First Hawaiian Bank announces six promotions

First Hawaiian Bank Chairman, President and CEO Bob Harrison announced the advancement of six individuals on Tuesday.

George E. Lee, vice president, lead engineer and team manager, API and Integrations Division. George E. Lee has been promoted to vice president, lead engineer and team manager of First Hawaiian Bank’s API and Integrations Division. He will continue to lead First Hawaiian Bank’s internal software engineering team and work with internal stakeholders to identify how FHB can better serve its customers digitally. Lee has 12 years of experience as a software engineer. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Lee earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, and his Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. A native of Wailuku, Maui, Lee currently resides in Mililani.

Barbara Valona, vice president and BankCard Center operations manager, BankCard Division. Barbara Valona has been promoted to vice president and BankCard Center operations manager of First Hawaiian Bank’s BankCard Division. She is responsible for the operations of the BankCard Center which handles the operations and service requests for credit cards, debit cards, and ATM cards for all FHB customers. Valona has over 11 years of banking and financial institution experience. She earned a technical degree in Culinary Arts from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. A native of Orange, California, she currently resides in Ewa Beach.

Michael A. Ramstack, vice president and residential underwriting manager, Residential Real Estate Division. Michael A. Ramstack has been promoted to vice president and residential underwriting manager in First Hawaiian Bank’s Residential Real Estate Division. He oversees a team of 13 underwriters to ensure company policies and procedures are adhered to in the decisioning of mortgage and HELOC applications. He also will be responsible for revisiting and updating lending guidelines from an appropriate risk standpoint when and where applicable. Ramstack has nearly two decades of residential lending experience. He earned his Business of Administration degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ramstack currently resides in Kailua.

Greg Molfino, vice president and senior wealth advisor, Wealth Advisory Division. Greg Molfino has been promoted to vice president and senior wealth advisor in First Hawaiian Bank’s Wealth Advisory Division. He is responsible for advising customers on a range of wealth management issues including investment management, financial planning, risk mitigation, business succession planning, and estate planning. Molfino has nearly two decades of banking experience. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Hawaiʻi Pacific University and is a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®), Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®), and Private Wealth Advisor (PWA). Molfino currently resides in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi Island.

David K. Nakamura, vice president and trust officer, Personal Trust Division. David K. Nakamura has been promoted to vice president and trust officer in First Hawaiian Bank’s Personal Trust Division. In his role, Nakamura administers a book of trust accounts and work with the respective beneficiaries to get them the distributions they are entitled to under the terms of the trust. Nakamura has two decades of trust experience and is president the Hawaii Estate Planning Council. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California. He currently resides in Kapahulu.

Van H. Nguyen, vice president, lead software engineer and team manager, Emerging Technology Division. Van H. Nguyen has been promoted to vice president, lead software engineer and team manager of First Hawaiian Bank’s Emerging Technology Division. He is tasked with leading the Digital Engineering team which is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining custom web applications. He has 25 years of software development experience and earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.