- Diluted Earnings Per Common Share of $1.30
- Net Income of $57.4 Million
- Net Interest Margin Increased to 2.74%, a 13 Basis Point Improvement
- Quarterly Cost of Deposits Decreased to 1.26%, a 17 Basis Point Improvement
- Share Repurchases of $15.1 Million
Bank of Hawai‘i Corporation (NYSE: BOH) (the “Company”) today reported diluted earnings per common share of $1.30 for the first quarter of 2026, compared with $1.39 during the linked quarter. Net income for the quarter was $57.4 million, down 5.7% from the linked quarter. The return on average common equity for the first quarter of 2026 was 13.90% compared with 15.03% during the linked quarter.
“Bank of Hawai‘i began the year on firm footing,” said Jim Polk, President and CEO. “This performance underscores the strength and resilience of our franchise. Net interest income and net interest margin continued to improve, supported by disciplined balance sheet management and a stable deposit base. Total loans and leases and average noninterest-bearing deposits increased compared to the prior quarter. Credit quality continues to be strong, and we remain focused on expense management. As I step into this role, we are committed to executing our strategy, supporting our customers and communities, and building on our strong, established foundation.”
Financial Highlights
Net interest income for the first quarter of 2026 was $151.0 million, an increase of 3.9% from the linked quarter. The increase was primarily driven by a 22 basis point decline in our interest‑bearing deposit rates following the FOMC interest rate cuts in late 2025, partially offset by a 4 basis point decline in earning asset yields as floating-rate assets repriced down more than the benefit from fixed-rate assets rolling off and being reinvested at higher rates (fixed asset repricing).
Net interest margin was 2.74% in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 13 basis points from the linked quarter, reflecting the same deposit cost and asset yield dynamics as previously mentioned.
The average yield on total earning assets was 4.03% and the average yield on loans and leases was 4.75% in the first quarter of 2026, down 4 basis points and 6 basis points, respectively, from the linked quarter. As discussed above, the decrease in loan yield from the linked quarter was primarily driven by floating-rate assets repricing to lower current interest rates, partially offset by fixed asset repricing.
The average rate of interest-bearing deposits was 1.72% and the average quarterly rate of total deposits, including noninterest-bearing deposits, was 1.26%, down 22 basis points and 17 basis points, respectively, from the linked quarter. As discussed above, the decreases were primarily due to the repricing down of our interest-bearing deposits following the FOMC interest rate cuts in late 2025. The deposit beta for the downward rate cycle was 36% as of the first quarter of 2026.
Noninterest income was $41.3 million in the first quarter of 2026, a decrease of 6.6% from the linked quarter. Noninterest income in the first quarter of 2026 included a $0.2 million charge related to a Visa Class B share conversion ratio change. Noninterest income in the linked quarter included an $18.1 million gain related to the sale of our merchant services portfolio, a $16.8 million loss on the sale of investments, and a $0.8 million charge related to a Visa Class B share conversion ratio change. Adjusted for these items, noninterest income for the first quarter of 2026 was down 5.1% from the linked quarter. The decrease was primarily due to decreases in other loan fees, which were elevated in the fourth quarter of 2025, as well as lower swap fees and trust and management fees, partially offset by higher BOLI income and annuity and insurance fees.
Noninterest expense was $116.1 million in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 6.0% from the linked quarter. Noninterest expense in the first quarter included $3.5 million in expenses related to the accelerated vesting of restricted stock awards pursuant to the retirement provision of performance-based restricted stock granted in 2024 and 2025 and $0.7 million in separation expenses. Noninterest expense in the linked quarter included a $1.4 million reduction in our FDIC special assessment charge and a $1.1 million donation to the Bank of Hawai‘i Foundation. Adjusted for these items, noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 1.9% from the linked quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher seasonal payroll expenses, net occupancy, equipment expenses, and professional fees, partially offset by lower FDIC insurance and other expenses.
The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2026 was 22.91% compared to 21.50% during the linked quarter. The higher effective tax rate in the current quarter as compared to the linked quarter was primarily due to lower benefits from certain tax advantaged investments and an increase in tax expense from discrete items.
Asset Quality
The Company’s overall asset quality remained strong during the first quarter of 2026. Provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2026 was $1.8 million, down $0.8 million from the linked quarter.
Total non-performing assets were $12.1 million at March 31, 2026, down $2.1 million from December 31, 2025. Non-performing assets as a percentage of total loans and leases and foreclosed real estate were 0.09% at the end of the quarter, a decrease of 1 basis point from the linked quarter.
Net loan and lease charge-offs during the first quarter of 2026 were $1.1 million or 3 basis points annualized of total average loans and leases outstanding. Gross charge-offs of $4.1 million were partially offset by gross recoveries of $3.0 million. Compared to the linked quarter, net loan and lease charge-offs decreased by $3.1 million or 9 basis points annualized on total average loans and leases outstanding.
The allowance for credit losses on loans and leases was $147.0 million at March 31, 2026, an increase of $0.2 million from December 31, 2025. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to total loans and leases outstanding was 1.04% at the end of the quarter, unchanged from December 31, 2025.
Balance Sheet
Total assets were $23.9 billion at March 31, 2026, a decrease of 1.1% from December 31, 2025. The decrease from December 31, 2025 was primarily due to a reduction in cash and cash equivalents, partially offset by increases in available-for-sale securities and loans and leases.
The investment securities portfolio was $7.9 billion at March 31, 2026, an increase of 1.7% from December 31, 2025. The increase was primarily due to the purchases of available-for-sale investment securities, partially offset by the amortization of the portfolio. The investment securities portfolio remains largely comprised of securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises.
Total loans and leases were $14.2 billion at March 31, 2026, an increase of 0.8% from December 31, 2025. Total commercial loans were $6.2 billion at March 31, 2026, an increase of 2.0% from December 31, 2025. The increase was primarily due to commercial mortgage production. Total consumer loans were $8.0 billion at March 31, 2026, a decrease of 0.1% from December 31, 2025. The decrease was primarily due to amortization and paydowns, partially offset by increased production in the residential mortgage portfolio.
Total deposits were $21.0 billion at March 31, 2026, a decrease of 1.1% from December 31, 2025. Noninterest-bearing deposits made up 27.0% of total deposit balances at March 31, 2026, down from 27.2% at December 31, 2025. Average total deposits were $20.9 billion for the first quarter of 2026, down 0.3% from December 31, 2025.
Capital and Dividends
The Company’s capital levels remain well above regulatory well-capitalized minimums.
The Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 14.40% at March 31, 2026 compared with 14.49% at December 31, 2025. The decrease from December 31, 2025 was due to an increase in risk-weighted assets and share repurchases, as discussed below, partially offset by retained earnings growth. The Tier 1 Leverage Ratio was 8.62% at March 31, 2026, compared with 8.57% at December 31, 2025. The increase from December 31, 2025 was due to a decline in average assets and an increase in retained earnings.
The Company repurchased 194.1 thousand shares of common stock at a total cost of $15.1 million under the share repurchase program in the first quarter of 2026. Total remaining buyback authority under the share repurchase program was $105.9 million at March 31, 2026.
The Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.70 per share on the Company’s outstanding common shares. The dividend will be payable on June 12, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 29, 2026.
On April 3, 2026, the Company announced that the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend payment of $10.94 per share, equivalent to $0.2735 per depositary share, of Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, and a quarterly dividend payment of $20.00 per share, equivalent to $0.5000 per depositary share, of Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B. The depositary shares representing the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “BOH.PRA” and “BOH.PRB”, respectively. The dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock will be payable on May 1, 2026 to shareholders of record of the preferred stock as of the close of business on April 16, 2026.
Conference Call Information
The Company will review its first quarter financial results today at 8:00 a.m. Hawai‘i Time (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The live call, including a slide presentation, will be accessible on the investor relations link of Bank of Hawai‘i Corporation’s website, www.boh.com. The webcast can be accessed via the link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI42ddba51d0fa4b6dacb219e80a369fdb. A replay of the conference call will be available for one year beginning at approximately 11:00 a.m. Hawai‘i Time on Monday, April 20, 2026. The replay will be available on the Company’s website, www.boh.com.
Investor Announcements
Investors and others should note that the Company intends to announce financial and other information to the Company’s investors using the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.boh.com, social media channels, press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts, all for purposes of complying with the Company’s disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor these channels, as information is updated, and new information is posted.
