CPB: No. 1 In Home Loans

By Blenn A. Fujimoto
Wednesday - January 06, 2010
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By Blenn A. Fujimoto
Vice Chair, Hawaii Market; CEO, Central Pacific Home Loans

Even during these challenging times, Central Pacific Bank (CPB) continues to do what it has done for the past 55 years, support the people and community in Hawaii. Home ownership remains among the most significant boosts to quality of life for families around the world. Hawaii is no different.

Every day the employees of Central Pacific Home Loans (CPHL) work to bring competitively priced loans to our local families and more home ownership to our community. It’s rewarding work, and we are proud of our track record.


 

While many local banks have cut back on mortgage originations, CPHL continues to originate a record number of loans. We are responsible for putting more families in homes than any other local bank. In addition, the bank’s commercial lending has supported dozens of affordable housing and assisted living projects in the community.

This record continues a half-century tradition to support families and small business growth in Hawaii.

Central Pacific staffers Suzie Bass (sitting, center) and daughter Chandler (center, front), Debbie Macaranas (seated behind Suzie Bass) and Wendy Kodama (standing back right) along with daughter Jaycie Kodama (front left) and Jenna Loventhal (right) with a family the bank helped through the Lokahi program

It hasn’t been a smooth journey. Five years ago, CPB booked very few residential mortgages. Mindful of our commitment to ordinary individuals and families, we expanded our Home Loans group, vaulting CPB to the No. 1 mortgage lender in the state.

We still are. In 2008 we originated $1.5 billion in residential mortgages, more than any other lender in Hawaii. And, according to Title Guaranty’s Mortgage Barometer Report, through November of 2009 we have originated $1.9 billion in loans representing more than 4,800 loans for local families.

Drawing on more than a half-century of professional knowledge and dedication to our local communities, CPB now maintains 37 branches and five fully staffed mortgage offices statewide.

We work with each applicant to arrive at the right solution with a hands-on level of service.

Integrity, transparency and a commitment to workable solutions are paramount.


Our first task as mortgage lenders is to listen. We listen to clients’ needs and make sure we understand them completely, then discuss the options and make sure our clients thoroughly understand them.

That said, we strive to make the lending process fast, simple and hassle-free. We’ve eliminated much of the paperwork involved in traditional mortgage applications. Potential homeowners can get much of their information online or if they prefer by phone or fax. A CPHL consultant is always on hand to answer questions.

CPHL executives understand the communities they serve because they are part of them.

We encourage and reward that involvement, from participation in the SBA CommunityExpress Loan Program, Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation and Enterprise Hawaii to talks at local Rotary clubs and Chambers of Commerce to volunteering at Boys and Girls Clubs of Hawaii, Aloha United Way and supporting individual families through Lokahi.

Today CPHL anchors Central Pacific Bank’s long tradition of community based banking-serving the financial needs of Hawaii’s businesses and families at the local level, relying on branch managers to make sound decision based on their understanding of their clients and their communities. Building on CPB’s humble beginnings as Hawaii’s first bank dedicated to the aspirations of ordinary folks, the current management team at CPHL represents more than 100 years of combined mortgage lending experience.

We strive to be the stuff of dreams our founders envisioned.

 

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