June 24, 2008

First Hawaiian Bank Announces Acceptance of China Union Pay Debit/Credit
Cards At its Retail Merchants and ATMS Statewide

Honolulu, Hawaii June 24, 2008 -- First Hawaiian Bank, the State's largest credit/debit card processor, announced it has completed a technology upgrade which allows all its retail merchant customers to accept debit/credit card purchase transactions from visitors from China using the China Union Pay card. Additionally, the visitor's China Union Pay cards will be accepted at all 281 FHB ATMs statewide.

“With the recent memorandum of understanding between the China National Tourism Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce which reduces some of the restrictions on leisure travel, we expect to see a growing tourist segment from China,” said Don Horner, First Hawaiian Bank CEO. “The credit and debit card of choice for these visitors is the China Union Pay card which is China's national credit card brand. First Hawaiian Bank is pleased to offer these 1.5 billion cardholders the convenience of access to our Hawaii businesses and our statewide ATM network.”

About First Hawaiian Bank
First Hawaiian Bank with $12.75 billion in assets (www.fhb.com) was founded in 1858 and is Hawaii's oldest and largest bank. It has offices in Hawaii, California, Japan, Guam and Saipan. It is a subsidiary of BancWest Corporation (www.bancwestcorp.com), a financial holding company.

About China Union Pay
Founded in 2002, China Union Pay (CUP) http://en.chinaunionpay.com is a bankcard association established with the consent of the State Council and under the approval of the People's Bank of China.

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