Territorial seeks to
boost visibility by
underwriting TV show

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By Dave Segal
dsegal@starbulletin.com

Fast-growing Territorial Savings Bank, taking another step toward increasing its exposure, said yesterday it is underwriting its first local television show in at least 13 years.

The privately held company, which on Friday announced a 150 percent jump in first-quarter earnings, will sponsor "Emme's Island Living," a weekly half-hour lifestyle/wellness-themed show hosted by Emme Tomimbang that will debut at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on KGMB. Tomimbang, a longtime television news personality in Hawaii, will focus her show on such topics as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and dyslexia.

"The subject matter is a good match for us because our customer database is mostly age 55 and older," Territorial spokeswoman Denise Takashima said. "We felt our customers could relate to the show."

Allan Kitagawa, chairman and chief executive officer of Territorial, said he was attracted to the TV show because it was for a good cause and it would help circulate Territorial's name.

"We're starting to look at these things because we're getting to the size where we have to do a little more advertising," Kitagawa said.

Kitagawa said he expects Territorial's assets to exceed $1 billion by late 2004 after having jumped 40.8 percent to $821 million in the first quarter from a year ago.

"Eventually, I'd like to see our earnings and assets growing 10 to 15 percent a year," he said. "The bigger you are, the harder it is to grow. And, at some point, our earnings and assets will slow down."

Territorial, which opened its 18th branch in February, is hoping to add branches in Kapolei, Mililani and Kahala this year.

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Territorial Savings