Business World

Wells Fargo Financial will close three stores on the Big Island and Kauai next week as part of a plan to consolidate its Hawaii operations.

The plan to close the Hilo, Kailua-Kona and Lihue stores is in response to the slow economy, a company spokesman said.

Customers on the Big Island and Kauai will be served by one of the company’s three remaining stores in Wailuku on Maui and in Aiea and Waipahu on Oahu.

The company, which offers home equity and auto loans and credit cards, has 40 employees in Hawaii low fee cash advance.

All of the employees on the Big Island and Kauai were offered the opportunity to transfer to one of the other Hawaii stores or the Mainland, the company said. Most chose to take the transfer offer, but seven employees turned it down and elected to receive a severance package, the company said.

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