EQUITY	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
EQUITY	11. EQUITY We have generated considerable tax benefits, including net operating loss carry-forwards and federal and state tax credits. Our use of the tax benefits in the future would be limited if we experience an "ownership change" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, an "ownership change" will occur if there is a cumulative increase in the Company's ownership by "5-percent shareholders" (as defined under U.S. income tax laws) that exceeds 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. As a Hawaii state-chartered bank, Central Pacific Bank may only pay dividends to the extent it has retained earnings as defined under Hawaii banking law ("Statutory Retained Earnings"), which differs from GAAP retained earnings. As of March 31, 2017, the bank had Statutory Retained Earnings of $93.7 million. Dividends are payable at the discretion of the Board of Directors and there can be no assurance that the Board of Directors will continue to pay dividends at the same rate, or at all, in the future. Our ability to pay cash dividends to our shareholders is subject to restrictions under federal and Hawaii law, including restrictions imposed by the FRB and covenants set forth in various agreements we are a party to, including covenants set forth in our subordinated debentures. In January 2016, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $30.0 million of the Company's common stock from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to a newly authorized share repurchase program (the "2016 Repurchase Plan"). In January 2017, 1,750 shares of common stock, at a cost of $0.1 million, were repurchased under the 2016 Repurchase Plan. On January 24, 2017, the Board of Directors also authorized the repurchase of up to $30.0 million of the Company's common stock from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to a newly authorized share repurchase program (the "2017 Repurchase Plan"). The 2017 Repurchase Plan replaces and supersedes in its entirety the 2016 Repurchase Plan. In the three months ended March 31, 2017, 112,000 shares of common stock, at a cost of $3.5 million, were repurchased under the 2017 Repurchase Plan.

EQUITY

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

11. EQUITY

We have generated considerable tax benefits, including net operating loss carry-forwards and federal and state tax credits. Our use of the tax benefits in the future would be limited if we experience an "ownership change" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, an "ownership change" will occur if there is a cumulative increase in the Company's ownership by "5-percent shareholders" (as defined under U.S. income tax laws) that exceeds 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period.

As a Hawaii state-chartered bank, Central Pacific Bank may only pay dividends to the extent it has retained earnings as defined under Hawaii banking law ("Statutory Retained Earnings"), which differs from GAAP retained earnings. As of March 31, 2017, the bank had Statutory Retained Earnings of $93.7 million.

Dividends are payable at the discretion of the Board of Directors and there can be no assurance that the Board of Directors will continue to pay dividends at the same rate, or at all, in the future. Our ability to pay cash dividends to our shareholders is subject to restrictions under federal and Hawaii law, including restrictions imposed by the FRB and covenants set forth in various agreements we are a party to, including covenants set forth in our subordinated debentures.

In January 2016, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $30.0 million of the Company's common stock from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to a newly authorized share repurchase program (the "2016 Repurchase Plan"). In January 2017, 1,750 shares of common stock, at a cost of $0.1 million, were repurchased under the 2016 Repurchase Plan.

On January 24, 2017, the Board of Directors also authorized the repurchase of up to $30.0 million of the Company's common stock from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to a newly authorized share repurchase program (the "2017 Repurchase Plan"). The 2017 Repurchase Plan replaces and supersedes in its entirety the 2016 Repurchase Plan. In the three months ended March 31, 2017, 112,000 shares of common stock, at a cost of $3.5 million, were repurchased under the 2017 Repurchase Plan.