Posted on: Wednesday, February 16, 2005
BUSINESS BRIEFS
S&P bullish on Bank of Hawaii
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Standard & Poor's Ratings Service yesterday affirmed its credit rating for Bank of Hawaii Corp. and its subsidiaries while boosting its outlook for the banking company to positive from stable.
The outlook revisions acknowledge Bank of Hawaii's continued incremental improvements in operating performance after the dramatic turnaround made between 2000 and 2003, S&P analyst Mark Kilduff said.
If Bank of Hawaii meets its commitment to its "Hawaiian-focused strategy and maintaining its targeted leverage ratio," its credit rating could be raised one notch, S&P said.
Business owners returning from active duty can use a free counseling program to help them make the transition back into the business world.
The program is being offered through SCORE's Veteran Entrepreneurs Web site — www.score.org/veteran.html — for veterans, National Guard and reservist soldiers and their families. They can seek online business advice from SCORE volunteer counselors.
Free in-person counseling is also being offered at SCORE's 389 offices, including Honolulu. Call 522-8130 for an appointment or visit www.hawaiiscore.org.
The SCORE Association (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Help offered for returning troops
