The Bank of Hawaii celebrated the opening of its new Hilo branch on Monday morning.
BOH has been in the Hilo community for more than 100 years, and the new branch is now the third “Branch of Tomorrow” on the island.
The branch signifies a new, modern look inside the bank that provides a more welcoming feeling to customers, according to Steven Sylvester, vice president and East Hawaii market manager at Bank of Hawaii.
BOH originally planned to build the new branch at the end of 2020, but COVID-19 postponed those plans.
“We knew we wanted to bring something more modern and efficient to Hilo,” Sylvester said. “The branch brings a different feel, and there have been many customers who have been enjoying the space.”
While the other BOH location in Hilo at KTA Puainako is geared more toward quick transactions, the new branch will focus on one-to-one conversations and longer transactions.
“Day One, the team is super excited, especially for some upgraded technology,” Sylvester said. “The building is more open, but there’s still more privacy in the rooms, which will be used for more conversations with clients.”
The bank is located on the corner of Kinoole Street and Lanikaula Street and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
“We still have the same friendly faces from other branches. It’s the same team, same great service,” Sylvester said. “We’re looking to doing great things for the community here.”