Bank of Hawaii program pays Chaminade University tuition for employees

Bank of Hawaii announced recently that it had reached a major milestone with its College Assistance Program. Twenty employees received degrees through the initiative to reimburse tuition.

It pays for the entire tuition of employees who earn a degree at Chaminade University, or an Associate Degree from University of Hawaii Community Colleges. The program also covers the cost of textbooks, other materials and supplies. According to Bank of Hawaii, since its launch in 2016, the program covered more than $1.75 million in educational expenses.

Linda Yoshimoto is the Kapolei branch manager of Bank of Hawaii. She recently graduated with a bachelor's in psychology and a minor history at Chaminade. This makes her the 20th employee who has graduated with this program. Yoshimoto is a mother to five children and continued working for BOH as she earned her degree.

Yoshimoto, in a recent statement, said that "when you have children, you only think of taking care of them, making sure they go to school and that their future is secure." The College Assistance Program allowed him to do this.

Employees who choose to participate in the program receive tuition assistance before each new school term. They can also select their area of study. According to the website of the bank, these include business administration and criminology, criminal justice, history and political studies, among others. The bank offers participants an extra paid day during final exams to allow them to focus on their studies. Employees are also not required to stay with the company after graduation.