West · HI

Banks in Hawaii

Hawaii has a distinctive, island-based banking market dominated by a handful of local institutions serving individual islands.

How to use this page. Information is compiled from state banking departments, the FDIC and the NCUA. Banking rules and product availability change — always confirm details with the bank itself before acting. This is educational information, not a recommendation of any provider.

ItemDetail
StateHawaii (HI)
CapitalHonolulu
RegionWest
State regulatorHawaii Division of Financial Institutions
Deposit protection250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank (FDIC) or credit union (NCUA)
Identity neededSSN or ITIN, plus government photo ID

Banks based in or prominent in Hawaii

These institutions have a meaningful presence in the state, whether headquartered there or operating a substantial branch network.

First Hawaiian Bank

State presence

A US bank headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the oldest bank in the state, founded in 1858. First Hawaiian operates branches across Hawaii, Guam and Saipan, serving consumers, businesses and government clients, and is majority owned by the French banking group BNP Paribas. It is FDIC insured. Deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank through the FDIC.

Bank of Hawaii

State presence

A US bank headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the largest independent bank based in the state. Bank of Hawaii provides consumer and commercial banking, wealth management and trust services across Hawaii and the western Pacific, including operations in Guam, Saipan and other Pacific island jurisdictions. It is FDIC insured. Deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank through the FDIC.

American Savings Bank

State presence

American Savings Bank is a commercial bank in the United States. Our directory records its head office in Hawaii. It operates as a commercial bank, taking deposits and lending to consumers and businesses. It is supervised by Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions at state level and by the federal banking agencies, and it is FDIC insured. Deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank through the FDIC.

Central Pacific Bank

State presence

Central Pacific Bank is a commercial bank in the United States. Our directory records its head office in Hawaii. It is supervised by Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions at state level and by the federal banking agencies, and it is FDIC insured. Deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank through the FDIC. It operates as a commercial bank, taking deposits and lending to consumers and businesses.

Credit unions in Hawaii

Credit unions are member-owned and not-for-profit, which usually means higher savings rates and lower fees. Membership eligibility varies, so check before applying.

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union

Credit union

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union is a credit union operating in the United States. It is owned by its members rather than by outside shareholders, so earnings are returned to members through rates, fees or dividends. Federally insured credit unions are supervised by the National Credit Union Administration. Member deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per member, per insured credit union through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUA). Our directory indexes it under Hawaii.

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union

Credit union

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union is a credit union operating in the United States. Member deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per member, per insured credit union through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUA). Our directory indexes it under Hawaii. It is owned by its members rather than by outside shareholders, so earnings are returned to members through rates, fees or dividends. Federally insured credit unions are supervised by the National Credit Union Administration.

Available in Hawaii from anywhere

National banks and digital banks operate in every state, so your location does not restrict access to them.

National banks

Chase

National bank

The consumer and commercial banking division of JPMorgan Chase, headquartered in New York City. Chase runs one of the widest branch networks in the country and offers current accounts, savings, credit cards, mortgages and business banking under one brand. It is the largest US bank by assets, holds a national charter supervised by the OCC, and is FDIC insured.

Bank of America

National bank

One of the largest banks in the United States by assets, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The bank covers consumer and small-business banking, mortgage lending, wealth management through Merrill, and corporate and investment banking. It operates a nationwide branch network and one of the largest US mobile banking platforms. It holds a national charter supervised by the OCC and is FDIC insured.

Wells Fargo

National bank

One of the largest US banks by assets, headquartered in San Francisco, California. Wells Fargo is one of the few American banks with a genuinely coast-to-coast branch network, and combines consumer banking, mortgages, auto lending, wealth management and commercial banking. It has operated under regulatory consent orders since 2016. It holds a national charter supervised by the OCC and is FDIC insured.

Citibank

National bank

The consumer banking arm of Citigroup, headquartered in New York City. Unlike the other national banks, Citibank concentrates its US retail branches in a limited number of metropolitan areas, while its parent operates a much broader institutional and cross-border banking franchise. It holds a national bank charter supervised by the OCC and is FDIC insured.

Capital One

National bank

A US bank holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, best known for credit cards and consumer lending. Capital One runs a smaller branch network than the traditional national banks and has built its model around data-driven underwriting and digital servicing. It also operates a sizeable auto lending business. It holds a national bank charter supervised by the OCC and is FDIC insured.

Digital banks

Chime

Digital

A US financial technology company, not a bank. Because Chime is not chartered, protection depends on the partner bank, and that distinction matters when comparing it with a chartered digital bank. Chime is headquartered in San Francisco and provides current accounts and a secured credit-building card through partner institutions — historically The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank — which hold the deposits and provide FDIC insurance.

SoFi

Digital

A US digital financial services company headquartered in San Francisco. SoFi began in student loan refinancing and now offers current accounts, savings, personal loans, investing and brokerage within one app. Its banking subsidiary, SoFi Bank, holds a national bank charter granted in 2022 and is FDIC insured, which lets it take deposits directly rather than routing them through a partner.

Ally Bank

Digital

The online-only banking subsidiary of Ally Financial, headquartered in Sandy, Utah, with its parent based in Detroit. It is best known for competitive high-yield savings accounts and for charging no monthly maintenance fees on its main accounts. Ally Bank holds a US bank charter and is FDIC insured, but runs no branches — deposits and servicing are handled online, by app and by telephone.

Discover

Digital

A US consumer bank headquartered in Greenwood, Delaware, historically best known for its credit card franchise and for pioneering cash-back rewards. Discover Bank is FDIC insured. The business was acquired by Capital One in 2025, so its branding and product line are in the process of being folded into the larger group. It offers online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and personal loans with no branch network.

Varo

Digital

A US digital bank headquartered in San Francisco. It offers a fee-light current account and savings product, with no branch network and no minimum balance requirement. The charter means Varo takes deposits directly rather than relying on a partner bank. Varo Bank received a national bank charter in 2020, becoming the first US consumer fintech to obtain one, and deposits are FDIC insured.

Opening a bank account in Hawaii

The process is similar across the country, but the documents you need are strict. Work through these in order.

  1. 1
    Provide a Hawaii driver licence or state ID.
  2. 2
    Supply your SSN or ITIN.
  3. 3
    Give a Hawaii residential address.
  4. 4
    Apply online or in branch.
  5. 5
    Fund the account.

Hawaii banking rules worth knowing

  • The Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions supervises state-chartered banks.
  • Hawaii has a statutory interest rate ceiling for certain consumer loans.
  • Hawaii enforces a dormant account escheat rule after three years.
  • Hawaii law historically capped interest on some consumer loans more tightly than mainland states.

Other things to keep in mind

  • Inter-island banking can be limited — check which islands your bank serves.
  • National banks have a smaller presence here than in most states.
  • Federally insured by the NCUA up to 250,000 USD per member, separate from FDIC coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Which agency regulates banks in Hawaii?
Hawaii state-chartered banks are supervised by the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions. Banks with a national charter are supervised federally by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency instead, regardless of which state they operate in.
How do I open a bank account in Hawaii?
Provide a Hawaii driver licence or state ID. Supply your SSN or ITIN. Give a Hawaii residential address. Apply online or in branch. Fund the account.
Are my deposits protected if a bank in Hawaii fails?
Yes, up to a limit. Banks in Hawaii that are insured by the FDIC carry 250,000 US dollars of protection per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category. Federally insured credit unions have the same limit through the NCUA. Protection is attached to the institution, not to each account, so two accounts at one bank share a single limit.
Do I need to live in Hawaii to open an account there?
For national and digital banks, no. Those operate in every state and usually only require an SSN or ITIN and a US address. For a regional bank headquartered in Hawaii, residency in the state or a nearby area is often expected and can make in-branch verification simpler.

Sources and verification

The regulatory details on this page come from the bodies that publish them, not from secondary summaries. Each was checked in September 2026.

Banking rules and product availability change. Always confirm details with the institution itself before acting. This page is educational information, not a recommendation of any provider. Last reviewed: September 2026.

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