8-K

   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                 ---------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


         Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): June 10, 1999


                              BANCWEST CORPORATION
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

                                     0-7949
                            (Commission File Number)

                                   99-0156159
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                    999 BISHOP STREET, HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813
               (Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

                                 (808) 525-7000
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
   2
ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         BancWest Corporation (the "Company") issued a prospectus supplement
         dated June 10, 1999 for a public offering of 350,000 shares of common
         stock at a price of $37.0625 per share under the Company's registration
         statement on Form S-3 (no. 333-76559) of May 19, 1999.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

   Exhibit No.                     Description

         1        Underwriting Agreement, dated June 10, 1999 between the
                  Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co.

         1.2      Pricing Agreement, dated June 10, 1999 between the Company and
                  Goldman, Sachs & Co.


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                             BANCWEST CORPORATION



Date:  June 11, 1999                         By:  /s/ HOWARD H. KARR
                                                  ---------------------------
                                                  Howard H. Karr
                                                  Executive Vice President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer
   3
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

   Exhibit No.                     Description

         1        Underwriting Agreement, dated June 10, 1999 between the
                  Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co.

         1.2      Pricing Agreement, dated June 10, 1999 between the Company and
                  Goldman, Sachs & Co.

EX-1

   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 1

                              BANCWEST CORPORATION

                                  COMMON STOCK,
                            PAR VALUE $1.00 PER SHARE

                                  ------------


                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT


                                  ------------


                                                                   June 10, 1999

To the representatives of the several Underwriters
  named in the respective Pricing Agreements
  hereinafter described.

Dear Sirs:

         From time to time BancWest Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements in the form of
Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as the parties thereto may
determine, and, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and therein,
to issue and sell to the firms named in Schedule I to the applicable Pricing
Agreement (such firms constituting the "Underwriters" with respect to such
Pricing Agreement and the securities specified therein) certain shares of its
common stock (the "Shares") specified in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement
(with respect to such Pricing Agreement, the "Firm Shares"). If specified in
such Pricing Agreement, the Company may grant to the Underwriters the right to
purchase at their election an additional number of shares, specified in such
Pricing Agreement as provided in Section 3 hereof (the "Optional Shares"). The
Firm Shares and the Optional Shares, if any, which the Underwriters elect to
purchase pursuant to Section 3 hereof are herein collectively called the
"Designated Shares".

         The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Shares
shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto.

         1. Particular sales of Designated Shares may be made from time to time
to the Underwriters of such Shares, for whom the firms designated as
representatives of the Underwriters of such Shares in the Pricing Agreement
relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives"). The term
"Representatives" also refers to a single firm
   2
acting as sole representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters who act
without any firm being designated as their representative. This Underwriting
Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of
the Shares or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase the
Shares. The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the Shares and
the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the Shares shall be
evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Shares
specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify the aggregate number of
the Firm Shares, the maximum number of Optional Shares, if any, the initial
public offering price of such Firm and Optional Shares or the manner of
determining such price, the purchase price to the Underwriters of such
Designated Shares, the names of the Underwriters of such Designated Shares, the
names of the Representatives of such Underwriters, the number of such Designated
Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter and the commission, if any, payable
to the Underwriters with respect thereto and shall set forth the date, time and
manner of delivery of such Firm and Optional Shares, if any, and payment
therefor. The Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth
in the registration statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of
such Designated Shares. A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an executed
writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an exchange of
telegraphic communications or any other rapid transmission device designed to
produce a written record of communications transmitted. The obligations of the
Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be several
and not joint.

         2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters that:

                  (a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-76559)
         (the "Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Shares has
         been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
         "Commission"); the Initial Registration Statement and any
         post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered
         or to be delivered to the Representatives and, excluding exhibits to
         the Initial Registration Statement, but including all documents
         incorporated by reference in the prospectus included therein, to the
         Representatives for each of the other Underwriters, have been declared
         effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration
         statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a "Rule 462(b)
         Registration Statement"), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
         Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which became effective
         upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial Registration
         Statement or document incorporated by reference therein has heretofore
         been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the Commission (other than
         prospectuses filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations
         of the Commission under the Act, each in the form heretofore delivered
         to the Representatives); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness
         of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment
         thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been
         issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or
         threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in
         the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission
         pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Act, is hereinafter called a
         "Preliminary Prospectus"; the various parts of the Initial Registration
         Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including
         all exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated by reference in the
         prospectus contained in the Initial Registration Statement at the time
         such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective, each
         as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement
         became effective, are hereinafter collectively called the "Registration
         Statement"; the prospectus relating to the Shares, in the form


                                       2
   3
         in which it has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing,
         with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, being
         hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to any
         Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to
         and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to
         the applicable form under the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary
         Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any
         amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
         shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the
         date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be,
         under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
         Act"), and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or
         Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the
         Initial Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include
         any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or
         15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration
         Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration
         Statement; and any reference to the Prospectus as amended or
         supplemented shall be deemed to refer to the Prospectus as amended or
         supplemented in relation to the applicable Designated Shares in the
         form in which it is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
         under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof, including any
         documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such
         filing);

                  (b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus,
         when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the
         case may be, con formed in all material respects to the requirements of
         the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents
         contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed
         and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further
         amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective
         or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in
         all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange
         Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
         thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
         or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided,
         however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any
         statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with
         information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of
         Designated Shares through the Representatives expressly for use in the
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares;

                  (c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended
         or supplemented conform, and any further amendments or supplements to
         the Registration Statement or the Prospectus will conform, in all
         material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of
         the applicable effective date as to the Registration Statement and any
         amendment thereto and as of the applicable filing date as to the
         Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
         to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty
         shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon
         and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company


                                       3
   4
         by an Underwriter of Designated Shares through the Representatives
         expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating
         to such Shares;

                  (d) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
         sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
         included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any loss or
         interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
         calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor
         dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, which loss or
         interference would be material to the Company and its subsidiaries
         considered as one enterprise otherwise than as set forth or
         contemplated in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of
         which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
         Prospectus, there has not been any decrease exceeding $10 million in
         the capital stock or increase exceeding $10 million in long-term debt
         of the Company and any of its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or
         any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
         material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs,
         management, consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or
         results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
         one enterprise, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
         Prospectus;

                  (e) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable
         title in fee simple to all material real property and good and
         marketable title to all material personal property owned by them, in
         each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except
         such as are described in the Prospectus or such as do not materially
         affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use
         made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its
         subsidiaries; and any material real property and buildings held under
         lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid,
         subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not
         material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made
         of such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries;

                  (f) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
         existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
         of Delaware, with full corporate power and authority to own its
         properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and
         has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of
         business and is in good standing under the laws of each other
         jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any
         business, so as to require such qualification, or is subject to no
         material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so
         qualified in any such jurisdiction; each subsidiary of the Company has
         been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
         standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; the
         Company is a bank holding company duly registered under the Bank
         Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended; and the deposits of First
         Hawiian Bank and Bank of the West (the "Banks") are insured by the
         Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to the extent provided in the
         Federal Deposit Insurance Act;

                  (g) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth
         in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and all of the issued
         shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly
         authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and all of
         the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company
         have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and
         non-assessable and (except for directors' qualifying shares of the
         Banks) are owned directly


                                       4
   5
         or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens,
         encumbrances, equities or claims;

                  (h) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized, and,
         when the Firm Shares are issued and delivered pursuant to this
         Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated
         Shares and, in the case of any Optional Shares, pursuant to
         Over-allotment Options (as defined in Section 3 hereof) with respect to
         such Shares, such Designated Shares will be duly and validly issued and
         fully paid and non-assessable; the Shares conform to the description
         thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Designated
         Shares will conform to the description thereof contained in the
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to such Designated
         Shares;

                  (i) The issue and sale of the Shares and the compliance by the
         Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement, any Pricing
         Agreement and each Over-allotment Option, if any, and the consummation
         by the Company of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will
         not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the
         terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture,
         mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
         instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is
         bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is
         subject other than any such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults
         which are not reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate,
         (A) have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or
         otherwise, or on the earnings, business affairs or business prospects
         of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise or (B)
         jeopardize the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
         nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
         Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any statute
         or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or
         body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties; and
         no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
         qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body
         is required for the issue and sale of the Shares or the consummation by
         the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any
         Pricing Agreement or any Over-allotment Option, except such as have
         been, or will have been prior to each Time of Delivery (as defined in
         Section 4 hereof), obtained under the Act and such consents, approvals,
         authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required
         under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase
         and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters;

                  (j) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no
         legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any
         of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company
         or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which the Company has
         reasonable cause to believe would individually or in the aggregate have
         a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position,
         stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its
         subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and, to the best of the
         Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated
         by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

                  (k) The accountants who have certified financial statements
         included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement are
         independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder;


                                       5
   6
                  (l) The financial statements included in the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects
         the financial position of the Company and its consolidated
         subsidiaries, in each case as at the dates indicated, and the results
         of its operations for the periods specified; except as otherwise stated
         in the Registration Statement, said financial statements have been
         prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
         applied on a consistent basis;

                  (m) The Company and its subsidiaries possess such
         certificates, authorities or permits issued by the appropriate state,
         federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies as are necessary to
         conduct the business now operated by them, except for such
         certificates, authorities or permits the absence of which would not be
         reasonably likely, either individually or in the aggregate, to
         materially and adversely affect the condition, financial or otherwise,
         or the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company
         and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise and neither the
         Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
         proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
         certificate, authority or permit;

                  (n) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
         offering and sale of the Shares, will not be an "investment company",
         as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
         amended (the "Investment Company Act"); and

                  (o) The Company has reviewed its operations and that of its
         subsidiaries and any third parties with which the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries has a material relationship to evaluate the extent to
         which the business or operations of the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries will be affected by the Year 2000 Problem. As a result of
         such review, the Company has no reason to believe, and does not
         believe, that the Year 2000 Problem will have a material adverse effect
         on the general affairs, management, the current or future consolidated
         financial position, business prospects, shareholders' equity or results
         of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries or result in any
         material loss or interference with the Company's business or
         operations. The "Year 2000 Problem" as used herein means any
         significant risk that computer hardware or software used in the
         receipt, transmission, processing, manipulation, storage, retrieval,
         retransmission or other utilization of data or in the operation of
         mechanical or electrical systems of any kind will not, in the case of
         dates or time periods occurring after December 31, 1999, function at
         least as effectively as in the case of dates or time periods occurring
         prior to January 1, 2000.

         3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Shares and authorization by the Representatives of the release of the
Firm Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer such Firm Shares for sale
upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented.

         The Company may specify in the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Shares that the Company thereby grants to the Underwriters the right
(an "Overallotment Option") to purchase at their election up to the number of
Optional Shares set forth in such Pricing Agreement, on the terms set forth in
the paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering over-allotments in the
sale of the Firm Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be
exercised by written notice from the Representatives to the Company, given
within a period specified in the Pricing Agreement, setting forth the aggregate
number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional
Shares are


                                       6
   7
to be delivered, as determined by the Representatives but in no event
earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or,
unless the Representatives and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier
than or later than the respective number of business days after the date of such
notice set forth in such Pricing Agreement.

         The number of Optional Shares to be added to the number of Firm Shares
to be purchased by each Underwriter as set forth in Schedule I to the Pricing
Agreement applicable to such Designated Shares shall be, in each case, the
number of Optional Shares which the Company has been advised by the
Representatives have been attributed to such Underwriter; provided that, if the
Company has not been so advised, the number of Optional Shares to be so added
shall be, in each case, that proportion of Optional Shares which the number of
Firm Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter under such Pricing Agreement
bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares (rounded as the Representatives may
determine to the nearest 100 shares). The total number of Designated Shares to
be purchased by all the Underwriters pursuant to such Pricing Agreement shall be
the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I to such Pricing
Agreement plus the aggregate number of Optional Shares which the Underwriters
elect to purchase.

         4. Certificates for the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares to be
purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to the Pricing Agreement relating
thereto, in the form specified in such Pricing Agreement and in such authorized
denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request
upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to the Company, shall be delivered
by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives for the account of such
Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the
purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the
account specified by the Company to Goldman, Sachs & Co. at least forty-eight
hours in advance, (i) with respect to the Firm Shares, all in the manner and at
the place and time and date specified in such Pricing Agreement or at such other
place and time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in
writing, such time and date being herein called the "First Time of Delivery" and
(ii) with respect to the Optional Shares, if any, in the manner and at the time
and date specified by the Representatives in the written notice given by the
Representatives of the Underwriters' election to purchase such Optional Shares,
or at such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree
upon in writing, such time and date, if not the First Time of Delivery, herein
called the "Second Time of Delivery". Each such time and date for delivery is
herein called a "Time of Delivery".

         5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated
Shares:

                  (a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended and supplemented in
         relation to the applicable Designated Shares in a form approved by the
         Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b)
         under the Act not later than the Commission's close of business on the
         second business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing
         Agreement relating to the applicable Designated Shares or, if
         applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to
         make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration
         Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of
         the Pricing Agreement relating to such Shares and prior to the Time of
         Delivery for such Shares which shall be disapproved by the
         Representatives for such Shares promptly after reasonable notice
         thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment
         or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the
         Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports


                                       7
   8
         and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed
         by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
         or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a
         prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of such
         Shares, and during such same period to advise the Representatives,
         promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any
         amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes
         effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus
         has been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission
         of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of
         any prospectus relating to the Shares, of the suspension of the
         qualification of such Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
         of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such
         purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or
         supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
         additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such
         stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any
         prospectus relating to the Shares or suspending any such qualification,
         promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such
         order;

                  (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
         Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Shares for
         offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as
         the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to
         permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such
         jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the
         distribution of such Shares, provided that in connection therewith the
         Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to
         file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

                  (c) Prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the New York
         Business Day next succeeding the date of the Pricing Agreement and from
         time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus
         as amended or supplemented in New York City in such quantities as the
         Representatives may from time to time reasonably request, and, if the
         delivery of a prospectus is required at any time prior to the
         expiration of nine months after the date of the Pricing Agreement in
         respect of such Shares in connection with the offering or sale of the
         Shares and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of
         which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an
         untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is
         delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be
         necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus
         or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by
         reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act or the
         Exchange Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request to
         file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each
         Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the
         Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended
         Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such
         statement or omission or effect such compliance, and in case any
         Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus in connection with
         sales of any of such Shares at any time nine months or more after the
         date of the Pricing Agreement in respect of such Shares, upon the
         request of the Representatives but at the expense of such Underwriter,
         to prepare and furnish to such Underwriter as many copies as the
         Representatives may reasonably request of an amended or supplemented
         Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;


                                       8
   9
                  (d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon
         as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after
         the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule
         158(c)), an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries
         (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and
         the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including at
         the option of the Company Rule 158);

                  (e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing
         Agreement for such Designated Shares and continuing to and including
         the date 45 days after the date of the Prospectus relating to such
         Designated Shares, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise
         dispose of, except as provided hereunder, any securities of the Company
         that are substantially similar to the Designated Shares, including but
         not limited to any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable
         for, or that represent the right to receive, Stock or any such
         substantially similar securities (other than (i) as contemplated by the
         merger agreement with SierraWest Bancorp, (ii) the issuance by the
         Company of shares of common stock upon the exercise of an option or
         warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date of the
         Pricing Agreement related to such Designated Shares or (iii) the
         granting of stock options or the issuance of restricted stock under the
         current employee benefit plans of the Company) without the prior
         written consent of the Representatives;

                  (f) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of
         any Designated Shares in the manner specified under the caption "Use of
         Proceeds" in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to
         the applicable Designated Shares;

                  (g) During a period of five years from the date of the
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable
         Designated Shares, to furnish to the Representatives copies of all
         reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to
         stockholders, and deliver to the Representatives as soon as they are
         available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to
         or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on
         which any Designated Shares or any class of securities of the Company
         is listed;

                  (h) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the
         Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the
         Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington,
         D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the
         time of filing either pay the Commission the filing fee for the Rule
         462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the
         payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act.

         6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that
the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in
connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other
expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and
amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies
thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing
any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, any
Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda and any other documents in connection
with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iii)


                                       9
   10
all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and
sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof in
connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and legal
investment surveys; (iv) any filing fees incident to any required review by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the
Shares; (v) the cost of preparing certificates for the Shares; (vi) the cost and
charges of any transfer agent or registrar or dividend disbursing agent; and
(vii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations hereunder and under any Over-allotment Options which are not
otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however,
that, except as provided in this Section, Section 8 and Section 11 hereof, the
Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of
their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them, and any
advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

         7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Shares under
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Shares shall be subject, in
the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all representations
and warranties and other statements of the Company in or incorporated by
reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Shares are, at
and as of the Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares, true and correct, the
condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder
theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

                  (a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to
         the applicable Designated Shares shall have been filed with the
         Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period
         prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act
         and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; if the Company has elected
         to rely upon Rule 426(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall
         have become effective by 10 P.M., Eastern Daylight Time, on the date of
         this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and
         no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened
         by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the
         part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the
         Representatives' reasonable satisfaction;

                  (b) Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the
         Representatives such opinion or opinions (a draft of each such opinion
         is attached as Annex II (a) hereto), dated the Time of Delivery for
         such Designated Shares, with respect to the incorporation of the
         Company, this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
         Designated Shares, the validity of the outstanding common stock, the
         Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and
         other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably request,
         and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as
         they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

                  (c) Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, counsel for the Company (or
         William E. Atwater, General Counsel for the Company, in the case of the
         opinions specified in Clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) (with respect to
         subsidiaries of the Company (including the Banks) not incorporated in
         the States of New York or Delaware) and (vii) and (viii) (each with
         respect to laws of the State of Hawaii)) below shall have furnished to
         the Representatives written opinions (a draft of such opinions are
         attached as Annex II(b)-1 and II(b)- 2 hereto), dated the Time of
         Delivery for such Designated Shares, in form and substance satisfactory
         to the Representatives, to the effect that:


                                       10
   11
                           (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is
                  validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
                  laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with all
                  necessary corporate power and authority to own its properties
                  and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus as
                  amended or supplemented;

                           (ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as
                  set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and
                  all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company
                  (including the Designated Shares being delivered at such Time
                  of Delivery) have been duly and validly authorized and issued
                  and are fully paid and non-assessable; and the Designated
                  Shares conform to the description thereof in the Prospectus as
                  amended or supplemented;

                           (iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and
                  information, the Company has been duly qualified as a foreign
                  corporation for the transaction of business and is in good
                  standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it
                  owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to
                  require such qualification, or is subject to no material
                  liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so
                  qualified in any such jurisdiction (such counsel being
                  entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this clause in
                  respect of matters of fact upon certificates of public
                  officials or officers of the Company, provided that such
                  counsel shall state that they believe that both the
                  Underwriters and they are justified in relying upon such
                  certificates);

                           (iv) Each of the Banks has been duly incorporated and
                  is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
                  the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; each of the
                  Banks has all requisite power and authority under its Articles
                  of Incorporation, Bylaws and charter to own, lease and operate
                  its properties and to conduct its business as now conducted
                  and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge and information,
                  is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact
                  business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
                  such qualification is required except where the lack of such
                  corporate power or authority or where the failure to be so
                  qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the
                  financial condition, or on the earnings, business affairs or
                  business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
                  considered as one enterprise; and all of the issued shares of
                  capital stock of the Banks have been duly and validly
                  authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and
                  to the best of such counsel's knowledge and information
                  (except for directors' qualifying shares of the Banks), held
                  of record by the Company, free and clear of any perfected
                  pledge or security interest (such counsel being entitled to
                  rely in respect of matters of fact in this clause upon
                  certificates of officers of the Company or its subsidiaries,
                  provided that such counsel shall state that they believe that
                  both the Underwriters and they are justified in relying upon
                  such certificates);

                           (v) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other
                  than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or
                  governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any
                  of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the
                  Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which such
                  counsel has reasonable cause to believe would individually or
                  in the aggregate


                                       11
   12
                  have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial
                  position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the
                  Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
                  and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no such
                  proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental
                  authorities or threatened by others;

                           (vi) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with
                  respect to the Designated Shares have been duly authorized,
                  executed and delivered by the Company;

                           (vii) The issue and sale of the Designated Shares
                  being delivered at such Time of Delivery and the compliance by
                  the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and
                  the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Shares
                  and the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein
                  and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a
                  breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
                  constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of
                  trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known
                  to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by which
                  the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets
                  of the Company is subject other than any such conflicts,
                  breaches, violations or defaults which are not reasonably
                  likely to, individually or in the aggregate, (A) have a
                  material adverse effect on the condition, financial or
                  otherwise, or on the earnings, business affairs or business
                  prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
                  one enterprise or (B) jeopardize the consummation of the
                  transactions contemplated hereby, nor will such actions result
                  in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of
                  Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or either of the Banks
                  or any federal, New York, Hawaii or California statute or the
                  Delaware General Corporation Law or any order, rule or
                  regulation known to such counsel of any federal, New York,
                  Hawaii or California court or governmental agency or body
                  having jurisdiction over the Company, any of its subsidiaries
                  or any of the properties of the Company or any of its
                  subsidiaries;

                           (viii) No consent, approval, authorization, order,
                  registration or qualification of or with any such court or
                  governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale
                  of the Designated Shares being delivered at such Time of
                  Delivery or the consummation by the Company of the
                  transactions contemplated by this Agreement or such Pricing
                  Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Act and
                  such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or
                  qualifications as may be required under state securities or
                  Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution
                  of the Designated Shares by the Underwriters;

                           (ix) The information incorporated by reference in the
                  Prospectus as amended or supplemented under the caption
                  "Supervision and Regulation" to the extent that it constitutes
                  matters of law, summaries of legal matters, documents or
                  proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by them
                  and is correct in all material respects, and the information
                  included in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented under
                  the caption "Description of Capital Stock", insofar as it
                  purports to constitute summaries of the terms of the Company's
                  common stock (including the Shares) and Class A common


                                       12
   13
                  stock constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such
                  common stock and Class A common stock in all material
                  respects; and

                           (x) The Company is not an "Investment Company", as
                  such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

                  Such opinion shall also include a paragraph to the effect that
         while such counsel does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
         completeness or fairness of the statements made or included in the
         Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended and supplemented
         (except as set forth in Clause (ix) above), such counsel participated
         in conferences with certain officers and employees of the Company and
         with representatives of the independent public accountants of the
         Company in the course of the preparation by the Company of the
         Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any amendments or
         supplements thereto and that while such counsel did not prepare the
         documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended and
         supplemented, such counsel discussed such documents with the Company
         prior to their filing with the Commission, based upon such counsel's
         examination of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the
         documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, such counsel's
         investigations made in connection with the preparation of the
         Registration Statements and the Prospectus and such counsel's
         participation in the conferences referred to above, (i) such counsel is
         of the opinion that the Registration Statement and any amendment
         thereto, as of their respective effective dates and as of such Time of
         Delivery, and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto,
         as of their respective issue dates and as of such Time of Delivery,
         complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of
         the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
         thereunder, and that the documents incorporated by reference in the
         Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto complied as to form
         in all material respects with the requirements of the Act or the
         Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the applicable rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder when they became effective or
         were filed, except that in each case such counsel need express no
         opinion with respect to the financial statements or other financial
         data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration
         Statement or any amendment thereto, the Prospectus or any amendment or
         supplement thereto, or the documents incorporated by reference in the
         Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, and (ii) such
         counsel has no reason to believe that the Registration Statement or any
         amendment thereto (including the documents incorporated by reference in
         the Prospectus), as of its respective effective date (or, with respect
         to any Registration Statement as to which an Annual Report on Form 10-K
         of the Company has been filed subsequent to the effective date thereof
         and is deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, as of the date
         of filing of the most recent such Annual Report on Form 10-K) and as of
         such Time of Delivery contained any untrue statement of a material fact
         or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading or
         that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including
         the documents incorporated by reference therein), as of its respective
         date and as of such Time of Delivery, contains any untrue statement of
         a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order
         to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
         which they were made, not misleading, except that in each case such
         counsel need express no opinion with respect to the financial
         statements or other financial data contained or incorporated by
         reference in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, the
         Prospectus or any amendment or supplement


                                       13
   14
         thereto, or the documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
         or any amendment or supplement thereto;

                  (d) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated
         Shares and at the Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares, the
         independent accountants who have certified any financial statements
         included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
         shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the
         effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of the most
         recent report filed with the Commission containing financial statements
         and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, if the
         date of such report is later than such effective date, and a letter
         dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, to the effect set forth in
         Annex II hereto (a draft of the form of letter to be delivered on the
         date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Shares is attached as
         Annex I(a) hereto and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered at
         the Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares is attached as Annex
         I(b) hereto) , and with respect to such letter dated such Time of
         Delivery, as to such other matters as the Representatives may
         reasonably request and in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Representatives;

                  (e) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall
         have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial
         statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as
         amended or supplemented any loss or interference with its business from
         fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by
         insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action,
         order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior to the date of the Pricing
         Agreement relating to the Designated Shares, and (ii) since the
         respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus as
         amended or supplemented prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement
         relating to the Designated Shares there shall not have been any change
         in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective
         change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial
         position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company
         and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in
         the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, the effect of which, in any
         such case described in Clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the
         Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or
         inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
         Designated Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

                  (f) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to
         the Designated Shares (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the
         rating accorded the Company's debt securities or preferred stock by any
         "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as that term
         is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
         Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it
         has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications,
         its rating of any of the Company's debt securities;

                  (g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to
         the Designated Shares there shall not have occurred any of the
         following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in
         securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension
         or material limitation in trading the Company's securities on the New
         York Stock Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
         activities in New


                                       14
   15
         York declared by either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iv)
         the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States
         or the declaration by the United States of a National Emergency or war,
         if the effect of any such event specified in this clause (iv) in the
         judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable
         to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated
         Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus as
         amended and supplemented; and

                  (h) The Shares at each Time of Delivery shall have been duly
         listed, subject to notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange;

                  (i) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of
         Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on
         the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of the Pricing
         Agreement relating to such Designated Shares; and

                  (j) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished
         to the Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated
         Shares a certificate or certificates of officers of the Company
         satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of the
         representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such
         Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its
         obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of
         Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of
         this Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may
         reasonably request.

         8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any amendment
or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each
Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or
claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary
Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to
the Shares, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter
of Designated Shares through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares; and provided,
further, that the Company shall not be liable to any Underwriter under the
indemnity agreement in this subsection (a) with respect to any Preliminary
Prospectus to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such
Underwriter results from the fact that such Underwriter sold Shares to a person
as to whom it shall be established that there was not sent or given, at or prior
to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the Prospectus (excluding
documents incorporated by reference) or of the Prospectus as then amended or
supplemented (excluding documents incorporated by reference) in any case where
such delivery is required by the Act if the Company has previously


                                       15
   16
furnished copies thereof in sufficient quantity to such Underwriter and the
loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from an untrue
statement or omission of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Prospectus
which was (i) identified in writing to such Underwriter at or prior to the
earlier of the filing with the Commission or the furnishing to such Underwriter
of the corrected Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference) or
corrected Prospectus as amended or supplemented (excluding documents
incorporated by reference) and (ii) corrected in the Prospectus (excluding
documents incorporation by reference) or in the Prospectus as then amended or
supplemented (excluding documents incorporated by reference) Shares.

         (b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may
become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement,
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any
other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any such
amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection
with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a)
or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall
not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought
against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the
consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and,
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of
other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation.

         (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the


                                       16
   17
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Shares on the
other from the offering of the Designated Shares to which such loss, claim,
damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required
under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated
Shares on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the
other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the applicable Designated Shares underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters
of Designated Shares in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such
Shares and not joint.

         (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which
the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

         9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase
the Firm Shares or Optional Shares which it has agreed to purchase under the
Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Shares, the Representatives may in
their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to
purchase such Designated Shares on the terms contained herein. If within
thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do
not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Shares or Optional Shares, then the
Company shall


                                       17
   18
be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure
another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase
such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed
period, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for
the purchase of such Shares, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it
has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, the Representatives or the
Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Shares for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect
whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or
arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion
of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term "Underwriter" as
used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section
with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to the Pricing
Agreement with respect to such Shares.

         (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter
or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection
(a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does
not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of the Firm Shares or Optional
Shares, as the case may be, to be purchased at the respective Time of Delivery,
then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter
to purchase the number of Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be,
which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating
to such Designated Shares and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting
Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Firm Shares
or Optional Shares, as the case may be, which such Underwriter agreed to
purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as
the case may be, of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such
arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.

         (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter
or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection
(a) above, the aggregate number of Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case
may be, which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number
of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, to be purchased at
the respective Time of Delivery, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if
the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to
require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Firm Shares or Optional Shares,
as the case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the
Pricing Agreement relating to such Firm Shares or the Over-allotment Option
relating to such Optional Shares, as the case may be, shall thereupon terminate,
without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company,
except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as
provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in
Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from
liability for its default.

         10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth
in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to
this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the


                                       18
   19
Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and
shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

         11. If any Pricing Agreement or Over-allotment Option shall be
terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any
liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Firm Shares or Optional Shares
with respect to which such Pricing Agreement shall have been terminated except
as provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason
Designated Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided
herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives
for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives,
including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the
Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of such
Designated Shares, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to
any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Shares except as provided in
Section 6 and Section 8 hereof.

         12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters
of Designated Shares shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the
parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such
Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be
designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.

         All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the
Registration Statement: Attention: General Counsel; provided, however, that any
notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or
sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address
set forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such
Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the
Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or
agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

         13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon,
and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the
extent provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof, the officers and directors
of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and
their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and
no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Shares from
any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such
purchase.

         14. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used
herein, "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in
Washington, D.C. is open for business.

         15. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PRICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         16. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any
one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall


                                       19
   20
be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together
constitute one and the same instrument.


                                       20
   21
         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us four counterparts hereof.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     BancWest Corporation

                                             /s/ HOWARD H. KARR
                                     By:  ______________________________________
                                          Name:  HOWARD H. KARR
                                          Title: Executive Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer

Accepted as of the date hereof:

Goldman, Sachs & Co.


       /s/  GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
By:  ______________________________________
           (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

On behalf of each of the Underwriters


                                       21
   22


                                                                        ANNEX I



                              BANCWEST CORPORATION


                                  COMMON STOCK


                                  ------------


                                PRICING AGREEMENT

                                  ------------


                                                           ..............., 19..

[Names of Representatives/Underwriters],
  [As representatives of the several Underwriters
    named in Schedule I hereto,]
[Address of Representative].

Dear Sirs:

         BancWest Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting
Agreement - General Terms and Conditions, dated June 10, 1999 (the "Underwriting
Agreement"), to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
(the "Underwriters") the Shares specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated
Shares"). Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this
Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full
herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall
be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement,
except that each representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in
Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation
or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the
Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and warranty as of
the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented relating to the Designated Shares which are the subject of this
Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the
provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be
deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the
Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives
designated to act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the


                                       1
   23
Underwriters of the Designated Shares pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting
Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12
are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.

         An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Shares, in the form
heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.

         Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, (a) the Company agrees
to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and
place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II
hereto, the principal amount of Designated Shares set forth opposite the name of
such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and, (b) in the event and to the extent
that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional Shares,
as provided below, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the
Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Company at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in
Schedule II hereto that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which
such election shall have been exercised.

         The Company hereby grants to each of the Underwriters the right to
purchase at their election up to the number of Optional Shares set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto on the terms referred
to in the paragraph above for the sole purpose of covering over-allotments in
the sale of the Firm Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may
be exercised by written notice from the Representatives to the Company given
within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Pricing Agreement,
setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the
date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by the
Representatives, but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery or,
unless the Representatives and the Company otherwise agree in writing, no
earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.


                                       2
   24
         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us three counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you,
on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters
and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf
of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in
a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to
the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of
the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        BancWest Corporation


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

Accepted as of the date hereof:

[Name(s) of Representative(s)]


By:  ___________________________________


On behalf of each of the Underwriters


                                        3
   25
                                   SCHEDULE I



                                                                                          MAXIMUM
                                                                                         NUMBER OF
                                                                                         OPTIONAL
                                                                        NUMBER OF         SHARES
                                                                       FIRM SHARES       WHICH MAY
                                                                          TO BE             BE
         UNDERWRITER                                                    PURCHASED        PURCHASED
         -----------                                                   -----------       ---------
                                                                                   
[Name(s) of Representatives/Underwriters]...........................   $

                                                                       -----------       ---------

         Total......................................................   $                 $
                                                                       ===========       =========



                                        1
   26
                                   SCHEDULE II


TITLE OF DESIGNATED SHARES:

NUMBER OF DESIGNATED SHARES:

     Number of Firm Shares:

     Maximum Number of Optional Shares:

INITIAL OFFERING PRICE TO PUBLIC:

     [$........ per Share] [Formula]

PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS:

     [$........ per Share] [Formula]

[COMMISSION PAYABLE TO UNDERWRITERS:

$........  per Share in Federal (same-day funds)

FORM OF DESIGNATED SHARES:

Definitive form, to be made available for checking [and packaging] at least
twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of [The Depository
Trust Company or its designated custodian] [the Representatives]

SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE:

Federal (same-day) funds

TIME OF DELIVERY:

 ......... a.m. (New York City time), .................., 19..

CLOSING LOCATION:

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:

     Designated Representatives:

     Address for Notices, etc.:

[OTHER TERMS]:


                                        1
   27
                                                                        ANNEX II


                          DESCRIPTION OF COMFORT LETTER


         Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:

                  (i) They are independent certified public accountants with
         respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the
         Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;

                  (i) In their opinion, the financial statements and any
         supplementary financial information and schedules (and, if applicable,
         financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial information) examined by
         them and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
         Statement or the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects
         with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act or the Exchange
         Act, as applicable, and the related published rules and regulations
         thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review in accordance
         with standards established by the American Institute of Certified
         Public Accountants of the consolidated interim financial statements,
         selected financial data, pro forma financial information, financial
         forecasts and/or condensed financial statements derived from audited
         financial statements of the Company for the periods specified in such
         letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of which have
         been furnished to the representatives of the Underwriters (the
         "Representatives");

                  (iii) They have made a review in accordance with standards
         established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
         of the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
         consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
         included in the Prospectus and/or included in the Company's quarterly
         reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as
         indicated in their reports thereon copies of which have been separately
         furnished to the Representatives; and on the basis of specified
         procedures including inquiries of officials of the Company who have
         responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding whether
         the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements referred to
         in paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all material
         respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
         Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations, nothing
         came to their attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited
         condensed consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in
         all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of
         the Act and the Exchange Act and the related published rules and
         regulations;

                  (iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect
         to the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the
         Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the
         Prospectus and included or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the
         Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year
         agrees with the corresponding amounts (after restatement where
         applicable) in the audited consolidated financial statements for such
         five fiscal years which were included or incorporated by reference in
         the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for such fiscal years;

                  (v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under
         selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K
         and on the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing
         came to their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that


                                       1
   28
         caused them to believe that this information does not conform in all
         material respects with the disclosure requirements of items 301 and
         402, respectively, of Regulation S-K;

                  (vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
         examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
         consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
         information referred to below, a reading of the latest available
         interim financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         inspection of the minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries
         since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
         incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of
         the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and
         accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
         specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused
         them to believe that:

                           (A) (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated
                  statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and
                  consolidated statements of cash flows included in the
                  Prospectus and/or included or incorporated by reference in the
                  Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by
                  reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all
                  material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
                  of the Exchange Act and the related published rules and
                  regulations, or (ii) any material modifications should be made
                  to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
                  consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of
                  cash flows included in the Prospectus or included in the
                  Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by
                  reference in the Prospectus, for them to be in conformity with
                  generally accepted accounting principles;

                           (B) any other unaudited income statement data and
                  balance sheet items included in the Prospectus do not agree
                  with the corresponding items in the unaudited consolidated
                  financial statements from which such data and items were
                  derived, and any such unaudited data and items were not
                  determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis
                  for the corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated
                  financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
                  the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent
                  fiscal year;

                           (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not
                  included in the Prospectus but from which were derived the
                  unaudited condensed financial statements referred to in clause
                  (A) and any unaudited income statement data and balance sheet
                  items included in the Prospectus and referred to in clause (B)
                  were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with
                  the basis for the audited financial statements included or
                  incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on
                  Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;

                           (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed
                  financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
                  the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material
                  respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
                  Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder or the
                  pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the
                  historical amounts in the compilation of those statements;

                           (E) as of a specified date not more than five days
                  prior to the date of such letter, there have been any changes
                  in the consolidated capital stock (other than issuances of
                  capital stock upon exercise of options and stock appreciation
                  rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon
                  conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were
                  outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet included


                                       2
   29
                  or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus) or any
                  increase in the consolidated allowance for loan and lease
                  losses, nonperforming loans, other real estate owned or
                  consolidated long-term debt of the Company and its
                  subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated net current
                  assets or net assets or other items specified by the
                  Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by
                  the Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts
                  shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by
                  reference in the Prospectus, except in each case for changes,
                  increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have
                  occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter;
                  and

                           (F) for the period from the date of the latest
                  financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
                  the Prospectus to the specified date referred to in clause (E)
                  there were any decreases in consolidated net interest income,
                  provision for loan losses, charge offs, or the total or per
                  share amounts of consolidated net income or other items
                  specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any
                  items specified by the Representatives, in each case as
                  compared with the comparable period of the preceding year and
                  with any other period of corresponding length specified by the
                  Representatives, except in each case for increases or
                  decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may
                  occur or which are described in such letter; and

                  (vii) In addition to the examination referred to in their
         report(s) included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and
         the limited procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other
         procedures referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have
         carried out certain specified procedures, not constituting an
         examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
         with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information
         specified by the Representatives which are derived from the general
         accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear in
         the Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference), or in
         Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement
         specified by the Representatives or in documents incorporated by
         reference in the Prospectus specified by the Representatives, and have
         compared certain of such amounts, percentages and financial information
         with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and
         have found them to be in agreement.

         All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference
therein) as defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter
delivered on the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and
to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents
incorporated by reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated
Shares for purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Shares.


                                        3

EX-1.2

   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.2


                              BANCWEST CORPORATION


                                  COMMON STOCK


                                  ------------


                                PRICING AGREEMENT

                                  ------------


                                                                   June 10, 1999

Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
  As representatives of the several Underwriters
    named in Schedule I hereto,
85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004.

Dear Sirs:

         BancWest Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting
Agreement General Terms and Conditions, dated June 10, 1999 (the "Underwriting
Agreement"), to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
(the "Underwriters") the Shares specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated
Shares"). Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this
Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full
herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall
be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement,
except that each representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in
Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation
or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the
Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and warranty as of
the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented relating to the Designated Shares which are the subject of this
Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the
provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be
deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the
Underwriting Agreement
   2
are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to act on
behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters of the
Designated Shares pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting Agreement and the
address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12 are set forth at
the end of Schedule II hereto.

         An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Shares, in the form
heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.

         Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, (a) the Company agrees
to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and
place and at the purchase price to the Under writers set forth in Schedule II
hereto, the principal amount of Designated Shares set forth opposite the name of
such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and, (b) in the event and to the extent
that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional Shares,
as provided below, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the
Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Company at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in
Schedule II hereto that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which
such election shall have been exercised.

         The Company hereby grants to each of the Underwriters the right to
purchase at their election up to the number of Optional Shares set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto on the terms referred
to in the paragraph above for the sole purpose of covering over-allotments in
the sale of the Firm Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may
be exercised by written notice from the Representatives to the Company given
within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Pricing Agreement,
setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the
date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by the
Representatives, but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery or,
unless the Representatives and the Company otherwise agree in writing, no
earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.


                                        2
   3
         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us three counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you,
on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters
and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf
of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in
a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to
the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of
the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        BancWest Corporation

                                                /s/ HOWARD H. KARR
                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name:  HOWARD H. KARR
                                             Title: Executive Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer

Accepted as of the date hereof:

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

        /s/ GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
By:  ___________________________________
           (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)


On behalf of each of the Underwriters


                                        3
   4
                                   SCHEDULE I




                                                                                          MAXIMUM
                                                                                         NUMBER OF
                                                                                         OPTIONAL
                                                                        NUMBER OF         SHARES
                                                                       FIRM SHARES       WHICH MAY
                                                                          TO BE             BE
         UNDERWRITER                                                    PURCHASED        PURCHASED
         -----------                                                   -----------       ---------
                                                                                   
Goldman, Sachs & Co................................................        350,000               0
                                                                       -----------       ---------

         Total......................................................       350,000               0
                                                                       ===========       =========



                                        1
   5
                                   SCHEDULE II


TITLE OF DESIGNATED SHARES: Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

NUMBER OF DESIGNATED SHARES:

     Number of Firm Shares:         350,000

     Maximum Number of Optional Shares:              0

INITIAL OFFERING PRICE TO PUBLIC:

     Goldman, Sachs & Co may offer the common stock in transactions in the
over-the-counter market or through negotiated transactions at market price or at
negotiated prices.

PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS:

     $37.0625 per Share

FORM OF DESIGNATED SHARES:

Definitive form, to be made available for checking [and packaging] at least
twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of The Depository
Trust Company or its designated custodian

SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE:

Federal (same-day) funds

TIME OF DELIVERY:

9:30 a.m. (New York City time), June 16, 1999

CLOSING LOCATION:

Sullivan & Cromwell
1888 Century Park East
Los Angeles, California 90067

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:

     Designated Representatives:       Goldman, Sachs & Co.

     Address for Notices, etc.:        85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004