Bankoh preparing to open solar-powered branch on Hawaii island

Bank of Hawaii, which has more branches than any bank in the state, is building a 7,000-square-foot branch with a photovoltaic system which is expected to open in mid-June in the Kona Commons Shopping Center.

It will be the third Bankoh branch — along with Kapolei and Kohala — with a PV system.

The first so-called "banking center" branch for Bankoh on a neighbor island will replace the existing 8,700-square-foot Kona branch at 75-5595 Palani Road. All 27 employees at the existing branch will move to the new location at 74-5453 Makala Blvd., which is about a mile away from the existing branch.

Bankoh spokesman Stafford Kigu­chi said the existing branch had underutilized space and was a former doctors’ office, and the new space was designed specifically to accommodate banking operations and customers’ needs.

Hilo-based Isemoto Contracting is the general contractor.

"We currently have seven of these ‘super’ branches that are located in metropolitan areas, and this is the first one on a neighbor island," said Peter Ho, Bankoh chairman, president and CEO. "Customers have the convenient benefit of meeting with a wide range of financial specialists, including mortgage, brokerage services, small business and wealth management, under one roof right in their neighborhood. We’ve enjoyed great success with this concept and look forward to bringing it to the Kona community."

Bank of Hawaii has 70 branches in the state, including 13 branches inside a retail store such as Safeway. Bank of Hawaii has 11 branches on Hawaii island.

The new Kona branch will offer a full range of consumer and business banking products and services including checking, savings, time deposit products, personal loans, credit card applications and safe deposit boxes along with a 24-hour lanai that includes two ATMs and a night depository for businesses.

Commissioned artwork by Kona artist Mike Field will be prominently displayed.