. By guaranteeing a loan, the SBA assures the lender that, in the event the borrower does not repay the loan, the government will reimburse the lender for its loss, up to the percentage of the SBA guarantee. The guarantee allows participating banks to extend credit to businesses that might not normally qualify for financing.

First Hawaiian, competing in Category I for banks with total commercial loans of $1 billion or more, won for the third straight year by making 53 loans for more than $7.8 billion.

American Savings, a first-time winner, edged out 2001 champion Central Pacific Bank in the final days of the contest for the Category II award, which is for banks with a total commercial loan portfolio of less than $1 billion. American Savings had 25 loans for $2.5 billion to score 63 points while Central Pacific produced 22 loans for $3.8 billion to earn 61 points.

Banks earn bonus points for making loans to underserved markets, such as women-owned business or minorities, or to businesses looking into starting an export market or expanding export activity.

The SBA also recognized the top lenders of the year on the different islands. Here were the leaders:

>> Oahu: John Dickinson, American Savings Bank Pearlridge, 15 loans, 39 points; Garrett Grace, Central Pacific Bank main, five loans, 17 points; and a tie with both Ray Nakagawa of American Savings Bank main and Lloyd Okazaki of Central Pacific Bank Mapunapuna having six loans, 13 points.

>> Kauai: Jeff Murata, First Hawaiian Bank Lihue, six loans, 14 points; Tom Canute, First Hawaiian Bank Koloa, two loans, four points.

>> Maui: Bard Peterson, First Hawaiian Bank Kahului, three loans, seven points; Kevin Yoshida, First Hawaiian Bank Kahului, two loans, five points.

>> East Hawaii: Roxann Uyetake, Bank of Hawaii Kaikoo, two loans, six points; Calvin Kang, Bank of Hawaii Waiakea, two loans, four points.

>> West Hawaii: Chuck Erskine of First Hawaiian Bank Kamuela and Bonnie Kinzie of Bank of Hawaii Kamuela tied with two loans, five points.