PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — Bank of Hawaii says it has fired four employees in American Samoa for "inappropriate" tax filings with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Bank of Hawaii District Manager Hobbs Lowson says the filings violated the bank's standards for employment, but he didn't elaborate.

Taxpayers in American Samoa file with the territorial government's Tax Office.

But Tax Office Manager Melvin Joseph says some residents have used addresses in the U.S. to file with the IRS in order to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, for which American Samoa residents don't qualify.

Lowson would not comment on news reports that as many as four other bank employees accused of claiming the credit were allowed to resign.

He says the bank has brought in off-island personnel to help staff local operations.