Bankoh hires former regulator

By Frank Cho
Advertiser Staff Writer

Bank of Hawaii has named former chief federal banking regulator Donna Tanoue as vice chairwoman for financial services.

From May 1998 to July 2001, Tanoue, a Clinton appointee, was chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which oversees and insures nearly 5,700 banks around the country. She joined the Bank of Hawaii as director in October.

Tanoue, 47, replaces vice chairman and Managing Committee member Walter Laskey, 60, who retires March 31.

"When the opportunity to fill the position of vice chair arose, it was clear that Donna's exceptional credentials and distinguished background made her the ideal candidate for the job," said Michael O'Neill, Bank of Hawaii chairman and chief executive officer. "Her knowledge of financial services issues, leadership ability and strong ties to the community complement the strengths that exist within our Managing Committee."

Before becoming FDIC chairwoman, Tanoue was a partner at the law firm Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel in Honolulu, where her practice focused on banking, real estate finance and government affairs.

She also was the former state Commissioner of Financial Institutions, regulating Hawai'i banks.

Laskey joined the bank in 1993 as executive vice president of the Financial Services Group and served as chairman and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Trust Co. He was appointed vice chairman and joined the Managing Committee in April.

With Laskey's departure, Alton Kuioka, vice chairman of commercial banking, is the group's last senior executive to have worked with Lawrence Johnson, the bank's CEO before O'Neill's appointment in November 2000.

Reach Frank Cho at 525-8088 or fcho@honoluluad vertiser.com.