First Hawaiian Bank: Hawaii/Guam

(Honolulu, Hawaii, June 1, 2007) - Melvin W. Y. Mow, a senior vice president in the Credit Administration Division, will become senior vice president, chief credit officer effective June 1, 2007, according to an announcement today by First Hawaiian Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Don Horner. In his new position, Mow will be responsible for maintaining the bank's overall credit quality. He is replacing Linda Fujitani who is retiring on June 1, 2007.

“We are pleased to have someone with Mow's expertise and proven leadership to oversee our Credit Administration Division,” said Horner. “He has 35 years of banking and credit experience, having dedicated his entire professional career to First Hawaiian Bank.”

Mow joined First Hawaiian Bank in 1972 as a management trainee. Over the years, his positions have included branch manager of the Kapiolani Banking Center, business banking officer at Main and Kapiolani Branches, and credit supervisor at Branch Loan Administration. He was named senior vice president in 1992. Mow has worked in the Credit Administration Division since 1999 and was promoted to deputy manager in 2005. He is a graduate of Punahou, the University of Redlands and the Pacific Coast Banking School.

He is active in the local community serving as chairman of the board for Youth For Christ Hawaii and is a board member of HEDCO Local Development Corporation and Central Christian School.

First Hawaiian Bank ($12.3 billion assets) was founded in 1858 and is Hawaii's oldest and largest bank. It has 57 branches in Hawaii, three on Guam and two on Saipan. It is a subsidiary of BancWest Corporation (www.bancwestcorp.com), a financial holding company with assets of $68.7 billion.

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