Q : Can you provide insights into the loan growth trends and the competitive landscape in Hawaii? A : Arnold Martines, CEO, noted that loan growth was muted in the first half of 2025, which was expected due to the operating environment. However, the outlook for the second half is positive, with anticipated low single-digit growth for the full year. David Morimoto, COO, added that while there was a runoff in residential mortgage and HELOC portfolios, the loan pipeline remains robust, with several deals expected to close in the third quarter. Competition in Hawaii remains steady, with no significant changes observed.

The bank anticipates a one-time pretax write-off of $2 million to $2.5 million due to the exit of an operations center building.

Loan portfolio declined slightly, with growth only in construction and consumer loans, while other categories saw declines.

The Hawaii market showed resilience with low unemployment rates and steady growth in the construction and tourism sectors.

Central Pacific Financial Corp ( NYSE:CPF ) was named the Best Bank in Hawaii by Forbes Magazine for the fourth consecutive year.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .

Story Continues

Q: How is Central Pacific Financial Corp managing deposit growth and costs? A: Arnold Martines, CEO, emphasized the team’s focus on maintaining customer relationships and prospecting to balance deposit growth and margin. David Morimoto, COO, highlighted efforts to grow core deposits through relationship building and prospecting, which has shown early success. The company is managing deposit costs effectively, with a favorable shift in deposit mix towards noninterest-bearing deposits.

Q: What is the outlook for operating expenses and areas of investment? A: Dayna Matsumoto, CFO, stated that the company is pleased with its efficiency ratio and is investing in technology, facilities, and personnel to drive efficiency and revenue growth. The near-term guidance for total other operating expenses is between $43.5 million and $44.5 million per quarter, excluding any one-time impacts.

Q: Can you provide details on the credit quality and any concerns in the loan portfolio? A: Ralph Mesick, Chief Risk Officer, reported strong credit performance, with net charge-offs primarily due to a single commercial loan write-off. The increase in criticized loans was attributed to specific circumstances, not systemic issues. The company maintains a strong capital position to absorb potential financial impacts, and no significant concerns were noted in the loan portfolio.

Q: What are the expectations for net interest margin and deposit cost management in light of potential Fed rate cuts? A: Dayna Matsumoto, CFO, indicated that the company expects to successfully lower deposit costs with minimal timing lag following Fed rate cuts. The deposit pricing market remains rational, and the company anticipates maintaining its pricing strategies and discipline. The net interest margin showed improvement, with a focus on managing the balance sheet effectively.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.