About Darlene Blakeney
Darlene Blakeney, Executive Vice President of Wholesale Banking Group and Chief Lending Officer at First Hawaiian Bank, described the bank's approach to commercial lending in a May 2025 employee spotlight. She stated that the wholesale banking team is "differentiated" by having "hands down the most experienced banking team in the state," and that the bank operates under a "relationship banking model" that involves getting to know customers well to meet their needs. Blakeney emphasized that the bank tailors products and services to each customer rather than offering "an off the shelf package," and that the goal is to help customers "meet their strategic goals" with "white glove service."
Blakeney also discussed the bank's long history in Hawaii, noting that First Hawaiian Bank has been in the state for over 165 years and has worked with some families for generations. She said the bank becomes "part of their relationship" and that as customers build the community, the bank is "part of that building" and "part of shaping the community." Blakeney added that she comes to work every day because she looks forward to seeing her customers and team, and that the bank's approach is "about the people" and "doing the right thing in the right way."
Source: AI-verified profile updated from Darlene Blakeney's recent appearances.
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Transcript (1 segments)
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Darlene Blakeney0:06
My name is Darlene Blakeney. I'm the executive vice president and chief lending officer at First Hawaiian Bank. My journey to First Hawaiian Bank really started right out of college. I was recruited to enter a management training program at a bank here in Hawaii. And as I went through that program, I had the chance to work in different parts of the bank. And at the end of that, I was able to choose what area I wanted to specialize in, and corporate banking and commercial lending really appealed to me. Our team, the wholesale banking team, is differentiated at First Hawaiian Bank because we have hands down the most experienced banking team in the state. Those people combined with the products we bring to the table allows us to really help our customers to the greatest extent we can. We operate under a relationship banking model, meaning we get to know our customers well and therefore we can then meet their needs because we know them. It's about the people. It's about doing the right thing in the right way. It's not just about getting the job done, but getting it done in the right way. First Hawaiian Bank has been in Hawaii for over 165 years. That's a long history. And for some companies, we've been managing them and working with the families for generations. We're part of that. We become a part of their relationship. And as they build the community, we are part of that building. We're part of shaping the community. So we're not just a community member, which we are. That's very important and we're proud to be a very good community member, but we also want to help our customers who are part of that community succeed and thrive, because at the end of the day, that's how our community thrives. Also, I love working at First Hawaiian Bank. The bank has been incredibly good to me and I feel very grateful for all the opportunities it's brought my way. But most of all, I come to work every day because I look forward to seeing my customers and my team. How we serve our customers to ensure that they're meeting their strategic goals, how our customers are able to accomplish what they want to accomplish by us tailoring our products and services to meet their needs. Not an off the shelf package, but something that's been customized to their need, delivered with white glove service that's personalized and based on relationship banking. That's First Hawaiian Bank. That's how we get our business done.
