Steven Nakahara
EVP & Chief Credit Officer
American Savings Bank
Steven Nakahara is a Mentor Hawaii Cohort 11 mentor. Learn more about the program here.
About Steven
Steven Nakahara is Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at American Savings Bank. He oversees the bank’s commercial and retail credit approvals, policies, procedures, collections and portfolio administration. His teams support lending objectives and ensure the quality of the bank’s loan portfolio.
Steven has more than 30 years of banking experience. Over his career, he has served in senior management at several of Hawaii’s financial institutions. His extensive experience includes managing loan underwriting and approval functions, improving processes and technology, and building high value business client relationships.
Steven has served as a board member and finance committee chair at HiCentral MLS, and as an ex-officio director at Oahu Country Club.
Steven received his BBA in finance from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and graduated with honors from the Pacific Coast Banking School.
Question and Answer with Steven
What is your preferred communication style when mentoring (in-person, video conference, phone, informal check-ins, structured meetings, etc.).
In-Person, Video Conference, Email, Phone Call, Text / SMS.
Why do you want to become a mentor in this program?
Hawaii faces significant challenges with affordability and opportunity. Our problems are not going to be solved overnight, and we need a generation of strong leaders to get us to a brighter future.
What specific skills, knowledge or experience can you share with your mentee?
Things have not always gone my way in life and in my career. I think that through these obstacles, I’ve developed grit and resilience which has been key to whatever successes I’ve had. I’ve become adept at navigating VUCA — volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.
What are your expectations for a mentor-mentee relationship?
That we can learn from each other, and develop a long-term professional relationship that outlives the duration of this cohort.
How do you approach problem-solving and conflict resolution?
With curiosity and humility.
How do you envision success for your mentee, and how will you measure it during the program?
I hope to help provide my mentee with perspective on what’s needed to extract the best version of themselves, to the benefit of their personal and professional lives.