Bancorp Hawaii Profits Off 17.9% for Quarter

SAN FRANCISCO - Net income at Bancorp Hawaii, the Aloha State's largest institution, tanked 17.9% from last year's period to $28.2 million, while earnings at First Hawaiian Inc. were $19 million, the same as last year. Zions Bancorp., Salt Lake City, boosted profits a healthy 28.6% to $16 million.

The companies fortunes' were greatly affected by loan growth and management of interest rate spreads. Bancorp Hawaii booked a 5% increase in loans over last year's period to $7.8 billion. But the net interest margin declined 37 basis points to 3.62%.

Net interest income declined 12% to $102 million. Total assets were $12.2 billion.

"Relative to the fourth quarter, there's some real encouraging news," said Carole S. Berger, with Salomon Brothers Inc.

First Hawaiian, with $7.7 billion of assets, booked $5.7 billion in loans and leases, a 13% increase over the year-earlier quarter. Growth in commercial loans was driven by new loans to telecommunications companies. Deposits grew 3% to $5.2 billion, and nonperforming assets fell 21% to $66.4 million.

Zions, with $5.1 billion of assets, suffered a 3% drop in net loans and leases to $2.5 billion. It reported a $1.3 million charge against earnings for closing its New York office, which had purchased government-backed securities that resulted in a $3 million charge.

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