First Hawaiian Bank history

We’re consistently ranked in the top tier of all United States banks and have built a solid reputation on friendly, outstanding service and smart solutions, providing a level of financial security that makes it easy to sleep at night. Its principal subsidiary, First Hawaiian Bank, founded in 1858, is Hawaii’s oldest and largest financial institution.

1878 – Bishop & Co. outgrew its little basement room and moved to the first home it could call its own, a two-story bank at the corner of Merchant and Kaahumanu Streets.

1895 – Samuel M. Damon bought Bishop & Co. from founder Charles Bishop.

1910 – Bank opened first branch in Hilo.

1911 – Bank opened first branch on Kauai, at Waimea.

1914 – Samuel Damon retired.

January 2, 1919 – Bank, formerly a partnership, incorporated as Bank of Bishop & Co., Ltd.

February 20, 1920 – Acquired Bank of Honolulu ($1.3 million deposits). Total bank assets, $17.1 million.

1923 – Bank opened branch in Kona.

July 1924 – Samuel Damon died.

November 9, 1925 – New 75,000-square-foot headquarters opened on the prime downtown corner of King and Bishop Streets.

1926 – Mele Williams L'Orange became first female officer (assistant cashier).

January 30, 1929 – Merger announced between Bank of Bishop and First National Bank of Hawaii, First American Savings Bank, Army National Bank of Schofield Barracks, Baldwin Bank (Maui). Name changed to Bishop First National Bank of Honolulu.

1933 – Name changed to Bishop National Bank of Hawaii at Honolulu.

Tourism was off too; Hawaii's visitor count plummeted about 6 percent in both 1992 and 1993, largely as a result of fewer mainland travelers. It was the largest decline since 1949.

1956 – Name changed to Bishop National Bank of Hawaii.

1958 – As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, bank donated $50,000 to Bishop Museum for planetarium construction.

Notable was the entrance in 1960 of heavy-hitter Hawaii National Bank.

1962 —Hawaii's first "skyscraper" built on the same block as Damon building.