Bank of Hawaii Announces New Vice Presidents: Abbott, Chang, Trenholme and Trepte

Christopher Abbott was recently hired as vice president and affordable housing manager in the Commercial Real Estate Lending Division at Bank of Hawaii. He leads the bank’s commitment to the community through lending and equity investments in affordable housing developments for families and seniors. Abbott’s work reflects Bank of Hawaii’s support for economic revitalization in Hawaii’s communities.

Abbott’s diverse background includes serving as a senior legislative aide for Representative Ed Case in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly three years and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for more than two years, both in Washington, D.C. Returning to Hawaii in 2011, he worked for nearly six years as vice president of community investments for American Savings Bank.

A graduate of Punahou School, Abbott earned his bachelor of administration degree in political science from Williams College and his master’s in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. He is a board member on the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council and a 2nd vice president with the Punahou Alumni Association.

Bryson Chang was recently promoted to vice president from assistant vice president and continues his duties as a primary relationship officer at Bank of Hawaii’s Pearlridge Commercial Banking Center. He provides a wide range of commercial banking services to support clients with their business operations, including commercial financing.

Chang joined the bank in 2015 as a commercial credit analyst in the commercial credit group and transitioned to his current position in 2017. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of San Diego, and is a member of the Hawaii Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Christie Trenholme was recently hired as vice president and corporate counsel at Bank of Hawaii in the Legal Department. She serves as in-house counsel focusing on litigation and employment matters.

Prior to joining the bank, Trenholme worked as deputy corporation counsel for the County of Maui. She previously practiced labor and employment law at Marr Jones & Wang LLLP in Honolulu and was a litigator at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP in New York City. Trenholme also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Helen Gillmor in the U.S. District Court in the District of Hawaii.

Trenholme received her bachelor of science degree in communications from Boston University and her juris doctorate from University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law. She is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

Gary Trepte was recently hired as vice president and commercial credit group manager in Bank of Hawaii’s Commercial Credit Group. He is responsible for co-managing a team of commercial credit analysts and underwriters, who provide credit administrative and approval support to the bank’s commercial banking centers.

Trepte has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry having worked for a variety of financial institutions in Hawaii and in Oregon, including American Savings Bank, Umpqua Bank, Excelsior Management Group and LIME Financial Services. Originally from Hawaii and a graduate of St. Louis School, he earned his bachelor of business administration degree in accounting and finance from the University of Portland and his master’s in business administration from Marylhurst University in Oregon.