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Governor Lolo Moliga at the opening of the Territorial Bank of American Samoa this morning.
With the bank opening, the governor also announced that Bank of Hawaii’s presence in the territory will terminate in 90 days.
A crowd of government leaders sat at the entrance of the new bank on the ground floor of the Centennial Building while the Vicar General of the Catholic church in American Samoa Viane Etuale asked for God’s blessing on the new 
venture.
The Fono was well represented, as was the cabinet.
There were also board directors of the American Samoa Economic Development Authority, and board members of the government bank who along with TBAS CEO Phil Ware and staff were dressed in maroon tapa printed uniform.
Off island guests included Bank of Hawaii Vice Chairman, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Mark Rossi, and former Bank of Hawaii Vice President in American Samoa, Hobbs Lowson.
ASEDA’s Financial Adviser Cody Deeter of Lewis, Young Robertson & Birmingham and Matt Dugdale, the bond trustee from George K Baum and Company were among the guests.
Governor Lolo had a long list of people to thank for making the bank possible, extending from the Fono to the directors he appointed for ASEDA, which floated the bonds that is funding the bank, and the directors of the bank, the off island consultants for the bonds and an off island legal team who worked on the bank.
His thank you list also included Governor Gary Herbert of Utah, Mr. Scott Henderson, Chairman, President and CEO of Zions Bank , Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, and Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs Esther Kia’aina,
The governor thanked the Chairman of the Board and CEO of Bank of Hawaii Mr. Peter Ho “for keeping his promise not to leave American Samoa until we found a solution.”
He expressed appreciation to BOH for gifting to American Samoa all its assets including the Bank of Hawaii’s local buildings, equipment, ATM machines and bank manager’s home in Utulei, 
The governor announced that BOH will leave the territory in 90 days.
Thanking the people of American Samoa the governor said that the opening of the bank would not have been possible without their support.
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Other speakers were the TBAS Board Chairman Utu Abe Malae, Senate President Gaoteote Palaie and Mr Mark Rossi of BOH.
A copy of the Fono resolution thanking BOH for their service was presented to Mr. Rossi while the Utah financial and bond advisers presented gifts to government leaders.
First Lady Cynthia Moliga cut the ribbon and guests then entered the new bank.
