FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK GUAM BUSINESS ACTIVITY REPORT
UP 7.82 % IN THE FIRST QUARTER

(Hagåtña, Guam, April 18, 2012) – The 2012 first quarter First Hawaiian Bank Business Activity Report (BAR) for Guam showed an increase of 7.82 percent in "same store sales" over the first quarter of 2011, according to Laura Dacanay, First Hawaiian Bank senior vice president and region manager, Guam and CNMI.  This follows fourth quarter growth of 6.73 percent over the year-earlier period. 

"We are very encouraged by the growth in card sales transactions this quarter which is a reflection of growing consumer confidence," stated Dacanay.  "Nine out of the 11 sectors showed positive increases, with five sectors posting double-digit growth compared to first quarter 2011.  Spending at restaurants was the leading sector followed closely by travel activities."

The Guam BAR tracks sales activity in 11 different economic sectors including retail, hotels, home improvement, restaurants, shipping and travel activities, among others.

First Hawaiian is a major card processor of debit and credit sales transactions.  In 2011, the bank processed over $4.1 billion worth of credit and debit card sales transactions in Hawaii, U.S. Mainland, Guam and CNMI, an 8.0 percent increase over 2010.

First Hawaiian Bank (www.fhb.com) with assets of some $15.8 billion, was founded in 1858 and is the leading bank in Guam with the largest share of loans and deposits in the region.  First Hawaiian Bank has over 7,500 merchant locations throughout Hawaii, U.S. Mainland, Guam and CNMI and processes all major U.S. credit cards as well as JCB, China Union Pay and BC Global.