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  <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://eastwestbank.com/role/CoveredAssetsAndFdicIndemnificationAssetDetails" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_NumberOfDaysFollowingAnniversary" xlink:label="NumberOfDaysFollowingAnniversary" xlink:title="NumberOfDaysFollowingAnniversary" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_TermOfSingleFamilyResidentialMortgageLoanSharedLossAgreement" xlink:label="TermOfSingleFamilyResidentialMortgageLoanSharedLossAgreement" xlink:title="TermOfSingleFamilyResidentialMortgageLoanSharedLossAgreement" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_ResidentialMultifamilyMember" xlink:label="ResidentialMultifamilyMember" xlink:title="ResidentialMultifamilyMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CommercialAndIndustrialRealEstateMember" xlink:label="CommercialAndIndustrialRealEstateMember" xlink:title="CommercialAndIndustrialRealEstateMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_ConstructionAndLandMember" xlink:label="ConstructionAndLandMember" xlink:title="ConstructionAndLandMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CommercialBusinessMember" xlink:label="CommercialBusinessMember" xlink:title="CommercialBusinessMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConsumerOtherFinancingReceivableMember" xlink:label="ConsumerOtherFinancingReceivableMember" xlink:title="ConsumerOtherFinancingReceivableMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis" xlink:label="CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis" xlink:title="CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis" xlink:to="CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain" xlink:title="definition: CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis to CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain" order="1.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain" xlink:label="CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain_2" xlink:title="CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis" xlink:to="CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain_2" xlink:title="definition: CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis to CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain_2" priority="1" order="2.0" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="CarryingAmountsAndCompositionOfCoveredLoansTable" xlink:to="CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis" xlink:title="definition: CarryingAmountsAndCompositionOfCoveredLoansTable to CoveredLoansByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis" order="2.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsDomain" xlink:label="CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsDomain" xlink:title="CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsDomain" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SpecialMentionMember" xlink:label="SpecialMentionMember" xlink:title="SpecialMentionMember" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsDomain" xlink:to="SpecialMentionMember" xlink:title="definition: CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsDomain to SpecialMentionMember" order="2.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubstandardMember" xlink:label="SubstandardMember" xlink:title="SubstandardMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DoubtfulMember" xlink:label="DoubtfulMember" xlink:title="DoubtfulMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsAxis" xlink:label="CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsAxis" xlink:title="CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsAxis" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsDomain" xlink:label="CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsDomain_2" xlink:title="CoveredLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorsDomain" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable" xlink:label="ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable" xlink:title="ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="BusinessAcquisitionLineItems" xlink:to="ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable" xlink:title="definition: BusinessAcquisitionLineItems to ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable" order="1.0" t1:contextElement="segment" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain" xlink:label="BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain" xlink:title="BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_WashingtonFirstInternationalBankMember" xlink:label="WashingtonFirstInternationalBankMember" xlink:title="WashingtonFirstInternationalBankMember" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain" xlink:to="WashingtonFirstInternationalBankMember" xlink:title="definition: BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain to WashingtonFirstInternationalBankMember" order="1.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_UnitedCommercialBankMember" xlink:label="UnitedCommercialBankMember" xlink:title="UnitedCommercialBankMember" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain" xlink:to="UnitedCommercialBankMember" xlink:title="definition: BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain to UnitedCommercialBankMember" order="2.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis" xlink:label="BusinessAcquisitionAxis" xlink:title="BusinessAcquisitionAxis" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CoveredLoansNotAccountedForUnderAsc31030Table" xlink:label="CoveredLoansNotAccountedForUnderAsc31030Table" xlink:title="CoveredLoansNotAccountedForUnderAsc31030Table" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain" xlink:label="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain" xlink:title="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommercialRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:label="CommercialRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:title="CommercialRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:label="ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:title="ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:label="ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:title="ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain" xlink:to="ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:title="definition: CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain to ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember" order="4.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentAxis" xlink:label="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentAxis" xlink:title="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentAxis" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentAxis" xlink:to="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain" xlink:title="definition: CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentAxis to CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain" order="1.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain" xlink:label="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain_2" xlink:title="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentAxis" xlink:to="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain_2" xlink:title="definition: CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentAxis to CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentDomain_2" priority="1" order="2.0" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="CoveredLoansNotAccountedForUnderAsc31030Table" xlink:to="CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentAxis" xlink:title="definition: CoveredLoansNotAccountedForUnderAsc31030Table to CoveredLoansByLoansSegmentAxis" order="1.0" />
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://eastwestbank.com/role/CoveredAssetsAndFdicIndemnificationAssetFdicIndemnificationAssetAndFdicReceivableDetails" />
  <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://eastwestbank.com/role/CoveredAssetsAndFdicIndemnificationAssetTables" />
  <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://eastwestbank.com/role/NonCoveredLoansAndAllowanceForLoanLosses" />
  <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://eastwestbank.com/role/NonCoveredLoansAndAllowanceForLoanLossesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems" xlink:label="ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems" xlink:title="ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_NoncoveredLoansReceivableGross" xlink:label="NoncoveredLoansReceivableGross" xlink:title="NoncoveredLoansReceivableGross" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems" xlink:to="NoncoveredLoansReceivableGross" xlink:title="definition: ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems to NoncoveredLoansReceivableGross" order="2.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_UnamortizedLoanCommitmentAndOriginationFeesAndUnamortizedDiscountsOrPremiums" xlink:label="UnamortizedLoanCommitmentAndOriginationFeesAndUnamortizedDiscountsOrPremiums" xlink:title="UnamortizedLoanCommitmentAndOriginationFeesAndUnamortizedDiscountsOrPremiums" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems" xlink:to="UnamortizedLoanCommitmentAndOriginationFeesAndUnamortizedDiscountsOrPremiums" xlink:title="definition: ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems to UnamortizedLoanCommitmentAndOriginationFeesAndUnamortizedDiscountsOrPremiums" order="3.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_AllowanceForNoncoveredLoansReceivable" xlink:label="AllowanceForNoncoveredLoansReceivable" xlink:title="AllowanceForNoncoveredLoansReceivable" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems" xlink:to="AllowanceForNoncoveredLoansReceivable" xlink:title="definition: ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems to AllowanceForNoncoveredLoansReceivable" order="4.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_NoncoveredLoansReceivableNet" xlink:label="NoncoveredLoansReceivableNet" xlink:title="NoncoveredLoansReceivableNet" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems" xlink:to="NoncoveredLoansReceivableNet" xlink:title="definition: ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableLineItems to NoncoveredLoansReceivableNet" order="5.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableTable" xlink:label="ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableTable" xlink:title="ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableTable" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain" xlink:label="FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain" xlink:title="FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommercialRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:label="CommercialRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:title="CommercialRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:label="CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:title="CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:label="ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:title="ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember" />
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:label="ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:title="ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain" xlink:to="ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember" xlink:title="definition: FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain to ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember" order="1.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FinancingReceivableInformationByPortfolioSegmentAxis" xlink:label="FinancingReceivableInformationByPortfolioSegmentAxis" xlink:title="FinancingReceivableInformationByPortfolioSegmentAxis" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="FinancingReceivableInformationByPortfolioSegmentAxis" xlink:to="FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain" xlink:title="definition: FinancingReceivableInformationByPortfolioSegmentAxis to FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain" order="1.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain" xlink:label="FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain_2" xlink:title="FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="FinancingReceivableInformationByPortfolioSegmentAxis" xlink:to="FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain_2" xlink:title="definition: FinancingReceivableInformationByPortfolioSegmentAxis to FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentDomain_2" priority="1" order="2.0" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableTable" xlink:to="FinancingReceivableInformationByPortfolioSegmentAxis" xlink:title="definition: ScheduleOfNonCoveredLoansReceivableTable to FinancingReceivableInformationByPortfolioSegmentAxis" order="1.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2011/elts/us-gaap-2011-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain" xlink:label="FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain" xlink:title="FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_SingleFamilyMember" xlink:label="SingleFamilyMember" xlink:title="SingleFamilyMember" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain" xlink:to="SingleFamilyMember" xlink:title="definition: FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain to SingleFamilyMember" order="1.0" />
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="ewbc-20110930.xsd#ewbc_MultifamilyMember" xlink:label="MultifamilyMember" xlink:title="MultifamilyMember" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain" xlink:to="MultifamilyMember" xlink:title="definition: FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentClassOfFinancingReceivableDomain to MultifamilyMember" order="2.0" />
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