Central Pacific Bank
“Can a Hawaii-focused community bank dominate local SMB lending and deposit relationships while building enough digital infrastructure to compete with national banks?”
Central Pacific Bank is a Hawaii-based regional community bank founded by veterans after World War II. It has grown into a full-service personal, business, and commercial bank with a particular emphasis on small business lending, leading the state in SBA loan volume. The bank has increasingly embedded digital capabilities — including an online SBA lending portal (CPB Business Express), digital bill pay and Zelle integration, and merchant services via an Elavon partnership — reflecting a steady shift toward digital-first banking infrastructure while retaining its local Hawaii community bank positioning.